Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
- url
- Link to the original release on the member's official site
- text
- Extracted body text (may be empty if the page could not be fetched)
- has_text
- 1 if body text was successfully extracted
- date_source
- How the publication date was determined
- bioguide_id
- Bioguide ID of the member
22 rows where chamber = "House", party = "Independent" and state = "MP" sorted by date descending
This data as json, CSV (advanced)
| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://sablan.house.gov/%E2%80%98every-citizen-has-right-vote%E2%80%99 | Every citizen has right to vote | 2017-10-10 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune — Did you know that, if you live in the Northern Mariana Islands but used to live in a state in the U.S. mainland, you have a right to vote for President by absentee ballot? It now appears that the administration of U.S. President Donald J. Trump is planning to strip previous state residents of this ability—which Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) opposes, saying every citizen has a right to vote. According to the Uniformed Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or UOCAVA, U.S. citizens that were previously residents of a state and are currently residing in the CNMI are allowed to cast an absentee vote. UOCAVA states that a U.S. citizen residing in any part of the world—including the international space station—retain their right to vote in the federal election. However, that law does not extend to citizens residing in the four U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. According to Sablan, he believes the reason the CNMI was left out was because during the enactment of the law sometime in the 1990s, the CNMI did not have a member in the U.S. Congress. “… U.S. citizens residing in the Northern Marianas were allowed to vote in federal elections, just as those residing in Israel. Among the territories, overseas Americans residing in the Northern Marianas were allowed to vote under the UOCAVA,” said Sablan. The U.S. Department of Justice is now reviewing this law, with the intent to reverse this voting privilege. A letter sent from the USDOJ to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit cited the Sessions v Morales-Santana case, which the U.S. Supreme Court defended a provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act, extending citizenship to certain children with one U.S. citizen parent. The letter was dated Sept. 11, 2017, and was signed by USDOJ Attorney Carleen Zubrzycki. “… The proper remedy for an equal protection violation consisting of favorable treatment for a discrete group was to eliminate the favorable treatment for that group,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| 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 | legacy | In this issue: __________________________________________________________________________ Monument plans? The Public right to know The 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). OIA discretionary grant period open The 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’s 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 auth… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/dfems-awarded-67647-hazmat-grant | DFEMS awarded $67,647 Hazmat grant | 2017-10-09 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | DFEMS awarded $67,647 Hazmat grant Oct 9, 2017 The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration has awarded $67,647 in formula funds to the Commonwealth’s 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’s emergency responders to be better prepared for an incident involving the transportation of hazardous materials. Congratulations to DFEMS. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/how-deal-north-korea | How to deal with North Korea | 2017-10-09 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | How to deal with North Korea Oct 9, 2017 A key focus of my talks in China was how to slow or stop North Korea’s 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: Increase economic pressure on North Korea through the imposition and effective enforcement of sanctions. Enhance U.S. diplomatic efforts, especially crisis management channels. Strengthen, not subvert, our alliances in East Asia. Recognize that Personnel is Policy. Maintain Deterrence and Defense. 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. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/monument-plans-public-right-know | Monument plans? The Public right to know | 2017-10-09 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Monument plans? The Public right to know Oct 9, 2017 The 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, 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 here). | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/oia-discretionary-grant-period-open | OIA discretionary grant period open | 2017-10-09 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | OIA discretionary grant period open Oct 9, 2017 The Office of Insular Affairs announced 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’s 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. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/stopping-nuclear-proliferation | Stopping nuclear proliferation | 2017-10-09 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Stopping nuclear proliferation Oct 9, 2017 President Trump is said to be planning to withhold certification of Iranian compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which holds Iranian nuclear arms development in check. 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’s 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. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/kilili-shootings-%E2%80%98we-need-stop-deaths%E2%80%99 | Kilili on shootings: We need to stop deaths | 2017-10-06 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune — Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) grieves the lives lost in what is dubbed as the “deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history,” while calling for legislation to prevent a repeat. Sablan, through a statement from his office, reportedly joined other Democratic Caucus members on the steps of the U.S. Capitol last Thursday to mourn the victims of gun violence and “demand action to prevent the daily tragedy of gun deaths across America.” “Every time a mass shooting like this occurs we offer prayers and condolences; we lower the flag to half-mast; but we never seem to take action to try to prevent these killings from happening again,” said Sablan. He added that the U.S. Congress should “enact commonsense legislation,” similar to the bipartisan King-Thompson legislation that strengthened background checks with the intent to keep guns out of the “wrong hands.” According to Sablan, almost 12,000 people in the U.S. die from gun violence. “It is an epidemic. We need to stop the deaths,” he said. The U.S. just last Sunday evening experience its deadliest mass shooting to date at the Las Vegas strip, where the suspect, Stephen Paddock, opened fire with several military-grade assault rifles on a nearby crowd of about 22,000 concertgoers about 500 yards away. Paddock took the lives of at least 59 people and injured 527. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/congressman-blasts-fishery-council-%E2%80%98improper-lobbying%E2%80%99 | Congressman Blasts Fishery Council For Improper Lobbying | 2017-10-05 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Honolulu Civil Beat — WASHINGTON — The Honolulu-based Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council was harshly criticized on Capitol Hill last week over allegations of anti-environmental lobbying and secretiveness. U.S. Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, a Democrat who represents the Northern Marianas Islands, blasted the council known as Wespac during a hearing before the Water, Power and Oceans Subcommittee. Sablan asked for an investigation of the 16-member council’s activities, which he said include “improper lobbying,” organizing efforts to undermine environmental protections and unspecified financial conflicts of interest. Wespac includes government officials, environmentalists and fishing industry advocates. U.S. Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, a critic of the Honolulu-based Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, questions a witness at a recent hearing.(Courtesy of Rep. Gregorio Sablan) Wespac oversees much of the South Pacific, some 1.5 million nautical miles, including the area contained in the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. It is is one of eight such fishing councils nationwide that were established to develop fishery management plans and policies to prevent overfishing and help fish stocks survive and thrive. Members of the congressional committee, including Sablan, were questioning Chris Oliver, the new assistant administrator of fisheries for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about proposed changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The landmark 1976 law created the councils to oversee fishing in U.S. federal waters. They make decisions governing use of waters that stretch from 3 to 200 miles offshore, in what is known as the Exclusive Economic Zone. ‘Inappropriate Activities Of Wespac’ Wespac is the largest of the councils, responsible for monitoring about half of U.S.-controlled waters and thousands of individual marine species. By contrast, the Gulf of Mexico council only … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/press-release/congress-addresses-puerto-rico-relief | Congress addresses Puerto Rico relief | 2017-10-05 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Congress addresses Puerto Rico relief Oct 5, 2017 Washington, DC – Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan spoke today in support of a strong and continuing federal response to the devastation of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Sablan and twenty other Members of Congress attended the forum called by House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) at the U.S. Capitol to address the need for hurricane relief. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/helping-puerto-rico-and-us-virgin-islands | Helping Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands | 2017-10-01 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Helping Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Oct 1, 2017 We all remember the critical role the U.S. military played in helping the Marianas recover from Typhoon Soudelor. So, I wrote to President Trump, along with 144 of my colleagues, recommending that he fully mobilize the Department of Defense in support of rescue and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Subsequently, the President did appoint Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan to take the lead. Insular area Delegates and other Members of Congress also went on the record with the leadership of the House of Representatives that, when a relief measure is considered in Congress, made necessary given the scale of the disaster, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands receive no less assistance than Texas or Florida or any similarly affected U.S. state would receive. Federal assistance to the Marianas following Typhoon Soudelor was equivalent to the help that any other part of the United States receives from FEMA and SBA and all the other federal agencies that respond to disaster. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands deserve no less now in their time of crisis. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-september-29-2017 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - September 29, 2017 | 2017-10-01 | 2017 | 2017-10 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: _____________________________________________________________________________ Helping Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands We all remember the critical role the U.S. military played in helping the Marianas recover from Typhoon Soudelor. So, this week I wrote to President Trump, along with 144 of my colleagues, recommending that he fully mobilize the Department of Defense in support of rescue and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Subsequently, the President did appoint Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan to take the lead. Insular area Delegates and other Members of Congress also went on the record with the leadership of the House of Representatives that, when a relief measure is considered in Congress, made necessary given the scale of the disaster, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands receive no less assistance than Texas or Florida or any similarly affected U.S. state would receive. Federal assistance to the Marianas following Typhoon Soudelor was equivalent to the help that any other part of the United States receives from FEMA and SBA and all the other federal agencies that respond to disaster. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands deserve no less now in their time of crisis. Minimum wage rises to $7.05 Minimum wage increases to $7.05 per-hour on Saturday, September 30. This is the next to last increase required by federal law. In September 2018, the wage rises to $7.25, the national minimum. Prior to the enactment of U.S. Public Law 110-28 in 2007, the minimum wage in the Marianas was set by Commonwealth law and had been stuck at $3.05 per-hour since the early 1990s. Over the last nine years, I have sometimes passed legislation to stretch out the rate of increase to make sure that this rise in wages did not force businesses to let employees go. It worked. Throughout this transition period, the Government Accountability Office kept regular track of whether minimum wage increases were causing job losses in the Marianas, and found no specific correlation. Concern that the benefits o… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-host-free-veterans-resource-fair-feb | Kilili to host free Veterans Resource Fair in Feb. | 2017-02-08 | 2017 | 2017-02 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune — Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) is hosting the first Northern Marianas Veterans Resource Fair this month, to provide veterans, military service members, and their families with information about federal and local programs that are available to assist and support them. The event is free and open to the public. “The goal of this Veterans Resource Fair is to help connect those who have served in our nation’s military, and our military families, with the resources that can benefit them right here in the Marianas,” Sablan said. “I encourage our veterans, service members, and their families on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to come to the fair on their respective islands, learn more about the different programs that are available, and meet with the agencies and service providers who are here to help them.” The dates, times, and venues for the Veterans Resource Fair are as follows: -SAIPAN – Feb. 22, Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Ppurpose Center, 1pm – 7pm -TINIAN – Feb. 23, NMC Instructional Site, 10am – 4pm -ROTA – Feb. 24, Rota Resort, 10am – 4pm Representatives of the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration will be at all three events to answer questions and assist with enrollment or claims. Other Veterans Resource Fair participants will include the U.S. Army Reserve’s Family Programs, the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, various civilian health providers who work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver care to veterans in the Marianas, and a wide range of Commonwealth agencies and community organizations offering services in education and career training, employment assistance and vocational rehabilitation, counseling, legal aid, disability advocacy, emergency assistance, social support, and more. Veterans and military families who wish to meet with VA representatives at the fair are asked to bring supporting documents (i.e., copies of DD214 forms, medical records, marriage or birth certificates for dependents, etc.) th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/answers-sought-cut-wait-times | Answers sought to cut wait-times | 2017-02-06 | 2017 | 2017-02 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune — Responding to Marianas Visitors Authority concerns about long immigration wait-times at the Francisco C. Ada Saipan International Airport, the Office of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) assured the agency that several measures are being looked at to expedite the process. In an earlier interview, MVA had expressed belief that the long wait-time could possibly be due to the shortage of manpower at the Customs and Border Protection unit. According to MVA, CBP officials informed them that a manpower cap was imposed on CBP by Congress, limiting the number of CBP employees for the CNMI to 20. Sablan’s letter denied that claim. According to the letter, dated Feb. 3, 2017, and addressed to MVA chair Marian Aldan-Pierce, Sablan said he himself has met with CBP officials in Washington, D.C. and discussed CBP resources with the Congressional Research Service. “Both CBP and CRS report to me that the statement [MVA] asked about is not true. There is no cap set by Congress on the number of CBP officers who can be assigned to Saipan,” Sablan wrote. “For security reasons CBP does not disclose the specific number of officers assigned at any port of entry. CBP has told me that the number [20], which has been widely reported in the media as the number of officers in the Marianas, is not accurate,” he added. Sablan clarified in the letter that annual funding level for CBP is set by Congress and in turn limits the number of CBP officers the agency can deploy nationwide. Sablan also added that Congress has been increasing funding for officers in recognition of the need to speed processing at ports everywhere. “CBP allocates these funds, using a staffing model based on the number of visitors arriving at each port of entry and related factors, to determine how many officers are assigned at each location,” wrote Sablan. Sablan did admit, that the number of officers on station is below the budgeted level. “For that reason, screenings may have slowed and may have contributed to the concern voiced in y… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/ban-us-entry-certain-foreign-citizens | Ban on U.S. entry for certain foreign citizens | 2017-02-05 | 2017 | 2017-02 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Constituents in the Marianas are asking how President Trump’s Executive Order on Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry to the United States may affect them. In summary, the order bars citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – from entering the United States for 90 days. Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as "green card" holders, from those countries are exempted, but may face additional vetting during the entry process. Refugees from any nation are barred from admission for 120 days. Syrian refugees are barred indefinitely. The congressional office is at all times prohibited from giving legal advice, so citizens of any of the affected countries, living in the Northern Marianas, are encouraged to seek private legal counsel before traveling. I spoke on the House floor in favor of Congress voting whether this Executive Order should be rescinded. In my view, it hurts innocent people. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/fema-sends-cuc-65m-soudelor | FEMA sends CUC $6.5M for Soudelor | 2017-02-05 | 2017 | 2017-02 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a grant of $6,596,263.11 in federal funding to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The funds are intended for reimbursement of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for costs incurred repairing damage to the electrical system and restoring power after Typhoon Soudelor. To date FEMA has provided $25 million to individuals and households in the Northern Marianas for Soudelor recovery and $35.7 million for restoration of public infrastructure. The disaster relief grants are authorized by Congress under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/insular-reps-include-us-health-reform | Insular reps: Include us in health reform | 2017-02-05 | 2017 | 2017-02 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | I led a letter from all five insular representatives in Congress – Republican and Democrat – to House leadership on inclusion of our areas in health care reform. We were largely left out of Obamacare, so now, with “repeal and replace” on the table, we want any replacement to meet President Trump’s standard of “insurance for everybody.” I am grateful to my counterparts – Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), and Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam) – for joining with me in this bipartisan position statement to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both of California. Among the reforms we want are ending the cap on Medicaid insurance payments to insular areas and computing the federal/local shares of Medicaid in a way comparable to states. We also support Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wisconsin) idea to have federally-supported, refundable tax credits for health insurance. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-3-2017 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 3, 2017 | 2017-02-05 | 2017 | 2017-02 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: __________________________________________________________ Insular reps: Include us in health reform. This week I led a letter from all five insular representatives in Congress – Republican and Democrat – to House leadership on inclusion of our areas in health care reform. We were largely left out of Obamacare, so now, with “repeal and replace” on the table, we want any replacement to meet President Trump’s standard of “insurance for everybody.” I am grateful to my counterparts – Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), and Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam) – for joining with me in this bipartisan position statement to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both of California. Among the reforms we want are ending the cap on Medicaid insurance payments to insular areas and computing the federal/local shares of Medicaid in a way comparable to states. We also support Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wisconsin) idea to have federally-supported, refundable tax credits for health insurance. CW bill again passes House. My bill, H.R. 339, adding 2,002 CW permits to the number allowed this year, passed the House of Representatives on Monday, without dissent. This same bill passed on December 6, but Congress adjourned four days later without action by the Senate. Increasing permits remains as important as ever especially to many local, small business owners, who have employed CW workers for years and now cannot apply to renew their permits. Our local businesses were squeezed out when the CW cap was reached last October by a rush of foreign construction workers, who should use unlimited H-2B visas, not the scarce CW permits. My legislation will give those local businesses – and the Commonwealth Healthcare Center, which is in the same predicament – an opportunity to keep their legacy employees, until they can be replaced with U.S. workers. Thanks to Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and the b… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili%E2%80%99s-cw1-bill-again-passes-house | Kilili’s CW1 bill again passes House | 2017-02-02 | 2017 | 2017-02 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune — House Resolution 339, which would increase the number of CW-1 workers in the CNMI to 15,000 just for fiscal year 2017, passed the U.S. House of Representatives again after the measure went to a floor vote on Monday. HR 339, introduced by Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), again goes to the U.S. Senate for similar action. If the bill makes it through the Senate, it will soon be on President Donald J. Trump’s table for signing within the year. Sablan re-introduced HR 339 in the first session of the 115th U.S. Congress on Jan. 5. It aims to increase the numerical limit of the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker Nonimmigrant Visa program from 12,998 to 15,000 for fiscal year 2017. If it becomes law, HR 339 would give temporary relief to the current workforce issues in the CNMI after the CW-1 cap was breached twice in fiscal years 2016 and 2017. Because of this, hundreds of foreign guest workers had to exit the CNMI; that affected the operations of some businesses. Rep. Thomas McClintock (R-California, 4th), the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands chair, suspended the rules and passed the bill without objections. The subcommittee is under the House Committee on Natural Resources headed by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah, 1st). HR 339 would also increase the education fee for each approved CW permit of a foreign worker from $150 to $200, with the funds going to training U.S. qualified workers. Another proposed amendment is for construction workers getting their permits extended if it was first issued on Oct. 1, 2015. HR 339 was referred to the Natural Resources Committee after Sablan introduced it on Jan. 5. It was also referred to the Judiciary Committee for a certain period and will later be determined by House Speaker Paul Ryan (Wisconsin, 1st) in each case for consideration if the provisions are within the committee’s jurisdiction. On Monday, McClintock introduced a motion to suspend the rules and pass HR 339. The House considered suspending the rules and it proceeded with a 40… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-meets-cbp-officials-us-house-vote-cw-cap | Kilili meets with CBP officials; US House to vote on CW cap | 2017-01-30 | 2017 | 2017-01 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety — U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, in his e-newsletter, says he met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials Erin M. Jacob, C. Shane Campbell, and Paul Mongillo in Washington on Friday, along with Brian Humphrey, CBP director of field operations, calling in from the West Coast. “We discussed immigration processing times for tourists arriving on Saipan, and CBP plans to keep up with our growing number of visitors. According to CBP, the average processing time on Saipan this week has been 37 minutes,” Kilili said. He also reported that his bill “adding another 2,002 CW worker permits for this fiscal year goes to the House floor for a vote on Monday. This is the same bill that passed the House in December, then died when the Senate adjourned four days later. I am grateful to the Republican and Democratic leadership in the House who are giving my effort a second chance. Hopefully, with more time the bill, H.R. 339, can pass the Senate and get to the president for his signature.” Kilili added, “The increase is as important as ever. More and more businesses will find themselves unable to renew their CW —Commonwealth-only Transitional Worker — permits over the coming months. The cap of 12,998 permits for fiscal 2017 was reached in mid-October. So employers of foreign workers have been blocked from applying for new permits or submitting renewals for any existing permits expiring after mid-April.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/veterans-resource-fair-set-february | Veterans Resource Fair set for February | 2017-01-29 | 2017 | 2017-01 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Veterans, their family members, advocates, and service providers are invited to attend the first Northern Marianas Veterans Resource Fair on: Saipan – Wednesday, February 22, 1pm-7pm at the Multipurpose Center – Wednesday, February 22, 1pm-7pm at the Multipurpose Center Tinian – Thursday, February 23, 10am-4pm at the NMC Instructional Site – Thursday, February 23, 10am-4pm at the NMC Instructional Site Rota – Friday, February 24, 10am-4pm at Rota Resort Hosted by your congressional office, the Veterans Resource Fair will highlight the array of services available to veterans and their families in the Northern Marianas—from health and wellness to employment, education, legal advocacy, social support, and more. The Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, VA Choice providers, and various local government, nonprofit, and private institutions will be exhibiting and sharing information about their programs. For more information, contact your congressional office at (670) 323-2647 or email kilili@mail.house.gov. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-january-27-2017 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - January 27, 2017 | 2017-01-29 | 2017 | 2017-01 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: _________________________________________________________________________________________ CW cap increase goes to vote. My bill adding another 2,002 CW worker permits for this fiscal year goes to the House floor for a vote on Monday. This is the same bill that passed the House in December, then died when the Senate adjourned four days later. I am grateful to the Republican and Democratic leadership in the House who are giving my effort a second chance. Hopefully, with more time the bill, H.R. 339, can pass the Senate and get to the President for signature. The increase is as important as ever. More and more businesses will find themselves unable to renew their CW—Commonwealth-only Transitional Worker—permits over the coming months. The cap of 12,998 permits for fiscal 2017 was reached in mid-October. So employers of foreign workers have been blocked from applying for new permits or submitting renewals for any existing permits expiring after mid-April. Veterans Resource Fair set for February. Veterans, their family members, advocates, and service providers are invited to attend the first Northern Marianas Veterans Resource Fair on: Saipan – Wednesday, February 22, 1pm-7pm at the Multipurpose Center – at the Multipurpose Center Tinian – Thursday, February 23, 10am-4pm at the NMC Instructional Site – at the NMC Instructional Site Rota – Friday, February 24, 10am-4pm at Rota Resort Hosted by your congressional office, the Veterans Resource Fair will highlight the array of services available to veterans and their families in the Northern Marianas—from health and wellness to employment, education, legal advocacy, social support, and more. The Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, VA Choice providers, and various local government, nonprofit, and private institutions will be exhibiting and sharing information about their programs. For more information, contact your congressional office at (670) 323-2647 or email kilili@mail.house.gov. Exempt the VA from President's hir… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
Advanced export
JSON shape: default, array, newline-delimited, object
CREATE TABLE [releases] (
[url] TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
[title] TEXT,
[date] TEXT,
[year] TEXT,
[month] TEXT,
[party] TEXT,
[chamber] TEXT,
[state] TEXT,
[member_name] TEXT,
[bioguide_id] TEXT,
[domain] TEXT,
[scraper] TEXT,
[source] TEXT,
[date_source] TEXT,
[text] TEXT,
[has_text] INTEGER,
[collected_at] TEXT,
[updated_at] TEXT
);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_date]
ON [releases] ([date]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_year]
ON [releases] ([year]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_party]
ON [releases] ([party]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_chamber]
ON [releases] ([chamber]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_state]
ON [releases] ([state]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_bioguide_id]
ON [releases] ([bioguide_id]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_has_text]
ON [releases] ([has_text]);