For too long, Guam's most vulnerable residents have been excluded from a federal benefit that provides a basic measure of security for millions of Americans.

Supplemental Security Income allows our manåmko’, our disabled and those with very limited income to meet basic needs. But because of our location – where we live – the benefit is denied. 

Guam is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. Our grocery costs, the price of gas, utilities surpass just about every U.S. jurisdiction. For manåmko’ that live on fixed incomes, the cost of living has far surpassed their incomes. Our disabled population face financial burdens that are even more costly than anywhere else in the United States. SSI would help these residents maintain their independence and their dignity.

Although delegates before her have not been able to bring the benefit home, Alicia’s extensive knowledge of how the federal legal system works gives her an advantage. It’s important to understand how the entire system functions to be able to leverage the resources and regulations that will finally bring SSI benefits to Guam’s vulnerable residents.

The request for extending SSI to Guam residents is not about special treatment. It is about equity. More than half our population pay social security taxes – those in the private sector and those in our military. But because we live on Guam, they are excluded from a federal safety-net program. 

The SSI benefit would not only directly benefit this disenfranchised group, it would also help their support systems by easing the economic stress of bearing the full cost of care. This would also trickle down to the local government and nonprofit organizations that often are tasked for supporting this population. The investment in our most vulnerable residents is investing in the health and resilience of the entire island.

Guam Update Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Guam was one of the few territories participating in the Great American State Fair, in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the nation’s 250^th birthday.

The Guam Visitors Bureau was running the island’s exhibit, in an assigned space along the end of National Mall near the U.S. Capitol.

Although the fair had been poorly attended and offered few entertaining activities for visitors, Guam’s exhibit stood out among the states and territories because of the extra effort to make visitors feel welcome, to teach them about Guam, and to entertain them with cultural performances.

The cultural dancers and musicians from California’s Kutturan CHamoru Foundation started performing the afternoon of June 27, and planned to provide several performances a day, on the lawn just outside the doors of the Guam exhibit, until July 2.

The Guam exhibit included: an informational wall along the back of the room with a timeline of key events in the island’s history; a small table for distributing gift bags; a table for stamping souvenir booklets, with samples of Guam basket-making and weaving; and a small model of a Chamoru Sakman, or outrigger boat, with informational cards.

The Guam space also was decorated with two tall latte stone models, made from metal frames, covered in spray foam painted to look like rock.

Mario Borja, a cultural seafaring expert who helped build a full-size functional Sakman in 2011, stood in front of the model Sakman and talked to visitors about a Sakman’s construction and about traditional navigation techniques. The California resident was born in Saipan and grew up in Guam.

“We are here showcasing out culture, which is very, very important to us,” said Nadine Leon Guerrero, global marketing director for GVB.

GVB was passing out cookies and coconut candy for a taste of the island, and the Guam souvenir bags also have been very popular with visitors, Leon Guerrero said. The bags include either a pin, tropical lanyard, coconut soap, candy, or a Guam Seal refrigerator magnet.

Accountability means taking responsibility for your decisions and being able to justify them.

In practical terms, how does accountability apply to the island’s congressional delegate, whose office is half a world away?

Accountability is impossible without transparency, which means sharing as much information about operations and spending as Congress will allow. It means quickly responding to requests for that information and being proactive in making information public without people having to ask. Technology has made it very easy to be transparent.

The federal government gives Guam more than $1.3 million per year to run the delegate’s office, including equipment, services, travel and salaries for the employees who work in the Guam and D.C. offices.

There are general restrictions on how that money can be spent — no paying for personal travel, for example, and there are limits on the total number of employees — but members of Congress otherwise set their budget priorities.  Budgeting that money effectively is an important job because any unused money goes back to Congress, basically wasted.

The delegate must be able to justify every spending decision as necessary to help the people of Guam and to bring the island’s issues and solutions to the U.S. House of Representatives. If there is a lot of money left over at the end of the year, residents should know about it, and the delegate should be able to explain why.

Congress restricts access to some information. For example, official staff email addresses and phone extensions are kept private because of cybersecurity concerns and to prevent employees from being overwhelmed by requests from lobbyists and others. That doesn’t mean Guam can’t know who is working for them and in what capacity.

Congress every three months publishes spending information for each office, including how much was spent on travel, salaries and services. However, the reason for the travel spending is not disclosed, with no information about who traveled where, when or why. That’s because Congress believes travel itineraries, receipts and other travel-related documents might contain confidential personal information or put elected officials at risk. Redacting those documents would be a lot of work, so it just isn’t shared.

However, nothing prevents congressional offices from publicly disclosing the reason for their past travel, including who traveled where and why. Those facts are easy to share without disclosing sensitive information.

Budgets and spending aside, a delegate who is accountable should set the standard for their office. They should understand that all their actions can and should be questioned, and they should be prepared to explain their choices.

Paid for and approved by Alicia Garrido Limtiaco for Congress.