[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6199665,"mediaKeyId","3824529-db7e880eb99b28a8e5213f17ec92f9a1","parentId",3824529,"title","Committee backs creating November as Veterans Service Recognition Month; plans implementation roadmap","audioSeconds",2158,"startMs",3119000,"endMs",5277000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3824529-db7e880eb99b28a8e5213f17ec92f9a1&start=3119&end=5277","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3824529-db7e880eb99b28a8e5213f17ec92f9a1/thumbnail_3119000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6199665/Committee-backs-creating-November-as-Veterans-Service-Recognition-Month-plans-implementation-roadmap","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199665-4566261e72a713519d0d6fd8584698be/orig.mp4?Expires=1773327623&Signature=P74BsiDiUj3D4yVHfiIzEzEOiEKoYLOlvmdjHIcskI58ksASnXeBD1jp2sUylAnY33oaYOvp2pXLaR-5oaspCl8gP4Du5FStJqU6lgUiBISy87TwfxGyx-z3wj89FpN5gqScXxe-M~35pMv7Db6EjvMLkrDA-AN6ckwp786AtXnMLElINOGa1bfQleZF7xWDeXCT8S8MTGbyibP7OaOiDjUgLdFcM4fhmhxGzxGatxRFqKZDMStOIjtHhOqAANZbF~YJm5XjIvEys-SMLdjkrBbbdUW0aLNML~kSI6iMi2Ph2mhD7hX3jR8ltnaC6p~Xix7L4QUglThkU9-719RF0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Guam Legislature","date","2025-06-12T17:35:20Z","article","The Committee on Health and Veterans Affairs heard testimony June 12 on Bill 92, a measure to designate November as Veterans Service Recognition Month in Guam, with multiple veterans, advocacy leaders and senators expressing unanimous support for a monthlong observance.

\"I think this is a no brainer,\" Sergeant Major Santiago said in testimony supporting the measure, urging the committee to use the month to preserve veterans' stories for future generations.

Sponsor Senator Sabrina said the designation would \"give us the whole month to honor the men and women from Guam who've served in the military and the families who stood by them.\" Witnesses and senators emphasized the statute's implementation provisions, which detail program goals and assign agency roles.

Testimony from veterans and commissioners called for government agencies to take a greater role than in past years, when veterans organizations often relied on private donations and volunteer labor. Joe San Augustine, director of the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs, said his office would recruit the Guam Veterans Commission to plan programs and that donations could help underwrite events; Senator Chris Barnett and others urged that the measure be backed by legislative appropriations so events and services are not solely dependent on solicitations.

Witnesses recommended specific activities listed in the bill be treated as a menu rather than a rigid checklist. Senator Tydigui raised a drafting concern about the bill's frequent use of \"shall\" for program activities, noting that vetting and classroom visits require careful planning; Sergeant Major Santiago agreed that speakers should be vetted before appearing to students. Several testifiers and senators encouraged an emphasis on documenting veterans' oral histories and integrating activities with schools, ROTC, the Guam National Guard and other agencies.

The bill calls for the governor to issue an annual proclamation, requires participating agencies to identify and support activities such as school lessons on Guam's military history and veterans' oral-history projects, and authorizes fundraising and appropriations. Senator Sean Gumatauta reviewed existing statutory authority (10 GCA \u0000 67106) that allows the Office of Veterans Affairs to solicit and administer gifts and donations and noted that funds for ceremonies may be deposited in the Veterans Affairs Fund.

No formal vote was taken; senators signaled support and the measure will proceed to markup. Committee members said they will consider amendments to clarify implementation language, funding sources and agency responsibilities and to ensure that program \"shall\" provisions are practicable. The committee will accept written testimony through June 26.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Hearing - Senator Sabrina Salas Matanane - June 12, 2025 2pm","oneSentenceSummary","The Health and Veterans Affairs Committee heard broad support June 12 for Bill 92 to designate November as Veterans Service Recognition Month in Guam, with testimony urging a funded, coordinated program of events, oral-history preservation and agency participation; the committee will take amendments at markup.","taxTitle","General Government Operations and Appropriations\t, Legislative, Guam, International","taxId",18139,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6199670,"Guam committee hears push to expand veteran license-plate designs, plans markup",2988,159000,3147000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3824529-db7e880eb99b28a8e5213f17ec92f9a1&start=159&end=3147","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3824529-db7e880eb99b28a8e5213f17ec92f9a1/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6199670/Guam-committee-hears-push-to-expand-veteran-license-plate-designs-plans-markup","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199670-c308847c4a9e139ef7475ddb41e384ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1773327623&Signature=dec0nHlTV72W1Zd25dIu~Q-Y~-lWnVQGrLYpc8tXYp7Y-L7poTVGR~vST4Gs~KKUO291g2e4tlNPxO4NMH2xKvie6QLUTBN5cxXa8nM~yK-PiL-UWyZcZAboPGOf6ocE7Q0I3PUrUggHfG1vT2gU92maj0QfDp2aZjUBycAN~RQFQFDlxMWUL1gmB~nqYkmjSuIsPCjNxjwVnE-ks~uv3NTmM5GjkRlGjs8GXWsL9JDGoYWQmCvtGy1NiDAXKDo~nJEsd4wZ-A7Vp3mWGGyb9g4KPPfu1YSiofdxj3lEWN0k5iVpBaxhKo4FFyF52FM0YOUR3TDp9akt~PDn0gvfpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Health and Veterans Affairs met June 12 in Hagåtña to hear public testimony on Bill 5, which would expand Guam's veteran license plates to permit conflict-zone identifiers, branch-specific markings and earned-medal graphics, a committee member said.

Supporters and veterans organizations told the committee the changes would let veterans publicly display service details they consider meaningful. \"This bill is another opportunity to honor and serve those who served with courage and bravery,\" Senator Joe St. Augustine wrote in prepared remarks read into the record by the chair.

Veterans and advocates said they back the bill but urged careful design work and consideration of costs. Roy Gamboa, president of nonprofit Gotcha 671, said the proposal is \"very simple, straight to the point\" and suggested the committee consider printed plastic plates to allow full images and reduce stamping costs. \"That's an additional way, of course, to add graphics,\" Gamboa testified.

The director of the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs, Joe San Augustine, told senators his office will prioritize designs for Vietnam and Korean War plates and then work on other conflict-era designs. \"We will do the leg work but we will get the input from many of these veterans,\" he said, adding his office will coordinate with Revenue and Taxation on production and any fiscal impact.

Senator Sean Gumatauta noted a fiscal note from the Bureau of Budget and Management Research (BBMR) and said BBMR anticipated a fiscal impact to the general fund because of manufacturing costs but could not quantify it without data from the Department of Revenue and Taxation (DRT) and the Office of Veterans Affairs. Gumatauta also asked whether Prison Industries (9 GCA, Art. 4) could produce plates locally; the director said equipment costs are high and recommended further study if the committee wishes to explore local production.

Committee members and testifiers discussed operational details now reflected in existing law, including vetting eligibility through the Veterans Affairs Office (for example, DD-214 verification) and the current special-recognition plate program that includes Bronze Star, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart icons. Witnesses and the director said the system would continue to display branch identifiers (for example, \"MC\" for Marine Corps) and maintain plate numeration and readability, while adding a left-hand printed panel for optional graphics or medal symbols.

No formal vote was taken. The committee agreed to move Bill 5 to a markup hearing and to try to place it on the July legislative session agenda; staff and the director were asked to coordinate draft designs with veterans groups and to collect information from DRT and BBMR on production, costs and implementation logistics.

The committee accepted written testimony through June 26 and noted that Revenue and Taxation will submit written comments; Marie Lizama (DRT) had notified the committee she would provide written testimony.

Questions and follow-up items raised during the hearing included: how many veteran plates are produced annually and at what cost under the current metal-stamping process; whether printed plastic plates would reduce long-term costs; how the office will handle veterans who qualify for multiple campaign identifiers; and whether veterans would be able to select their graphic or be assigned a single approved design per conflict.

The committee indicated it would seek input from the Guam Veterans Commission and veterans organizations during the markup process and to clarify fiscal effects before final action.","The Committee on Health and Veterans Affairs heard testimony June 12 on Bill 5 to allow conflict-specific graphics, branch identifiers and medal symbols on Guam's veteran license plates; the measure will go to markup with direction for design coordination among veterans groups, the Office of Veterans Affairs and Revenue & Taxation.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee backs creating November as Veterans Service Recognition Month; plans implementation roadmap

Guam committee hears push to expand veteran license-plate designs, plans markup