Patience waning for Guam war reparations
Posted: Feb 03, 2010 3:38 PM
Updated: Feb 03, 2010 7:02 PM
by Nick Delgado
Guam - While the fight for war reparations continues, the numbers of survivors speaking out for this compensation continues to drop. It's an issue that only about a handful of people came to provide testimony today before the Guam Legislature.
Although only a few survivors of the Japanese occupation of Guam came out to provide testimony on Bill 274, and shared support for the measure, it's clear that their patience is wearing thin. Joe Garrido said, "The many efforts that were done by the first delegate up to the present delegate have not been successful," adding, "and my experience is that I think we got a 50/50 chance that that either that bill will be shot down next budget hearing and never get war reparations from the United States."
The measure up for discussion today would establish the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Commission for the purposes of bringing together island leaders and survivors of the community to aggressively pursue the endorsement and passage of the Guam war reparations legislation. Garrido says while he understands that we're struggling to find ways to put the bill on the table of Congress before the next budget hearing, he argues that something must be done as he says their rights are being ignored.
He said, "I don't understand why we continue to deny ourselves the rights that we are requesting to be recognized in front of Congress is human rights, not civil rights," he said.
Vicente Garrido, who also showed support for the bill, has concerns with the word loyalty being used in this situation. He also urges all island leaders to write a letter to Congress demanding that they give the war reparations now. "We cannot continue to keep telling Uncle Sam, how many times we have to say 'loyalty' [sic]. The war reparations are long overdue and its time for Congress to settle this once and for all," he professed.
Meanwhile, Tom Barcinas, who recently went before the U.S. House Armed Service Committee in Washington, DC to present his testimony, remains optimistic that war reparations will come soon. He said, "Definitely, it's been too long, and it's just been dragging on so long. But I think we're beginning to see that eventually this thing will be resolved."
In the meantime, the House Armed Services Committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow at 1am Guam time to receive testimony on the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Budget request from the Department of Defense. Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo has said she is working to include war claims in this measure since they were left out in the 2010 version because of concerns from senators Carl Levin and John McCain.
Showing posts with label Loyalty Recognition Act. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loyalty Recognition Act. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Hearing booked for Guam war reparations
Hearing booked for Guam war reparations
Posted: Feb 02, 2010 3:06 PM
Updated: Feb 02, 2010 4:09 PM
by Nick Delgado
Guam - The 30th Guam Legislature will be accepting public testimony on a measure that would establish the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Commission. Bill 274 seeks to bring island leaders and WWII survivors in the community together as they aggressively pursue the endorsement and timely passage of the Guam war reparations legislation.
Part of that includes acknowledgement of the inhumane treatment received by the people of Guam during the war. The hearing gets underway tomorrow at 9am in the Legislature's Public Hearing Room in Hagatna.
Meanwhile, the Congressional Armed Services Committee is scheduled to discuss the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act in Washington on Thursday, Guam time. Efforts are underway to ensure the inclusion of war reparations in that budget act.
Posted: Feb 02, 2010 3:06 PM
Updated: Feb 02, 2010 4:09 PM
by Nick Delgado
Guam - The 30th Guam Legislature will be accepting public testimony on a measure that would establish the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Commission. Bill 274 seeks to bring island leaders and WWII survivors in the community together as they aggressively pursue the endorsement and timely passage of the Guam war reparations legislation.
Part of that includes acknowledgement of the inhumane treatment received by the people of Guam during the war. The hearing gets underway tomorrow at 9am in the Legislature's Public Hearing Room in Hagatna.
Meanwhile, the Congressional Armed Services Committee is scheduled to discuss the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act in Washington on Thursday, Guam time. Efforts are underway to ensure the inclusion of war reparations in that budget act.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Committee supports war claims measure
Committee supports war claims measure
By Dionesis Tamondong • Pacific Daily News • December 4, 2009
House Armed Services Committee members expressed their support for the Guam war claims measure in a hearing that aimed to gather more evidence to sway the Senate into approving the provision.
"I am embarrassed that we need to be here today talking about this. It should have been resolved a long time ago," Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., a committee member, said during yesterday's hearing in Washington, D.C.
Two Guam senators, a war survivor, and the former chairman of the Guam War Claims Review Commission were among those who testified in support of a bill that would compensate those killed on Guam during World War II and living survivors.
While the House has supported Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo's war claims bill, the measure has consistently stalled in the Senate.
Questions during yesterday's hearing focused on the objections raised by Senate members during final negotiations on the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.
Earlier this year, the war claims provision was tacked onto the military spending bill but rejected by ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Michigan Sen. Carl Levin and Arizona Sen. John McCain objected to, among other things, payments for spouses and children of Guam's war survivors who have since died.
Levin and McCain offered to keep Bordallo's provision if the claims were awarded solely to those killed during the war and to living survivors of the occupation, but Bordallo didn't accept their offer.
During yesterday's hearing, Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., asked whether heirs of occupation survivors who have since died should be eligible for claims.
Mauricio Tamargo, former chairman of the commission that came to Guam to investigate the war claims process, said they should. "The Guam War Claims Review Commission included survivors in its recommendations strictly as a matter of parity because that is how all claim programs were administered," he said.
Guam Sen. Frank Blas Jr. spoke in the place of the many war survivors who have since died or are too frail to attend the hearing. He said many are upset that the federal government has failed to compensate its fellow Americans but will ask more from them when the U.S. military expands its facilities and beefs up its personnel on Guam.
"There is a demoralizing sentiment that is growing among the survivors. This sentiment is that the United States government is waiting for all of the war survivors to pass on so that this issue will not have to be dealt with," Blas said in his testimony. "Although my upbringing has taught me to apologize for this statement, I chose not to and challenge our nation's leaders to prove that opinion wrong."
Guam Sen. Ben Pangelinan reminded committee members that the island's people don't expect the long-sought payments to change the past.
What they do expect, he said, is "recognition of a people's sacrifice in upholding the honor of America, maintaining their dignity in the fight for their liberty, and demonstrating steadfast loyalty remain priceless."
War survivor Tom Barcinas and Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta of the U.S. Department of the Interior also testified before the committee.
Committee Chairman Ike Skelton committed to including provisions of the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act in the National Defense Authorization Act for next fiscal year if other legislative vehicles are not successful, Bordallo said.
"The commitment from the Chairman reiterated the need for the hearing to build a stronger legislative history that the Senate can reference in future negotiations," she said.
Additional hearings on Guam's war claims will be scheduled.
By Dionesis Tamondong • Pacific Daily News • December 4, 2009
House Armed Services Committee members expressed their support for the Guam war claims measure in a hearing that aimed to gather more evidence to sway the Senate into approving the provision.
"I am embarrassed that we need to be here today talking about this. It should have been resolved a long time ago," Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., a committee member, said during yesterday's hearing in Washington, D.C.
Two Guam senators, a war survivor, and the former chairman of the Guam War Claims Review Commission were among those who testified in support of a bill that would compensate those killed on Guam during World War II and living survivors.
While the House has supported Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo's war claims bill, the measure has consistently stalled in the Senate.
Questions during yesterday's hearing focused on the objections raised by Senate members during final negotiations on the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act.
Earlier this year, the war claims provision was tacked onto the military spending bill but rejected by ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Michigan Sen. Carl Levin and Arizona Sen. John McCain objected to, among other things, payments for spouses and children of Guam's war survivors who have since died.
Levin and McCain offered to keep Bordallo's provision if the claims were awarded solely to those killed during the war and to living survivors of the occupation, but Bordallo didn't accept their offer.
During yesterday's hearing, Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., asked whether heirs of occupation survivors who have since died should be eligible for claims.
Mauricio Tamargo, former chairman of the commission that came to Guam to investigate the war claims process, said they should. "The Guam War Claims Review Commission included survivors in its recommendations strictly as a matter of parity because that is how all claim programs were administered," he said.
Guam Sen. Frank Blas Jr. spoke in the place of the many war survivors who have since died or are too frail to attend the hearing. He said many are upset that the federal government has failed to compensate its fellow Americans but will ask more from them when the U.S. military expands its facilities and beefs up its personnel on Guam.
"There is a demoralizing sentiment that is growing among the survivors. This sentiment is that the United States government is waiting for all of the war survivors to pass on so that this issue will not have to be dealt with," Blas said in his testimony. "Although my upbringing has taught me to apologize for this statement, I chose not to and challenge our nation's leaders to prove that opinion wrong."
Guam Sen. Ben Pangelinan reminded committee members that the island's people don't expect the long-sought payments to change the past.
What they do expect, he said, is "recognition of a people's sacrifice in upholding the honor of America, maintaining their dignity in the fight for their liberty, and demonstrating steadfast loyalty remain priceless."
War survivor Tom Barcinas and Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta of the U.S. Department of the Interior also testified before the committee.
Committee Chairman Ike Skelton committed to including provisions of the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act in the National Defense Authorization Act for next fiscal year if other legislative vehicles are not successful, Bordallo said.
"The commitment from the Chairman reiterated the need for the hearing to build a stronger legislative history that the Senate can reference in future negotiations," she said.
Additional hearings on Guam's war claims will be scheduled.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
WAR CLAIMS: House committee to hold war claims hearing this week
WAR CLAIMS: House committee to hold war claims hearing this week
Pacific Daily News • news@guampdn.com • December 1, 2009
10:20 a.m. Dec. 1 — The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C. to assess the Guam War Claims process.
The Committee invited Gov. Felix Camacho and Speaker Judith Won Pat to testify at the hearing, but both are unable to attend due to prior obligations. The Committee has agreed to allow Sens. Ben Pangelinan and Frank Blas Jr. to testify in lieu of the governor and speaker.
Assistant Secretary Anthony Babauta of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Mauricio Tamargo, former chairman of the Guam War Claims Review Commission, and Tom Barcinas, a survivor of the occupation of Guam during World War II, have also been invited to present testimony and are scheduled to attend.
Congressman Ike Skelton of Missouri, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, convened the hearing at the request of Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo and in accordance with an agreement reached regarding Guam war claims in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.
The hearing will focus on the issue of Guam war claims and its impact on community support for the military buildup. It will not focus specifically on H.R. 44 as the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act has already passed the House of Representatives in February and Committee’s do not hold hearings on legislation that has already passed their respective body.
The testimony and questions asked during the hearing will continue to build on the legislative record of Guam war claims.
Pacific Daily News • news@guampdn.com • December 1, 2009
10:20 a.m. Dec. 1 — The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C. to assess the Guam War Claims process.
The Committee invited Gov. Felix Camacho and Speaker Judith Won Pat to testify at the hearing, but both are unable to attend due to prior obligations. The Committee has agreed to allow Sens. Ben Pangelinan and Frank Blas Jr. to testify in lieu of the governor and speaker.
Assistant Secretary Anthony Babauta of the U.S. Department of the Interior, Mauricio Tamargo, former chairman of the Guam War Claims Review Commission, and Tom Barcinas, a survivor of the occupation of Guam during World War II, have also been invited to present testimony and are scheduled to attend.
Congressman Ike Skelton of Missouri, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, convened the hearing at the request of Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo and in accordance with an agreement reached regarding Guam war claims in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010.
The hearing will focus on the issue of Guam war claims and its impact on community support for the military buildup. It will not focus specifically on H.R. 44 as the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act has already passed the House of Representatives in February and Committee’s do not hold hearings on legislation that has already passed their respective body.
The testimony and questions asked during the hearing will continue to build on the legislative record of Guam war claims.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
War survivors’ quest for justice continues
War survivors’ quest for justice continues
Tuesday, 17 November 2009 01:46
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
GUAM’S quest for recognition of the pain and suffering endured by Japanese Imperial Forces during their occupation in World War II recently suffered a setback by the United States Congress in their crafting of the 2010 Defense Authorization Act.
Although the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act did not survive the attempt to have it included as an amendment to the Defense bill, U.S. Senate leaders promised Guam’s representative to have hearings on the war claims bill and consider taking action on the measure before the end of 2009-2010 term.
These hearings are expected to begin in December. Since many of our manamko who suffered the atrocities of war have since passed away or are infirmed, there are ongoing discussions to have them appear before the committee via teleconference in the District Court of Guam's courtroom.
In December 2003, survivors of the war told their stories to the Federal War Claims Commission during a series of hearings held on Guam. They gave their accounts of the brutality, the anguish, the degradation, the sufferings, and the fears that they had to endure.
They gave eye witness testimonies of the lashings, the beatings, and the beheadings of their loved ones and friends. In those hearings, those who testified also expressed their hope that their nation will finally acknowledge what they went through and give them the recognition they so rightfully deserve.
Although there has been the promise of the opportunity to address the war claims issue over the next year, many of the remaining survivors are well within their golden years and traveling to Washington, DC to testify once again may be too difficult.
Because of this, the decision makers in Congress have been asked to seriously consider holding any hearings on this matter on Guam, and because of the midterm elections that will be occurring across the United States late next year, it was further requested that the hearings be conducted before March 2010.
Unfortunately, there are also those who testified in 2003 who have since passed away. It is for those individuals who have died while waiting for their recognition and for our elderly who will find it impossible to travel almost 9,000 miles away that Sen. Frank Blas Jr.'s office will present a weekly series entitled, “Real People, Real Stories.”
Once every week, the testimonies of those individuals who appeared before the War Claims Commission in 2003. Although transcripts of the hearings are open to the public, we will get the permission of the survivors, or that of their heirs, to provide their testimonies in this series. If the survivors or their heirs wish, we will also include their sentiments of the waiting they continue to endure.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009 01:46
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
GUAM’S quest for recognition of the pain and suffering endured by Japanese Imperial Forces during their occupation in World War II recently suffered a setback by the United States Congress in their crafting of the 2010 Defense Authorization Act.
Although the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act did not survive the attempt to have it included as an amendment to the Defense bill, U.S. Senate leaders promised Guam’s representative to have hearings on the war claims bill and consider taking action on the measure before the end of 2009-2010 term.
These hearings are expected to begin in December. Since many of our manamko who suffered the atrocities of war have since passed away or are infirmed, there are ongoing discussions to have them appear before the committee via teleconference in the District Court of Guam's courtroom.
In December 2003, survivors of the war told their stories to the Federal War Claims Commission during a series of hearings held on Guam. They gave their accounts of the brutality, the anguish, the degradation, the sufferings, and the fears that they had to endure.
They gave eye witness testimonies of the lashings, the beatings, and the beheadings of their loved ones and friends. In those hearings, those who testified also expressed their hope that their nation will finally acknowledge what they went through and give them the recognition they so rightfully deserve.
Although there has been the promise of the opportunity to address the war claims issue over the next year, many of the remaining survivors are well within their golden years and traveling to Washington, DC to testify once again may be too difficult.
Because of this, the decision makers in Congress have been asked to seriously consider holding any hearings on this matter on Guam, and because of the midterm elections that will be occurring across the United States late next year, it was further requested that the hearings be conducted before March 2010.
Unfortunately, there are also those who testified in 2003 who have since passed away. It is for those individuals who have died while waiting for their recognition and for our elderly who will find it impossible to travel almost 9,000 miles away that Sen. Frank Blas Jr.'s office will present a weekly series entitled, “Real People, Real Stories.”
Once every week, the testimonies of those individuals who appeared before the War Claims Commission in 2003. Although transcripts of the hearings are open to the public, we will get the permission of the survivors, or that of their heirs, to provide their testimonies in this series. If the survivors or their heirs wish, we will also include their sentiments of the waiting they continue to endure.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Bordallo: War claims bill alive: 'I am going forward with this bill next year'
Bordallo: War claims bill alive: 'I am going forward with this bill next year'
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Daily News • October 12, 2009
Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo said she wasn't given enough time to make a decision that represented the view of Guamanians regarding the war claims bill when offered a compromise by Senate leadership.
She added that she couldn't have made the decision without consulting the people of Guam.
In a town hall meeting yesterday at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, Bordallo told more than 50 residents that she only had a half an hour to decide whether to accept a compromise on compensation for Guam residents killed during World War II and living survivors of the Japanese occupation. The Senate compromise would have excluded payments to spouses and children of Guam's war survivors who have died.
Bordallo said the bill is still alive and that she won't exclude anyone who suffered until she exhausts all other avenues.
Bordallo was criticized by some for not taking the compromise, including Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz, who worked on the war claims commission. Cruz said past Guam Legislatures and other officials have pushed for heirs to be included in the measure, but it goes against established, recognized legal precedence.
Cruz also said the only way the war claims bill would be enacted is to hold a public hearing in Washington, D.C., and to revise the bill to comply with that legal precedence.
Congress has awarded compensation to Japanese Americans and Aleutians who suffered during World War II, but the reparations were limited to survivors and not their heirs, Cruz noted.
A number of Senate and House representatives decided not to include the Guam World War II Recognition and Loyalty Act to the last version of the defense spending bill. Bordallo said Senate Armed Committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin and Sen. John McCain were concerned about the precedence the war claims measures might set.
The war reparations provision would repay Guam Chamorros for their suffering during the brutal occupation by Japanese forces in World War II. There are about 8,000 survivors, 1,000 people who died in the war and between 9,000 and 10,000 who died, Bordallo said.
"The ... 9,000 to 10,000, ... that was the group they were going to take away, so I don't think it would be fair for me alone to make that decision in Washington, D.C.," Bordallo said.
"I had to make some agonizing decisions in Washington, D.C., on your behalf because I had 30 minutes to do it. I just felt that it wouldn't be fair to my people to make that decision to exclude one group," Bordallo added. "They wanted to take my bill and take it apart. It had three components in there which addresses the survivors and those that were injured or raped and the ones that died during the war. And it was the third section they wanted to remove and that is why I wouldn't compromise."
Bordallo said the bill will have to be heard at next session of Congress.
Both the Senate and the House have promised a public hearing on the measure, the delegate said.
"Knowing that we still had one more chance, one more year, I decided to go with that," said Bordallo.
The bill will go through the same process as before. Bordallo said she will probably put it on the defense spending bill for 2011 and have hearings on it. By this time next year, the bill could be passed or a compromised reached, she added.
Some residents who attended yesterday's meeting said Bordallo should have pressed for more time because it could be too late to get a resolution.
"We see what she had to go through, but given you should have already, if you are pushing for the hearts of the people of Guam, have fought for more than 30 minutes," Margaret Taitano, the heir of a someone who endured the occupation, said. "For 65 years the people of Guam have waited for the injustice to be corrected."
Bordallo's war claims bill would award Guam's World War II victims or their heirs a total of about about $126 million. Some said that wasn't enough.
"(The) $126 million will never pay for the injustice of what happened in Guam," said Larry Ramirez of Ordot, a war claims heir. "How can this pay all those people justly?"
Bordallo said Guam has come a long way and she will bring closure to the war claims issue by next year.
"I am going forward with this bill next year. We're going to have the hearing, track it carefully and probably put it on a defense authorization bill or an appropriation bill or whichever we can get it on," Bordallo said. "And if there is no change in the minds of these senators, then we will go ahead with the compromise, but otherwise I would like to keep it as it was."
By Laura Matthews • Pacific Daily News • October 12, 2009
Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo said she wasn't given enough time to make a decision that represented the view of Guamanians regarding the war claims bill when offered a compromise by Senate leadership.
She added that she couldn't have made the decision without consulting the people of Guam.
In a town hall meeting yesterday at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, Bordallo told more than 50 residents that she only had a half an hour to decide whether to accept a compromise on compensation for Guam residents killed during World War II and living survivors of the Japanese occupation. The Senate compromise would have excluded payments to spouses and children of Guam's war survivors who have died.
Bordallo said the bill is still alive and that she won't exclude anyone who suffered until she exhausts all other avenues.
Bordallo was criticized by some for not taking the compromise, including Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz, who worked on the war claims commission. Cruz said past Guam Legislatures and other officials have pushed for heirs to be included in the measure, but it goes against established, recognized legal precedence.
Cruz also said the only way the war claims bill would be enacted is to hold a public hearing in Washington, D.C., and to revise the bill to comply with that legal precedence.
Congress has awarded compensation to Japanese Americans and Aleutians who suffered during World War II, but the reparations were limited to survivors and not their heirs, Cruz noted.
A number of Senate and House representatives decided not to include the Guam World War II Recognition and Loyalty Act to the last version of the defense spending bill. Bordallo said Senate Armed Committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin and Sen. John McCain were concerned about the precedence the war claims measures might set.
The war reparations provision would repay Guam Chamorros for their suffering during the brutal occupation by Japanese forces in World War II. There are about 8,000 survivors, 1,000 people who died in the war and between 9,000 and 10,000 who died, Bordallo said.
"The ... 9,000 to 10,000, ... that was the group they were going to take away, so I don't think it would be fair for me alone to make that decision in Washington, D.C.," Bordallo said.
"I had to make some agonizing decisions in Washington, D.C., on your behalf because I had 30 minutes to do it. I just felt that it wouldn't be fair to my people to make that decision to exclude one group," Bordallo added. "They wanted to take my bill and take it apart. It had three components in there which addresses the survivors and those that were injured or raped and the ones that died during the war. And it was the third section they wanted to remove and that is why I wouldn't compromise."
Bordallo said the bill will have to be heard at next session of Congress.
Both the Senate and the House have promised a public hearing on the measure, the delegate said.
"Knowing that we still had one more chance, one more year, I decided to go with that," said Bordallo.
The bill will go through the same process as before. Bordallo said she will probably put it on the defense spending bill for 2011 and have hearings on it. By this time next year, the bill could be passed or a compromised reached, she added.
Some residents who attended yesterday's meeting said Bordallo should have pressed for more time because it could be too late to get a resolution.
"We see what she had to go through, but given you should have already, if you are pushing for the hearts of the people of Guam, have fought for more than 30 minutes," Margaret Taitano, the heir of a someone who endured the occupation, said. "For 65 years the people of Guam have waited for the injustice to be corrected."
Bordallo's war claims bill would award Guam's World War II victims or their heirs a total of about about $126 million. Some said that wasn't enough.
"(The) $126 million will never pay for the injustice of what happened in Guam," said Larry Ramirez of Ordot, a war claims heir. "How can this pay all those people justly?"
Bordallo said Guam has come a long way and she will bring closure to the war claims issue by next year.
"I am going forward with this bill next year. We're going to have the hearing, track it carefully and probably put it on a defense authorization bill or an appropriation bill or whichever we can get it on," Bordallo said. "And if there is no change in the minds of these senators, then we will go ahead with the compromise, but otherwise I would like to keep it as it was."
BLAS FIRES OFF LETTERS TO MCAIN AND LEVIN
BLAS FIRES OFF LETTERS TO MCAIN AND LEVIN
Written by :
Clynt Ridgell
Senator Frank Blas Jr. has fired off two letters to two members of the US Congress. The senator has sent a letter to Senator's John Mccain and Carl Levin stating that he will not give up on the fight for Guam war reparations. In addition to this he is currently working on drafting a letter along with democrat senator Frank Aguon Jr. requesting that public hearings on the Guam WWII Loyalty Recognition Act be held on Guam.
Congresswoman Bordallo stated in her release last week that while war reparations weren't included in the Defense Authorization Act public hearings would be held on the Guam WWII Loyalty Recognition Act as a stand alone bill before the next defense authorization bill. Blas would like for these public hearings to be held on Guam to make it easier for the elderly WWII survivors to provide testimony
Written by :
Clynt Ridgell
Senator Frank Blas Jr. has fired off two letters to two members of the US Congress. The senator has sent a letter to Senator's John Mccain and Carl Levin stating that he will not give up on the fight for Guam war reparations. In addition to this he is currently working on drafting a letter along with democrat senator Frank Aguon Jr. requesting that public hearings on the Guam WWII Loyalty Recognition Act be held on Guam.
Congresswoman Bordallo stated in her release last week that while war reparations weren't included in the Defense Authorization Act public hearings would be held on the Guam WWII Loyalty Recognition Act as a stand alone bill before the next defense authorization bill. Blas would like for these public hearings to be held on Guam to make it easier for the elderly WWII survivors to provide testimony
Friday, October 09, 2009
Guthertz Seeks National Attention For Guam WW II Reparations By Proposing Toll Boths Outside Bases
Guam - A local Senator today is making waves with her introduction of a bill that is sure to spark much debate.
The bill was introduced by Senator Judi Guthertz that would place toll booths at the entrance to Guam's military bases.
In reaction to the Congress' rejection of the Guam WW II Loyalty Recognition Act, Senator Guthertz has introduced a bill that would set up toll booths outside of Guam's bases charging a fee to anyone on base who wants to use Guam's roads.
The Senator says that the money collected from these toll booths could help fund the various expenses govguam will incur as a result of the military buildup however her real goal is to use the measure as leverage to get the U.S. Federal Government to begin listening to the people of Guam.
Juan Limtiaco was a six year old kid when he was taken to the concentration camp in Manengon during WW II. While he too would like to see war reparations for Guam he believes that the Federal Government who built most of Guam's roads will simply take them back if needed.
Chamber of Commerce Chairman Frank Campillo is also cautious about supporting Senator Guthertz's Bill.
The military has yet to take a stance on this issue however Navy Spokesperson Lt. Jodie Cornell did offer a statement saying: "It would be premature to comment at this time. We will review the proposal and comment at the appropiate time."
Written by :
Clynt Ridgell
The bill was introduced by Senator Judi Guthertz that would place toll booths at the entrance to Guam's military bases.
In reaction to the Congress' rejection of the Guam WW II Loyalty Recognition Act, Senator Guthertz has introduced a bill that would set up toll booths outside of Guam's bases charging a fee to anyone on base who wants to use Guam's roads.
The Senator says that the money collected from these toll booths could help fund the various expenses govguam will incur as a result of the military buildup however her real goal is to use the measure as leverage to get the U.S. Federal Government to begin listening to the people of Guam.
Juan Limtiaco was a six year old kid when he was taken to the concentration camp in Manengon during WW II. While he too would like to see war reparations for Guam he believes that the Federal Government who built most of Guam's roads will simply take them back if needed.
Chamber of Commerce Chairman Frank Campillo is also cautious about supporting Senator Guthertz's Bill.
The military has yet to take a stance on this issue however Navy Spokesperson Lt. Jodie Cornell did offer a statement saying: "It would be premature to comment at this time. We will review the proposal and comment at the appropiate time."
Written by :
Clynt Ridgell
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