The bill that fixes a technical error in Guam's World War II Loyalty Recognition Act will likely pass the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support next week.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made the announcement during the Guam Liberation Gala at the U.S. Botanic Garden on Wednesday (Thursday, Guam time), according to Guam Del. Michael San Nicolas.
San Nicolas introduced H.R. 1365 to correct flaws in the World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, which was submitted by then-Del. Madeleine Bordallo in 2018.
Once the bill clears the House, it will have to get through the Senate before it can land on President Donald Trump's desk for his action.
Sen. Amanda Shelton flew to Washington, D.C., where she attended the Liberation festivities and advocated for the passage of H.R. 1365 with several members of Congress including Pelosi, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), according to a press release from her office. She also discussed with them and other representatives the Guam Legislature's resolution supporting H.R. 1365.
"These collective efforts coupled with a united front from all of Guam's leaders is truly the best hope for our people. I would like to thank Congressman San Nicolas, his predecessors and all the people who have worked over the last 75 years for this recognition and compensation," Shelton stated in the release.
Her office stated that the House vote would take place Monday.
While there, Shelton also met with Assistant Secretary of the Interior Doug Domenech, according to her office.
The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission has awarded more than $6.2 million in claims to over 600 survivors of the Japanese occupation during World War II. No checks have been issued because Bordallo's bill lacked the provision necessary to authorize the U.S. Treasury Department to make the payments in the bill she originally introduced.
San Nicolas introduced H.R. 1365 to correct technical flaws in the World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, which was submitted by then-Del. Madeleine Bordallo in 2018.
