Kilili to the rescue for the Marianas. It’s often been a chorus that the candidates seeking to replace him in the CNMI appreciate, and to which Guam’s challenger to the incumbent Guam congressional delegate points out in her ‘Jim Moylan is AWOL’ campaign.
CNMI delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan – who is retiring this year – co-sponsored legislation that will expand veterans benefits to National Guard members and Reservists. Essentially, if this house resolution (H.R. 7543) becomes law, Guardsmen and Reservists will “earn educational benefits for every day in service, including weekend drills, annual training, military schools, exercises, and disaster response in federal status,” according to a news release from the Guam congressional challenger campaign Ginger Cruz for Congress.
Her opponent, Guam delegate James “Jim” Moylan, notably is missing from the list of co-sponsors, and Ms. Cruz says that once again, on such an important issue for Guam, the island’s lone congressman is AWOL.
“Guam cannot afford to be absent without leadership any longer. We are missing critical opportunities and failing to prepare for the real challenges ahead,” Ms. Cruz. “If elected, I will make Guard and Reserve parity a top priority. Our National Guardsmen and Reservists deserve the benefits they’ve earned through their service.”
Mr. Moylan’s chief of staff, Bobby Shringi, said his boss supports the measure. “We would gladly ask to add ourselves as a co-sponsor, and we would merely just have to reach out to his office and ask,” he said. “We also have to confirm if this language was incorporated in the NDAA or the VA Appropriations Bill, both of which passed the house.”
Mr. Shringi explained reasons why Mr. Moylan may not have been made aware of this particular legislation, which was primarily sponsored by Veterans Affairs Committee ranking member Carl Levin. “Usually through offices you work closely with where they ask, caucuses, conferences, floor cards, etc., where you are asked, or emails from from constituents (like in this case) where inquiries are made, or just generally when you stumble upon through other means. In this case, it seems Rep Levin kept co-sponsorships within his circle,” he said.
That defense, however, fuels Ms. Cruz’s point:
“I won’t just endorse bills—I’ll actively advocate for measures that ensure our servicemembers get the support they deserve,” she said. “This is about showing up for the people of Guam and taking real action.”
Mr. Shringi further defended his boss, saying his record of support for the National Guard speaks for itself. “We would absolutely support any measure that supports our GUNG, as we did in the NDAA when it came to pay raises,” he said. “We also added certain authorities for them, and secured funding including $10 million for construction of their command center.”
Ms. Cruz is not the only person in the federal know to criticize the Republican incumbent for being absent on critical issues. Fellow Democrat Michael San Nicolas, a former member of Congress, also has been critical of the congressman’s record since Guam lost compact impact funding on Mr. Moylan’s watch. Washington D.C. watchdog GovWatch also has criticized Guam’s delegate for his extraordinary absentee record when compared with the other members of Congress. According to GovWatch data, in the last quarter alone (July through September), Mr. Moylan has missed nearly 100 percent of the votes Guam was eligible to cast in the House.
“From Jan 2023 to Sep 2024, Moylan missed 191 of 535 roll call votes, which is 35.7%,” the GovWatch analysis states. “This is much worse than the median of 2.1% among the lifetime records of representatives currently serving.”
The Democrat challenger for the Guam seat has expressed her gratitude on numerous occasions for Mr. Sablan’s leadership in the House that has often benefitted the people of Guam as well as his constituency in the CNMI. And she isn’t alone. The major candidates to replace Kilili have all lined up their support for his legislation.
Here are their statements of support for H.R. 7543 in the order Kandit received the statements:
From Kimberlyn “Kim” King-Hinds:
H.R. 7543 aims to expand access to Post-9/11 educational benefits for National Guard and Reserve members, a much-needed update to current legislation. This bipartisan bill addresses a significant gap in the existing system, where many Guard and Reserve members who serve full-time duties are still excluded from receiving the full education benefits afforded to their active-duty counterparts. These benefits are crucial in helping them advance their professional growth and transition smoothly into civilian life after their service.
I want to highlight the tremendous growth in the Guam National Guard troops from the CNMI, thanks in large part to Sgt. Juan Camacho’s efforts. From just three troops in 2022 to an incredible 2,400% increase, reaching 75 in 2024, this achievement is a testament to the commitment of our men and women across the Marianas archipelago. These individuals, willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation, deserve nothing less than the full support and recognition for their contributions.
It’s only right that those who serve full-time receive these benefits, and I am deeply proud, humbled, and grateful for the sacrifices made by our servicemembers. However, I believe H.R. 7543 could be even stronger by offering a prorated amount of education benefits for all who have served, ensuring that any level of service is honored and supported with educational opportunities that help them build a better future.
From Edwin “Ed” Propst:
The CNMI doesn’t yet have its own National Guard but we have many residents who serve in the Guam National Guard and elsewhere in the nation.
I support the bid by Congressman Kilili Sablan and Governor Palacios to establish our own National Guard. I wholeheartedly support making National Guardsmen everywhere eligible for the critical educational and job training benefits provided to other service members through the Post 9-11 Educational Assistance Program.
From John “Bolis” Gonzales:
I fully support this legislation as a matter of principle to achieve parity for all service men and women across all United States uniform services and military branches for peace and security. This is a fundamental gesture of our lasting gratitude to all honorable members of the armed services for their sacrifices and dedication for our security and we can never thank them enough as such. Our moral obligation is to take care of our people. Investing in their and their dependents’ education is an investment in our collective prosperity.
