Governor Lou Leon Guerrero called the 38th Guam Legislature into Special Session on July 15 to address "urgent and critical funding priorities" related to health, safety, disaster response and essential public infrastructure.
The call for the legislature to enter its ninth special session is to entertain a proposed measure related to the priorities to include an appropriation of up to $13,361,849 to the executive branch in support emergency response and recovery in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Bavi.
“The immediate nature of these funding warrants consideration in Special Session to protect the health and safety of our people, sustain critical government services, satisfy existing governmental obligations, support Guam’s ongoing disaster response and recovery efforts, and preserve the continued operation of essential public infrastructure,” the Governor wrote to Speaker Frank Blas Jr.
The bill would also fund $11.4 million in Child care subsidy payments not received from the federal government; $9.25 million to pay for outstanding "prior year" Federal Aviation Fuel Tax Remittance obligations and $8.4 million in operational and safety needs at the Guam International Airport Authority.
The governor said, Child Care Subsidy payment funds would be "credited" to the General Fund and made available for future appropriation upon receipt from the delayed federal funds.
The funding requested for the airport will address "Fiscal Year 2026 revenue shortfalls" impacting operational and safety at the airport.
"This temporary financial assistance will help bridge a funding gap resulting from the cumulative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Typhoon Mawar, ongoing geopolitical conditions affecting travel, and Typhoon Sinlaku, thereby supporting the continued safe and reliable operation of Guam's only civilian airport," the governor said in the letter.
Leon Guerrero stressed the urgency in immediately funding the priorities telling Blas it "warrants consideration in Special Session."
That same day the Guam Legislature convened to address the governor's proposed measure. Bill 1 (9-S) was given its first reading Wednesday afternoon though lawmakers moved to recess until Friday, 9 a.m. Despite an objection, the motion to recess carried.