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Senators press for larger Guam Office of Veterans Affairs budget amid conflicting lapse figures and cemetery grant confusion
Summary
The Committee reviewed the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs' FY‑26 request and left the appropriation near the executive recommendation, while senators criticized status‑quo funding, questioned lapse figures, and sought clarity on a cemetery grant that was announced prematurely.
The Committee of the Whole reviewed the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs’ budget during Chapter 5 hearings, leaving the agency’s FY‑26 appropriation near the executive branch request but drawing sustained commentary from senators who said the office needs more staff and program support.
Office of Finance and Budget Director Steve Guerrero said the Office of Veterans Affairs’ FY‑26 appropriation is $1,246,443 from the general fund. Guerrero told senators the governor’s executive budget (EBR) included a larger figure — about $1.5 million — and that the committee‑level ceiling is roughly $261,000 below the governor’s request.
Multiple senators described the agency’s operational strains and cited recent legislation that added verification and other duties to the office. Senator Barnett criticized the budget priorities of the ongoing session, contrasting a proposed $40 million business‑privilege‑tax reduction with relatively modest local funding for veterans’ services. “Just because the executive budget request left the veterans in a lurch … doesn’t mean that we have to do the same thing,” Barnett said.
On financial details, senators and OFB cited varying figures for lapsed balances and carryovers. Guerrero read CER (Current Expenditure Report) figures showing FY‑24 lapses of about $343,000 and, in a later citation of June CER data, a current lapse figure of $648,000. Other witnesses and members, including Senator Montanani and staff at the Office of Veterans Affairs, reported different on‑the‑ground figures (one official told senators there was an $80,000 balance available for ongoing purchases). Guerrero said budget ceilings considered historical expenditure trends and noted long‑standing vacancies: “...there’s 11 vacant positions that are totally funded,” he said; later he noted five positions were included in the FY‑26 ceilings for salary and benefits.
Senators also addressed a widely publicized federal cemetery grant. Several members said the administration mischaracterized the award: the grant announcement described in public messaging was, according to senators who followed up with the National Cemetery Association and agency staff, a notice of funding opportunity that was later pulled and will be re‑applied for. Senator Salas Montanani told the committee the administration “misspoke” when it said the award had been received and said the application will be resubmitted.
Committee members signaled intent to seek amendments. Senator Parkinson and others said they would support efforts to add funds; an amendment to carry over lapsed funds was placed into the committee’s amendment hopper during the session for later consideration.
No final appropriation change was made on the record during the hearing; the committee recessed to consider amendments and continue Chapter 5 deliberations.
