E-Newsletter - November 20, 2009

Nov 20, 2009

In this issue:

  • White House asked for help in health care emergency
  • Recovery Act keeps bringing jobs to the NMI
  • Senate health care bill introduced: Uphill battle looms to protect territorial gains in House version
  • The high risk pool: Immediate protections for the uninsured (second in a series on the H.R. 3692, the House-passed Affordable Health Care for America Act)
  • Senior medical care protected
  • Building better libraries is key to improving education
  • It’s time the federal grants website got "territory-friendly"
  • New faces at the Washington congressional office
  • Increasing support for victims of domestic violence
  • Toll-free line to your Delegate

Floor Statement on the November 20, 2009 shootings on Saipan

Today our hearts are heavy as we pray for those killed or injured in the terrible shootings on the island of Saipan.

No words any of us can say to the families of the victims can lessen the pain you must feel at this sudden and horrible tragedy. We only hope that you can take comfort knowing that the thoughts and prayers of the entire community are with you.

The community also owes thanks to the emergency personnel, health care workers, and other officials and citizens who responded so quickly in the face of danger to treat the injured and to protect the children and people on our island. We are all so grateful for your bravery.

For those left behind now the process of recovery begins. The security we take for granted in our island homes has been broken by this senseless act of violence. But it is my hope that the strength of our extended family structure and our bonds as a community will see us through. As the Psalms say, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Though we will never forget the pain or the loved ones lost, with prayer and mutual support we will heal and again find peace.

The CNMI seal that I have asked be added to the seals of all States and Territories on the ceiling of the House Chamber in the U.S. Capitol building is nearing completion. Mr. Mike Culver, Director of Congressional and External Relations, Office of the Architect of the Capitol, and Mr. Carlos Elias, Superintendent of the U.S. Capitol Building, along with the gentlemen from the Superintendent’s office who will do the painting, brought the seal to my office this week for approval. The CNMI seal is expected to be in place by the end of the year.The CNMI seal that I have asked be added to the seals of all States and Territories on the ceiling of the House Chamber in the U.S. Capitol building is nearing completion. Mr. Mike Culver, Director of Congressional and External Relations, Office of the Architect of the Capitol, and Mr. Carlos Elias, Superintendent of the U.S. Capitol Building, along with the gentlemen from the Superintendent’s office who will do the painting, brought the seal to my office this week for approval. The CNMI seal is expected to be in place by the end of the year.

White House asked for help in health care emergency – This week I met with President Obama’s Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Cecilia Muñoz, to see what help there is for the health emergency in our islands. Governor Fitial’s Declaration stated there is an increasing loss of life from the lack of health care in the Commonwealth. Although I do not yet have the Governor’s plan of action for response to the crisis, I understand that there are 3 main issues: CHC needs doctors, more money, and better billing and record-keeping systems. Also at the White House meeting was a representative from the Department of Health and Human Services, whom I asked for assistance in finding doctors – on a short-term basis – to get us through the emergency. If health care reform legislation is successful, CHC will see Medicaid funding quadruple. The House-passed bill provides the Marianas $209 million over the next 10 years. And I will continue to seek out help for CHC to improve its administrative functions. The Federal government responded to the CUC emergency declaration and helps when typhoon disasters strike. The health emergency is just as important and life-threatening.

Recovery Act keeps bringing jobs to the NMI – 158 jobs, many of them in the school system, have been saved or created in the Northern Marianas with Recovery Act money, according to Recovery.gov, the official website. 4 more jobs are now being advertised for LaoLao Bay Restoration, another Recovery Act funded project. The CNMI Division of Environmental Quality received $2,990,919 to upgrade roads and improve drainage around the bay, reducing the run-off that kills corals. DEQ will be hiring an ecologist to conduct marine monitoring surveys, a field coordinator to assist the ecologist with monitoring efforts and help with public education, a project administrator to handle records, and an overall project manager. Complete position descriptions are available here or contact the CNMI Office of Personnel Management at (670)-234-6925 or (670)-234-6958 for more information.
Getting one of the new CW visas in Manila and other U.S. embassies is certain to be of great concern to foreign workers and their employers in the Northern Marianas after the November 28 immigration changeover. To be sure that consular officials in Manila are well prepared to issue the CW visas with the minimum of uncertainty to applicants from the Marianas I held a video conference this week. Present were John Abram, USCIS Manila Field Office Director, Karen L. Christensen, Consul General, and Hale C. VanKoughnett, Non-immigrant Visa Chief. Nicholas Manring, the States Department’s Senior Congressional Advisor, was also with me on the Washington side of the connection. Although the Manila officials are aware of the new visa and do not expect problems, I was concerned to learn that they have not yet received the official guidance from State Department headquarters. I also remain concerned about CNMI Permanent Residents and other non-CW residents who will need visas to return if they leave the Northern Marianas. How these people will be handled and many other questions about the transition to Federal immigration still need to be answered. I will continue to use the congressional office to assure that the transition goes as smoothly as possibleGetting one of the new CW visas in Manila and other U.S. embassies is certain to be of great concern to foreign workers and their employers in the Northern Marianas after the November 28 immigration changeover. To be sure that consular officials in Manila are well prepared to issue the CW visas with the minimum of uncertainty to applicants from the Marianas I held a video conference this week. Present were John Abram, USCIS Manila Field Office Director, Karen L. Christensen, Consul General, and Hale C. VanKoughnett, Non-immigrant Visa Chief. Nicholas Manring, the States Department’s Senior Congressional Advisor, was also with me on the Washington side of the connection. Although the Manila officials are aware of the new visa and do not expect problems, I was concerned to learn that they have not yet received the official guidance from State Department headquarters. I also remain concerned about CNMI Permanent Residents and other non-CW residents who will need visas to return if they leave the Northern Marianas. How these people will be handled and many other questions about the transition to Federal immigration still need to be answered. I will continue to use the congressional office to assure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible

Senate health care bill introduced: Uphill battle looms to protect territorial gains in House version - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid introduced a Senate health care bill Wednesday that has significantly less for the NMI and other US territories than the health care bill we passed in the House. Reid’s bill would not allow the CNMI Governor to create a health care exchange, giving our people access to health insurance, including the public option, and premium subsidies. The House bill does. Reid’s bill only raises Medicaid funding by 30%. The House bill raises funding 300% -- $209 million over 10 years. And Reid’s bill would force the CNMI to bear 45% of the cost of caring for FAS citizens under Medicaid. The House bill gives the Governor the choice on Medicaid coverage for FAS citizens. It is clear that having representation in the House of Representatives is a good thing and not being represented in the Senate hurts. It will be an uphill battle to keep the House benefits for the Northern Mariana Islands in the health care bill. But I am working with my colleagues in the House to convince the Senate that health care reform needs to include all Americans, wherever we live.

The high risk pool: Immediate protections for the uninsured (second in a series on the H.R. 3692, the House-passed Affordable Health Care for America Act) - Last week, I wrote briefly about how the health care reform bill the House passed will help our seniors. This week, let’s look at the high-risk pooling program that will be available to all our citizens and will go into effect right away. This program helps people who have not been able to get insurance because of pre-existing conditions and have either been denied insurance or have not been able to afford it. The pool will be administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and will offer various health care benefits to those Americans who are the sickest and least able to pay for treatment on their own. The pool will be federally funded in order to reduce the premiums paid by those who enroll. And the people of the Northern Mariana Islands will be eligible to participate.

Senior medical care protected - The House acted this week to make sure seniors with Medicare continue to have access to care, and can keep going to the doctors they know and trust. H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009, is part of the health care reform package that Congress has been working on all year. The bill repeals a scheduled fee reduction and undoes spending cuts that would take money away from doctors who offer care to seniors. Without these changes, many doctors could no longer afford to see patients who have Medicare as their insurance. I think it’s important that doctors are paid fairly so they can continue to offer care to those most valued members of our community, our seniors.

Alexandria Reed, daughter of USAF Master Sergeant Lillian Haro Reed (third from the left), visited the Washington office along with her English teacher and four classmates from the Howard Road Academy Public Charter School in Washington, DC. The young journalists interviewed me about my middle school years.Alexandria Reed, daughter of USAF Master Sergeant Lillian Haro Reed (third from the left), visited the Washington office along with her English teacher and four classmates from the Howard Road Academy Public Charter School in Washington, DC. The young journalists interviewed me about my middle school years.

Building better libraries is key to improving education - As part of my overall goal of improving education today, so our economy is strong in the decades to come, I have begun sending books and other reading materials available to congressional offices to all the public and school libraries in the NMI. A first shipment left this week; and every library should soon be receiving a box of materials. Many of our libraries have too few books to satisfy the hunger for learning our school children and others in our community have. Finding resources here in Washington to feed that desire to read is part of the job of the Northern Mariana Islands congressional office.

It’s time the federal grants website got "territory-friendly" – Anyone who has tried to find grants that US territories are eligible for by using the official government website knows that the information there is often misleading or non-existent. So I have begun discussion with the General Services Administration – the Federal agency that maintains the official government-wide database of programs, projects, services, and activities of benefit to the American public – to fix the problem. I want GSA to upgrade the website so people from the NMI and all the territories can get accurate and timely information.

Department of Public Safety Police Officers Jesse Dubrall and James Rabauliman were in Washington this week to attend training with INTERPOL, the world’s largest international police organization. INTERPOL facilitates police co-operation among 188 member countries, including the United States.Department of Public Safety Police Officers Jesse Dubrall and James Rabauliman were in Washington this week to attend training with INTERPOL, the world’s largest international police organization. INTERPOL facilitates police co-operation among 188 member countries, including the United States.

New faces at the Washington congressional office:

Paula Bermudes-Castro, who is the scheduler at the Saipan District Office, was among the new faces at the Washington office this week. Paula attended the District and State Institute conducted by the Congressional Research Service, part of the Library of Congress. The intensive three-day course was a comprehensive review of the lawmaking process, constituent services, technology, outreach, and casework. If you have any questions in regards to services we offer, please do not hesitate to contact Paula at (670)-323-2647/8 or email her at paula.bermudes-castro@mail.house.gov.

Herb Yamada has joined the team in Washington. Herb is taking over website management duties and the military academy nomination process as his first priorities and will be adding other responsibilities to his portfolio. Herb graduated magna cum laude from Catholic University and holds Masters and Bachelors degrees in Psychology. A former employee of the CNMI Resident Representative, Herb is no stranger to Capitol Hill and has hit the ground running.

Frances Diaz is another experienced Capitol Hill hand, having previously worked for Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo. Frances is also a graduate of Catholic University, where she finished her Juris Doctor degree in 2005. Frances’ immediate responsibility will be to help with the transition to federal immigration.

The Congressional Caucus on Central Asia had its inaugural reception this week. I am a member. Central Asia may seem exotic and far away, but in the continuing effort to expand our tourism markets the Mariana Visitors Authority hosted travel agents and photographers from the central Asian country of Kazakhstan this month. Their tour will be seen on prime-time television by over 13 million Kazakhstanis.The Congressional Caucus on Central Asia had its inaugural reception this week. I am a member. Central Asia may seem exotic and far away, but in the continuing effort to expand our tourism markets the Mariana Visitors Authority hosted travel agents and photographers from the central Asian country of Kazakhstan this month. Their tour will be seen on prime-time television by over 13 million Kazakhstanis.

Increasing support for victims of domestic violence - We have to do more to address the domestic and sexual violence that has such devastating impact on our communities. So, Representatives Gwen Moore, Aaron Schock, Judy Biggert, and myself have introduced legislation to increase resources for victims and their children. The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act, which expired in 2008, was outdated and underfunded. Ms. Maisie Bermudes of the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence shared with me that there is only enough grant money for one shelter on Saipan and none on Tinian and Rota. The legislation we introduced this week, H.R. 4116, ups total funding from $175 million to $250 million. But it also changes the distribution formula so the NMI will get more grant money. We have been receiving about $100,000 per year. My bill guarantees the same base amount as States receive, about $600,000.

Toll-free line to your Delegate - In these times when trying to stretch a dollar is on everyone’s mind, I felt it would be helpful to the people of the Northern Marianas if I made contacting their congressional office worry-free. Starting today, there is a toll-free line available to you to reach your office from the Northern Mariana Islands or anywhere else in the United States. The number is 1-877-446-3465. I encourage all the people of the Northern Marianas to take advantage of this toll-free number and call me if you need any assistance or if you just want to say hello.

Highlights in the Legislative Program, House of Representatives

THIS WEEK

H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009 (Rep. Dingell) (passed 243-183);

H.R. 2781, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Molalla River in Oregon, as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (Rep. Schrader) (passed 292 - 133).

NEXT WEEK

The House will be in recess for the Thanksgiving holiday.