San Nicolas touts performance in Congress, says Guam should repeal local war claims law

Calling for local leaders to repeal Bill 181 signed into law last week by the governor, announcing the creation of a Congressional Veterans Advisory Council, professing his support for the military buildup--were just some of several issues discussed in Congressman Michael San Nicolas first Congressional address.

Since taking office it's been no secret Congressman Michael San Nicolas has been critical of local leaders, so if you were expecting him take aim during his congressional address, that didn't exactly happen.

"My initial temptation was to use this day as an opportunity to engage the hostility that we have faced over the past year with equally veiled hostility but we are not going to do that instead we will begin by saying peace be with you," he said.

For two hours the congressman recapped bills he's introduced in Congress such as HR 208 which would extend the supplemental security income program to all eligible recipients in Guam, HR 1713 to compensate military veterans for Agent Orange Exposure on Guam and HR1365, to correct technical errors to pay out war claims.

With the enactment of local war claims payout Bill 181 into law, the  San Nicolas said while setting aside an additional $14 million in local funds for a local war claims plan is admirable, it just presents an unnecessary risk to the current process. Instead, the congressman asked local leaders to repeal 181 and instead use the money for the CHamoru Land Trust Commission.

"Many of our families waiting for war claims are also waiting for their CHamoru Land Trust lands and $4 million in local funds is enough to survey all the lands for everyone waiting," he said. "Senators, governor working together we can make this new year 2020 the year we pay war claims and distribute all CHamoru Land Trust Lands."

Aside from HR 1365 the Congressman also touted his accomplishment in serving in the coveted "A -List" House Committee on Financial Services, and thus Guam has risen to be an "A-List Player." San Nicolas also announced the first formal creation of a Congressional Veterans Advisory Council of which will be spearheaded by local veteran John Ananinch.

"This entity shall be a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to aligning congressional findings and resources with concrete solutions to the struggles of all our veterans," San Nicolas said.

On the military buildup, the congressman said that while he agrees that the net military occupation of lands should not increase, and that excess lands should be returned, he is firmly convinced that the presence of the military on Guam is vital to the protection of our way of life.

"Folks, I have seen in top-secret briefings the force projections and China is not messing around," he said.

During his address, the congressman acknowledged a few senators such as James Moylan, Mary Torres, Clynt Ridgell, as well as Sen. Therese Terlaje. He also acknowledged the Republican Party of Guam for their efforts in seeking support for HR 1365. Throughout his address, the congressman played video clips of his various moments during his first year in office.

KUAM spoke with newly appointed minority leader Sen. Telo Taitague and Former Congressman Robert Underwood after the speech. 

"I guess the biggest elephant in the room though was the question as to the allegations that were made toward him on ethics issues as well as the campaign funds," Taitague said. "Many people want to know what's going on and for him to completely disregard those accusations the people of Guam need to know whats going on. We're supposed to trust our congressman but it wasn't a fruition. I'm just really surprised especially when there was a report put out recently about his attendance in congress it's staggering I'm surprised he even had video footage to show considering that came out."

"He had a lot of pretty interesting ideas but he still hasn't passed a bill and 1365 still hasn't passed," Underwood said. "He's spent more money than any other delegate he was the first delegate to introduce a bill in congress but the last delegate to speak on the floor and I'm just waiting for some answers. There's just nothing yet there's just nothing that he has actually been achieved. He slapped himself on the back that I thought he broke his arm but no I shouldn't' have said that. Basically, the speech was...he should be congratulated for being on such an exclusive committee but that committee has only been exclusive for about two or three terms what's important is not that he's on the exclusive committee what has he done with it."

According to GovTrack.us., from Jan. 2019 to December of last year, Guam Del. San Nicolas missed 152 of 291 roll call votes, he sponsored 10 bills--all but one, HR1365, made it out of committee. Also, according to the website, all 10 bills show about a 3 percent chance of being enacted.

We asked the delegate how confident he was of his bill being enacted.

"Well, the probability of us passing the house when we first introduce 1365 was about 9 percent," he said. "We passed the house the probability of passing the senate is about 21 percent. So the key to understanding the value of your representation isn't in what websites tell you it's in the outcomes and if we're able to get things passed with such odds stacked against us that just speaks to the value of the representation."

The website tracks the status of federal legislation as well as information about the voting records of members in congress, oversight and investigations.

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero also reacted to the Congressman's speech, issuing a statement saying they will not ask any survivor to wait one more day than necessary. Adding no one should pit Chamorro Land Trust recipients against manamko' saying, "We are all better than that".

The governor also is hoping the San Nicolas would provide information on the situation in the middle east.

"With so many of Guam's sons and daughters deployed to a region of the world in the midst of escalating conflict with Iran, we hoped for an update on how this conflict might impact them, their families and their loved ones," she said.

Like the congressman, the governor called on both leaders to work together for the good of our people.