THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - December 9, 2011

In this issue:

• CNMI looking forward to $18 million in federal Medicaid grants this year
• Corzine testimony leaves many questions unanswered
• Hearing urged on compact impact problems
• Support for increased funding for ESEA Title I and IDEA
• OPPORTUNITIES: Federal contracts, grants, and jobs for and in the Marianas

CNMI looking forward to $18 million in federal Medicaid grants this year.

The Commonwealth received $8.1 million in federal Medicaid funds between July 1 and September 30 of this year; and the budget the CNMI submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for fiscal year 2012 that began on October 1 looks forward to another $18.233 million in Medicaid money. This huge jump in funding for medical treatment for low-income persons is the result of the health care reform laws that President Obama signed into law last year and which passed Congress without a single Republican vote. In addition to $140 million in Medicaid funding over the next 8 years – three times more than we were getting before – “Obamacare” also raised the federal share of Medicaid funding from 50 percent to 55 percent and lowered the CNMI share from 50 percent to 45 percent. That saves the CNMI $7 million over the 8 year period. I already introduced legislation, as an original co-sponsor, that would further shift these percentages, so the Marianas would pay the same as the poorest U.S. state, about 26 percent. This bill, H.R. 2954, has collected 72 co-sponsors so far. 

Corzine testimony leaves many questions unanswered.

We heard testimony in the House Agriculture Committee this week on the MF Global bankruptcy to find out what went wrong and what happened to $1.2 billion of client funds held by the company. Former CEO Jon Corzine, who was subpoenaed by our Committee, testified that he had no knowledge of what happened to the missing funds. Among those with money at MF Global were farmers, who used the fund to hedge against income losses and changes in prices for commodities. But the unexplained losses point to broader deficiencies in the regulation of financial markets. More hearings will be needed in Congress to determine if existing regulations are being violated or if new policies must be added to those already in place. In any event, we have to ensure that investors, whether in Midwest farm country or in the Northern Marianas, can have complete confidence in the integrity of the markets and those who manage and regulate our financial systems. 

Hearing urged on compact impact problems.

Colleagues from American Samoa, Guam, and Hawaii, and I have asked House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Washington) and Ranking Member Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) for a hearing on the compact impact program. In November, the Government Accountability Office issued a report that I had requested along with representatives of other areas impacted by migration from the Freely Associated States. GAO found that the Northern Marianas, Guam, and Hawaii counted $1 billion in costs from FAS immigrants for education, health, public safety, and social services from 2004 to 2010. But the U.S. provided only $210 million to the U.S. insular areas as compensation. The CNMI reported $55 million in costs and received $33 million from the federal government. GAO recommended improvements in how the Interior Department and the U.S. insular areas account for these compact impact costs and noted the discrepancy between reported costs and compensation. A hearing will provide further opportunity to make sure that the insular areas do not bear an undue burden from federal agreements with our neighbors in the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. 

Support for increased funding for ESEA Title I and IDEA.

Along with 76 of my colleagues in Congress, I wrote to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education to request that the largest possible increase in funding be provided for programs authorized by Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and by the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. Funding from these two laws is vital to schools like ours in the Northern Marianas that serve many students from low-income families and with disabilities. The House version of the fiscal 2012 appropriations bill for education includes a $1 billion increase in Title I funds and a $1.2 billion increase for IDEA. That’s approximately $800,000 additional for the Public School System. Especially in these tough economic times, we have to keep up the level of federal funding for the Northern Marianas, particularly in our priority area of education. Even when we need to curb spending we cannot cut the funding our future economic success depends upon. 

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

GRANTS:

• Second Chance Act Technology Careers Training Demonstration Projects – The Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, is seeking applicants for funding under the Second Chance Act to provide technology career training to incarcerated individuals. The Second Chance Act authorizes federal awards to provide technology career training to persons confined in state prisons, local jails, and juvenile residential facilities helping to ensure that transition is successful and promotes public safety. Closing date is March 2, 2012. For more information, go to www.ojp.usdoj.gov.

JOBS:

• Biologist (Endangered Species) DEU – The Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is accepting applications for a Biologist at the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office in Rota. Duties for this job include promoting conservation of native flora and fauna in the Mariana Island Archipelago, and representing the Service's policies and positions while conducting complex interagency that requires particular sensitivity to both cultural and local political issues. Closing date for this job position is December 23, 2011. For more information go to www.USAjobs.gov.
• Supervisory Aircraft Pilot – The U.S Department of the Army is accepting applications for a Supervisory Aircraft Pilot in the Guam Army National Guard. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the State Army Aviation Officer and Safety Officer. This position manages the Guam Army National Guard Aviation program which includes planning, coordinating, implementing and directing all aviation. This position is open until January 16, 2012. For more information go to www.USAjobs.gov.
• CHCI Paid Summer Internship – Undergraduate students are encouraged to apply to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Summer Congressional Internship Program. All program participants will receive work experience on Capitol Hill to learn first-hand about our nation’s legislative processes. Internship benefits include free roundtrip travel to Washington, DC, monthly metro stipends, paid housing, and a stipend of $2,500 for 8 weeks in DC. Students in all majors, who have an interest in the development of public policy and who have demonstrated leadership abilities should apply. Application deadline is February 3, 2012. To learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and how to get college credit for the internship please visit http://www.chci.org/internships/

HIGHLIGHTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

THIS WEEK

On the floor

H.R. 2405 – Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (Agreed to by voice vote)

H.R. 3237 – SOAR Technical Corrections Act (Agreed to by voice vote)

H.R. 2471 – To amend section 2710 of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that a video tape service provider may obtain a consumer's informed, written consent on an ongoing basis and that consent may be obtained through the Internet (Passed 303 – 116)

Co-sponsorships

H.R. 3590 – To allow certain Indonesian citizens to file a motion to reopen their asylum claims

NEXT WEEK

On the floor

Conference Report on H.R. 2055 – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012

Conference Report on H.R. 1540 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012

H.R. 3630 – Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

S. 384 – A bill to amend title 39, United States Code, to extend the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a semipostal to raise funds for breast cancer research

H.R. 2105 – Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Reform and Modernization Act of 2011

H.Res. 376 – Calling for the repatriation of POW/MIAs and abductees from the Korean War

Committee Hearings

December 13

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Legislative Hearing on:

H.R.2512 – Three Kids Mine Remediation and Reclamation Act

H.R.3479 – Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011

December 15

Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Hearing on:

Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge and How the Federal Government Obtained Title to This Land and Promises Made to the Original Landowners

H.R.1171 – Marine Debris Act Reauthorization Amendments of 2011

S.363 – A bill to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to convey property of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the City of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and for other purposes.