A bill to raise the RISE Act payout amounts went through a brief public hearing today. Senators are fast-tracking the measure to possibly get it on the agenda for the next legislative session on Monday. This, as they continue to try and pressure the governor to get those payments out.

The bill by Senator Jim Moylan would raise the payouts from $800 to $1,000 for individuals, and from $1,600 to $2,000 for couples. If it does make it on the agenda, Moylan has indicated he will use it to add a series of amendments such as removing the $30 million cap, and ensuring that everyone who is eligible gets paid.

Those are all issues that drew support from the lone person to testify, military veteran Adam Drilon. He announced, "The governor won't call for an emergency session for the legislature so that changes can be made to the All Rise Act. Why? PUA funds stop in September and our economy is far from recovery. I would say that getting these funds out to the people of Guam punctually is an emergency."

He adds that keeping a cap on the payouts will just pit people against one another, saying, "because essentially what she is saying if she doesn't remove the cap is that not every individual and family deserves to get paid the full amount of the All RISE Act. A first come, first served basis? Are you kidding me? You might as well throw your people in a cage and ask them to fight and kill each other and the ones left standing get paid."

Drilon also described what he believes is the divisive nature that's being created.

"This is the overall tone I'm getting since this administration took office: government comes first and then the people come last. The government versus the people. And that's not how government works and that's not how and why government was created. If anyone thinks I'm just bashing the governor for no good reason, well, I voted for her. So I believe I have the right to be critical of how she is running her governorship and how it all affects the people of Guam and the future of our beautiful island," he announced.

And sponsor Moylan says Drilon's testimony is representative of the hundreds who have signed a petition, called or emailed in support of the bill, as he said, "If we do not make the noise, if we do not stand up and fight, if we do not raise our voices, if we do not express our opinion. We wouldn't be here today."

Senators will hold another public hearing on Thursday, which will focus on a second fast-tracked bill that also seeks to amend the RISE Act.