THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - August 06, 2021

Aug 9, 2021

In This Issue:

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2,563 PUA/FPUC claims pending

A total of 2,563 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) applications remain unprocessed by the Commonwealth as of July 24, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). $103,559,003 in PUA claims have been paid out along with $105,837,139 for FPUC since last summer. USDOL reports the Commonwealth has $273,895,997 available to pay out remaining PUA claims and a balance of $223,137,461 to cover FPUC claims.

More education funding for vets

Veterans and eligible family members now have access to funding made possible by my GI Bill Access to Career Credentials Act to help cover the cost of preparatory courses for professional license and certification exams. The bill was signed into law last year as part of the Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) confirmed to your congressional office it has implemented the Act’s provisions allowing the GI Bill and Chapter 35 benefits for survivors and dependents to pay for courses taken on or after August 1, 2021. Courses must be approved by the VA and prepare students for an accepted licensing or certification test. The form beneficiaries must submit to the VA in order to receive reimbursement of course fees can be downloaded here.

Microloan companion bill intro’d

U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced my legislation extending the Small Business Administration’s Microloan program to the Marianas as a Senate companion bill on Thursday. The Northern Mariana Islands Entrepreneurship Act, H.R. 3438 in the House and now S. 2657 in the Senate, allows current and aspiring business owners in the Marianas to apply for microloans from SBA. SBA provides these loans, typically not offered by banks, of up to $50,000 for working capital or the acquisition of materials, supplies, or equipment. The program is targeted specially to help women, low-income, veteran, and minority entrepreneurs. Senator Hirono’s support is especially important because she serves as a member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. Thank you, Senator Hirono.

$3.1m for climate resiliency

President Biden authorized $3,133,540 for the Marianas on Thursday as part of a nationwide investment in climate resiliency. The funding will come through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and is intended to make communities like ours better able to weather the impacts of climate change. Increased frequency and intensity of the typhoons are among the predicted results as the oceans and air heat up because of increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere.

VA: low enrollment limits services

The Department of Veterans Affairs has provided the report I requested in last year’s appropriation for the agency, explaining that low enrollment by Marianas veterans limits the investment the Department can make in our islands. Together with difficulties recruiting and retaining staff, the VA concluded a Community Based Outpatient Clinic is not feasible for the Marianas at this time. For many years, I have urged our veterans to enroll in VA healthcare, even if you do not have any disability or injury related to your service and even if you do not need care now. Let’s bring our numbers up. Enroll here!

$50.1m in unemployment paid

Marianas workers laid off from their jobs because of the coronavirus have received $50,191,171 in unemployment aid so far, according to information your congressional office received from the U.S. Department of Labor this week.

Key to success: educating the next generation

The next generation of Northern Marianas leaders is full of potential, but their success depends on the support we give them. That was a key theme when I spoke to Saipan Chamber of Commerce members.

Debt ceiling lifted, more spending cuts on the way

After an extended game of legislative brinksmanship that left even more uncertainty hanging over our shaky economy, a bill lifting the cap on the amount of money the United States can borrow was agreed to in Congress and signed by the President this week.

OPPORTUNITIES

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Public Comments:

 

LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

THIS WEEK

The House is in recess for the District Work Period.

NEXT WEEK

The House is in recess for the District Work Period.