Residents, legislators testify in ARP spending hearing

The public weighed in today on the legislature's proposed spending plan for American Rescue Plan funds.

A hearing was held on a resolution that mirrors the priority list approved by all senators and was presented to the governor in a meeting at Adelup in May.

The testimony by both private and public sector representatives was divided between those that believe the money should go mostly to direct public assistance and those that think it's better spent on lasting improvements and infrastructure that will provide benefits over the long run.

"You know it's not only about government workers," concerned citizen Sedfrey Linsangan said. "How about those people at the grocery, security guards, gas attendants, hardware store workers, pharmacy workers, restaurant workers, the media that they're working every day to spread the news. And other essential businesses that were told to open during the pandemic. Give them something."

"We believe that the seven million dollars not only for heavy equipment but to continue to support and maintain the maintenance and beautification of the villages but also to go in and do a one time clean up of illegal dumping sites that most of the villages face," Piti Mayor Jesse Alig testified.

"Private health care workers are tired too," Louise Muna, former senator now representing Guam Radiology said. "And they need to know that the government appreciates everything they did for the community. Please add a provision in your resolution for however way you see fit to include private clinics too." 3706

Cosponsor minority leader Sen. Chris Duenas compared it to the biblical parable of the fish and the fisherman.

"We have to I think have balance to our proposals going forward," he said. "Even if we set aside this whole $600 million, that would be one-fourth of what we paid in FPUC and PUA the last two years," he said. "I wanna give a fish, and I wanna give a fishing pole.

And fellow sponsor Speaker Therese Terlaje said it's just a start. 

"As was stated before, this $604 million in federal funds is an unprecedented amount of funding," she said. "Its close to the entire budget of the government of Guam. So this is just a beginning, but it's my goal to ensure that we work together. We collaborate to ensure that this process is transparent as possible."