{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-we-need-common-sense-gun-reform", "THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - We need Common-sense gun reform", "2017-10-10", "2017", "2017-10", "Independent", "House", "MP", "Gregorio Sablan", "S001177", "sablan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In this issue:\n__________________________________________________________________________\n Monument plans? The Public right to know \nThe people of the Marianas and other Americans with National Monuments in their backyards have a right to know what the new administration is planning to do in these areas. So this week, along with 25 House colleagues, I cosponsored a Resolution of Inquiry, H.Res. 555, that the administration release a final report on its review of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument and Monuments around the nation, as well as all supporting documents. There were more than 2.5 million public comments submitted, mine included, and the public deserves a look. The resolution follows on my questioning of Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries, at a recent Natural Resources Committee hearing, about the Monument Review process and a similar lack of transparency by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council in its decision-making (subject of a news article on Wednesday here).\n OIA discretionary grant period open \nThe Office of Insular Affairs announced Thursday that the Northern Mariana Islands and other insular areas may now submit applications for discretionary technical assistance program (TAP) and maintenance assistance program (MAP) funding for fiscal year 2018. TAP provides grant funding for short-term projects intended to meet immediate needs. MAP provides funding to support, develop, improve and institutionalize infrastructure maintenance practices. With funding appropriated by Congress, OIA\u2019s TAP and MAP programs continue to be vital components of overall federal financial support for the Northern Marianas, allowing important projects undertaken by local community groups to move forward even when local funding is insufficient or unavailable. All applications are to be submitted through grants.gov. Instructions to apply are available at the Office of Insular Affairs website - https://www.doi.gov/oia/fiscal-payments. Local government entities, independent authorities, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply.\n Stopping nuclear proliferation \nPresident Trump is said to be planning next week to withhold certification of Iranian compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which holds Iranian nuclear arms development in check. This week, I joined 182 other Members of Congress concerned about nuclear proliferation in urging the President not to withhold certification. The issue is important to the Marianas, because any chance of steering North Korea away from further nuclear development is undercut, if the U.S. backs out of JCPOA. And the Marianas is within range of North Korean missiles. The President is required to provide to Congress credible evidence of noncompliance. He has not. And the International Atomic Energy Agency, along with America\u2019s European allies, Russia, and China are all in consensus that Iran is in fact complying with its obligations under the agreement. If we want to live in a safer world, America should keep its word.\n How to deal with North Korea \nA key focus of my talks in China was how to slow or stop North Korea\u2019s rapidly advancing nuclear and missile capabilities, which threaten the Mariana Islands. Five guiding principles for achieving that goal were outlined in a letter to the President from myself and 67 other Members of Congress. We believe the President should:\n Increase economic pressure on North Korea through the imposition and effective enforcement of sanctions.\n\tEnhance U.S. diplomatic efforts, especially crisis management channels.\n\tStrengthen, not subvert, our alliances in East Asia.\n\tRecognize that Personnel is Policy.\n\tMaintain Deterrence and Defense.\n Rather than using reckless rhetoric and sending muddled messages to our allies, the U.S. should pursue a comprehensive strategy toward North Korea based on these five principles. That is how to keep the Marianas safe.\n DFEMS awarded $67,647 Hazmat grant \nThe Department of Transportation\u2019s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration has awarded $67,647 in formula funds to the Commonwealth\u2019s Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services. The Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant will help fund the development, implementation, and improvement of emergency plans and training of the Commonwealth\u2019s emergency responders to be better prepared for an incident involving the transportation of hazardous materials. Congratulations to DFEMS.\n Opportunities \n Grants: \n Jobs: \n Legislative Highlights \n THIS WEEK \n On the Floor \n H.Con.Res. 71 \u2013 Fiscal Year 2018 Republican Budget Resolution (Passed, 219-206)\n\tH.R. 36 \u2013 Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (Passed, 237-189)\n\tH.R. 2316 \u2013 Cooperative Management of Mineral Rights Act of 2017 (Agreed to by voice vote)\n\tH.R. 2582 \u2013 Confirming State Land Grants for Education Act (Agreed to by voice vote)\n\tH.R. 2937 \u2013 Community Reclamation Partnerships Act (Agreed to by voice vote)\n\tH.R. 289 \u2013 Guides and Outfitters Act (Agreed to by voice vote)\n\tS. 652 \u2013 Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2017 (Agreed to by voice vote)\n\tH.R. 2408 \u2013 Protecting Girls\u2019 Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings (Agreed to by voice vote)\n\tH.R. 1624 \u2013 Municipal Finance Support Act of 2017 (Agreed to by voice vote)\n  Legislation I Cosponsored \n H.R. 3947\u00a0\u2013 To prohibit the possession or transfer of certain firearm accessories, and for other purposes\n\tH.R. 1078\u00a0\u2013 Military Hunger Prevention Act\n\tH.Res. 367 \u2013 Establishing the Select Committee on Gun Violence Prevention\n\tH.Res. 555 \u2014 Of inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of the Interior to transmit, respectively, certain documents and other information to the House of Representatives relating to the executive order on the review of designations under the Antiquities Act\n  NEXT WEEK \n On the Floor \n S. 585 \u2013 Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017\n\tA Motion to Go to Conference on the National Defense Authorization Act\n\tAdditional Supplemental Package to Assist with Ongoing Recovery Efforts following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria\n  Committee Hearings \nWednesday, October 11\n Committee on Natural Resources Markup\n Thursday, October 12\n Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans Legislative Hearing\n\tCommittee on Veterans' Affairs Markup\n\tCommittee on Veterans' Affairs Legislative Hearing", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-we-need-common-sense-gun-reform"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 4.695176845416427, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}