The administration is still working with Washington, D.C., to get the list of World War II survivors whose war claims have been adjudicated.
Adelup spokeswoman Janela Carrera said while they don't have a list of all the claimants, they have been advised that 601 claims for war reparations have gone through the adjudication process. Assuming that all of those claimants will receive $10,000 each, the total cost of the reparations comes up to $6.1 million.
The administration, last week, said it would use local funds to pay the war reparations more quickly to war survivors. Del. Michael San Nicolas said he wasn't privy to Adelup's plan and is concerned that it might cause delays in the ongoing process to provide the language authorizing the Department of the Treasury to release the funds for survivors and descendants who are owed reparations.
The funds would come from the $5.6 million that was initially allotted to pay for the government of Guam's share for Medicaid – something that is no longer needed because of a new federal law that requires the Federal Medicare Assistance Percentage program to fund 100% of the cost under the Affordable Care Act for this year.
Speaker Tina Muña Barnes is working on the legislation that would allot local funds to the war claims plan as announced by Adelup. Barnes' spokesman, Chirag Bhojwani, said they are meeting with Adelup's policy group this week to flesh out the bill. He said they continue to work hard to ensure the bill will be ready to be introduced by Liberation Day, which is July 21.
