Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero urged senators to act swiftly on a revised bill authorizing critical power and water upgrades needed for the new hospital in Mangilao, warning that $104 million in federal funds could be forfeited if the Legislature does not move immediately. The funding, set aside through the American Rescue Plan, is tied to infrastructure improvements that would also expand water and sewage access for nearby villages.
The governor said the only barrier preventing the Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority from moving forward is Attorney General Douglas Moylan’s refusal to conduct a required legal review of the contracts. She noted that she temporarily withdrew the original measure after a Superior Court ruling in an unrelated GHURA land case but said her team has since confirmed that the decision does not affect the lot where the utility work will occur.
According to the governor, the projects are located on Lot 5280-3, which she emphasized is entirely separate from the property involved in litigation. The revised bill, she said, explicitly identifies the correct lot to remove any lingering uncertainty. Leon Guerrero stressed that the purpose remains unchanged: authorizing GPA and GWA to proceed so the island does not lose the federal allocation.
Leon Guerrero called lawmakers into special session Tuesday to consider the bill, saying further delay risks the loss of federal funds, higher construction costs, and setbacks to essential improvements for surrounding communities. “The cost of inaction is simply too high,” she said, urging senators to pass the measure to protect Guam’s healthcare future and keep the hospital project on schedule.