THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - December 21, 2011

• Congress completes Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations
• Funding for NMI water and sewer projects to increase
• OPPORTUNITIES: Federal contracts, grants, and jobs for and in the Marianas
• Highlights in the Legislative Program

Congress completes Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations.

Last Saturday, the House and Senate passed H.R. 2055, which consolidates the nine remaining appropriations bills and funds the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year 2012. The bill now heads to the White House where President Obama is expected to sign the measure shortly. The other three appropriations bills were included in H.R. 2112 which was passed by Congress back in November. Over the course of the year, I made numerous requests to Appropriators in support of programs that directly affect the Northern Marianas. Many of these programs are listed here and their FY 2012 funding levels.

Funding for NMI water and sewer projects to increase.

In a formal request to the House Appropriations Subcommittee responsible for EPA funding, I asked for a 1.5% set aside of water and sewer funds for the Northern Mariana Islands and the other insular areas, in line with the President’s request. House and Senate Appropriators included the request in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2012. Current law sets aside just .25% of the Clean Water Fund for the islands and .33% of the Safe Drinking Water Fund, but now the insular areas will see a 1.5% set aside for each Fund. For fiscal years 2010 and 2011, I was also successful in increasing the percentage set aside of 1.24% for the Clean Water Fund and 1.5% for the Safe Drinking Water Fund which resulted in nearly five times more funding for each program. In the final package, Congress appropriated $1.47 billion for the Clean Water Fund and $919 million for the Safe Drinking Water Fund, a decrease from the fiscal 2011 enacted amounts of $1.52 billion and $963 million respectively. While there is a decrease in the Clean Water Fund, the 1.5% set aside ensures that the NMI is not harmed by the cuts. Even with the reduction in appropriations, the formula change softens the impact of the cuts and allows the CNMI government to meet our community’s infrastructure needs.

To view a video of their amazing performance click here.

OPPORTUNITIES: Federal contracts, grants, and jobs for and in the Marianas

GRANTS:

• Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program – The National Marine Fisheries Service is soliciting competitive applications for the 2012 Pacific Islands Region Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program. The purpose of this program is to improve communication, education, and training on marine resource issues throughout the region and increase scientific education for marine-related professions among coastal community residents, including indigenous Pacific islanders and other underrepresented groups in the region. Closing date is March 4, 2012. For more information go to www.Grants.gov.

JOBS:

• Veterinary Medical Officer (Clinical Care) – The U.S. Department of the Army, Army Medical Command, is accepting applications for a Veterinary Medical Officer in Guam. Duties include performing professional veterinary work that involves the investigation, examination, treatment, and control of animals. Incumbent also diagnoses animal health problems; vaccinates against diseases; medicates animals suffering from infections or illnesses; performs surgery; and advises owners about animal feeding, behavior, and breeding. Job position is open until January 3, 2012. For more information, go to www.USAjobs.gov.

HIGHLIGHTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

THIS WEEK

On the floor

Senate Amendment to H.R. 2056 – To instruct the Inspector General of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to study the impact of insured depository institution failures, and for other purposes (Agreed to by voice vote)

Senate Amendment to H.R. 1801 – Risk-Based Security Screening for Members of the Armed Forces Act (Agreed to by voice vote)

Senate Amendment to H.R. 1059 – To protect the safety of judges by extending the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact sensitive information contained in their financial disclosure reports, and for other purposes (Agreed to by voice vote)

Motion that the House Disagree to the Senate Amendments to H.R.3630 – Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 and Request a Conference with the Senate (Passed 229 – 193)

H.Res.501 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding any final measure to extend the payroll tax holiday, extend Federally funded unemployment insurance benefits, or prevent decreases in reimbursement for physicians who provide care to Medicare beneficiaries (Passed 226 – 185)

Co-sponsorships

H.R.3743 – To provide incentives for the creation of jobs, and for other purposes

NEXT WEEK

District Work Period