Guam senator proposes to put abortion question on the ballot

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Sen. Thomas Fisher has introduced a bill proposing to put abortion to a vote to allow the people of Guam to decide on the reproductive policy for the island.

“I am not advocating for nor condemning abortion rights on Guam. SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade and opined that states and territories across the country should decide," Fisher said.

Under Bill 105-37, the question of whether or not to allow abortion on Guam would be on the ballot in the next general elections.

"Well, with Roe and Dobbs, that’s at least half a century of men telling you women what to do," Fisher said. "That’s why I am introducing this bill. I believe the people should make the decision for Guam, once and for all."

If Bill 105-37 is enacted, Guam voters would be asked to vote "yes" or 'no" on the proposed "Reproductive Health Protection Act of 2023," which would "allow health care providers to provide abortion services without limitations."

"Whatever results from the people’s vote, we must live with," Fisher said

Fisher introduced the bill as pro-life and pro-choice advocates prepare for the May 24 oral arguments before the Supreme Court of Guam, where the opposing parties will debate the validity of Public Law 20-134, which sought to ban abortion on Guam.

Read related story

Post-Roe debacle

Torres on abortion: Senators must not decide on behalf of the people of Guam

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, holding that the U.S. Constitution does not confer abortion rights. In Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the high court gave individual states and territories the full power to regulate any aspect of abortion not protected by federal law.

Abortion remains legal on Guam.

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