The 38th Guam Legislature has united in a bipartisan effort to call on federal officials to authorize the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds for urgent repairs at Guam Memorial Hospital. Resolution No. 93-38 was introduced Tuesday in response to mounting safety concerns following an electrical fire and HVAC system failure in the hospital’s Pediatrics Ward.
Sen. Chris Dueñas, who co-sponsored the resolution with Sen. Jesse Lujan, said the Legislature was stepping in to protect the public. “The reality is that our only public hospital is in crisis today – not ten years from now. We must act now,” Dueñas said. Lujan added that failing to address the hospital’s infrastructure would amount to “political theater at the expense of our people.”
The measure is backed by a coalition of senators across party lines, including Speaker Frank Blas Jr., Vice Speaker Tony Ada, Sens. Sabrina Salas Matanane, Vince Borja, Shawn Gumataotao, Chris Barnett, and Sabina Perez. Lawmakers stressed that GMH plays a vital role not only for Guam residents, but also for COFA migrants, U.S. military personnel, and their families.
Resolution 93-38 calls for immediate upgrades to GMH’s electrical, HVAC, IT, and safety systems, which lawmakers described as dangerously outdated. Sen. Salas Matanane, chair of the Committee on Health, said, “I agree we need a new hospital, but GMH is already in crisis. The new facility is years away, while our current hospital is one step from disaster.” Copies of the resolution will be sent to President Donald Trump, the U.S. Treasury, and Guam’s executive leadership.