Guam needs a comprehensive civil defense plan coordinated at the highest levels of the federal government. It must link our local government to DoD, Homeland Security, the Guam National Guard and others. The same coordination Congress is demanding inside the fence must occur outside the fence,  with the meaningful participation of our entire community.  We must urgently determine our preparedness needs and have the tools to meet them.

We also must resource our Homeland Security office to address the threats faced by our island. Robust communications plans and more support for cyber-security are key, as well as:

With billions being invested in a 360º Missile Defense System for Guam, we must be prepared for the most essential needs – food and water.  Pre-positioned portable desalinization units and floating temporary docks will give us capabilities that our Guam National Guard can utilize to maintain critical shipments while longer term solutions are put in place. 

Ginger Cruz is committed to strengthening Guam’s food security by supporting local agriculture and securing greater federal assistance for our farmers. The COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters have exposed the fragility of our food supply chain. As an island, it is critical that we reduce dependence on imported goods and empower our local farmers to sustain our communities.

One of the key strategies will be increasing federal support for crop losses due to natural disasters such as typhoons and droughts. A major focus of Ginger’s efforts will be removing the red tape that currently delays farmers from accessing crop insurance or federal reimbursements. By streamlining the process, we can help farmers recover faster and ensure that they can continue to provide food security for Guam.

Additionally, Ginger will advocate for stronger “Buy Local” requirements in federal venues on Guam, such as military bases and federal agencies. These measures will ensure stable markets for local produce, helping to stimulate our economy and sustain our farmers.

Strengthening our local food supply has added benefits beyond security. Local produce is often fresher and more nutritious, contributing to better overall health for our people. By prioritizing agriculture, we are investing in a healthier, more resilient future for Guam

Running water and sewage removal, two of our most basic societal needs, are dependent on the power to operate water pumps and the ability to transmit safe electricity.  The same is true for DoD operations on Guam, demanding the phased-in strategic placement of power transmission underground. 

We also re-learned a hard lesson from Typhoon Mawar in 2023, that communications are also an essential need. Critical back-up capability must be maintained, protected and available. At the same time we must build local capability to protect Guam’s information security against cyber-attack. This will create high-paying jobs and shore up a key vulnerability.

One of the ways to leverage the multi-billion dollar military buildup on Guam is the creation of a public-private “alliance” that brings together Federal and Local Government, the Military, the Private Sector, Academia and Training Intuitions to establish an environment that helps Guam thrive and benefit from the investment.

There are successful models in Hawaii, North Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, and Alabama that can be used to develop one on Guam to attract, incentivize and reduce risk for companies in defense related industries to establish on island.  By bringing together all the stakeholders, Guam can have a more robust approach that will help expand workforce development, build industrial capacity at a multi-purpose facility, offer tax incentives and streamline regulations. 

The goal is to develop a long-term vision for a strong, lasting defense industrial base on Guam. With work already underway in areas such as ship repair, additive manufacturing, data/technology centers and ship repair, promotion of an alliance can speed up results – resulting in more high paying jobs and greater economic benefits for the whole island.

So much of the crime we face is directly linked to illegal drugs. And the illegal drug trade is now being linked at the national level to the geopolitical players in the Pacific, which means Guam should have added support for increased interdiction.  

To seriously fight crime we must stop drugs at our borders, invest in treatment and recovery, and harness the power of  best practices and technology to reinforce our efforts. To fight crime more effectively, Ginger will 

• Initiate discussions with like-minded states and territories aimed at screening 100% of all incoming packages from sea and air.  Federal agencies concur that a huge proportion of the drugs sold in Guam, and in the nation for that matter, arrives via the Postal service in domestic mail. Guam also relies heavily on the US Coast Guard to patrol our shores, and they are in need of increased support. 100% Screening for drugs will prevent crime before it starts and protect families from the pain of addiction.

• Treat Drug Addiction.  Ginger supports the expansion of drug treatment options on Guam.  Leveraging existing provisions requiring Medicaid to cover drug treatment and expanding incentives for social workers, we can widen options for those who need help through partnerships with the private sector.

• Leverage Technology & Training.  Work with the Department of Justice and federal law enforcement agencies to increase the use of artificial intelligence and best practices nationwide to supplement our law enforcement efforts and improve effectiveness through training and inter-agency collaboration.

The sacrifices of our veterans who risked their lives to protect our freedom deserve not only our respect, but also our unwavering support as they navigate life beyond the battlefield. It is past time to have the Veterans Administration establish an adjudication office and improved medical and mental health support programs in Guam.

As the hub of national security in the Western Pacific, Guam also must be the hub for our veterans and those from the CNMI and FAS. Imagine telling a New York veteran to get healthcare in Alaska – that is the 7-hour flight. Our vets cannot simply drive to the next state. It is Geographic Discrimination.

By reallocating the proportion of Guam’s use from Hawaii to Guam and including the millions spent on airfare and lodging, the Veteran’s Administration can achieve a budget neutral solution and improve services by bringing them to where the veterans need it most – at home where their families and support networks live.

Ginger is committed to fight for a Regional Veterans Health Center in Guam – one that will serve as the hub of healthcare, mental health support, prescriptions and referrals. With over 10,000 registered veterans between Guam, the CNMI and the FAS, Congressional mandates for improved service for underserved veterans, and plans that will improve the effectiveness of VA services where veterans live – Ginger will work closely with the VA and employ Congressional tools to achieve a solution that gives our Guam and Pacific Veterans the dignity that they deserve.

And while it is essential that we ensure the federal government utilizes the best data possible to understand the numbers of eligible veterans in the region, and the real cost of flying Guam, CNMI and FAS veterans to Hawaii for treatment, we need to stop blaming vets for the lack of a regional center. The Law (38 USC) clearly says regional centers are established at the discretion of the Secretary of VA. All 50 states, one territory and the Philippines have a Regional Center. It is past time for a center to be established on Guam.

Respect for Chamorro Heritage in Military Development

Ginger Cruz will ensure that all military activities and construction projects on Guam adhere to federal guidelines on historic preservation. She will work to balance progress with the need to protect the cultural heritage of the Chamorro people, ensuring that developments respect the dignity and deep historical significance of Guam’s indigenous communities. Guam can move forward without sacrificing its past.

⁠Actions Rooted in Chamorro Values

Ginger Cruz’s leadership will be grounded in the values of the Chamorro people. While Guam is a diverse melting pot, she recognizes that Guam is, and always will be, the home of the Chamorro people. Every decision she makes will be guided by a commitment to preserving this identity and passing it on to future generations.

Building an Economy to Bring Families Home

Ginger Cruz is committed to building an economy that allows everyone who left Guam in search of better opportunities to come back and find that life here. Through sustainable growth and economic opportunities, families will no longer have to choose between leaving Guam or staying without opportunities. Guam can be both home and a place to prosper.

Expanding Infrastructure to Reduce Development Costs

By partnering with federal agencies, Ginger will work to expand water, wastewater, and power infrastructure, particularly around Chamorro Land Trust Commission (CLTC) lands. By lowering the cost of developing these areas, Chamorro families will have better access to land, helping them stay connected to their ancestral homes.

Supporting Chamorro Charter Schools and Cultural Programs

Ginger Cruz will ensure that Chamorro charter schools and cultural programs receive the resources they need through a Grant Writing Center of Excellence. By securing federal grants, these programs will thrive, ensuring that Chamorro language, history, and culture are preserved and taught to future generations. Through education, the Chamorro identity will continue to flourish.

Ginger believes that protection, enhancement and revitalization of the environment is a key public responsibility. Environmental Impact needs results not more studies. We need to get down to discussions with the Federal Government that produce results. These plans will take years, but if we don’t start now, we will not get anywhere.

To start with, we need to collaborate to develop a substantial, multi-year fully-funded environmental remediation campaign — paid for by the U.S. government – as a concrete form of action to address the extensive and decades-long contamination of the island (sites both on and off base). This would include mitigating the PFAS contamination of our water and cleaning up all the recognized Superfund sites.

That is one concrete way to make amends for the ways in which this poison has upended the lives of our people. But it’s not just remediation – it is also about pursuing a vision of a vibrant environment that we must also set in motion, one that addresses invasive species, and protects the seas around us.

A well-funded brown tree snake suppression program that takes a whole of island approach is the only possible way we can ever hope to repatriate our endemic endangered birds before it is too late. We need to set a vision for an island that is reforested, snake free, and once again filled with the birdsong from Sihek, Ko’ko, and Aga. This will not happen without sustained financial support from federal and grant sources.  

Our vision must also include dramatically increased funding and support from top scientists to help our local experts combat the rhino beetle. Serious R&D. Guam can solve this if we have enough funding and expertise. And we must also ensure continued protection of marine life that is so much a part of our identity.

As we face an increasing population driven largely by the military buildup, the amount of solid waste accumulating in our landfills continues to burden our island. And given our geographic isolation, shipping waste is just too expensive. 

In 2019, the Governor established the Zero Waste Working Group which released a Master Plan in 2023 that lays out a vision for sustainable waste management. Ginger will seek expanded federal support for that plan to help put Guam on a path toward a clean healthy future.

Ginger will seek to partner with the other territories to pursue consideration of a unique Critical Access Hospital designation for territories that could open more opportunities for federal support for Guam Memorial Hospital.

In conjunction with that , she will seek creative solutions to develop through Congress a new “island hospital” designation similar to the “frontier hospital” designation which can open up new sources of targeted funding from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and consider support for workforce policies like J-1 visas or National Health Service Corps Placements.

Ginger will work with GMH on a potential solution for rebasing of TEFRA rates that govern reimbursement for Medicare and Medicaid and pursue potential statutory changes similar or possibly in conjunction with efforts by Hawaii and Alaska to ask for the Secretary of HHS to exercise authorities to make cost of living adjustments in CMS payments rules to account for Guam’s rural and underserved nature. 

Ginger will vigorously pursue elimination of Guam’s Medicaid cap so that we can pursue establishment of long-term care options for elderly and disabled. Concurrently support the local government on an all-hands approach to petition CMMI to find a cost effective way to treat the population of individuals who require long-term care but are unable to pay. 

By working on a long-term vision to lift the caps on Guam’s Medicaid, we can expand its use to better address homelessness and increase support to our most vulnerable women and babies who could qualify for 12 months of postpartum care. Only the U.S. Virgin Islands has taken up this option.

During COVID, Guam received an unprecedented amount of federal assistance focused on expanding childcare for working families. The massive cash infusion resulted in a doubling of the number of childcare providers, and an increase from 800 to 3,000 children receiving federally funded childcare. 

Maintaining this support and expanding help for more working families is an important part of my platform.  Public Health can expand the help for families with small children through federal support for several issues:

1. Universal Pre-K – expand federal support for public schooling for children the year before they enter kindergarten.
2. Adjustment in the regulatory limitations of federal funding – aligning Guam with tribal compliance rather than state compliance. This technical fix will allow the use of funds to procure, construct, rent or rehabilitate facilities for day cares.
3. Increased support for training to expand the number of licensed providers.
4. Ensure that Guam is included in developing federal programs including efforts to cap the cost of childcare to 7% of family income and provide for greater tax credits for children.
5. Expand grants for working families and childcare providers to meet the unmet demand.

Given the anticipated increase in Guam’s civilian population due to military buildup, the demand for childcare is expected to rise. Prioritizing this support to help working parents afford childcare is not only good for families and for the economy, it is great for the development, safety and nurturing of children – the smartest investment we can make for our future.

The cost of medical care and the absence of Assisted Living options on Guam are major concerns for seniors and their families on Guam. There’s a growing demand for aging program services such as Adult Day Care and In-Home Services. Additionally a growing need for Assisted Living facilities that can provide varying stages of care, from minimal assistance to those who require supervised care. 

While Medicaid is helping many residents, caps hold down the overall amount of Medicaid support available.  And, the Government of Guam does not participate in the Medicare program and thus those programs are not available to a large number of Guam residents.

A top priority that will continue to be pursued will be Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Guam residents. Delinking Guam from Puerto Rico is a key strategy that will raise the chances of federal consideration especially when Guam sits in a neighborhood where the CNMI, Hawaii and FAS citizens are all eligible for SSI, but not U.S. or FAS citizens living in Guam. Gaining support from key organizations and calculating the financial impact of the move will help to open discussion.

Guam’s public hospital faces costs to care for multiple long-term patients that are not covered by insurance or federal programs – resulting in tens of millions of dollars that the hospital must cover.  By pursuing federal support for long term care options for elderly and disabled patients, Guam will help ease that financial strain on the hospital. There are a variety of federal programs for veterans, the elderly, assistive living and care for disabled individuals. Exploring options for Guam to access those programs is a key priority.

Our goals must include:

1. Building an age-friendly community
2. Increased access to federal programs that support elder care such as enhanced homecare services, coordination of housing and supportive services and elder care insurance
3. Incentivized development of assisted living facilities on island
4. Explore new ideas including intergenerational care facilities

When addressing matters concerning women's reproductive health, Ginger strongly advocates for a system where these life altering decisions are not made politicians, most of whom have no medical expertise, and a majority of whom are not women. 

We must prioritize respect for individual responsibility and provide unwavering support for a woman's autonomy and ability to consult with her medical practitioner, family, and support network, ensuring that she can make decisions that align with her unique circumstances.

Moreover, in a society marked by remarkable scientific progress, Ginger emphasizes the importance of not only legalizing and ensuring access to contraception but also advancing research and development efforts aimed at enhancing contraceptive methods. This includes addressing a wide spectrum of women's health needs, such as making menstrual products affordable for those facing financial hardship and developing effective treatments for menopause.

The impact of migration to Guam from Compact States is a creation of federal control over Guam. For the first time in decades, despite a Congressional Delegation last year that heard Guam’s case, the Congress failed to provide funds to mitigate the impact of its decisions – and the taxpayers of Guam are now left holding the bag. 

That loss of funds hurts all of us – FAS migrants and Guam residents alike. That door has closed, so we need to find a new avenue to address this long-standing injustice. As American citizens we should have fair access and funding support that is available to all other Americans.

The most dramatic example of injustice is the provision of Supplemental Security Income – SSI – needed for our most vulnerable elderly and disabled. Everyone around us now receives this benefit – Hawaii, the CNMI, and the non-US citizens of the FAS who live in those jurisdictions. In this region, only Guam does not receive this funding. We must continue to press for inclusion of Guam in SSI benefits until we receive them.

Redressing the loss of compact impact is a top priority. Over $300 million in Compact Impact Funding was provided by the Congress for Guam’s schools, law enforcement and healthcare until the current Congressman lost that support.  

The Compact Agreement renewal for 20 years passed in 2024 and cannot be revisited.

Instead, we have a plan to address the broader question of equity in compensation by the federal government for unfunded mandates, immigration being one.

Our plan has several components:

1. Begin the work to elevate Guam’s oversight from the Department of Interior to the Executive Office of the President. This will raise the importance of these shortfalls to federal officials who have the power to do something about it.
2. Work on comprehensive data gathering and study of the impact of federal mandates including the financial impact of open immigration from the Freely Associated States on Guam’s local government funds.
3. Based on the data – work closely with the Office of Management and Budget to identify optimal funding strategies that will relieve the unfunded mandate on Guam’s coffers, at the same time providing fair and just access to federal assistance programs for all of Guam’s residents, both US citizens and FAS citizens.

While tracking immediate issues such as ongoing support for H2 workers, healthcare professionals and the visa waiver program for the Philippines, we need to stop the band-aid approach to Guam’s immigration.

The U.S. Congress is poised to undertake the most major rewrite of Immigration laws in nearly 40 years and Guam has an opportunity to get permanent relief from our unique challenges. 

Guam needs to initiate discussions with the Immigration and Naturalization Service together with all the required stakeholders in government and the private sector to produce a comprehensive package that will  addresses Guam’s unique immigration challenges and puts in place laws and regulations that work.

Rather than holding our breath each time for an amendment to the NDAA for H2 workers, we need to map out Guam specific immigration rules that address all of our issues and come up with enduring systemic solutions. That way we can recruit temporary health care professionals until we are able to build sufficient local capacity. 

Guam also needs special visa waivers for business from allied countries which will support economic growth. 

And within this framework, we can have meaningful discussion to expand the visa waiver program to the Philippines so that Guam’s families can maintain ties with relatives and Guam can get a boost for our tourism economy. Expanding the visa waiver to the Philippines makes good foreign policy.

To mitigate concerns about program management, new technology can help supplement federal immigration staff to ensure the program maintains strong border control while at the same time encouraging diplomatic and economic gains.

A high-quality education is perhaps one of the most important elements of our success. From the federal perspective, in addition to promoting economic expansion and workforce training, there are additional areas that can be pursued.

Seeking federal support for help improving Guam’s procurement system is one way to address challenges being faced by Guam’s education system.

Ginger will advocate for increased federal funding through programs such as school improvement grants and formula grants for special populations like Guam to modernize our facilities and provide essential resources.

Ginger will also explore ways to leverage the unique capabilities and positioning of the University of Guam to explore options for establishing within UOG a Federally Funded Research and Development Center that will focus on Pacific Issues and help the US Congress and fellow FFRDC’s in gathering timely and accurate data and analysis of Pacific Island concerns.

Small businesses are the backbone of Guam’s economy, and as someone who founded and fan a small business, Ginger Cruz will bring that experience to fight for policies that allow local entrepreneurs to compete on a level playing field and prosper.

From advocating for federal contracting opportunities to cutting through red tape, Cruz’s platform centers on helping Guam’s small businesses succeed and drive economic growth.

Cruz will champion programs that open doors for Guam businesses to secure federal contracts. She will push for greater understanding and use of HUBZone certifications, which provide Guam companies with access to sole-source contracting and preferential treatment in federal procurement. Additionally, Cruz is committed to ensuring that Guam small businesses receive the support they need under the 8(a) program and the expanded services provided through the 7(j) initiative.

Cruz believes in reducing barriers to success for local small business owners. This means promoting initiatives that provide businesses with technical assistance, mentorship, and access to federal programs. The “Empower to Grow” initiative, which provides essential tools for small businesses to compete, will be a top priority. Cruz will work to ensure that Guam benefits from all available resources, including mentoring, training, and networking opportunities.

A thriving small business sector means more jobs for the people of Guam. Cruz will prioritize policies that encourage businesses to hire locally and bring back skilled workers from abroad. She will support incentives for companies that invest in the island, hire residents, and contribute to the local economy.

Cruz is committed to fighting for Guam businesses on a federal level. She will work with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure that Guam companies get their fair share of federal contracts. Cruz will also closely monitor changes to the 8(a) program, ensuring that local businesses can navigate the new rules and continue to benefit from these essential contracting opportunities.

Cruz understands the vital role that small businesses play in creating a strong, sustainable economy for Guam. By securing federal contracts, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting local hiring, Cruz’s policies will help Guam businesses grow, thrive, and create lasting prosperity for the island.

Ginger Cruz’s platform puts Guam’s small business community at the forefront of economic growth, ensuring a brighter future for the island.

She will also work on developing enhanced data gathering to support stronger enforcement of Guam tax collection from federal prime contractors and contract employees living and working on Guam.

Ginger will seek the creation of a Grant Proposal and Procurement Center of Excellence to provide critical support for GovGuam agencies, Mayors, small businesses, non-profits and communities seeking funding. This Center will be a key resource in leveling the playing field, offering targeted assistance to help navigate complex grants, proposals, and procurement processes.

The Center will focus on training and capacity development, equipping participants with the skills needed to successfully secure federal contracts and grants. 

In addition, the Center will offer process assistance—from application through submission—helping individuals and businesses streamline their efforts and avoid common pitfalls. A comprehensive library will be provided, offering ready-made documents for proposals and contracts, while a Knowledge Hub will serve as a repository of best practices, policy updates, and essential case studies.

By creating this resource, Ginger hopes to address a key stumbling block faced for decades where differing levels of expertise have hampered government and private sector entities from successfully utilizing funding sources, leaving money on the table. 

This concept will not only boost local participation in federal programs but also bring more federal, international and private sector dollars into our community, fostering economic growth and opportunity for all.