Biden Sets Federal Minimum Wage to $15 an Hour

President Joe Biden has signed an executive order during April of this year that will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour from $10.95 an hour for federal contractors, providing a pay bump to several workers. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero wrote to the Biden administration for Guam’s inclusion in the new minimum wage for federal contractors. U.S. Department of Labor has until November 24 to issue new regulations. This may not affect the pay for higher graded and higher compensated federal employees. The effective date for this order is in January 2022.

Juneteenth Federal Holiday

President Biden has signed the bill into law. Juneteenth is now officially a federal holiday, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. "I've only been president for several months, but I think this will go down for me as one of the greatest honors I will have had as president," said President Biden.

The June 19 holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. is already celebrated as a state or ceremonial holiday in 47 states and the District of Columbia. June 19 became the country's 11th federal holiday.

Proposed GDOE School Calendar for SY2021-2022

The proposed school calendar will move PD days 2 and 3 to the beginning of the school year and moving the first day of school for students to Thursday, August 12, 2021. Friday, August 06, 2021, is still the first day for students. Calendars will be available once approved by the Guam Education Board.