$250 million in federal funds to the NMI in 2010

The U.S. Commerce Department recently released the Consolidated Federal Funds Report for Fiscal Year 2010 revealing that $250 million in federal funds came to the Northern Mariana Islands last year.  $190 million was in grants from various federal agencies, more than twice the $81 million the Commonwealth received as recently as 2007.  The balance of $60 million goes primarily to Social Security beneficiaries, veterans, and others receiving retirement or disability aid.  Federal employees earned $9 million and the federal government procured $12 million in goods and services in the Commonwealth. Among federal agencies, the Department of Education awarded grants of $62.6 million in fiscal 2010.  Department of the Interior grants totaled more than $47 million.  And the Department of Agriculture granted almost $28 million.  While local government resources continue to shrink, using the congressional office to increase federal funding to our islands continues to be a top priority.