Public Hearing - Senator Telo T. Taitague - June 26, 2026 2pm

INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON MILITARY BUILDUP/DEFENSE: Vera Topasna, Executive Director, Community Defense Liaison Office Community Defense Liaison Office Scope of issues, active/secured grants, and priority projects to address most pressing issues on Guam. Civil-Military Coordination Council Community Defense Initiatives for readiness and emergency communications infrastructure Military-driven population planning and impacts Housing Balance of on-base vs. off-base housing supply Development plans and post-buildup land use Impact on local housing/rental market and mitigation strategies. Healthcare Expansion of military healthcare capacity (personnel/dependents) Anticipated use of local healthcare systems Preparedness measures tied to buildup impacts Labor and Workforce Partnerships with UOG, GCC and other trade programs Impact of military-related jobs on wages and labor market competition Infrastructure Status and timeline of the Integrated Missile Defense System. Funding status and impacts on buildup project timelines II. Carlotta Leon Guerrero, Governor’s Chief Advisor on Military & Regional Affairs, Office of the Governor of Guam Regional Relations Buildup impacts on commercial port operations. Status of DoD coordination on Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) Resolution No. 64-BOD-08 b. Housing Government strategy to meet off-island workforce housing demand c. Deep-Sea Mining Relationship to Military Buildup/Defense near Guam and CNMI. d. Cultural and Environmental Impact of Military Buildup/Defense Protection of cultural sites and environmental resources. e. Updates on MITT Training and Testing Timeline status and potential expansion of training and study area. f. Rotation of Marine Corps Personnel from Okinawa i. Status of Okinawa-Guam rotations and operational role on Guam. III. Esther Aguigui, Homeland Security Advisor, Guam Homeland Security & Office of Civil Defense a. Cybersecurity i. Guam’s current cybersecurity readiness and capabilities. ii. Priority gaps and actions to strengthen cyber defense infrastructure. iii.Contingency planning for an islandwide cyber-attack. b. Emergency Communication i. Impact of Fusion Center access loss and restoration efforts ii. Status and improvement of the island’s alert systems (e.g., air raid/siren). iii. Public communication strategy during emergencies (natural disasters and conflict). IV. Brigadier General Karin Watson, Adjutant General, Guam National Guard Guam National Guard role in Guam’s national defense and security. b. Effects of the military buildup on Guard operations and capacity. c. Guard responsibilities for civilian support during conflict scenarios. d. Coordination with U.S. military branches on Guam. e. Civilian roles and expectations in a conflict situation. f. Implications of Operation Epic Fury, including potential Guard deployment.