Congressman Antonio Borja Won Pat Photo Collection, 1965-1984

Abstract

In 1964, the Seventh Guam Legislature passed a law introduced by Senator Ricardo J. Bordallo creating a Guam representative in the nation's capital to "actively advocate at Washington D.C., all programs and policies duly adopted by the Guam Legislature." This position was an unofficial once; Guam would not have an official delegate until 1972. After he moved into his Washington office in May of 1965, Won Pat began lobbying before numerous Congressional committees on behalf of Guam. He was able to have the island included with the fifty states and other territories in a wide variety of federally funded programs. These included education, health, welfare, civil defense, social security, Department of Defense, agriculture, airport development and highways. His two most important accomplishments during his seven years as Washington Representative were the passage of Public Law 90-297 which allowed the popular election of the governor of Guam and Public Law 92-271 which provided for an official delegate from Guam to the United States Congress. The collection of photos spans 19 years of Mr. Won Pat's service in Washington D.C. It consists of 3 linear feet of material.