Pushing forward through their agenda, lawmakers tackled a lengthy list of bills Tuesday with three key measures standing out. Bill 24 by Senator William Parkinson is to ensure that victims of rape have guaranteed access to emergency contraception at Guam’s hospitals and crisis centers.

Parkinson stating that he puts forward this measure with one simple, but powerful principle driving it: no survivor of rape should be denied “Timely, compassionate access to emergency contraception”.

He notes GMH, GRMC, and the Healing Hearts Crisis Center are all equipped to provide this care. “What this bill does is it safeguards that practice. It creates a clear legal requirement that emergency healthcare facilities must inform survivors of their right to emergency contraception, and make it available upon request," he said.

Bill 100 by Senator Sabina Perez targets Guam’s literacy crisis by expanding early childhood education and family-centered support services – recognizing that the building blocks of literacy are placed starting in infancy. She said,  “This is a targeted and preventative approach that is grounded in research and aligned with our broader efforts to improve education and public health.”

If passed, the measure would strengthen programs like the Guam Early Intervention System, Head Start, and GDOE pre-K by ensuring children receive integrated educational and healthcare services.

And Bill 103 by Senator Shawn Gumataotao aims address staffing shortages in Guam’s law enforcement by allowing the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to issue temporary certifications for qualified college graduates.

“Mr. Speaker, AG Mullen and I discussed the importance and urgency of figuring out a way, a policy the AG and other agency heads could rely on to hire criminal justice graduates and other eligible degree holders to fill critical law enforcement positions, and allow them to complete any pending POST Commission certification requirements while employed with these entities," Gumataotao said.