by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - With a September 30 deadline looming for the Department of Education to obligate some $60 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding or lose it, a public hearing was held today on legislation that would allow that federal grant money to be reprogrammed and placed into the General Fund. In turn, GovGuam would commit local funds for capital improvement projects that were originally slated to be paid with stimulus money.

The plan has been tentatively approved by the U.S. Department of Education with the caveat that legislation like Bill 131 be enacted first. Speaker Judi Won Pat said, "This is going to be a $60 million cash infusion into our government so that the government can use it for other obligations. In this case one would be then even the tax refunds."

Senator Ben Pangelinan added, "To make this happen we have to ensure that we ensure that DOE when it comes to make those obligations and projects that we are now swapping out that money will be there."