New JPAC Members Named in Senate Push for Accountability

There’s a renewed push for transparency and accountability in government spending. In the upper house, Government Senator Eamon Courtenay moved a motion to finalize the makeup of the Joint Public Accounts Committee, or JPAC. The committee, which plays a key role in overseeing how public funds are used, will now include nine members: six from the House of Representatives and three from the Senate’s social partner senators. On the House side, names like Julius Espat, Kareem Musa, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia and Godwin Haylock are on the list. And now, the Senate has nominated Senators Kevin Herrera, Glenfield Dennison, and Janelle Chanona to round out the team.

 

Eamon Courtenay, Senator for Government Business

“Madame President, I move that whereas Standing Order 73A of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives provides that the Joint Public Accounts Committee shall consist of nine members, as follows: six members nominated by a committee of selection to consist of four members who support the government and two members who will not support the government, unless they are now members or insufficient members of the House of Representatives who do not support the government, and three members nominated by the President of the Senate from among the social partner members of the senate. And, whereas on the twelfth of May, 2025 when the House of Representatives appointed the following six members to serve on the Joint Public Accounts Committee: Lee Mark Chang, Julius Espat, Kareem Musa, Kevin Bernard, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, and Godwin Haylock. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the senate nominates Senator Kevin Herrera, Senator Glenfield Dennison, and Senator Janelle Chanona to be the social partner members in the Joint Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives.”

 

It’s a significant move toward keeping government spending in check and making sure every tax dollar counts.