Newsletter 7/31/2009
Jul 31, 2009
Newsletter 7/31/2009
Remembering Philippine President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino— Today the people of the Republic of the Philippines have lost a beloved leader and true hero of democracy, President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. The world will always remember Cory Aquino as a woman of incredible strength of will and unflinching bravery in the face of tyranny. She was a champion of peace, religious piety, and human rights and she will be missed.
My wife Andrea, who was born in the Philippines, and I extend our deepest condolences to the Aquino family, to the people of the Philippines, and to our “kababayans” in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Moving ahead on the Monument Visitors Center in the Northern Mariana Islands – Today I introduced legislation that authorizes a Marianas Trench Marine National Monument Visitors Center in the Northern Mariana Islands. Having a Visitors Center holds true to the promises made to the Northern Marianas when President Bush declared the Marine National Monument. It will be an important way for people of the Northern Marianas to benefit from this world-class environmental resource and will make the remote Monument more accessible to visitors and residents alike. The Monument stretches over 12,000 square miles of land and sea. Because it is so large and remote I imagine that the Visitors Center will have to have exhibits that bring the experience of the Monument to people using innovative technologies. For instance, there could be remote cameras established at the undersea thermal vents that would allow visitors to see the unique life-forms that live in those harsh and unusual conditions. The Visitors Center could also provide a base for scientific activities and administration not directly connected to the Monument. The Northern Marianas should be the site for part of the US system of volcano observatories, I think; and it might make sense to put that function together with the Monument Center.
“In-state” tuition rates proposed for NMI students at any U.S. university or public college – This week I introduced H.R. 3397, the Northern Mariana Islands College Access Act of 2009, to grant financial assistance and expand college opportunities for graduating high school students from the NMI. Under this bill, college students from the NMI would only pay “in-state” or “resident” tuition at any public college or university in the United States while the rest of the cost would be covered by federal grants of up to $15,000 per year with a lifetime limit of $75,000.
The difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition costs can be substantial. At the University of Hawaii, for example, students from the Northern Marianas can expect to pay $1,692 more than residents of the state. At nationally-recognized schools, like the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), out-of-state students can pay up to $19,000 more in tuition and fees. H.R. 3397 would bridge those cost differences with a federal grant that NMI students could apply for.
Understanding that college decisions often rely on cost, I hope that this legislation will expand our students’ choices and allow them to embark on the education they would like to pursue regardless of the price tag.
Bill provides “State” funding level for NMI Justice Assistance Grants – On July 27 I introduced legislation, H.R. 3353, giving the Northern Mariana Islands the same minimal level of funding as any US State under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act (42 U.S.C. 3791(a)(2)). Right now the CNMI splits a “State” share with American Samoa. The CNMI get one-third and American Samoa gets two-thirds. Guam and the Virgin Islands each get a full state share of funding; and I think the Northern Marianas should, too. The regular FY09 grant for the NMI was $400,000. My bill would have tripled that amount to $1.2 million.
Bill removes barrier to naval repairs in the NMI– The Northern Mariana Islands would be added to the locations where United States naval vessels can be repaired as a result of legislation I introduced this week. Currently, US military vessels can only be repaired in the 50 states and Guam, unless they are out of the country. My bill, H.R. 3352, could open new business opportunities should the U.S. Navy decide to make repairs in the Marianas.
$57,000 awarded to NMI for storage tank clean up – This week, the Environmental Protection Agency awarded a grant to the Northern Mariana Islands to assess and clean up underground storage tanks leaking petroleum. The money, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will help prevent hazardous substances from seeping into the soil and contaminating sources of drinking water. So far, about $52,000,000 in ARRA funding has been announced for the NMI with $377,000 paid out. A full accounting is now available at the official recovery.gov website.
Town Hall Meetings scheduled on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan – As mentioned in last week’s e-Newsletter, I will be holding a series of town hall meetings in August to give residents of the Northern Marianas a chance to voice their opinions on national policy and ask questions about how they are being represented in Congress. There will be 4 meetings: on Rota on August 13th at the Rota Roundhouse, on Saipan on August 14th at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe, on Tinian on August 17th at the Tinian Elementary School Cafeteria, and at Kagman High School Cafeteria on August 18th. All meetings will start at 6pm and end at 8pm. I hope to see many of you there.
In addition, a poll is being conducted on the homepage of the Marianas Variety website (www.mvarietynews.com) to determine which issues to focus more attention on during the Town Hall meetings. Residents can log on to the website to indicate their preference about which topics should be discussed.
Highlights in Legislative Program, House of Representatives
THIS WEEK
The House passed:
H.R. 3435, providing an additional $2 billion for the popular “cash for clunkers” auto trade-in program (316-109)
H.R. 3269, expanding regulatory oversight of executive compensation and giving shareholders a bigger say over what corporate executives are paid (237-185)
H.R. 3357, adding $7 billion to the nearly depleted Highway Trust Fund (363-68).
NEXT WEEK
The House of Representatives begins its August recess.
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