Vetoed Bill 185, previously shot down by Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, is back on the table before lawmakers.

The proposal would require a new hospital be constructed in Tamuning where the Guam Memorial Hospital currently stands.

Bill author, Senator Chris Barnett, discussing the current state of GMH hoped to get enough votes for an override. 

“It deteriorated because of longstanding neglect and years of under-funding. Unfortunately, we are now witnessing history repeat itself with the current state of GMH reflecting the same failures by government leaders to act, leading us to once again face the same challenges,” said Sen. Barnett. 

“In the meantime, the current Guam Memorial Hospital continues to deteriorate and I cannot understand why the governor hasn’t utilized more of the available funds to extend the life of the existing facility,” added Barnett. 

Barnett called for transparency and questioned the Governor’s use of funds meant for constructing a new hospital, along with her motivations for moving its location.

“If the governor had been upfront about her intentions and her true goal was to build a new hospital, she would not be alone in that effort. For we well know that every governor before her has made the same promise. The key difference, however, is that none of these previous governors had access to the hundreds of millions of dollars that Governor Leon Guerrero now controls,” Barnett said. 

According to the bill, 75% of Guam’s medical clinics are located in Tamuning and keeping the hospital in the village would benefit clinic response times in transporting patients to the hospital.

This comes as response time for southern residents remains an issue.

Sen. Thomas Fisher said, “I believe it is because the medical community has put out one canard after another about the disadvantages of going to Mangilao. Frankly, the medical community tells us that ‘My gosh, in the middle of the night, the phone might ring and I’m going to have to drive 15 minutes to go to the hospital. God knows what will happen then.’ As if this new medical complex would not have emergency services there.”

The lame-duck senators speaking to the economic benefits of constructing a new hospital.

“If we go to Tamuning, we will produce nothing in economic stimulus. We're going to build a glass box on a cliff that will have to be torn down and rebuild in another 25 years,” said Fisher. 

He added a hospital in Mangilao would bring additional economic growth in the form of supporting infrastructure in the village, such as new roads, retail establishments, and potential housing communities.

Sen. Barnett ending his testimony shining a light on the medical community members who support the bill and asking his colleagues for support.