Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Legislative Organization topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
38th Guam Legislature elects Frank F. Blas Jr. as speaker, adopts standing rules and names committee chairs
Summary
The newly sworn 38th Guam Legislature completed organizational business, unanimously electing Senator Frank F. Blas Jr. as speaker, naming Vicente Anthony Borja as vice speaker and approving standing rules and committee chair appointments.
Senator Frank F. Blas Jr. was elected speaker of the 38th Guam Legislature and gave an inaugural address after senators unanimously closed nominations and raised hands to signify support.
The Legislature also adopted its standing rules without objection, confirmed committee chair assignments and took oaths of office for several legislative attaches and officers.
The organizational votes set leadership and committee rosters that will guide the Legislature’s agenda this session, from budget and government operations to education and public safety.
Senator Vicente A. Atta nominated Frank F. Blas Jr. for speaker; Blas accepted the nomination. "Welcome to the Guam Congress building, the house of our people," Senator Frank F. Blas Jr. said in his remarks, calling for cooperation to address housing, health care, infrastructure and public-safety challenges.
Nominations for speaker were closed by motion and, by unanimous consent, senators signaled support for Blas to serve as speaker. The transcript records unanimous consent and raised-hand affirmation; a numerical roll-call tally was not recorded in the transcript.
On the nomination for vice speaker, Senator Gomitato nominated Senator Vicente Anthony Borja to serve as vice speaker; senators closed nominations and gave unanimous support. Senator Sabrina Salas Matanani was nominated and received unanimous support to serve as legislative secretary.
Legislative attaches nominated for appointment included attorney Darlene Hyten for legislative counsel, Renee Vanessa Menno as clerk of the legislature, Edward Santiago Pocaigui Jr. as sergeant at arms, and Polly Microsostomo as legislative chaplain; those appointees were sworn in before the body.
The Legislature adopted the standing rules of the 38th Guam Legislature on a motion that noted each member had been provided a copy; there were no objections and the motion carried.
Senator Atta announced a slate of committee chair appointments that the body approved by unanimous consent. Committee chairs named in the transcript include: - Christopher M. Duenas, Committee on Finance and Government Operations - Yajulio Sean Gumata, Committee on Public Safety and Emergency Management - Vincent A. Borja, Committee on Education, Libraries and Public Broadcasting - Sabrina Salas Matanani, Committee on Health and Veterans Affairs - Shelly Calvo, Committee on Child Welfare, Youth Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women’s Affairs, Disability Services, the Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation - Jesse Anderson Lujan, Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Customs, Utilities, and Federal and Foreign Affairs - Tello T. Taidegwe, Committee on Economic Investment, Military Buildup, Regional Relations, Technology, Regulatory Affairs, Justice, Elections, and Retirement - Additional committee assignments and chairs were announced on the floor during the organizational period.
Senator Christopher M. Duenas also announced party leadership positions recorded in the session: Majority Leader Jesse A. Lujan and Majority Whip Shelly Calvo.
The session included the administration of the oath of office to the senators-elect and to the legislative attaches. The oath and swearing were performed on the floor; the transcript records the oath language but does not list individual vote counts for the organizational motions.
Votes at a glance: - Election of Speaker: Senator Frank F. Blas Jr.; outcome: approved by unanimous consent; vote tally: not specified in transcript - Election of Vice Speaker: Senator Vicente Anthony Borja; outcome: approved by unanimous consent; vote tally: not specified in transcript - Election of Legislative Secretary: Senator Sabrina Salas Matanani; outcome: approved by unanimous consent; vote tally: not specified in transcript - Adoption of Standing Rules: outcome: approved (no objections); vote tally: not specified in transcript - Confirmation of committee chairs and legislative attaches: outcome: approved by unanimous consent or no objection; vote tallies: not specified in transcript
The Legislature adjourned subject to the call of the speaker after completing organizational business.
