The Official Website of Speaker Judith T. Won Pat

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: August 30, 2011 6pm

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:34:07 +0000

Speaker Judith T. Won Pat, Ed. D. has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. in the Public Hearing Room of the Guam Legislature Building on the following:

Resolution No 142-31 (COR) Relative to voicing the concern of I Liheslaturan Guahan (the Guam Legislature) on the proposed redeployment of Guam based Continental Micronesia (CMI) flight attendants resulting from the recent merger of Continental and United Airlines; and to emphasize that the impact of such redeployment could seriously imperil (CMI) flight attendant’s seniority status earned with Continental and the possibility of them having to relocate off-island when they’ve placed permanent roots on Guam; and to implore that United Airlines needs to reaffirm its commitment to (CMI) flight attendants and the people of Guam, CNMI and Micronesia to allow (CMI) flight attendants to continue to fly the Honolulu-Guam-Narita route until such time when the new United Airline has achieved one single operating certificate and the flight attendant’s group has negotiated a single contract with a single seniority list.

Written testimonies may be submitted to the Office of Speaker Judith T. Won Pat, Ed.D or the Mail Room of the Guam Legislature at 155 Hesler Place in Hagåtña or via email at speaker@judiwonpat.com or via fax at 472-3589. To view Resolution 142-31 (COR), you may log on to the Guam Legislature’s website at www.guamlegislature.com. The Guam Legislature complies with provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals requiring special accommodations please contact Mr. Steven Dierking assistance at 472-3586/7/8 or by email at steve@judiwonpat.com

Speaker’s Address July 8, 2011

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:56:55 +0000

Speaker Won Pat’s Weekly Address: July 8, 2011

Speaker Address july8

My dear people, our island continues to face economic challenges, forcing us to make sacrifices. In these hard economic times we all have to make tough decisions on what to keep and what to cut. As legislators, when it comes to our budget, we are required to prioritize education, public health and public safety. In these tough times, we as your Senators ask ourselves– how do we prioritize public safety over health care, and education above all else, without affecting one or more already critical areas? Simply put, we havealready cut to the bone.

I extend to each of you that it takes an entire community to build and sustain a school of excellence. The recent decision by the Board of Education to close FQ Sanchez inUmatac is not what I wanted to happen.

As the committee chair on Education and Public Libraries I have been proactive in seeking alternatives to keep the school open– a school that has a legacy of producing educated and contributing members to our island-community. It was over a year ago that I proposed that we capitalize upon FQ Sanchez’ deep rooted ties to our Chamorro language and culture by converting the school into a Chamorro immersion school– a specialized charter school under private management.

We must accept the economic reality that cuts have to be made across the board– but this does not mean that we have to sacrifice everything along the way. As a teacher for life and a former school principal, I know first-hand that a community is capable of building and sustaining a school of excellence if we ‘will’ it to be. I believe that there is still opportunity to keep FQ Sanchez open—but we must think creatively, and investigate other possibilities.

The Government has been experiencing hard economic times. This is why the Charter School legislation is a viable alternative for a more fiscally responsible school with greater accountability and community ownership.

I am committed to working with the Governor’s office, BBMR and the office of Budget and Finance to explore a Charter School arrangement for FQ Sanchez Elementary School. With this option, the Umahtak community would have greater control over important factors such as curriculum, staffing and student learning—while also addressing vital budget concerns.

As we get closer to hearings on next year’s budget, my office will commence a three-day review of the 2012 budget this week. We will sit down—with folks from theDepartment of Education– and evaluate every aspect of the Department’s budget requests for next year. Together we will work to find solutions to some of our financial issues. Collaboration between the Department, the Committee on Education and Public Libraries, and the community at-large, is critical in tight budget times like these.
Equally as critical is DOE’s search for a new Superintendent. I trust that the candidate selected will be dynamic, experienced, and able to bring our community together so that we could make decisions in a way that is transparent and in the best interest of our school and island community. I want to publicly thank Dr. Nerissa Underwood for her diligent work in the Department for the past three years. Her care for our children in DOE demonstrates her commitment to the future of our island and our society. Thank you, Dr. Underwood. You shall be dearly missed.

A new Superintendent, a new school year nearing, a new budget, and hopefully a new opening for FQ Sanchez. Every end is a new beginning. And we shall begin these new chapters in our Department of Education—together. For our children, for our island, for our future.

Speakers Address: June 22, 2011 “Vast Potential in the Blue Continent”

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:56:59 +0000

Speakers Address: June 22, 2011

Speakers Address June 22

“Vast Potential in the Blue Continent”

We are people of the Pacific, the Blue Continent, a region that is growing economically, politically and socially at an unprecedented rate. Throughout our island histories, we have been closely tied to our Brothers and Sisters of the Pacific– through our social values of cherishing our families, children and environment, and through helping each other.

This past week I was privileged once again to participate in the General Assembly of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures, where I serve as Vice President. The Guam delegation—consisting of myself, Senator Rory Respicio and Senator Chris Duenas– heard presentations on major health issues facing our region such diabetes, obesity, cancer and mental health, and developing technology infrastructure to improve communications for underserved communities.

Our delegation introduced and passed resolutions asking our Pacific counterparts to adopt legislation to ban shark finning in their waters, to focus on the health and welfare of our people, and to encourage our Pacific counterparts with a seat at the United Nations to support our efforts in Guam’s quest for self-determination.

We are at a critical moment in our political history. I join our Governor in the call to make major strides in our collective efforts towards our self-determination, and the help of other Pacific countries in the United Nations will help our cause greatly.

Right now, the U.S. faces its own economic challenges. This year, by Presidential order, the Department of Defense was forced to cut over 80 billion dollars from their budget. Over the next 10 years they must cut 400 billion. Many programs have already been cut—as we have seen with the funds for our military buildup. A report by the World Bank shows that East Asia Gross Domestic Product is growing at a rate of approximately 8 percent. The U.S. GDP is crawling along at 3 percent, and the predictions for economic recovery are not good.

We’ve always said, “Never put your eggs in any one basket.” Because of what is happening in the national and international economy, we should not put all of our hopes and energies for our economic future solely in this military build-up. We must build our economic potential with East Asia and the Pacific—countries that are growing at almost 3 times the rate of the United States.

Our economy is severely limited by restrictive policies that we did not create. We are unable to trade freely within our region and East Asia, we are unable to take advantage of financial partnerships and economic development programs with other countries and we are unable to further develop our fragile tourist economy with foreign markets because of policies made for us—not by us.

I want our children to enjoy the freedom and economic prosperity that regional growth is offering. We are, due to our location and infrastructure, uniquely capable of realizing economic prosperity that the region and the natural markets offer—but we must first examine and change our political status in order to take advantage of these opportunities.

I am in agreement with Governor Calvo in the need to fully educate ourselves about the different options availed to us as we proceed to determine a political status that serves the best interest of Guam First!

I am excited and remain committed to engaging in this process together as members of our pacific island community and as citizens of one Pacific community—our great Blue Continent.

Si yu’us ma’ase

Speaker’s Address: June 8, 2011

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:37:50 +0000

Speaker’s Address: June 8, 2011

Speaker Address June 8, 2011

This week the Guam Legislature and the Office of the Governor of Guam demonstrated that we are able and willing to make the critical comprises that we need so that we may arrive at a destination that benefits the People of Guam.

Granted, we may have started off in different places, but ultimately we were headed in the same direction of ensuring that your health benefits and our people’s government operations are funded for the remainder of this fiscal year.

As the Speaker of the Guam Legislature, I assure you that the debate we had on the floor was not just about a few numbers, and it certainly was not about politics. Our debate on the supplemental budget was about priorities.

The Guam Legislature shall continue to ensure that our basic government operations are not compromised, at any time and under any circumstances. At no point were your paychecks at risk. The supplemental budget was about allowing the governor to pay increased healthcare insurance premiums that were signed by the previous governor.

My dear People, I want to reassure you, as evidenced by our budget and all the numbers available to us, all agencies payrolls are fully funded through the end of the year. Our shortfall was in the health insurance payment. And of course, each time we come to an impasse like this, as your Legislature has many times before, we can rearrange our obligations— like we all do in our household budgets at times, when we have one bill due before the next— to make sure that the power stays on, that our people are paid, and that we can get the healthcare we need.

Governor Calvo and Senator Ben, I agree with you both. Let us come back to working in the spirit of inafa’maolek in order that we may not lose in our way in improving the lives of all those here on Guam. This requires that we communicate openly, honestly, and directly with each other at all times and when addressing matters such as this—however urgent and contentious. Let us continue in healthy debate and dialogue but always in a respectful and deliberate manner with the best interest of the People of Guam foremost in mind and at all times.

Si Yu’us Ma’ase for working to ensure that we sustain payments for health care, continue to deliver much needed government services to the people of Guam, and in budgeting for critical payments to our retirees.

Biba Guåhan!

Bill No. 210-31 “The Cash Economy Enforcement Act of 2011″

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:54:21 +0000

Bill No. 210-31 (COR) An act to add a new Chapter 53 to Title 11, of the Guam Code Anntoated, to provide the Department of Revenue and Taxation Enforcement and Collection Resources to target high risk, cash-based businesses and for non licensed businesses engaged in military construction projects. This act shall be known as “The …

Speaker’s Weekly Address: June 1, 2011 “Speaker encourages graduates to give back to our island”

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:33:02 +0000

Speaker’s Weekly Address: June 1, 2011

Speaker Address June1

Speaker encourages graduates to give back to our island.

Hafa Adai My Dear Graduates:

Our island, our region, and the rest of the world for that matter is better off today because thousands of our island residents have progressed in their educational journey towards becoming a more informed member of our society.

Someone in our family or in our workplace has rejoiced in their child, relative, or friend having met the requirements for promotion or graduation. Just imagine… well over 40,000 students from grades pre-k on through college level training at GCC or UOG, have either been promoted to the next grade level or topped-off the year as a newly minted graduate!

Be encouraged by the fact that as a pacific island community we continue to persevere despite the challenges that face us economically, socially, and politically. We persevere because we know that whatever the situation, whatever the time, and whoever the persons in positions to effectuate change, we know that it will be better.

Today is a great day because at the end of this academic year, many have emerged with having met the requirements for advancement. Today is great because we know that for all who have chosen to embrace education, it is the great equalizer. It is, in fact, the key that levels the field and unlocks all doors… those leading to personal or financial prosperity, and for many… religious fulfillment. It is the same key that releases us of our very own ignorance and of any form of oppression, if we will it to be.

What good is the mark of having met the requirements of graduation or promotion if we do not apply ourselves? The journey we take in receiving that diploma or college degree demonstrates to all that we are capable of communicating effectively and thinking critically about those questions put before us; albeit a question about math or science or those more closely related to the humanities.

But the challenge, “the question,” I pose to all of you today is not a rhetorical one. It is a question that requires active research and application…today, and everyday hereafter until you feel the question has been

answered to your satisfaction.

Ask yourself… where do I want to be in the future and how do I get there?

You may modify the time frame, even the context.

Where do you want to be in your job, in your school, or as a community?

And how do you suppose you’ll get there?

Every day your lawmakers in the Guam Legislature wrestle with these questions but in the context of our island community. The questions we deal with are the same ones I challenged you to answer for yourselves.

Where do we need to be as a People and how do we get there?

Where do we want to be in order to best provide for those

who’ve retired and those who continue to serve?

For those who’ve graduated from high school and those who’ve received their college certificates and degrees, the island is your classroom. For all intents and purposes, you are “students of life” so continue to apply the skills and knowledge you acquired over the years and continue to distinguish yourself as an educated member of our society by looking at all the

factors and then make an informed decision.

The final test in life is determining to what extent you’ve answered that question of fulfillment. All I ask, on behalf of all those who’ve made this island paradise their home, is that you keep Guam in mind. If you leave the island to further your education, find your way home and help make the island a better place… because Guam is your home. Give back to the community that has given so much to you.

Your time to lead and change the world in which you live has arrived so be mindful and remember to pay tribute to those who’ve made your journey and successes along the way possible. For those who’ve reached that educational milestone this

year, as a former public school administrator and teacher, as a mother and grandmother, and as a fellow student for- and of- life … I commend you on a job well done.

Likewise, to those who continue to hold up our institutions of education, the family unit, and those who continue to hold up those who are on their path towards becoming more educated members of our society, I ‘Thank You’ for all you’ve done.

Hasso I tano-ta. Hasso I taotao-ta.

Si Yu’os Ma’ase.

Speaker’s Address May 24, 2011: We shall not yield in our fight for “Guam’s fair share.”

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Tue, 31 May 2011 08:01:30 +0000

Speaker’s Radio Address

Click to listen to address

May 25, 2011

My Dear People of Guam. Buenas yan Hafa Adai.

There isn’t a person I know, to include myself, who is against a bright and prosperous future for Guam.

But before we rush on to any bandwagon that promises a brighter future for you and our island, be certain to examine the facts. It is important that we all know what it is we are dealing with.

The military build-up will bring with it a spike in consumer spending and an increase in jobs associated with the build-up.

But are the social costs greater than the amount of dollars infused into the economy? To best answer the question, the unit of analysis has to be you, the individual and then, of course, our community.

When contemplating the build-up, ask yourself: • How will it benefit me?

- Does it mean better wages? – Does it mean better facilities for me and my family? – Will my child go to a better school as a result of the build-up? – Will I and my family receive better health care?

And then ask yourself, outside of the home, how will Guam benefit?

If we have a hard time answering these questions for ourselves, what will you do when you find that for every dollar gained, we are collectively spending 2 or 3 more dollars for the impact costs on our power, housing, water and wastewater infrastructures, educating our kids, policing our streets and villages, and medically treating our people?

The Department of Defense itself has said that the costs of goods and services will rise faster than our incomes. Can you afford to live on Guam as a result of this buildup?

We know that influential US senators are looking to downsize bases all over the world and cut costs anywhere they can—not just the costs of this realignment.The fact remains, my dear People, that for hundreds of years, our island has been at the forefront of a Pacific defense strategy. We are the tip of the spear. If there was another location with similar topography, climate, and strategic location, the issue of the build-up would not have been or continue to be “on the table.” We have been and we will always be an essential part of national security.

Your elected officials, including former governors and legislators, have and will continue to fight for what is fair. This is because we acknowledge that the People of Guam deserve unequivocal and unapologetic advocacy.

We shall not yield in our fight for “Guam’s fair share.”

If the federal government anticipates an increase in the number of students into Guam’s public schools as a direct result of the build-up, we only ask that they also assist our local government in making sure that there are enough classrooms, teachers, and materials for all of Guam’s youth.

If they anticipate 20,000 more people to be cared for by our existing healthcare providers, we only ask that they help us provide enough facilities, healthcare professionals and medicines.

If they anticipate that we won’t have enough housing and that the rents and costs of homes will be too high for our people to afford, we only ask that they help us to provide adequate affordable housing.

These are examples of what we must demand as Guam’s fair share.

If there wasn’t a build-up, we wouldn’t be asking for these things. But this isn’t the case. We will have more neighbors. We will have more children to teach, injured people to treat, and elders to care for. If this influx is directly attributed to a U.S. military build-up, we ask that they pay their fair share.

Everyone wants economic prosperity. Everyone wants to do their duty. But not at any price. Saina Ma’ase.

Speaker’s Weekly Address: May 18, 2011

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:48:34 +0000

Speaker Won Pat’s Weekly Address

May 18, 2011

Speaker’s Address May 18, 2011

Hafa Adai Tao Tao Guåhan.This past week has brought us much news, some of it good, some of it bad, some of it yet to be determined.

We have heard that the military buildup may be changing, and changing in an unknown way. This brought with it fear—because some on our island believe that without the buildup we cannot survive. They tell us that this buildup is the only answer to our economic problems. They say that we don’t have the drive, the intelligence, and the strength to build our own economy, create our own businesses and jobs, or feed our own families.

These are not the voices of our future, my dear People of Guam. Our young people are dynamic and are growing to become bright entrepreneurs and successful working people who are guiding the way to our islands economic prosperity. New businesses are sprouting up every day—the development of agriculture for local food production and export; affordable housing complexes for our local people; flourishing wholesale and retail companies; expanding tourism to other markets with an ecological draw, and even the development of a new state-of-the-art hospital in planning. These things are happening through the hard work, determination and drive of our local people who understand that we must do for ourselves if we are to thrive as a people and an island.

This Friday, members of your legislature will meet with Professional staff members from the Congressional Committees of Natural Resources, Insular Affairs, Judiciary, Financial Services, Appropriations, Transportation and Infrastructure. The staff is on a fact-finding mission to gain better insight into the transition of Marines from Okinawa to Guam in order to brief Members of Congress on the status and legal implications of the plan.

Your Legislature has been outspoken– from the beginning of this buildup process over a year and a half ago– that the prosperity of our people and our island’s future must be addressed. Schools must be built. Our hospital must be funded. Our infrastructure must be expanded to meet the

demand on our resources this build up will bring to our island. Your leaders must be advocating, unequivocally, unapologetically, for you, for our children, for the future of our island. We should be questioning any leader who does not.

The ever changing dynamics in the buildup process over the last several months shows us one thing—The prosperity of our island and our people cannot be contingent on a plan that can change so easily overnight, without any notice and at the will of unpredictable financial and policy conditions occurring all around us.

Our task lies within ourselves—to find our TRUE prosperity, and an economic balance that allows us to provide for every single one of us and not just the already wealthy few who will build their fortunes from the buildup.

The job that we must start now is a hard one—but one that is full of promise. We are at a turning point where we take our future into our own hands. We must each ask ourselves: What will our lives be in 10 years, 20 years, 30 years? Will we still be looking to another to feed us? Or will we rise to abilities, foster our resources and develop a future that will provide prosperity for our children and grandchildren.

We are a people rooted in the values of our culture: familia, respetu, chin’chule, inafa’maolek. We care for our manamko’ and our children before anything else. Prosperity for us comes from a richness of family and culture, and we know that we must depend on ourselves and each other to provide for our families.

This effort for our future will take more than just your elected leaders. We can mandate and legislate, but each citizen must take action and responsibility for our economy and its health. It must be all of us who rise to the occasion, because we, the citizens of Guam are the ones who will solve all of our problems.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Saina Ma’ase.

Bill No. 176-31 (LS) – J.T. Won Pat, Ed.D. / T.R. Muna-Barnes

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:34:09 +0000

Bill No. 176-31 (LS) – J.T. Won Pat, Ed.D. / T.R. Muna-Barnes

An act to amend items (2) and (4) of §30102 of Title 17 GCA; to amend item (4) of §30103 of Title 17 GCA; to amend §31102 of Title 17 GCA; to repeal §31102.1 of Title 17 GCA; to amend §31107 of Title 17 GCA; items (2) and (6) of §31108 of Title 17 GCA; to amend item (5) of §31110 of Title 17 GCA; to amend §31111 of Title 17 GCA; to amend §31112 of Title 17 GCA; to repeal §31115 of Title 17 GCA; to repeal subsection (C) of §31116 of Title 17 GCA; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 32 of Title 17 GCA; to repeal §33104 of Title 17 GCA; to renumber Article 3, Chapter 32 of Title 17 GCA to Division 5 of Title 17 GCA, relative to the Guam Community College. Received: 5/2/11 – 10:25 a.m.

Speaker’s Weekly Address – May 4, 2011

Speaker Judi Won Pat — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:25:02 +0000

Speaker’s Address – May 4, 2011

Click to listen to address

Hafa Adai yan Minagof na Oggan taotaoGuam:

Today I want to talk about a malady in our community that is affecting many families, most especially our youth on Guam.

Suicide on Guam is reaching epic proportions and we as a community must come together to do something about it. Data from the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse reveals that Guam’s 2009 suicide rate is over 50% higher than the average US suicide death rates.”

Last year there were 30 deaths from suicide– and so far this year there have been 7 cases, 4 of which were 16 year old teens. Guam has one of the highest rates of suicide per capita.

Right here in the Pacific– where we hold our heritage, customs and familial ties as sacred to our lives– the statistics on suicide are astounding. No, they are outright heartbreaking. Those who identify themselves as Chamorro, Filipino, or being of FSM ethnicity make up over 75% of the total number of suicides in the past decade on Guam.

My Dear People of Guam, suicide is preventable. We as a community can help make that difference in someone’s life when it comes to addressing these tragedies. It is clear that more must be done: we must build the awareness of this growing problem; we as community must develop a better understanding of this social ill; and we must identify more professionals who are available to assist in prevention.

The top two reasons leading to suicide or attempted suicide are family disputes and personal relationship problems. For every successful attempt, there are estimated 8-25 unsuccessful efforts at suicide. These statistics are alarming and we can’t afford to let it go unaddressed. In this case, it is a matter of life or death.

On my part, I called for a roundtable to ascertain the facts about what exactly is happening in our community and to determine where and how effective local and federal dollars are being used to address these issues.

Last week, I, along with Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr., Committee on Health Chairman called for a roundtable with various government and community stakeholders. This was just the first of a series of discussions about suicide on Guam.

We will be calling for an oversight hearing to be conducted by our Joint Committees that will require the responsible government agencies to produce a strategic framework, standard operating procedures, a uniformed and reliable communications system, and the necessary protocols to optimally serve our island’s at-risk population.

I want to make certain that all of our schools have a uniformed strategic prevention plan that addresses the growing suicide rates among our islands youth. The results of these meetings will be published and reported out to you, the People of Guam.

It is our responsibility as a community to address this problem, to put in place programs that help victims and to see to it that no one takes their own life or loses a life, regardless of the situation.

So I ask you– if family disputes and personal relationship problems are at core of why our loved ones even contemplate taking their life, that you please– spare a moment and take stock in your family and your role in making the home a real safe haven, a place where you and those you care for may find peace, comfort, and refuge from external pressures and anxieties.

We must have strong relationships, with our children, spouse, relatives, and friends. Say something positive, be encouraging, ask questions. If you know of someone who may require intervention, please call 647-8833, or inform someone so that together we may save one more life.

And if you find yourself contemplating suicide, reach out to someone you trust. You are not alone. Call the intervention line: 647-8833. You are an important part of our community, and here on Guam, we take care of ours.

Si Yu’os Ma’ase, taotao Guahan. Take care of each other, and take care of yourselves. We are one people, one island, one community, and we must help each other to safeguard each of our precious lives.