After the Legislature held public hearings on all four measures competing for additional Section 30 funds, Committee of the Whole Chair Sen. Chris Duenas recommended providing additional time to receive requested information and deliberate on the measures until next week.
Duenas made the request Wednesday during the reconvened 11th Special Session. In making the recommendation, Duenas provided several reasons for postponing action on Governor's Bill 1 (11-S).
"Mr. Speaker, a number of our colleagues had asked for a spending plan, and some more detail in terms of what this procurement would entail on the proposal for GMH. Nobody, that I heard of, is not willing to move forward and understand, you know, the importance of this project. However, it still lacks information," Duenas said.
Duenas also highlighted that the public hearings lacked the presence of senior leadership, who are currently in California meeting with federal partners on a "number of different projects."
The four bills being considered by the Legislature include Bill 1 (11-S), which would direct nearly $16 million to Guam Memorial Hospital's electronic health record and revenue cycle systems and $4 million to University of Guam's Blue Economy efforts at Fadian Hatchery.
Bill 356-38 would provide $300 in direct power bill relief with $16.8 million allocated to the Guam Power Authority. Bill 357-38 would provide the Guam Department of Education with nearly $20 million funding for maintenance and repairs across school facilities. Bill 358-38 would direct $19.885 million in funding toward a Simon Sanchez modernization fund.
Duenas' recommendation for the body to recess until Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. was unanimously passed.