Press releases
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772 rows where chamber = "Senate", party = "Independent" and state = "MP" sorted by date descending
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| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-continues-push-national-guard-unit-congress | Kilili continues push for National Guard unit in Congress | 2016-03-06 | 2016 | 2016-03 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune- As members of the U.S House Armed Service committee craft a Defense budget for 2017, Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) submitted testimony last week asking that the budget authorize a National Guard unit in the CNMI and provide language the would require the Department of Defense to produce a report on the unit’s its implementation and funding needs. Sablan, in his March 1 testimony, pointed to the National Guard Bureau report last August that found a unit feasible in the NMI. The study was mandated in the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act. Sablan said establishing a National Guard in the NMI would support the military’s goal of “rebalance” to Asia, increasing U.S. military presence in the “first line of U.S. soil in the Western Pacific.” Sablan said the National Guard unit would also give the NMI governor additional capacity to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. “Ours is one of only two jurisdictions nationwide that does not have its own National Guard,” Sablan said, “a deficient sorely apparent in August of last year, when Typhoon Soudelor caused widespread damage and led the President to declare a major disaster in the islands.” Sablan added the “groundwork” for establishing a National Guard unit was already in place at the local level, pointing to a 2002 public law to authorize such. “What we need now is federal action,” Sablan said. Sablan said, H.R. 3649, his bill to authorize National Guard units in the NMI would not require any funding nor impose any new requirements on the National Guard Bureau or the Department of Defense. It would simply include the Northern Marianas Island in the definitions sections of current law of what constitutes the Natioanl Guard, he said On his second request—to have the DoD produce a report on how it will implement this National Guard unit—Sablan called this “proper next step” to the 2015 report, which found a guard unit in the NMI feasible. Sablan believes the Defense secretary should report to the Armed Services committee its imp… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/making-case-nmi-national-guard | Making the case for an NMI National Guard | 2016-03-06 | 2016 | 2016-03 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | At the House Armed Services Committee Member request day this year, I submitted testimony to help set up a Northern Mariana Islands National Guard unit. I asked that my bill, H.R. 3649, authorizing an NMI Guard unit, be made part of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. I also requested that the 2017 NDAA require the Department of Defense to submit a plan following up on last year’s report that an NMI Guard unit is a realistic goal, given our population and other factors. I included an order for the report in the 2014 NDAA as a necessary step in making the case for our own Guard unit. Now, the challenge will be getting the unit approved at a time when the Guard is actually downsizing nationwide. Despite that, an NMI Guard unit is needed to help the Governor respond to natural disasters, such as Typhoon Soudelor, as well as to provide jobs for island residents. Besides, every U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands all have their own National Guard. The Northern Marianas should, too. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/nmi-questions-are-focus-secretary-jewell | NMI questions are the focus for Secretary Jewell | 2016-03-06 | 2016 | 2016-03 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Last week I questioned Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on her Department’s FY17 budget proposal, focusing on what is important for the Northern Mariana Islands. Close Up, the program that brings island students to Washington every year to learn about their government, has been dropped from any mention in the budget. I wanted the Secretary to make a commitment to fund Close Up; and she said there would be $1 million for the program. I also asked about the Rota National Park study, which I had authorized in law in 2015. The study is on schedule and fully funded, but I wanted the Secretary to know it is a priority for the NMI and especially Rota. I brought up the slow pace of cleanup at American Memorial Park after Typhoon Soudelor that has been a concern of many constituents, so the Secretary will make sure the Park gets more attention. And I asked for a report on the Interagency Group on Insular Areas, which Governor Torres attended last month. Is IGIA working? Are the Governors satisfied with the outcomes? The last report on the IGIA website is from 2008. I got a commitment from the Secretary to provide something more recent. This opportunity for direct communication with Department heads is why the annual budget hearings are so important. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-march-7-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - March 7, 2016 | 2016-03-06 | 2016 | 2016-03 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: NMI questions are the focus for Secretary Jewell Making the case for an NMI National Guard Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for/in the Marianas Highlights in the Legislative Program __________________________________________________________________________ NMI questions are the focus for Secretary Jewell. This week I questioned Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on her Department’s FY17 budget proposal, focusing on what is important for the Northern Mariana Islands. Close Up, the program that brings island students to Washington every year to learn about their government, has been dropped from any mention in the budget. I wanted the Secretary to make a commitment to fund Close Up; and she said there would be $1 million for the program. I also asked about the Rota National Park study, which I had authorized in law in 2015. The study is on schedule and fully funded, but I wanted the Secretary to know it is a priority for the NMI and especially Rota. I brought up the slow pace of cleanup at American Memorial Park after Typhoon Soudelor that has been a concern of many constituents, so the Secretary will make sure the Park gets more attention. And I asked for a report on the Interagency Group on Insular Areas, which Governor Torres attended last month. Is IGIA working? Are the Governors satisfied with the outcomes? The last report on the IGIA website is from 2008. I got a commitment from the Secretary to provide something more recent. This opportunity for direct communication with Department heads is why the annual budget hearings are so important. Making the case for an NMI National Guard. At the House Armed Services Committee Member request day this year, I submitted testimony to help set up a Northern Mariana Islands National Guard unit. I asked that my bill, H.R. 3649, authorizing an NMI Guard unit, be made part of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. I also requested that the 2017 NDAA require the Department of Defense to submit a plan following up on last … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-grills-interior-secretary-fy%E2%80%9917-budget-close-rota-park-study-amp-cleanup-focus | Kilili grills Interior secretary on FY17 budget: Close Up, Rota park study, AMP cleanup the focus | 2016-03-03 | 2016 | 2016-03 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune - WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Ind-MP) got Northern Mariana Islands-specific with Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell yesterday, as the House Natural Resources Committee held its annual hearing on the U.S. Interior Department budget. Sablan said he was particularly concerned that the budget submitted to Congress by Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs did not include any funding expressly for the Close Up program. “The Close Up program brings island students to Washington each year to learn how their government works,” Sablan said. “It is a valuable use of federal funds. In fact, several of my colleagues in the Northern Marianas congressional office got interested in government through Close Up.” In 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 the Office of Insular Affairs budget identified Close Up as a program that is “necessary on an ongoing basis for the insular areas” and that should be funded “because there was no other source of funds in the Federal budget. Close Up had a specific line item of $1.1 million in Interior’s FY16 proposal. But for FY17 Interior dropped any reference to Close Up. “I’m not sure what to make of that,” Sablan told Jewell. “But it is troubling.” Jewell said she believed there was $1 million in the budget for the Close Up program, but that she would have to check to get more specifics. The secretary also promised to report back to Sablan, when asked for a status report on the Rota National Park study. Sablan was able to include authorization for the study in the FY16 omnibus appropriation and Park Service personnel have already met with Rota officials and begun work on the three-year project. “This is something I worked to achieve since my very first year in Congress,” the Congressman explained to Jewell. “So, I would just like to hear from you that you have the money you need in your FY17 proposal to keep the Rota Park study moving forward and on schedule.” Another park issue the congressman raised was getting the American Memorial Park back in service. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-proposes-improvement-medicaid-implementation-earned-income-tax-credit-program-nmi | Kilili proposes improvement of Medicaid, implementation of Earned Income Tax Credit program in NMI | 2016-03-01 | 2016 | 2016-03 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety -- U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan says Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis is a chance to improve Medicaid and implement the Earned Income Tax Credit program in the CNMI. In a statement during a committee hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives regarding the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s analysis of the situation in Puerto Rico, Kilili noted that the Caribbean island “is defaulting on its debt, something that has not occurred in my district, the Northern Mariana Islands, or other U.S. insular areas.” But he said the CNMI government has recently “had to scrape together $1.8 million to pay its retirees after cutting their bimonthly pensions by 25 percent…. [And] there remains an unfunded pension liability in the hundreds of millions of dollar.” Puerto Rico has more than $70 billion in outstanding debt. According to Kilili, “What is happening now in Puerto Rico should be a warning of what could happen in other U.S. insular areas. And it would be wise policy and an exercise in foresight to address root causes of the fiscal problems in all the islands, when we address the problem in Puerto Rico.” Kilili said the Treasury and the Obama administration have already put one idea on the table that would help with solvency in all the insular areas. “The idea is to bring the islands closer to the national Medicaid program in which the federal government pays more of state healthcare costs, depending on the proportion of low income persons in that state. “The islands bear a disproportionate share of those Medicaid costs and this burden contributes to fiscal stress and reduces the quality of health care in the insular areas. “Treasury proposed in its Puerto Rico roadmap last fall that Congress remove the cap on Medicaid and increase the federal Medicaid match for Puerto Rico. And the president confirmed in his budget submission this month that it is intended that this Medicaid reform apply to all the U.S. insular areas. I support that proposal.” The congressman said there is one other policy … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/obama-zika-plan-includes-471-m-insular-relief | Obama Zika plan includes $471 m. in insular relief | 2016-02-29 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Obama Zika plan includes $471 m. in insular relief Feb 28, 2016 In a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan last Monday, President Barack Obama proposed emergency spending to deal with the spread of the Zika virus, including $246 million for Medicaid in the U.S. insular areas. Zika is transmitted by mosquito bite and cases have already been reported in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Infection of pregnant women is associated with microcephaly, a birth defect, and some deaths have been reported. We should be grateful we have not yet seen a case of Zika in the Northern Mariana Islands. But tropical areas, such as our islands, are at risk. So, the President recommended lifting the federal share of Medicaid for insular areas from the current 55 percent to 65 percent for one year at a cost of $246 million. He also wants another $225 million set aside for grants and technical assistance to insular areas, where the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the virus can thrive. All are proposals I support. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/puerto-rico-crisis-chance-improve-medicaid-eitc | Puerto Rico crisis a chance to improve Medicaid, EITC | 2016-02-29 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | A hearing that brought Treasury Department officials to the Hill last Thursday to help develop a legislative response to Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis was also an opportunity for me to promote reforms in how insular areas are treated under Medicaid and expansion of the earned income tax credit. Read my statement here. Treasury proposed last fall and the President’s fiscal 2017 included funds for lifting the cap on Medicaid payments to the insular areas and moving towards the same federal/local cost-share as states enjoy. The President also proposed extending the earned income tax credit to Puerto Rico—though not to the Northern Marianas and the other insular areas, as my legislation, H.R. 4309, would do. The EITC is a direct payment to low-income families with a working parent. Unlike traditional welfare, the EITC rewards employment and could bring U.S. citizens into the workforce in the NMI, helping with our labor shortage. But the program is too expensive for the Commonwealth government to pay for. My bill requires a cover over to the CNMI from the U.S. Treasury, similar to the way the Child Tax Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit now work. Puerto Rico is already defaulting on some $70 billion in debt it took on and Speaker Ryan has set a deadline of March 31 for legislation to address the fiscal crisis. This crisis could be an opportunity for the other islands, as well. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-26-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 26, 2016 | 2016-02-29 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: Puerto Rico crisis a chance to improve Medicaid, EITC Obama Zika plan includes $471 m. in insular relief Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for/in the Marianas Highlights in the legislative program ____________________________________________________________________________ Puerto Rico crisis a chance to improve Medicaid, EITC. A hearing that brought Treasury Department officials to the Hill on Thursday to help develop a legislative response to Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis was also an opportunity for me to promote reforms in how insular areas are treated under Medicaid and expansion of the earned income tax credit. Read my statement here. Treasury proposed last fall and the President’s fiscal 2017 included funds for lifting the cap on Medicaid payments to the insular areas and moving towards the same federal/local cost-share as states enjoy. The President also proposed extending the earned income tax credit to Puerto Rico—though not to the Northern Marianas and the other insular areas, as my legislation, H.R. 4309, would do. The EITC is a direct payment to low-income families with a working parent. Unlike traditional welfare, the EITC rewards employment and could bring U.S. citizens into the workforce in the NMI, helping with our labor shortage. But the program is too expensive for the Commonwealth government to pay for. My bill requires a cover over to the CNMI from the U.S. Treasury, similar to the way the Child Tax Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit now work. Puerto Rico is already defaulting on some $70 billion in debt it took on and Speaker Ryan has set a deadline of March 31 for legislation to address the fiscal crisis. This crisis could be an opportunity for the other islands, as well. Obama Zika plan includes $471 m. in insualr relief. In a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Monday, President Barack Obama proposed emergency spending to deal with the spread of the Zika virus, including $246 million for Medicaid in the U.S. insular areas. Zika is transmitted by … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-19-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 19, 2016 | 2016-02-25 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 19, 2016 Feb 25, 2016 In this issue: ____________________________________________________________________________ Keeping the Northern Mariana Islands free of invasive species of plants and animals and helping us get rid of those that have already infested our islands is an important responsibility of the federal government. This week, those of us representing the Pacific in Congress emphasized this by asking for a status report from the National Invasive Species Council on implementation of the Regional Biosecurity Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii. The Regional Biosecurity Plan sets out the strategy for dealing with the anticipated increase in invasive species activity resulting from the military buildup in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Joining in the request were Hawai’i Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D) and Brian Schatz (D) and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D) and Mark Takai (D), as well as Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D). Now that we have the plan, we want to make sure that the Council remains committed to putting it to work protecting our region from the environmental and economic damage caused by invasive species. The White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders is asking for your nominations of AAPI musicians, poets, and storytellers who are Champions of Change. If you know someone who uses their art to increase awareness of Asian and Pacific issues or encourages our inclusion in American society, the White House wants to hear from you. As part of AAPI Heritage Month in May, the Initiative will highlight the accomplishments of Champions from around our nation. Nominate a Champion of Change by March 9, 2016. Read more here. Grants: Smart Policing Initiative – This grant program seeks to build upon analysis-driven, eviden… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-obama-zika-plan-includes-insular-medicaid-relief-0 | Kilili: Obama Zika plan includes insular Medicaid relief | 2016-02-24 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety — WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) — President Obama has proposed $1.9 billion in emergency spending to deal with the spread of the Zika virus, including improvements in the Medicaid program in the U.S. insular areas. The president sent his proposal in a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Monday. The Zika virus is transmitted by mosquito bite and cases have already been reported in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Infection of pregnant women has been associated with microcephaly, a birth defect. “We should be grateful we have not yet seen a case of Zika in the Northern Mariana Islands,” said U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan. “But clearly tropical areas of the United States, such as our islands, are on the front line of risk. “I thank the president for taking steps now to stop the spread of this disease and help keep the Marianas safe. I will certainly be supporting his proposal.” Among the president’s recommendations to the U.S. Congress is $246 million to cover the cost of increasing the federal share of Medicaid in the insular areas. Currently, the federal government pays 55 percent of the cost of this health insurance program for low-income people. The president’s Zika proposal lifts the federal share to 65 percent for one year. Although the total amount of federal spending for Medicaid in the insular areas is capped, the extra federal share the president proposes would not count against the capped amount. The $246 million would be additional, new money. The president also wants $828 million for the Centers for Disease Control to prevent, detect, and respond to the Zika virus and other emerging infectious diseases. $225 million would be specifically set aside for grants and technical assistance to the insular areas, where the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the virus are known to occur. CDC would also support active surveillance for Zika virus infections in pregnant women. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/building-coalition-fight-invasive-species | Building a coalition to fight invasive species | 2016-02-21 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Building a coalition to fight invasive species Feb 21, 2016 Keeping the Northern Mariana Islands free of invasive species of plants and animals and helping us get rid of those that have already infested our islands is an important responsibility of the federal government. Last week, those of us representing the Pacific in Congress emphasized this by asking for a status report from the National Invasive Species Council on implementation of the Regional Biosecurity Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii. The Regional Biosecurity Plan sets out the strategy for dealing with the anticipated increase in invasive species activity resulting from the military buildup in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Joining in the request were Hawai’i Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D) and Brian Schatz (D) and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D) and Mark Takai (D), as well as Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D). Now that we have the plan, we want to make sure that the Council remains committed to putting it to work protecting our region from the environmental and economic damage caused by invasive species. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/nominate-pacific-islands-champion-change | Nominate a Pacific Islands Champion of Change | 2016-02-21 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Nominate a Pacific Islands Champion of Change Feb 21, 2016 The White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders is asking for your nominations of AAPI musicians, poets, and storytellers who are Champions of Change. If you know someone who uses their art to increase awareness of Asian and Pacific issues or encourages our inclusion in American society, the White House wants to hear from you. As part of AAPI Heritage Month in May, the Initiative will highlight the accomplishments of Champions from around our nation. Nominate a Champion of Change by March 9, 2016. Read more here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/bill-introduced-extending-palau-compact | Bill introduced extending Palau Compact | 2016-02-16 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Bill introduced extending Palau Compact Feb 15, 2016 Last week I introduced legislation, approving the agreement between the United States and the Republic of Palau to extend Palau’s Compact of Free Association through 2024. The U.S. and Palau signed the agreement on September 3, 2010. Over five years later, however, Congress has yet to approve the extension, which provides annually decreasing amounts of financial assistance to our island neighbor. The U.S. also helps with postal, weather, and civil aviation services, and offers continued access to a limited number of federal grant programs. Instead, Congress has been meeting the financial aspects of the extension on a year-by-year basis. This is no way to treat a friend. Fortunately, President Obama does include the costs of the Compact extension in his FY17 budget proposal; and with introduction of my legislation, H.R. 4531, Congress may finally confirm the importance of our relationship with the Republic of Palau. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/fy17-budget-highlights | FY17 budget highlights | 2016-02-16 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | FY17 budget highlights Feb 15, 2016 President Obama sent his Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal to Congress last Tuesday. This is the final set of spending priorities the President will submit before ending his time in office. From the hundreds of pages of explanations, legislative language, and allocation tables we have selected a few items of key interest to the Northern Mariana Islands: Education: Funding increase for NMI schools. Last year’s reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act made only one change to the Title I program that supports students from low-income families: my proposal to increase funding for the Northern Marianas and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. The increase is contingent in an overall increase in Title I funding, which the President has now proposed for FY17. If the President’s request for $15.36 billion, $450 million over the 2016 enacted level, is approved, then funding for the Marianas Public School System will go up from about $6.8 million this year to $11.2 million in 2017, a $4.4 million increase for our students. Healthcare: Equal treatment under Medicaid. A long-sought goal of insular areas— getting the same funding as U.S. states for Medicaid coverage of low income persons—is part of the President’s budget proposal. The budget removes the cap on funding, which is currently about $5.5 million per year for the Northern Mariana Islands, although the Affordable Care Act has tripled that through 2019. And the President proposes a gradual increase in the share of Medicaid costs covered by the federal government as territories modernize their Medicaid programs. Currently, insular areas cover 45 percent, the federal government 55 percent. But in some states the federal percentage is as high as 74 percent. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-divert-airfield-negotiations-local-matter | Kilili: Divert-airfield negotiations a local matter | 2016-02-16 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety- U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan said he would respect the negotiation between the CNMI government and the U.S. Department of Defense pertaining to the divert airfield, adding that the issue is a local matter. “I have always taken the position that land-use negotiations and decisions between the U.S. Department of Defense and the commonwealth government are a local matter, and I will continue to respect that process,” he said in an email, Tuesday. Last week, he added, “Lt. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield made it clear that the Air Force decision to locate the divert airfield on Tinian was in response to Governor Torres’ request. I respect that — both the governor’s request and the Air Force response,” he said. Over the weekend, Kilili reported in his e-newsletter that the Air Force included $9 million in its military construction budget request for the lease of 7.1 hectares of land in support of divert activities and exercise initiatives. Kilili said the land will be identified during negotiations with the commonwealth which is expected to begin this summer. He said based on a Navy real estate survey, the cost to acquire the land by fee is $3.2 million, “but the Air Force is prepared to lease the property at a higher cost in order to conform to the Covenant agreement to acquire only the minimum real property interest necessary to meet mission requirements.” This $9 million funding proposal is part of President Obama’s FY 2017 budget proposal sent to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday last week. Kilili said he made the case for the selection of Tinian in his 2012 response to the Air Force Draft Environmental Impact Statement. In his e-newsletter, he said the “divert airfield will be used for training and will give the Air Force a backup in case planes cannot use Andersen field on Guam. Saipan was considered and the Air Force also looked at dividing its activities between Saipan and Tinian. Specifics of the Tinian-only plan are not yet fully available. I look forward to learning more once the fi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/tinian-selected-air-force-divert-airfield | Tinian selected for Air Force divert airfield | 2016-02-16 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Tinian selected for Air Force divert airfield Feb 15, 2016 Miranda A.A. Ballentine, Assistant Secretary for Installations, Environment, and Energy, called on Wednesday to inform me of the decision to select Tinian for the U.S. Air Forces’ divert activities and exercises in the Northern Mariana Islands. I made the case for citing on Tinian in my 2012 response to the Air Force’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The divert airfield will be used for training and will give the Air Force a backup in case planes cannot use Andersen field on Guam. Saipan was considered and the Air Force also looked at dividing its activities between Saipan and Tinian. Specifics of the Tinian-only plan are not yet fully available. I look forward to learning more once the final environmental impact statement is released this spring; and I will continue to listen to the voices of constituents and the Commonwealth government as the details of the Tinian-only plan emerge. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/ucgc-program-offers-glimnpse-cadet | UCGC program offers glimnpse of cadet | 2016-02-16 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | UCGC program offers glimnpse of cadet Feb 15, 2016 Since the 1950s, thousands of high school students have discovered the United States Coast Guard Academy by attending the Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) program. AIM is exclusively for students preparing to enter their senior year of high school. Immerse yourself in Academy tradition and cadet life during this six-day program in New London, Connecticut. There are three AIM sessions scheduled for July 2016. The Academy has a limited amount of funds to provide scholarships for students with legitimate financial need. Students with demonstrated financial need may receive a scholarship for tuition, travel, or both. Information and application materials are available online at http://www.cga.edu/admissions.aspx?id=88. The application period ends April 1, 2016. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/uscis-director-provides-update-cw-processing | USCIS Director provides update on CW processing | 2016-02-16 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | USCIS Director provides update on CW processing Feb 15, 2016 Initial processing of the 2,800 Commonwealth-only (CW) worker applications, expiring December 31, 2015, is finished, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez reported to me last week. Of these, 805 received Requests for Evidence and processing will resume as soon as additional supporting documents are received from employers. In his letter, Director Rodriguez also confirmed that the rule, allowing CW workers to continue working for up to 240 days while a timely-filed petition is pending, will take effect on Tuesday, February 16. Workers whose CW petitions have been delayed may resume working on that day. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-12-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 12, 2016 | 2016-02-16 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: ____________________________________________________________________________ President Obama sent his Fiscal Year 2017 budget proposal to Congress on Tuesday. This is the final set of spending priorities the President will submit before ending his time in office. From the hundreds of pages of explanations, legislative language, and allocation tables we have selected a few items of key interest to the Northern Mariana Islands: Education: Funding increase for NMI schools. Last year’s reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act made only one change to the Title I program that supports students from low-income families: my proposal to increase funding for the Northern Marianas and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. The increase is contingent in an overall increase in Title I funding, which the President has now proposed for FY17. If the President’s request for $15.36 billion, $450 million over the 2016 enacted level, is approved, then funding for the Marianas Public School System will go up from about $6.8 million this year to $11.2 million in 2017, a $4.4 million increase for our students. Healthcare: Equal treatment under Medicaid. A long-sought goal of insular areas— getting the same funding as U.S. states for Medicaid coverage of low income persons—is part of the President’s budget proposal. The budget removes the cap on funding, which is currently about $5.5 million per year for the Northern Mariana Islands, although the Affordable Care Act has tripled that through 2019. And the President proposes a gradual increase in the share of Medicaid costs covered by the federal government as territories modernize their Medicaid programs. Currently, insular areas cover 45 percent, the federal government 55 percent. But in some states the federal percentage is as high as 74 percent. Extending the Compact with Palau: $273 million over ten years. The President’s budget includes the funding necessary for the extension of the Compact of Free Association wi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/igisomar-kilili-discuss-exception-cabotage-cnmi | Igisomar, Kilili discuss exception of cabotage in CNMI | 2016-02-11 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety- Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan) and U.S. Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) discussed the merits and pitfalls of having the Commonwealth exempted from federal cabotage laws to allow foreign airlines travel to or from Guam and the CNMI, according to letters between the two officials in recent weeks. U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have introduced a billS.2360 that Igisomar believes would exempt American Samoa from cabotage and allow foreign airlines to land on American Samoa and then another U.S. territory or Compact Impact Nation. Currently, cabotage law prevents foreign airlines form traveling solely between two U.S./territory airports, Igisomar said. The foreign airline must return back to a foreign point after landing at one U.S./territory airport. Igisomar proposed that the bill be amended to provide the same exemption to the CNMI and Guam, as cabotage law applies to in the region. Since 2006 with the departure of Japan Airlines and other airlines, the CNMI has endured diminished air transportation traffic. I truly believe that with a cabotage exception, the CNMI can tremendously boost its air transportation traffic and revenue, and create more competition thereby driving down the airfare prices, Igisomar said, requesting that Sablan offer an amendment to the bill to reflect these concerns. But Sablan, in a letter to Igisomar on Feb. 4., attempts to corrects Igisomars understanding of the bill. Sablan said the bill would not expand authorization to allow foreign airlines to fly between American Samoa and another U.S. territory or Compact nation, but would allow a foreign carrier to provide service solely between the American Samoa islands of Tutuila and Manua. Sablan said this would be allowed without the requirement to have an emergency service waiver for the route renewed every thirty. Still, he said, the Secretary of Transportation would be required to revoke the emergency service waiver for any foreign airlines in the event that a U.S. carrier entered t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/cool-connected-webinar | Cool & Connected webinar | 2016-02-08 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Cool & Connected webinar Feb 7, 2016 How to use broadband service to promote community development is the topic of a series of webinars being hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency. A team of experts will assist participants in developing strategies and action plans to use in their communities. A growing number of communities have combined broadband service with other local assets such as cultural and recreational amenities to attract and retain investment and people, including young people. This can help diversify local economies. Learn more on February 9 or on February 16 at 7 am ChST. Register here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-5-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 5, 2016 | 2016-02-08 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 5, 2016 Feb 7, 2016 In this issue: Cool & Connected webinar Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for/in the Marianas Highlights in the legislative program ___________________________________________________________________________ Cool & Connected webinar. How to use broadband service to promote community development is the topic of a series of webinars being hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency. A team of experts will assist participants in developing strategies and action plans to use in their communities. A growing number of communities have combined broadband service with other local assets such as cultural and recreational amenities to attract and retain investment and people, including young people. This can help diversify local economies. Learn more on February 9 or on February 16 at 7 am ChST. Register here. Opportunites - Federal grants, jobs for and in the Marianas Grants: Special Education - State Personnel Development Grants The purpose of this program is to assist State educational agencies in reforming and improving their systems for personnel preparation and professional development in early intervention, educational, and transition services in order to improve results for children with disabilities. Current closing date is March 21, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281309. Community Assistance Program State Support Services Element The State Support Services Element program provides funding for technical assistance to communities in the National Flood Insurance Program and to evaluate community performance in implementing NFIP floodplain management activities. Current closing date is April 15, 2016. For more info… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-january-29-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - January 29, 2016 | 2016-02-02 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: ___________________________________________________________________________ AAFES Troop Store expansion project awarded. The Army & Air Force Exchange Service has announced that local contractor, RNV Construction, has been awarded a $1.8 million contract for expansion of the troop store at the Army Reserve Center on Saipan. The 1,120 square-foot store will be expanded to 5,000 square-feet. Construction is expected to be complete by December 2016. I have been working on improving the store since my first term in Congress. A study I included in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act determined the project to be viable, but the expansion was delayed for over two years, while a team from the U.S. Navy made sure there was no unexploded ordnance on the site. The existing store, which serves nearly 4,000 active and reserve service members, retirees, and their families is small, deteriorating, and in need of a major overhaul. Our service members, veterans, and their families deserve better and can finally look forward to a new and improved AAFES Troop Store on Saipan opening soon. Medicaid drug savings extended to NMI. The Northern Mariana Islands and other U.S. insular areas will be able to achieve savings in their drug expenditures for Medicaid patients as a result of a final rule published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week. The rule revises the definition of state to include Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas. It also addresses changes made to Medicaid Drug Rebate Program by the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Changes to rebate percentages in the Affordable Care Act will increase Medicaid rebates being paid to federal, state, and non-state governments by manufacturers of covered outpatient drugs, including higher cost brand name drugs. See CMS for more information. EPA releases new guide for healthier school renovations. With Typhoon Soudelor repairs underway, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys new manual on… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/aafes-troop-store-expansion-project-awarded | AAFES Troop Store expansion project awarded | 2016-02-01 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | The Army & Air Force Exchange Service has announced that local contractor, RNV Construction, has been awarded a $1.8 million contract for expansion of the troop store at the Army Reserve Center on Saipan. The 1,120 square-foot store will be expanded to 5,000 square-feet. Construction is expected to be complete by December 2016 at a total cost of $2.8 million. I have been working on improving the store since my first term in Congress. A study I included in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act determined the project to be viable, but the expansion was delayed for over two years, while a team from the U.S. Navy made sure there was no unexploded ordnance on the site. The existing store, which serves nearly 4,000 active and reserve service members, retirees, and their families is small, deteriorating, and in need of a major overhaul. Our service members, veterans, and their families deserve better and can finally look forward to a new and improved AAFES Troop Store on Saipan opening soon. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/epa-releases-new-guide-healthier-school-renovations | EPA releases new guide for healthier school renovations | 2016-02-01 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | EPA releases new guide for healthier school renovations Jan 31, 2016 With Typhoon Soudelor repairs underway, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys new manual on best practices for protecting childrens health and minimizing environmental health risks is most timely. The manual includes an overview of potential environmental hazards that may emerge during school renovations, such as exposure to lead, asbestos, mold, mercury, and radon, and offers guidance for avoiding exposure, as well as a review of regulations and resources available to schools. The Sensible Guide to Healthier School Renovations can be found online at https://www.epa.gov/schools/sensible-guide-healthier-school-renovations. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/high-school-students-become-junior-statesman | High school students: Become a Junior Statesman | 2016-02-01 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Now is the time for high school students to apply to attend the Junior Statesman summer program at Stanford University, Princeton University, Georgetown University, or Capitol Normal University in China. Students are schooled in civic engagement, leadership, and political studies, while getting a feel for the life and work in college. Those who apply by February 28, 2016 will be automatically considered for one of the four scholarships set aside for the Northern Marianas. The scholarship covers tuition, room and board, and transportation costs. For more information, and to apply, visit https://summer.jsa.org. Complete applications include an online account, two essays, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, and a current transcript. Transcripts can be emailed directly to JSA Territory Program Director Ed Banayat at ebayanat@jsa.org. All other parts of the application may be completed online. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-says-tennis-courts-will-re-open-march | Kilili says tennis courts will re-open in March | 2016-02-01 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety- U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan said the tennis courts at American Memorial Park will re-open for daylight play sometime in March. He said there are still typhoon-damaged trees adjacent to the courts that have to be cut down as they are threats to the public. Kilili is responding to Rep. Antonio Sablans inquiries regarding the repair of the federal park facilities and its pathways that were damaged by Typhoon Soudelor in August. In his letter to Rep. Antonio Sablan, Kilili said the tennis courts have been cleared of fallen trees, but a few damaged trees adjacent to the courts may fall on the fence. He said the U.S. Park Service is purchasing a fence replacement that will be installed as soon as it can be shipped to the island. They are [also] cutting off and removing the many lights on the tennis courts that were damaged and are no longer safe. Replacement lights have been ordered and are expected to be installed by a local contractor soon after they arrive. There is some damage to the court surface. The courts are expected to be open for daylight play sometime in March, with nighttime play to resume after the lights are installed, Kilili said. As for access, he said nearly 90 percent of the trees in the park were either uprooted or were significantly damaged. While all of the sidewalks have been initially cleared for access, several leaning trees and threatening branches must be removed before the sidewalks can be safely opened for the public, Kilili said, adding that access to the sidewalks is only for day-use until lighting can be replaced. He said access to Smiling Cove and Outer Cove Marinas were opened two days after the typhoon. But the Outer Cove docks have significant safety issues, are not open to normal public use, and provide very limited berthing for owners, he added. He said public boarding of boats is safely occurring at Smiling Cove but only temporarily while the commonwealth is still working on a more permanent solution for the Outer Cove docks. The Visitor Cente… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/medicaid-drug-savings-extended-nmi | Medicaid drug savings extended to NMI | 2016-02-01 | 2016 | 2016-02 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Medicaid drug savings extended to NMI Feb 1, 2016 The Northern Mariana Islands and other U.S. insular areas will be able to achieve savings in their drug expenditures for Medicaid patients as a result of a final rule published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The rule revises the definition of state to include Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas. It also addresses changes made to Medicaid Drug Rebate Program by the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Changes to rebate percentages in the Affordable Care Act will increase Medicaid rebates being paid to federal, state, and non-state governments by manufacturers of covered outpatient drugs, including higher cost brand name drugs. See CMS for more information. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-january-22-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - January 22, 2016 | 2016-01-24 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - January 22, 2016 Jan 24, 2016 In this issue: __________________________________________________________________________ Opportunites - Federal grants, jobs for and in the Marianas: Grants: Market Development Cooperator Program The International Trade Administration creates economic opportunity for U.S. workers and firms by promoting international trade and investment, strengthening industry competitiveness, and ensuring fair trade. The Market Development Cooperator Program strengthens the competitiveness of U.S. industry by generating exports of nonagricultural goods and services produced in the United States. Closing date isMarch 15, 2016. For more information, go tohttps://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281029. State Energy Program The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energys State Energy Program seeks applications to advance policies, programs, and market strategies that accelerate job creation, reduce energy consumption, and help achieve energy and climate security for the nation. Closing date isMarch 31, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281050. Early Comprehensive Childhood Systems Impact The purpose of this program is to enhance early childhood systems building and demonstrate improved outcomes in population-based childrens developmental health and family well-being indicators using a Collaborative Innovation and Improvement Network approach. An additional goal of the ECCS Impact grant is the development of collective impact expertise, implementation and sustainability of efforts at the state, county and community levels. Closing date isMarch 15, 2016. For more information, go tohttps://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=281007. Secondary an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/chci-summer-internships-open-nmi-students | CHCI summer internships open to NMI students | 2016-01-18 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | CHCI summer internships open to NMI students Jan 18, 2016 Full-time college undergraduate students from the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible for paid summer internships with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. CHCI interns will have the opportunity to work in a congressional office and get training in the legislative process, constituent casework, legislative research, and other meaningful work. Other benefits include round-trip airfare to Washington, DC, a $2,500 stipend, free housing, academic credit, leadership training, networking opportunities, and more. Applications for the 2016 Congressional Summer Internship are due January 22, 2016. For more information, go to https://chci.org/programs/internships/. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-january-15-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - January 15, 2016 | 2016-01-18 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: __________________________________________________________________________ 240-day grace period for CW renewals finalized. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson signed the final rule allowing foreign workers in the Northern Mariana Islands to keep working for up to 240 days, even if their CW-1 permit renewal has not been processed, as long as a new permit was applied for before the old permit expired. The rule is published in the Federal Register today and goes into effect on February 14. Even workers whose employers applied for an extension before that date may qualify. The new rule is an improvement to the immigration system, but is not a solution to the ongoing problem of delayed CW processing. The delays have meant lost income for NMI businesses and workersforeign and U.S. I have pressed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Lon Rodrguez to clear the backlog and met with his processing staff in California last week to make sure they understand the costs of the slowdown to the NMI economy. CHCI summer internships open to NMI students. Full-time college undergraduate students from the Northern Mariana Islands are eligible for paid summer internships with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. CHCI interns will have the opportunity to work in a congressional office and get training in the legislative process, constituent casework, legislative research, and other meaningful work. Other benefits include round-trip airfare to Washington, DC, a $2,500 stipend, free housing, academic credit, leadership training, networking opportunities, and more. Applications for the 2016 Congressional Summer Internship are due January 22, 2016. For more information, go to https://chci.org/programs/internships/. Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs, for and in the Mariana: Grants: FY2016 Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Qualified organizations may submit proposals for administering the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. The intent of the program is to br… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/240-day-grace-period-cw-renewals-effective-feb-14 | 240-day grace period for CW renewals effective on Feb. 14 | 2016-01-15 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune- If their papers arent in yet, foreign workers kept from working because of the federal governments delay in processing thousands of contract worker permit renewals can get back on the job starting Feb. 14, after U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson signed off on a rule to allow a 240-day grace period for these waiting CW-1 workers. The rule has been a long time coming since being published in the Federal Register for public comments in May 2014, and will become effective in February, a month after its published on the Federal Register this Jan. 15. The rule grants a grace period for CW workers to continue working if an application for a new permit was filed before the old permit expired and if the new permit is still waiting approval. It also fixes inconsistency that allows for a loophole CW workers who change employers to continue working. Currently, a CW-1 worker who changes employer may continue working for up to 240 days while the new employers petition is pending. In the case of renewal petitions, however, the worker cannot stay on the job once their permit has expired, even if a petition for renewal was filed months in advance. The new rule means that the workers who are being renewed will get the same extended work authorization as workers who are transfers from one employer to another or who are terminated and then find a new employer. Its about time, said Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) in a statement yesterday. The disruption to the Northern Marianas economy, the lost income of businesses and workersthat is still going onwould have been completely avoided if USCIS had not waited over a year and half to finalize this rule. While the business community has expressed elation over the new rule, it does little to assure or ease the negative effects already being experienced on the ground, with the short business hours, closed shops or restaurants, and out-of-work residents continuing their toll on businesses and livelihoods. The fiasco came about after U.S. Citizenship … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-attends-last-obama-state-union | Kilili attends last Obama State of the Union | 2016-01-13 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan joined his colleagues in the U.S. Congress tonight to witness President Obama deliver his final State of the Union address. Congressman Sablan issued this statement following the State of the Union: The people of the Northern Mariana Islands gave me the incredible opportunity to be a witness to history to see our first African American president sworn in to office and now to hear him talk to America about the road we traveled over the last seven years and where we can go from here. In some ways the history of this president matches the recent history of the Northern Marianas. We, too, people of color, gained representation in our national government that we had never had before. We, too, had to struggle back from a great economic recession and today see a brighter future ahead. President Obama has been good for the people of the Northern Marianas. Even though I was just a freshman representative in 2009, the Obama administration treated the Northern Marianas as the equal of any other insular area when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was drafted and passed. When health care reform legislation would have given the islands short shrift, it was President Obama who decided to add more money for our Medicaid program. I know. I was sitting right there at the table when he made the decision. The Obama administration used its executive authority in response to my call to help the poor by raising food stamp funding for the Marianas and energy assistance for our low-income households. The Obama administration eased us through the transition to federal immigration, using parole authority to keep families together and to keep our doors open to tourists from Russia and China. And the President wound down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that our brave service men and women from the Northern Marianas would no more have to put their lives on the line in those distant lands. The president… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-inspects-cw-processing-center-california | Kilili inspects CW processing center in California | 2016-01-13 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune- WASHINGTON, D.C.Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) made a snap inspection of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services California Service Center last Thursday. The center handles all the applications for CW foreign workers in the Northern Mariana Islands. Delays in processing there, as well as a large number of applications submitted with less than the recommended 90 days lead time, have resulted in CNMI businesses cutting hours and in lost income for employees of those businessesboth foreign and U.S. workers. The CW applications represent only 2 percent of the total workload of the California Service Center, Sablan said. But what is of small importance to their overall operation is of huge importance to the people I represent in the Northern Marianas. I wanted to make that point clear by making a personal inspection of the center. According to USCIS officials, all application for CW permits that expired on Dec. 31 have been taken out of the regular line and are being processed separately. The 800 applications submitted at least 90 days in advanceas recommendedhave all been processed, I am told, and I expect the remaining 2,000 applications to be done by mid-January. Kathy Baran, director of the California Service Center, and a team of department heads took Sablan through the centers operational process from mail intake and data entry to the office where adjudications occur. The congressman explained to Baran and to the adjudication staff that he wanted to impress on them how important CW workers still are to the Northern Marianas economy and how disruptive the delays in processing have been. Sablan said that, if 90 days is not sufficient lead time for the submission of renewal applications, then better guidelines need to be issued to Northern Marianas businesses. We cannot afford to have this kind of a back-up occur again in the future, Sablan told the USCIS staff. (Office of the Delegate) | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/another-sign-recovery%E2%80%A6 | Another sign of recovery | 2016-01-11 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Another sign of recovery Jan 10, 2016 The U.S. Small Business Administration announced last Friday that it will close its Disaster Loan Outreach Center on Capitol Hill on Saipan at the close of business, today, Monday, January 11. SBA has approved more than $10.9 million in low interest disaster loans to Saipan businesses and more than $13.3 million to individuals, the agency said. And, though the deadline to apply for property damage loans has expired, small businesses and nonprofits may continue to apply for working capital loans of up to $2 million. These Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available even if no property damage occurred to the business or nonprofit and may be used to pay fixed debt, payroll, and other bills that cannot be covered because of Typhoon Soudelor. The interest rate is 4 percent for businesses and 2.625 percent for private nonprofits with terms up to 30 years. The deadline for EIDL applications is May 5, 2016. Apply at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela, call: 800.659.2955, or e-mail: disastercustomerassistance@sba.gov. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/bill-seeks-expand-americorps-service-coverage-fas-citizens-kilili-one-bill%E2%80%99s-co-sponsors | Bill seeks to expand AmeriCorps service coverage to FAS citizens: Kilili one of bills co-sponsors | 2016-01-11 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune- WASHINGTON, D.C.Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU) has introduced federal legislation to extend eligibility for national service programs to citizens of the Freely Associated States who reside in the United States and are otherwise eligible for these programs. Specifically her bill would amend Section 5 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to include citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands who reside in the U.S. on the list of eligible individuals. The current statute only allows U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents to participate in these programs. Because of the unique relationship between the U.S. and the Freely Associated States, FAS citizens are not required to obtain a visa or become lawful permanent residents to enter and reside in the U.S. Congresswoman Bordallo believes that FAS citizens who live in the U.S. should be allowed to participate in national service programs, similar to their ability to serve in our military or receive student financial aid. Her bill would fix this disparity and ensure that those who wish to participate in these programs are not disqualified simply because they do not meet the citizenship guidelines. The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) of Hawaii and Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) of the Northern Mariana Islands. Citizens from the Freely Associated States who reside in the U.S. should be allowed to participate in national community service programs, just as they are allowed to serve in our military or receive student aid to further their education, said Congresswoman Bordallo. It is only fair that if we can allow FAS citizens to serve in our military and protect our way of life, then we should also allow them to serve our local communities through community service. I was disappointed when last year several FAS citizens who had already begun their service projects were removed from the AmeriCorps program simply because they did … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/congressional-app-challenge-deadline-extended | Congressional App Challenge deadline extended | 2016-01-11 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Congressional App Challenge deadline extended Jan 10, 2016 High school students who would like to take the Congressional App Challenge now have until Thursday, January 21, 2016, 3:00pm EST (Friday, January 22, 2016, 6:00am CHST) to do so. The App Challenge invites young programmers across the nation to showcase their talents and learn valuable computer science skills. For more information, including competition guidelines and coding resources for students, visit https://www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us/ or contact your congressional office at Kilili@mail.house.gov | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/republicans-want-cut-insular-medicaid | Republicans want to cut insular Medicaid | 2016-01-11 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Republicans want to cut insular Medicaid Jan 10, 2016 President Obama vetoed on Friday Republican legislation that cut Medicaid funding for the Northern Mariana Islands by an estimated $26 million. Medicaid for the other insular areas American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands would also have been cut. The vetoed bill passed the House this week with Republicans all voting to cut insular Medicaid funding, Democrats all voting against it. I worked very hard to get that money into the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. It increased NMI Medicaid from about $50 million to $158 million through the period ending in 2019 a three-fold jump. That money has been essential to keeping the Commonwealth Health Center open after the Commonwealth government took away its local funding. Health Center executive officer Esther Muna told the Saipan Tribune the Republican bill would be devastating for our people, the hospital and the entire health care system. Governor Ralph Torres echoed that concern. To reduce the federal funding for this important program that provides for lower-income households in the CNMI is a disservice to the disproportionate amount of the population living under the federal poverty guidelines, the Governor said. I agree with the Governor and thank President Obama for his action. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-january-8-2016 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - January 8, 2016 | 2016-01-11 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: __________________________________________________________________________ Republicans want to cut insular Medicaid. President Obama vetoed today Republican legislation that cut Medicaid funding for the Northern Mariana Islands by an estimated $26 million. Medicaid for the other insular areas American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands would also have been cut. The vetoed bill passed the House this week with Republicans all voting to cut insular Medicaid funding, Democrats all voting against it. I worked very hard to get that money into the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. It increased NMI Medicaid from about $50 million to $158 million through the period ending in 2019 a three-fold jump. That money has been essential to keeping the Commonwealth Health Center open after the Commonwealth government took away its local funding. Health Center executive officer Esther Muna told the Saipan Tribune the Republican bill would be devastating for our people, the hospital and the entire health care system. Governor Ralph Torres echoed that concern. To reduce the federal funding for this important program that provides for lower-income households in the CNMI is a disservice to the disproportionate amount of the population living under the federal poverty guidelines, the Governor said. I agree with the Governor and thank President Obama for his action. Another sign of recovery. The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that it will close its Disaster Loan Outreach Center on Capitol Hill on Saipan at the close of business on Monday, January 11. SBA has approved more than $10.9 million in low interest disaster loans to Saipan businesses and more than $13.3 million to individuals, the agency said. And, though the deadline to apply for property damage loans has expired, small businesses and nonprofits may continue to apply for working capital loans of up to $2 million. These Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available even if no property damage occurred to the business or nonpro… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-us-republicans-cut-medicaid-nmi-other-insular-areas | Kilili: US Republicans cut Medicaid for NMI, other insular areas | 2016-01-08 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety WASHINGTON, D.C. (Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) -The Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives voted to take away approximately $26 million in Medicaid funding for the Northern Mariana Islands that was part of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Funding for the other insular areas American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands was similarly cut. Republicans also voted to raise the local match required for Medicaid to 50 percent. The Affordable Care Act had lowered the local share for the insular areas to 45 percent. The bill, H.R. 3762, has already passed the Senate and now goes to President Obama for action. He is expected to veto it. We worked very, very hard to get increased Medicaid funding for our islands into the Affordable Care Act in 2009, said U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan in response to the Republican action. To date that amounts to over $52 million, new money that was essential to keeping the Commonwealth Health Center open after the hospital lost local funding. And the Northern Marianas still has another $57 million in the Affordable Care Act pipeline between now and 2019. What the Republican bill would do is end all of that funding in 2017 a loss of about $26 million to CHC and to the low-income families who depend on Medicaid to pay for their health care. I just do not understand how any political party can justify taking so much from people who have so little, Sablan said. In addition to the straight loss of federal Medicaid dollars for the insular areas, H.R. 3762 is also a setback to the effort to get the same treatment as states on the local match for Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act took a step in the right direction by changing the local/federal cost-share from 50/50 to 45/55, Sablan said. That gave us a better local/federal match than 22 states. Of course, if we were treated exactly like a state and the match was calculated based on income levels in the Marianas, it would be in the neighborhood of 20 percent lo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/uscis-processes-800-cw-applications | USCIS processes 800 CW applications | 2016-01-05 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety- U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan says U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services processed 800 CW-1 permit renewal applications on Tuesday, local time, and assured him that most of these applications will be approved. In a media conference, Sablan said he received a call from Leon Rodriguez, the USCIS director, on Tuesday morning telling the congressman that the 800 applications for CW permit renewals submitted at least 90 days before expiration would be processed by the end of the day, Tuesday. Rodriguez was in Washington, D.C. while Sablan was on Saipan when they spoke on the phone. He assured me that they are going to approve most of the applications and only a small number will require more evidence from the applicants and a smaller number will probably be denied, Sablan said during the press conference. USCIS, he added, will continue to process the other 2,000 pending renewal applications submitted later than 90 days before their expiration. Sablan said USCIS informed him that there were 2,800 applications backlogged at the processing center in California of which 800 were filed 90 days before expiration and 2,000 were filed later. That was unacceptable to me and we are already seeing the negative effects of that backlog with businesses having to close or cut back hours, he said. Sablan urged employers to go online and check the status of their applications. If these have been approved already, employers should print them out and keep copies until the originals come in by mail. He said USCIS will continue to provide additional resources and the people assigned to review this process will continue to review the other petitions as they move forward hopefully we can resolve this issue sooner rather than later. Sablan said he also inquired about the status of his request for a 240-day grace period regulation. Mr. Rodriguez doesnt have an immediate answer for me they are again circling the wagons as they talk to lawyers. Because my request was for an emergency regulation, even if… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-december-30-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - December 30, 2015 | 2016-01-05 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: __________________________________________________________________________ Working together with the new Torres administration. Our new Governor, Ralph DLG Torres, led the response and recovery to Typhoon Soudelor; and the congressional office assisted by making sure that every federal resource he called for was provided fully and quickly. In a meeting with Governor Torres this week I pledged to continue that model of cooperation and partnership with his new administration for the benefit of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. I thanked the Governor, too, for leading us all through these days of grief with grace and courage. 2015 - The Year in Review. 2015 will be remembered in part as the year of Typhoon Soudelor. Complete recovery is still to be accomplished, but federal assistance helped local hands respond to the immediate emergency and will continue to aid in restoration of homes and public infrastructure. 2015 was also a year of significant accomplishment in Washington. January 16% NAP benefit increase for Saipan takes effect- Food stamp beneficiaries on Saipan received a 16 percent increase in their benefits. The Saipan increase followed a 28 percent increase for Tinian and 62 percent for Rota and the Northern Islands that took effect in 2014. Seniority pays off in Committee assignment- Six years of seniority allowed the Northern Marianas Delegate to win promotion to Vice-Ranking Member for the Natural Resources Committee. February H.R. 851 aims to increase federal funding for PSS- As it became apparent that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act would finally be reauthorized, I introduced legislation to increase federal education funding for our Public School System a move that paid off in December. March Presidents budget includes funding for Rota National Park study- The study was only authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act in December 2014, but the President immediately proposed funding. April Community Health Centers, CHIP benefit from doc fix… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-no-reason-be-alarmed-video-woman%E2%80%99s-threats-cops | Kilili: No reason to be alarmed by video of womans threats to cops | 2016-01-04 | 2016 | 2016-01 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune- Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan has assured that, at this time, there is no reason to be alarmed by a video circulating on social media that captured a womans call warning Guam and Saipan police about an alleged group coming to kill the police force and take over families. Saipan Tribune tried yesterday to obtain comments from the Department of Public Safetys information office, but there was no reply as of press time. On his Facebook account, Sablan said a video of a telephone call discussing threats against police officers in Guam and the CNMI has gone viral. Sablan said federal authorities have informed his office that while they have not found this call to be credible, they are aware of the call and are looking into its origin. The delegate was referring to the video of a womans call to a Guam police precinct that the Guam Police Department confirmed was received last New Years Eve and classified as terroristic conduct. The caller first identified herself as Victoria Tudela, but later changed it to Stephanie Doris Cruz. Theyre American citizens trying to come on island to kill the police force and to take over our families. Im going to call the international police for the islands of the Marianas Islands. And I am going to notify the FBI here in the United States and let everybody know, the woman stated in the recording. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/2015-year-review | 2015 - The Year in Review | 2015-12-31 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | 2015 will be remembered in part as the year of Typhoon Soudelor. Complete recovery is still to be accomplished, but federal assistance helped local hands respond to the immediate emergency and will continue to aid in restoration of homes and public infrastructure. 2015 was also a year of significant accomplishment in Washington. January 16% NAP benefit increase for Saipan takes effect - Food stamp beneficiaries on Saipan received a 16 percent increase in their benefits. The Saipan increase followed a 28 percent increase for Tinian and 62 percent for Rota and the Northern Islands that took effect in 2014. Seniority pays off in Committee assignment - Six years of seniority allowed the Northern Marianas Delegate to win promotion to Vice-Ranking Member for the Natural Resources Committee. February H.R. 851 aims to increase federal funding for PSS - As it became apparent that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act would finally be reauthorized, I introduced legislation to increase federal education funding for our Public School System a move that paid off in December. March Presidents budget includes funding for Rota National Park study - The study was only authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act in December 2014, but the President immediately proposed funding. April Community Health Centers, CHIP benefit from doc fix - The Kagman Community Health Center was assured of funding through 2017 in Public Law 114-10. The law also extended the CHIP program, which will provide $1.4 million for health insurance for children from low-income families in the Northern Marianas in 2016. June Geothermal explorations get green light - CUC got the go-ahead to use technical assistance funds provided by Congress to continue exploring geothermal potential on Saipan. Hot water deep below the surface could generate electricity and lower the cost of power. July Foxx-Messer-Sablan Act would help students select college - Along with Education and the Workforce Committee members Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Luke Messer … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/fema-obligates-12-million-cuc-soudelor-repairs | FEMA obligates $1.2 million for CUC Soudelor repairs | 2015-12-31 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | FEMA obligates $1.2 million for CUC Soudelor repairs Dec 30, 2015 The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced this week a grant of $1,194,653.70 to the Northern Mariana Islands. The funds are intended to be passed through to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for costs of restoring power on Saipan following Typhoon Soudelor. These public assistance funds are authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act and should continue to be obligated for a variety of public infrastructure that was damaged during the storm. FEMA provides 90 percent of funding; the Commonwealth provides 10 percent, a reduction of the usual 25 percent match. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/uscis-assures-action-pending-cw-petitions | USCIS assures action on pending CW petitions | 2015-12-31 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | USCIS assures action on pending CW petitions Dec 30, 2015 The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has responded to my calls for action on delayed renewals of Commonwealth-only worker permits by moving CW applications submitted over 90 days ago for permits that expire this week to the front of the line for processing about 800 in all. Extra staff have also been added to clear the backlog of CW applications. USCIS has told me that they expect to act on these 800 CW petitions by the end of this week. Another 2,000 applications that were not submitted before the recommended 90 days will also receive the extra staff attention I called for. I urge employers with applications that are more than 90 days old to contact the congressional office. I also recommend that employers submit applications for renewals as early as possible they may do so up to 180 days prior to expiration. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/working-together-new-torres-administration | Working together with the new Torres administration | 2015-12-31 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Working together with the new Torres administration Dec 31, 2015 Our new Governor, Ralph DLG Torres, led the response and recovery to Typhoon Soudelor; and the congressional office assisted by making sure that every federal resource he called for was provided fully and quickly. In a meeting with Governor Torres this week I pledged to continue that model of cooperation and partnership with his new administration for the benefit of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. I thanked the Governor, too, for leading us all through these days of grief with grace and courage. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-december-23-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - December 23, 2015 | 2015-12-28 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: Bill introduced to pay for earned income tax credit in NMI. I have introduced legislation,H.R. 4309, that would use federal funds to cover the cost of the earned income tax credit in the Northern Mariana Islands and other U.S. insular areas. The EITC provides extra money to U.S. workers, who have low wage jobs, up to $6,000 annually. Here in the Northern Marianas, where incomes are half the national average, the EITC would put more money into peoples pockets and into our local economy. Unlike other forms of welfare that go to people without jobs, the EITC is only paid to those who are working. It rewards work. The EITC would apply in the same way as the Child Tax Credit that many families now receive. Taxpayers file for the credit on their CNMI tax return; and then the federal government gives the money to the CNMI to cover the cost. The Commonwealth tried to provide the EITC in the 1990s, but had to stop because the program was too expensive. Getting tax law changed is not easy to do in Congress. And what I am proposing costs money, so it is even more difficult. But our new Speaker, Paul Ryan, wants to reform the tax code perhaps in the next Congress. My proposal starts the discussion and prepares us for the work that could get done in 2017 or 2018. New Marianas High School cafeteria approved. Marianas High School students will be getting a new cafeteria and kitchen valued at $1.4 million. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service approved use of 2015 Nutritional Assistance Grant funds for the project this week. The Public School System asked for approval in September. I registered support with FNS Administrator Audrey Rowe and have been working with the agency ever since to clear procedural hurdles. The present cafeteria, built in 1969, was designed to serve 450 students. The new cafeteria will be five times larger. This will allow the current enrollment of 1,604 students to all be served in two lunch periods of 30 minutes each. At the recommendation of FNS the new faci… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/new-marianas-high-school-cafeteria-approved | New Marianas High School cafeteria approved | 2015-12-24 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | New Marianas High School cafeteria approved Dec 23, 2015 Marianas High School students will be getting a new cafeteria and kitchen valued at $1.4 million. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service approved use of 2015 Nutritional Assistance Grant funds for the project this week. The Public School System asked for approval in September. I registered support with FNS Administrator Audrey Rowe and have been working with the agency ever since to clear procedural hurdles. The present cafeteria, built in 1969, was designed to serve 450 students. The new cafeteria will be five times larger. This will allow the current enrollment of 1,604 students to all be served in two lunch periods of 30 minutes each. At the recommendation of FNS the new facility will also include a full kitchen, where students will be able to learn cooking and nutritional skills for their own benefit and as part of the MHS vocational curriculum. Federal NAG funds previously built cafeterias at San Vicente Elementary and Dandan Middle schools. Congratulations to PSS and all the MHS Dolphins. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/investors-told-hire-construction-workers-through-h2b-visa-process | Investors told to hire construction workers through H2B visa process | 2015-12-22 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety- U.S. Congressman Gregorio Camacho Kilili Sablan on Tuesday said new investors such as Honest Profit can hire temporary workers using the H-2B visa program if they want to proceed with construction projects. Guam hires foreign workers, including construction workers, through the H-visa process. Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero earlier asked Sablan to look into the delay in the processing of Honest Profits petitions for CW workers. The investor wants to construct a new hotel in San Antonio. Variety learned from other employers that they, too, are still waiting for a response from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for CW petitions submitted in August. Sablan said H-2B visas are for workers who are only needed for a specific project and a specific length of time. In the rest of the U.S. there is a limit on the number of H visas each year. But there is no limit here in the Marianas because of the language I put into .S.S Public Law 113-235 last December. That law allows for an unlimited number of H visa construction workers to work in the Marianas without using up any CW permits. He said CW permits for construction workers are limited. There are only 12,999 CW permits available this year. Those CW permits are too valuable to our existing businesses to use for temporary construction workers. CW permits are limited. We can have 12,999 in 2016 but by 2019 that number is supposed to go to zero, Sablan said. We may need to stretch out that transition period further. I do not know yet. But I do know that with every year that goes by CW permits will become more and more valuable and should, in my opinion, only be used for workers we cannot get through any other means. Sablan said Guerrero had not written to him or met with him to discuss the issue. But I would explain the situation to him if he asks. Sablan said there are other companies with CW permits for construction workers because the employers were able to justify their claims that no U.S. workers were available for those jobs. When an employer … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-proposes-federally-funded-earned-income-tax-credit-program-nmi | Kilili proposes federally funded Earned Income Tax Credit program for NMI | 2015-12-22 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety- U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan has introduced a measure that will provide federal funds for the CNMI Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC program. Sablans H.R. 4309 will allow taxpayers in the Northern Marianas to receive a refundable tax credit if they have earned income in a given year. The earned income tax credit is an important public policy because it rewards people for working, Sablan said in a media statement. Even if people have to work for low wages, which many people do in the Northern Marianas, it will still be worthwhile to get a job because there will be this extra supplemental income from the government, Sablan said. Acting Gov. Ralph Torres on Tuesday praised Sablan for introducing the bill. I commend and appreciate Congressman Sablans efforts to extend a federal cover-over for the cost the CNMI would pay for the Earned Income Tax Credit. This is an important incentive for low-income residents. The EITC program is supposed to work in tandem with [other] programsto be a safety net for low-income families while supporting self-sufficiency through gainful employment, but the [EITC] has been unavailable in the CNMI. He added, This is an issue we have brought up during the formation of the Governors Special Commission on Economic Opportunity. In order to build a stronger society we need all the resources we have at our disposal to encourage greater workforce participation rates among our people and provide them the tools they need to succeed. I thank Congressman Sablan for his efforts on this issue and will follow the progress of this legislation closely. Sablan said the commonwealth tried to provide the EITC to its people in the 1990s but had to discontinue the program because it was too expensive for the CNMI government. Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have an EITC program in place and pay for it using local funds. Sablans bill would cover the cost with federal funds. This would work in the same way that families in the Northern Marianas are now getting the refundable … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/many-cw-permits-expiring-dec-31-kilili-uscis-working-remedy-delay | WITH MANY CW PERMITS EXPIRING ON DEC. 31- Kilili, USCIS working to remedy delay | 2015-12-22 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune- A 48-year-old wait staff at a restaurant is having sleepless nights as his CW-1 permit has yet to be adjudicated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service less than a month before his current permit expires on Dec. 31, 2015. Sonny (not his real name) is one of probably hundreds of CW-1 permit holders who are on pins and needles waiting for USCIS decision on their renewal permits. Under USCIS rules, a CW-1 permit holder should stop work immediately after his permit expires. But Sonny, who hails from the Philippines, said that stopping from work is not an option as the father of six has living expenses to meet. Are we just going to stop eating and using electricity? How about the rent in our apartment and payment of utilities? How are we going to pay for gas for our cars? Whos going to pay for all of that? And besides its Christmas and the New Year. I really hope USCIS approves my permit soon, he told Saipan Tribune. For many businesses such as hotels, the idea of stopping as much as a third of their workforce from working on one of the busiest nights of the year, Dec. 31, is also not an option. As of Dec. 1, 2015, USCIS has approved a total of 9,195 beneficiaries under the CW-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker program and denied 1,092. The 9,195 counts against the 2015 cap of 12,999 set by the USCIS earlier in the year. Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) said he is aware of the anxiety not only on the part of CW-1 permit holders but their employers as well. He said a number of businesses have already approached him about the delay in the issuance of CW-1 renewal permits. The congressional office continues to work with employers who come seeking our help with their CW visa petitions. I cannot name the companies or petitioners because when anyone comes to us for assistance, their case is treated with complete confidentiality, he told Saipan Tribune in an email. He also confirmed what USCIS told Saipan Tribune about the current number of approved and denied CW-1 petitions. And I can repo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/fy16-funding-tax-extenders-approved | FY16 funding, tax extenders approved | 2015-12-21 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | FY16 funding, tax extenders approved Dec 20, 2015 On Friday, The House and Senate passed, and the President already signed, an appropriations and tax bill, providing $1.067 trillion in funding for the federal government for the rest of fiscal year 2016 and extending a variety of tax provisions. Highlights of funding and tax provisions that benefit the Northern Marianas include: $22.5 billion for Pell Grants, which is the same as the 2015 enacted level. When combined with mandatory funding, these discretionary funds will enable the maximum grant to increase to an estimated $5,915, an increase of $140 in the 2016-2017 school year for NMC students. $6.35 billion to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in FY16. The amount is lower than the FY15 enacted level due to decreases in program participation and is expected to provide full benefits to participants. WIC provides nutritional foods and services to nutritionally at-risk low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children in the Northern Marianas. The Northern Marianas WIC program received $5.4 million in FY15. $638 million for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, an increase from the FY 2015 enacted level. The Northern Marianas received $456,074 in FY 2014 to help address the health needs of mothers, infants and children, including children with special health care needs and their families. Increases in funding for major housing programs: $19.63 billion for Section 8 Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, an approximate increase of $324 million from the FY15 enacted level. Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance increases $890 to $10.62 billion. And the HOME Investment Partnership program is funded at $950 million, a $50 million increase from FY15.The Community De… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/nmi-educators-apply-now-loc-summer-institutes | NMI educators: Apply now for LOC Summer Institutes | 2015-12-21 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | NMI educators: Apply now for LOC Summer Institutes Dec 20, 2015 The application period for the Library of Congress 2016 Summer Teacher Institutes is now open, and educators from the Northern Marianas are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is February 29, 2016. The highly acclaimed Summer Teacher Institutes provide educators with the tools and training to effectively utilize the Librarys rich collection of primary sources in the classroom. Educators will also be given the resources to share what they learn with their colleagues in their respective districts. Five weeklong institutes will be offered from June to July next year, including one institute focused on science, engineering, and technology. The week-long training is free, but participants are responsible for the costs of travel to Washington, DC, and room and board. To learn more about the Summer Teacher Institutes, and to apply, visit: https://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/teacherinstitute/. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/soudelor-commendations-added-congressional-record | Soudelor commendations added to Congressional Record | 2015-12-21 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Soudelor commendations added to Congressional Record Dec 20, 2015 In a statement to the U.S. House of Representatives last week, I gave an account of the damage we suffered in Typhoon Soudelor and the response that followed. And I gave thanks to all who made possible our remarkable rebound from adversity. More than four months after one of the worst typhoons in memory, the initial recovery is substantially complete, and long-term rebuilding is well under way. In fact, the Federal Emergency Management Agency transitioned its recovery operations back to the Region IX office in San Francisco this week. Assistance from FEMA and other federal agencies will continue; and when all is said and done, the Northern Marianas will have received an estimated $100 million in federal disaster aid to help us get back on our feet. But it is the hard work and charity of so many individuals within our community and from outside who have really made our recovery possible. I cannot put a dollar value on that human effort; but I wanted to recognize and thank everyone and make a permanent memorial of their accomplishment in the official record of the U.S. Congress. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-december-18-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - December 18, 2015 | 2015-12-21 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: _________________________________________________________________________ Soudelor commendations added to Congressional Record. In a statement to the U.S. House of Representativesthis week, I gave an account of the damage we suffered in Typhoon Soudelor and the response that followed. And I gave thanks to all who made possible our remarkable rebound from adversity. More than four months after one of the worst typhoons in memory, the initial recovery is substantially complete, and long-term rebuilding is well under way. In fact, the Federal Emergency Management Agency transitioned its recovery operations back to the Region IX office in San Francisco this week. Assistance from FEMA and other federal agencies will continue; and when all is said and done, the Northern Marianas will have received an estimated $100 million in federal disaster aid to help us get back on our feet. But it is the hard work and charity of so many individuals within our community and from outside who have really made our recovery possible. I cannot put a dollar value on that human effort; but I wanted to recognize and thank everyone and make a permanent memorial of their accomplishment in the official record of the U.S. Congress. FY16 funding, tax extenders approved. The House and Senate today passed, and the President already signed,an appropriations and tax bill, providing $1.067 trillion in funding for the federal government for the rest of fiscal year 2016 and extending a variety of tax provisions. Highlights of funding and tax provisions that benefit the Northern Marianas include: $22.5 billion for Pell Grants, which is the same as the 2015 enacted level. When combined with mandatory funding, these discretionary funds will enable the maximum grant to increase to an estimated $5,915, an increase of $140 in the 2016-2017 school year for NMC students. $6.35 billion to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in FY16. The amount is lower than the FY15 enacted level due… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/feature-nmi-gets-100-million-federal-disaster-aid | FEATURE: NMI gets $100 million in federal disaster aid | 2015-12-20 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety- The following is a statement made to the U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 15, 2015 and included in the U.S. Congressional Record. MISTER Speaker, on the night of August 2nd and through the early morning of August 3rd this year, Typhoon Soudelor lashed through the Northern Mariana Islands, causing widespread destruction to homes, businesses, and infrastructure, uprooting the lives of the people I represent here in Congress. Today, I want to reflect on that event, and on the exceptional grace and generosity that have made recovery possible. The typhoons impact was especially grave on Saipan, the most populated island in the Northern Marianas. Soudelor rendered hundreds of families homeless overnight. It also decimated infrastructure knocking out power and water systems, shutting down the ports, ravaging the college, schools and other public buildings. Survival is a way of life in our islands. We are accustomed to bracing ourselves through tropical storms and picking ourselves up when skies clear. But the sheer ferocity of Typhoon Soudelor caught us all off-guard. Even the National Weather Service failed to foresee the force of this storm. That there was no loss of life is testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of our people. And we are grateful to Providence for sparing us. As long as we live, those of us who experienced Soudelor will not forget the wreckage we saw the morning after. Nor will we forget the hardship that followed, the long hours in line for food and fuel and other necessities, the days of physical suffering and distress, the weeks without power and running water. Soudelor tested our infrastructure, our government, and our capacity as a community to deal with disaster. Now, however, four months after the storm, I can report that conditions are greatly improved, since that long and terrifying night in August. Electricity is restored, and residents have daily water service. Streets have been cleaned in our villages and commercial districts. Students are in school. Bus… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/24-hour-water | 24-hour water | 2015-12-18 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety- NOW that 96 percent of Saipans population has access to 24-hour water and the work of the Water Task Force has been handed over to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, I would like to add my congratulations and thanks to everyone responsible. I join the Acting Governor in his praise of Mr. Pete Sasamoto and his Water Task Force colleagues for a job well done. Additionally, I want to acknowledge the partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has been a guiding hand throughout this process. I understand that Saipan was the only major population area in the U.S. without 24-hour water; and Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld, Pacific Islands Program Manager John McCarroll, and the staff at EPAs Region IX office in San Francisco partnered with the congressional office and we made it our mission to fix that. Achieving 24-hour water would not have been possible without a substantial increase in funding beginning in 2009. As EPA reported in its review of Consolidated Grants program accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2014, the achievement of having the public water supply system provide 24 hour service to 95 percent of its population[is] a result of the increase in [State Revolving Fund] funding . Before 2009 the Commonwealth was getting about $1 million annually from the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund grants that Congress provides. Beginning with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009 and in every fiscal year from 2010 to today, annual funding has always exceeded $6 million a 619 percent increase over pre-2009 levels and a seven year total of $51.6 million. I made this increase a priority when I came to office in 2009 and have worked to keep the change in place in every annual appropriation since then. In fact, in the fiscal 2016 appropriation that we expect to see enacted this week there should be an additional $6.5 million, bringing the eight year total for the Northern Marianas to $58.1 million. Without this increased funding from… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/5-day-spending-bill-keeps-government-open | 5-day spending bill keeps government open | 2015-12-15 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | 5-day spending bill keeps government open Dec 15, 2015 The House passed a short-term appropriation bill last Friday and sent it to the President for signature into law. H.R. 2250 will keep the lights on in the federal government until midnight on December 16. Without enactment of H.R. 2250 funding would have ended that Friday. The President is expected to sign the bill, so critical federally-funded programs in the Northern Marianas will continue for now. Legislation providing funding for the rest of fiscal year 2016 is expected to be introduced on Monday. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/new-education-law-means-millions-nmi-schools | New education law means millions for NMI schools | 2015-12-15 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Millions of dollars in new funding for Northern Mariana Islands schools will result from the Every Student Succeeds Act, signed by President Obama on Thursday, December 12, 2015. The new law reforms education policy nationwide, but also contains proposals from my bill, H.R. 851, that apply specifically to the U.S. insular areas. Section 1014 of the law raises the set-aside of Title I-A grant funds going to the islands. The Congressional Research Service projects Northern Marianas funding will go up from the current $6.8 million to $11.1 million, beginning next October. Increasing school funding was a top goal when I came to office in 2009. Our annual Title I-A grant then was just $3.6 million, so funding will have tripled by 2017. The Every Student Succeeds Act also makes the Northern Marianas eligible for Preschool Development and Education Innovation and Research grants, two competitive programs now open only to states. Thanks to Committee Chairman John Kline (R-Minnesota) and Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) for helping me get changes I proposed into the new law. And thanks to Congresswoman Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa) for working with me in a bipartisan fashion to make sure our island youth have the education they will need to succeed in life and to contribute to the prosperity of our communities 10, 20, 30 years into the future. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/500000-cnmi-coral-reef-conservation | $500,000 for CNMI Coral Reef Conservation | 2015-12-14 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | $500,000 for CNMI Coral Reef Conservation Dec 13, 2015 The Commonwealth government was awarded $500,000 for its Coral Reef Conservation program this week. Congress provides the funding to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help with protecting coral reefs against the harmful impacts of global warming, ocean acidification, degradation of water quality, and other changes in the marine environment. The grant to the Northern Marianas was part of a total of $8.5 million announced. The Commonwealth will also benefit from grants to the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Nature Conservancy. See the complete list of awards here. Congratulations. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/rhodes-scholarships-open-insular-university-students | Rhodes scholarships open to insular university students | 2015-12-14 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Rhodes scholarships open to insular university students Dec 13, 2015 The prestigious Rhodes Scholarship is now open to scholars attending university in U.S. insular areas. Thanks to the efforts of Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi (D) this opportunity, previously offered only to students at universities in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, is now available to students throughout the U.S. The Rhodes Scholarship is awarded for graduate study at the University of Oxford in England. Thirty-two U.S. students between the ages of 18 and 24 are selected each year. The scholarship covers all university fees, a personal stipend, and airfare to and from Oxford. For more information, go tohttps://www.rhodesscholar.org/. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-every-student-succeeds-act-bring-millions-dollars-more-nmi-schools | Kilili: Every Student Succeeds Act to bring millions of dollars more to NMI schools | 2015-12-11 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety As a result of the Every Student Succeeds Act, public education in the Northern Mariana Islands is about to get a major boost, U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan announced Thursday. Overall, the new law will increase Title I-A funding to the insular areas by 30 percent. The Northern Marianas, however, is expected to receive a 60 percent increase over its current funding. That will bring a total of $11.1 million to the Public School System in 2017. Further increases should continue through 2020. President Obama has indicated he will sign the Every Student Succeeds Act into law on Thursday. Public school officials have told me they will use this new money to hire more teachers and reduce student-teacher ratios in our schools, Congressman Sablan said. And we know from educational research that lower student-teacher ratios improve student performance. I remain convinced that education is key to the success of our people and our economy now, and 10, 20, 30 years into the future. Sablan has been working to strengthen education funding to the Northern Marianas since he first came into office in 2009. At that time, PSS was receiving just $3.6 million in Title I-A funds. The $11.1 million that PSS can now expect in 2017 represents a 208 percent increase. I am particularly grateful because this is the only change in the Title I-A funding formula that was included in the entire bill. This is one of the most difficult changes in law that I have worked on for the Northern Mariana Islands, said Sablan. It would not have been possible without the understanding and support of Chairman John Kline and Ranking Member Bobby Scott of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. I also owe special thanks to Ranking Member Marcia Fudge of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. Earlier this year, Sablan introduced H.R. 851, which separated Title I-A funding for the insular areas and Bureau of Indian Education schools, and increased funds for both. Sablans proposals… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/air-force-divert-comments-due-december-15 | Air Force Divert comments due by December 15 | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Air Force Divert comments due by December 15 Dec 7, 2015 The public review period for the U.S. Air Force Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement for proposed divert airfield activities remains open until December 15. The purpose of the divert airfield is to give the Air Force backup capacity in the Marianas region in the event planes cannot use Andersen Air Force Base on Guam because of a natural disaster or military attack. The revised draft EIS, now open for comment, includes a Saipan-only, a Tinian-only, and a hybrid alternative that divides activities between the two islands. The original deadline of December 1 was extended by the Air Force at the request of Acting Governor Ralph Torres because of the disruption caused by Typhoon Soudelor. The revised draft EIS is available at https://www.pacafdivertmarianaseis.com/docs.html. Comments can be submitted at https://pacafdivertmarianaseis.com/comment-form.html. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/congress-passes-5-year-highway-bill-increases-nmi-funding | Congress passes 5-year highway bill, increases NMI funding | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Transit and safety programs worth $1.2 million annually and an additional $1 million in highway construction funds for the Northern Mariana Islands over the next five years are part of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, passed by both the House and Senate on Thursday, December 3, 2015. The five-year, $305 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill retained a provision, Section 1115, to increase annual funding for the Territorial Highway Program from $40 to $42 million, which the Northern Mariana Islands shares with American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The $2 million increase in annual THP funds was contained in the House reauthorization bill, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act, but not the Senate bill, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act. I am thankful that conferees decided that funding increases, though relatively small, should apply to all areas of our country and not just the states. The measure now heads to the White House, and President Obama is expected to sign shortly. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/house-passed-education-bill-boost-funds-nmi-schools | House-passed education bill to boost funds for NMI schools | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | House-passed education bill to boost funds for NMI schools Dec 7, 2015 A major increase in federal education funding for our schools is one step closer to becoming law. The House passed the Every Student Succeeds Act last Wednesday and the Senate is expected to do the same this week. The bipartisan bill, S. 1177, includes a provision I have been working on intensely all year that increases Title I funding for the Northern Mariana Islands and other insular areas. Title I assists areas with a high percentage of students from low-income families. My provision is designed to give the insular areas about 30 percent more funding than we have been receiving. For the Northern Marianas, the Congressional Research Service estimates Title I to increase to $11.1 million in 2017, up by $4.3 million from the 2016 funding of $6.7 million. The change is contingent upon overall Title I funding increasing so that states, as a whole, do not lose funding because of the change for insular areas. But appropriations for education are expected to rise in 2017. Every Student Succeeds also makes the NMI eligible to compete for Preschool Development Grants and Education Innovation and Research Grants, two competitive grant programs previously open only to states. The President has signaled he will sign the bill into law. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/typhoon-soudelor-update-week-18 | Typhoon Soudelor Update - Week 18 | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | As our community continues to heal from Typhoon Soudelor, FEMA and SBA made some important announcements this week. The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) has relocated to the Juan A. Sablan Memorial Building, Office of the Governor on Isa Drive in Capitol Hill, Saipan. The DLOC hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Additionally, FEMA is winding down recovery operations on Saipan and closing the Joint Field Office on December 18, 2015. Approximately 20 personnel will remain until that time to coordinate the transition with the Commonwealth government and various volunteer agencies. Your congressional office will continue to work with residents requiring assistance with respect to FEMA issues. As of December 4, FEMA has granted more than $24 million in assistance to individuals and households and obligated nearly $5 million for public assistance. As of November 30, SBA has approved 361 home loans totaling approximately $13 million, and 104 business loans totaling more than $10 million. FHWA announces $609,000 in highway repair funding. The Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation has awarded the CNMI Department of Public Works $609,063 in Emergency Relief program grant funds. Emergency Relief funds may be issued for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways that are seriously impacted by natural disaster. Typhoon Soudelor caused widespread damage to traffic signal heads, poles, signs and guardrail across the island. Program funds will be used to help make permanent repairs necessary to restore highways to pre-disaster conditions. Congratulations to DPW. Volunteer debris cleanup in Kagman last Saturday. The Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts, or C.A.R.E., and United 4 Saipan continued their community cleanup efforts last Saturday, December 5 in Kagman from 8:30am - 12:00pm. Volunteers assistted in sorting storm debris that was then collected and disposed of by the CNMI Department of Public Works and the Saipan Mayors office. To help with the project, volunt… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/new-aafes-troop-store | New AAFES Troop Store | 2015-12-07 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | New AAFES Troop Store Dec 7, 2015 About 4,000 service members and families in the Northern Marianas can look forward to a new, improved Army & Air Force Exchange Troop Store on Saipan. The AAFES is expected to announce the winning bidder shortly. Construction of the 5,000-square-foot facility will take about one year. I have been working on expanding the store since my first days in Congress. A feasibility study in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act was an early milestone. But the possibility of unexploded ordnance on the site has caused delays. Now the project is really moving forward. (Image credit: Building elevations drawing for the AAFES troop store, developed by EMCE Consulting Engineers and Architects Pacific, Inc. Additional plans and drawings are available here.) | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-december-07-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - December 04, 2015 | 2015-12-07 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | House-passed education bill to boost funds for NMI schools Congress passes 5-year highway bill, increases NMI funding Air Force Divert comments due by December 15 Typhoon Soudelor Update - Week 18 OPPORTUNITIES - Federal contracts, grants, jobs for/in the Marianas Highlights in the Legislative Program House-passed education bill to boost funds for NMI schools. A major increase in federal education funding for our schools is one step closer to becoming law. The House passed theEvery Student Succeeds Acton Wednesdayand the Senate is expected to do the same next week. The bipartisan bill, S. 1177, includes a provision I have been working on intensely all year that increases Title I funding for the Northern Mariana Islands and other insular areas. Title I assists areas with a high percentage of students from low-income families. My provision is designed to give the insular areas about 30 percent more funding than we have been receiving. For the Northern Marianas, the Congressional Research Service estimates Title I to increase to $11.1 million in 2017, up by $4.3 million from the 2016 funding of $6.7 million. The change is contingent upon overall Title I funding increasing so that states, as a whole, do not lose funding because of the change for insular areas. But appropriations for education are expected to rise in 2017. Every Student Succeeds also makes the NMI eligible to compete for Preschool Development Grants and Education Innovation and Research Grants, two competitive grant programs previously open only to states. The President has signaled he will sign the bill into law. Congress passes 5-year highway bill, increases NMI funding. Transit and safety programs worth $1.2 million annually and an additional $1 million in highway construction funds for the Northern Mariana Islands over the next five years are part of theFixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, passed by both the House and Senateon Thursday. The five-year, $305 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill retained a p… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-november-25-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - November 25, 2015 | 2015-11-30 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - November 25, 2015 Nov 29, 2015 In this issue: BREAKING NEWS: Three new academy slots now available. President Obama signed the2016 National Defense Authorization Actinto law this afternoon, adding three new slots for Northern Mariana Islands students at the U.S. service academies. Section 556 of the new law increases academy positions for NMI students by one each at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. This is the second time openings for the Northern Marianas have been increased. I included language in the2010 Defense Authorization (527)doubling the total slots at the time from three to six. All but one of those are currently filled, a testament to the high caliber of applicants from our islands. With the Presidents action, we now have nine positions set aside for the Northern Marianas with four openings available now for applicants in this years admissions cycle. For information about applying for a congressional nomination to a service academy, visit the congressional website athttps://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/academy-nominationsor contact yourlocal congressional office. The deadline to apply for my nomination isFriday, December 11, 2015. Erratum:In last week's e-newsletter, we mistakenly identified the school mascot of the Tinian Elementary School as the Stallion. The Colt is the mascot of Tinian Elementary School, while the Stallion is the mascot of the Tinian Junior Senior High School. Our apologies for the error. OPPORTUNITIES: Federal contracts, grants, jobs for/in the Marianas: Grants: 2016 Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program- The National Marine Fisheries Service is soliciting competitive applications for the 2016 Pacific Islands Region Marine Educati… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/three-new-academy-slots-now-available | Three new academy slots now available | 2015-11-29 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | President Obama has signed the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act into law, adding three new slots for Northern Mariana Islands students at the U.S. service academies. Section 556 of the new law increases academy positions for NMI students by one each at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. This is the second time we have been able to increase the openings for the Northern Marianas. I first included language in the 2010 Defense Authorization (Section 527) doubling the total slots at the time from three to six. All but one of those are currently filled, a testament to the high caliber of applicants from our islands. Now, with enactment of the 2016 Defense Authorization, we have nine positions set aside for the Northern Marianas; and four of those are immediately available for applicants in this years admissions cycle. For information about applying for a congressional nomination to a service academy, visit the congressional website at https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/academy-nominations or contact your local congressional office. The deadline to apply for my nomination is Friday, December 11, 2015. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-november-20-2015-1 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - November 20, 2015 | 2015-11-25 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: High school students invited to Service Academy Workshop. High school students interested in applying to a U.S. service academy are invited to attend a workshop hosted by the congressional office onWednesday, November 25, 10am - 11am at the Napu Room, Pacific Islands Club on Saipan. A congressional nomination is the first step in applying for the service academies, and by law I am able to nominate up to ten students per available slot for the Northern Marianas. There are currently two slots available for Northern Marianas students for the 2016-2017 school year one each at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Additional slots may soon open up for NMI students at the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the Military Academy in West Point, New York, if theNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016that was sent to President Obamas desk this week becomes law. For more information about the Service Academy Workshop, contact the congressional office at(670) 323-2647or email kilili@mail.house.gov. To learn more about requesting a congressional nomination to the service academies, visit https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/academy-nominations. Applications are dueDecember 11, 2015. Typhoon Soudelor Update - Week 16: SBA Relocates Disaster Office to Capital Hill. The Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center relocates to the Juan A. Sablan Memorial Building, Office of the Governor, on Capitol Hill as of Monday, November 23. The Center, which has processed and approved $22.1 million in federal disaster loans to businesses, nonprofits, and individual residents, has been located at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe since Typhoon Soudelor. Although the deadline to apply for property damage loans has expired, businesses and private nonprofit organizations may still apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans to provide working capital. The SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center is open8 a.… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/push-dc-15k%E2%80%9335k-foreign-workers | Push in DC for 15K35K foreign workers | 2015-11-24 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune- A casino investor, among other business interests, are lobbying in Washington, D.C. for as much as 15,000 to 35,000 foreign nationals to be allowed employment as contract workers in the CNMI, according to Delegate Gregoro Kilili C. Sablan yesterday. That 35,000-worker demand, he said, would amount to about 65 percent of the CNMIs population and result in irrevocable changes to the Commonwealth that should be questioned. How much is enough for us? and Who will it benefit? are questions that should be asked, Sablan told reporters yesterday. The federal government in October set the annual limit for contract worker permits for next fiscal year at 12,999, a one-thousand drop from last year, as federal immigration officials looks to phase out the contract worker program that federal law mandates an end in 2019. In an interview with reporters yesterday at his office in Susupe, Sablan compared the $13 billion reported investment on the table to the The Wharf in Washington, D.C., a mega-project that he said would amount to several buildings, restaurants, apartments and condos, office streets, boat slips, 27 acres of land, 50 acres of waterall coming with six years of permitting. Its going to cost $1.5 billion. And here in the Northern Marianas, we are talking about $13 billion, he said. Sablan said there have been conversations in the Capitol about increasing the number of CW workers. Some have suggested 15,000 workers, he said, while others have gone up to as many as 35,000. Those are numbers being tossed at meby different business interests primarily, Sablan said when asked. When pressed for more details, he said, I am aware that a casino has retained lobbyists in D.C. Yes. To work on both the CW workers and the Chinese visa-waiver [program]. He was responding to a question from Saipan Tribune on whether Imperial Pacific CNMI (LLC)the owner of the Saipan casino that has reported project demands requiring more than 10,000 workerswere lobbying in the Capitol. However, as this develops, Sablan said he has … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/high-school-students-invited-service-academy-workshop | High school students invited to Service Academy Workshop | 2015-11-23 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | High school students interested in applying to a U.S. service academy are invited to attend a workshop hosted by the congressional office on Wednesday, November 25, 10am - 11am at the Napu Room, Pacific Islands Club on Saipan. A congressional nomination is the first step in applying for the service academies, and by law I am able to nominate up to ten students per available slot for the Northern Marianas. There are currently two slots available for Northern Marianas students for the 2016-2017 school year one each at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland and the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. Additional slots may soon open up for NMI students at the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the Military Academy in West Point, New York, if the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 that was sent to President Obamas desk this week becomes law. For more information about the Service Academy Workshop, contact the congressional office at (670) 323-2647 or email kilili@mail.house.gov. To learn more about requesting a congressional nomination to the service academies, visit https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/academy-nominations. Applications are due December 11, 2015. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/typhoon-soudelor-update-%E2%80%93-week-16 | Typhoon Soudelor update week 16 | 2015-11-23 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | FEMAs Region IX Administrator Robert Fenton, Deputy Regional Administrator Ahsha Tribble, and Federal Coordinating Officer Stephen De Blasio visited the congressional office this week. FEMA has issued more than $24 million in financial assistance to individuals and households to help replace or repair damaged property. The agency anticipates providing an additional $30 million to rebuild public infrastructure, $13 million for hazard mitigation, and additional grants to the Commonwealth for long-term disaster case management and crisis counseling.Though the agency is winding down operations in the NMI in December, Mr. Fenton reiterated FEMAs commitment to following through on the long-term recovery, mitigation, and planning work that will continue into 2016 and beyond, so that we are better prepared for the next storm. Thank you, FEMA, for all that you have done to help the people of the Northern Marianas get back on their feet. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX Pacific Islands Manager John McCarroll (left) and NMI Program Manager Carl Goldstein (right) gave me a Soudelor recovery update this week. Mr. McCarroll reported on one crisis that we escaped, a sewage backup. Because we increased the Clean Water Fund appropriations from Congress from about $600,000 to $3.4 million in each of the last six years, the vast majority of wastewater pump stations on Saipan has been upgraded and continued operating throughout the storm. Out of 40 pump stations the only 5 that failed were the ones that have not been upgraded. EPA also helped with hazard waste removal and restoration of the drinking water system in the weeks after Soudelor. Thank you. SBA Relocates Disaster Office to Capital Hill The Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Outreach Center relocates to the Juan A. Sablan Memorial Building, Office of the Governor, on Capitol Hill as of Monday, November 23. The Center, which has processed and approved $22.1 million in federal disaster loans to businesses, nonprofits, and individual residents, has been… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-lauds-customs-division-its-anti-drug-efforts | Kilili lauds Customs Division for its anti-drug efforts | 2015-11-20 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Saipan Tribune- U.S. Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) honored the CNMI Division of Customs yesterday for their diligence against the spread of methamphetamine, or ice, in the Commonwealth, presenting division officials with a congressional commendation for the largest ice bust in CNMI history that took place last July. I am very grateful and happy. This is Congressman Kilili showing appreciation for our efforts at the ports of entry, Customs director Jose Mafnas told reporters. The Customs officers will be very happy that they are recognized for their efforts. It will push us to do our job more effectively. I thank all of them, Sablan said, also noting efforts of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and CNMI Department of Public Safety. I do acknowledge Customs because they are the ones who first made the interdiction. Thats very important, Sablan added. In July, Customs uncovered 12 kilos of ice in a 40-foot container from China. Mafnas said yesterday that the container was full of various violations, like pesticides, that he believed were meant to distract them from the 12 kilos of icean amount akin to a 25-lb bag of ricethat was hidden in an air compressor. When our law enforcement officers are able to prevent 12 kilos of crystal methamphetaminefrom entering our community, we need to stop and say thank you, Sablan said. Sablan also recently introduced legislation in Congress to allow the CNMI governor or Secretary of the Army to establish a National Guard unit. That unit, Sablan said, could be a partner in fighting drugs. The nice thing about this is that the Department of the Army will pay for that additional cost. It will not cost the Commonwealth, [or] the National Guard operational budget itself. It will be money set aside just for this additional work. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-november-13-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - November 13, 2015 | 2015-11-17 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: More NMI academy slots closer as Senate passes Defense bill. The Senate passed a revised2016 National Defense Authorization Actthis week, retaining three new service academy slots for Northern Mariana Island students. President Obama had vetoed a previous 2016 NDAA over spending concerns. So the bill was revised to conform with the budget deal forged last month between Congress and the White House. The revised bill kept the increase in academy positions for NMI students, one each at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. The President is now expected to sign the bill into law. There will then be nine permanent slots for the Northern Marianas at the service academies. Five are currently filled, so four openings will be available for applicants this year. When I came to office in 2009 I quickly got the number of Northern Marianas slots doubled from three to six inSection 527 of Public Law 111-84. The Northern Marianas has produced good candidates and filled available openings. It was time to add more. For information on how to apply for nomination to a U.S. Service Academy go to https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/academy-nomination-form or contact your local congressional office. The deadline to apply is December 11. We call for investigation of racial profiling. Race, ethnicity, or national origin should not be the primary reason for suspecting a person of committing a crime. Yet that appears to have happened to a number of Asian Americans who were wrongly arrested and charged with espionage. That is why I joined over 40 of my Democratic colleagues incalling on U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, to launch an independent investigation on whether any federal agency has a pattern or practice of using these civil rights classifications to single out minorities for arrest and indictment. We also urge a full investigation into recent cases of Asian Americans arrested and indicted for spying only to have the charg… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/more-nmi-academy-slots-closer-senate-passes-defense-bill | More NMI academy slots closer as Senate passes Defense bill | 2015-11-15 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | More NMI academy slots closer as Senate passes Defense bill Nov 15, 2015 The Senate passed a revised 2016 National Defense Authorization Act this week, retaining three new service academy slots for Northern Mariana Island students. President Obama had vetoed a previous 2016 NDAA over spending concerns. So the bill was revised to conform with the budget deal forged last month between Congress and the White House. The revised bill kept the increase in academy positions for NMI students, one each at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. The President is now expected to sign the bill into law. There will then be nine permanent slots for the Northern Marianas at the service academies. Five are currently filled, so four openings will be available for applicants this year. When I came to office in 2009 I quickly got the number of Northern Marianas slots doubled from three to six in Section 527 of Public Law 111-84. The Northern Marianas has produced good candidates and filled available openings. It was time to add more. For information on how to apply for nomination to a U.S. Service Academy go to https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/academy-nomination-form or contact your local congressional office. The deadline to apply is December 11. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/supporting-access-higher-education-all | Supporting access to higher education for all | 2015-11-15 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Supporting access to higher education for all Nov 15, 2015 Earlier this month, 84 of my House Democratic colleagues and I filed a friend of the court brief, with the U.S. Supreme Court, supporting the idea that colleges and universities should be open to a broad range of students from many social, geographic, and cultural backgrounds. The case, Fisher v University of Texas at Austin, No. 14-981, looks at how the University decides who to admit. Our amicus brief urges the Supreme Court to uphold a lower courts decision in favor of the Universitys use of race and ethnicityamong many other factorsto help ensure a diverse student body. The Supreme Court ruled 7-1 in Fisher I that diversity in higher education was a compelling state interest that could justify race and ethnicity as factors among many in a carefully crafted admissions policy. I also joined an amicus brief in that case in the belief that a diverse learning environment benefits students, our workforce, and our economy. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/typhoon-soudelor-update-week-15 | Typhoon Soudelor Update - Week 15 | 2015-11-15 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Typhoon Soudelor Update - Week 15 Nov 15, 2015 Our community continues to recover from the devastation of Typhoon Soudelor with the assistance of U.S. taxpayers and the federal government, as well as groups of community volunteers, the local government, and countless acts of individual charity. FEMA seeks public input on changes to Individual Assistance With the experience of getting Individual Assistance from FEMA still fresh, people in the Northern Mariana Islands are especially qualified to comment on new rules proposed for how the Federal Emergency Management Agency handles this aid program. Congress required that FEMA review, update, and revise the factors it uses to measure the severity, magnitude, and impact of a disaster in the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act in 2013; and FEMA has now published its proposals. Sharing the understanding you have gained from federal response to the storm and to our community's needs could help other Americans in similar situations in the future. Comments are due by January 11, 2016 and may be submitted online at https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FEMA_FRDOC_0001-4824. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/veterans-day-nmi | Veteran's Day in the NMI | 2015-11-15 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Veteran's Day in the NMI Nov 15, 2015 Ceremonies honoring the contributions of all our veterans were held across the Northern Mariana Islands this week. On Tinian (top left), Major Adrian Evangelista, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and currently a pilot of a Marine MV-22B Osprey, posed with the JROTC cadets of his alma mater Tinian Jr. Sr. High School after giving the keynote address. On Rota (top right), Major Annan Mae Mendiola participated in the ceremony at the Tomb of Fallen Soldiers in Rota. On Saipan (bottom), veterans, government officials, and community members attended the laying of the wreath at American Memorial Parks Flag Circle, Court of Honor. Happy Veterans Day to all who served and thank you for your bravery. Thank you to all our Veterans!! | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/we-call-investigation-racial-profiling | We call for investigation of racial profiling | 2015-11-15 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | We call for investigation of racial profiling Nov 15, 2015 Race, ethnicity, or national origin should not be the primary reason for suspecting a person of committing a crime. Yet that appears to have happened to a number of Asian Americans who were wrongly arrested and charged with espionage. That is why I joined over 40 of my Democratic colleagues in calling on U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, to launch an independent investigation on whether any federal agency has a pattern or practice of using these civil rights classifications to single out minorities for arrest and indictment. We also urge a full investigation into recent cases of Asian Americans arrested and indicted for spying only to have the charges dropped several months later for lack of evidence. It is important to protect our country against those who wish to do us harm. We must ensure, however, that racial profiling is not the basis for targeting any individual. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/kilili-invites-nmi-veterans-join-veterans-history-project | Kilili invites NMI veterans to join Veterans History Project | 2015-11-11 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Marianas Variety Washington, D.C. (Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) - On this Veterans Day and in the weeks and months ahead veterans of the Northern Mariana Islands will be able to add the stories of their wartime service to the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress. U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan announced this week that the congressional office has launched an outreach initiative to promote the Project. Sablan will be helping veterans and members of the community who want the Northern Marianas to be included. The Veterans History Project has collected stories from about 100,000 veterans so far, but none from veterans currently residing in the Northern Marianas, Congressman Sablan said. We want to change that. Congress began the Veterans History Project in 2000 to honor Americas war veterans by collecting and preserving their remembrances of service to the country. The Project relies on volunteers nationwide to interview veterans and send their stories to the Library of Congress. The congressional office has already begun reaching out to veterans in the Northern Marianas and community groups to let them know about the Project and show them how to join, Sablan said. Students, researchers, Scout troops, civic groups, family members of veterans, neighbors, and friends anyone can participate. The first step to participating in the Veterans History Project is to learn more about it. The Project website, www.loc.gov/vets/, provides a field kit and other resources for conducting interviews, hosting community events, and submitting stories. Hard copies of these materials, and additional information and assistance are also available at the congressional offices on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The wartime service of Northern Marianas veterans is an important part of the history of our Commonwealth and our country, Congressman Kilili said. We can honor that service by chronicling our veterans experiences, learning from them, and preserving their stories for future generations. Rec… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-novermber-06-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - November 06, 2015 | 2015-11-10 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: College and Career workshops begin for NMI students. Making sure young people have the information they need to continue their education is why your congressional office began a series of workshops for Northern Marianas high school students this week. Beginning with Tinian Jr. Sr. High School and Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School in Rota, the workshops include an overview of federal and local financial aid resources for college, offer student tips on using the U.S. Department of Educations College ScoreCard to help schools, highlight in-demand jobs and options for vocational training, and discuss opportunities for military service and congressional nomination to the U.S. service academies. Students are also encouraged to look at volunteer service through organizations such as AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps as a way to gain valuable experience and educational benefits while giving back to their communities and nation. As I explained to the students in a video message from Washington, DC, I believe any problem our community faces will be more easily solved, if we are all well-educated. For more information or to request a workshop for a school group, contact the congressional office at (670) 323-2647 (Saipan), 433-2647 (Tinian), or 532-2647 (Rota) or email kilili@mail.house.gov. NDAA passes House, again, with increase in NMI academy slots. The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 this week, again, maintaining the increase of three more service academy slots for Northern Marianas students. President Obama vetoed the original bill last month because it increased defense spending above budget caps without any increase in domestic spending. The revised bill reduces defense spending, but retains the increased academy positions for NMI students. Once the revised bill is signed, we will have three positions at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs 9 in all with 4 openings for the c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/college-and-career-workshops-begin-nmi-students | College and Career workshops begin for NMI students | 2015-11-08 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | College and Career workshops begin for NMI students Nov 8, 2015 Making sure young people have the information they need to continue their education is why your congressional office began a series of workshops for Northern Marianas high school students this week. Beginning with Tinian Jr. Sr. High School and Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School in Rota, the workshops include an overview of federal and local financial aid resources for college, offer student tips on using the U.S. Department of Educations College ScoreCard to help schools, highlight in-demand jobs and options for vocational training, and discuss opportunities for military service and congressional nomination to the U.S. service academies. Students are also encouraged to look at volunteer service through organizations such as AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps as a way to gain valuable experience and educational benefits while giving back to their communities and nation. As I explained to the students in a video message from Washington, DC, I believe any problem our community faces will be more easily solved, if we are all well-educated. For more information or to request a workshop for a school group, contact the congressional office at (670) 323-2647 (Saipan), 433-2647 (Tinian), or 532-2647 (Rota) or email kilili@mail.house.gov. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/house-passes-highway-bill-ups-funding-nmi | House passes highway bill, ups funding for NMI | 2015-11-08 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | House passes highway bill, ups funding for NMI Nov 8, 2015 Transit and safety programs worth $1.2 million annually and an additional $1.2 million in highway construction funds for the Northern Mariana Islands over the next six years are part of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 the House passed this week. Section 1112 of the bill increases annual funding for the Territorial Highway Program from $40 to $42 million, from which the Department of Transportation gives the NMI and American Samoa ten percent each and Guam and the Virgin Islands forty percent each. I have introduced H.R. 3877, requiring Transportation to reassess this arbitrary distribution set in 1992. And Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa) and I offered the language of my bill as an amendment during floor debate on the surface transportation reauthorization. But Guam and the Virgin Islands objected; and 173 Republicans and 137 Democrats voted against our proposal to use quantifiable measures, such as road mileage, as the basis for sharing the funds. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/ndaa-passes-house-again-increase-nmi-academy-slots | NDAA passes House, again, with increase in NMI academy slots | 2015-11-08 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | NDAA passes House, again, with increase in NMI academy slots Nov 8, 2015 The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 this week, again, maintaining the increase of three more service academy slots for Northern Marianas students. President Obama vetoed the original bill last month because it increased defense spending above budget caps without any increase in domestic spending. The revised bill reduces defense spending, but retains the increased academy positions for NMI students. Once the revised bill is signed, we will have three positions at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs 9 in all with 4 openings for the coming year. When I came to office in 2009 I quickly got the number of Northern Marianas slots doubled from 3 to 6 in Section 527 of Public Law 111-84. The Northern Marianas has produced good candidates, and those positions are almost full. So its time to add more. The bill now goes to the Senate, where quick passage is expected. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/share-your-story-national-veterans-history-project | Share your story with the national Veterans History Project | 2015-11-08 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | On this Veterans Day, Northern Marian Islands vets are invited to add their experiences to the Veterans History Project. Created by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project is a richand growingcollection of stories of veterans from all across the nation. The project relies on volunteersstudents, Scout troops, JROTC cadets, family members, neighbors, friendsto interview the veterans in their lives and submit their stories to the Library of Congress. About 100,000 veterans stories have been collected so far. 15,000 are available online. The collection includes first-hand accounts through audio or video interviews, written memoirs, photographs, manuscripts, letters, and even original works of art. If you want to participate, the Project website provides a field kit and other resources for conducting interviews, hosting community events, and submitting stories. For more information about how to get involved, visit www.loc.gov/vets or contact your congressional office at kilili@mail.house.gov or (670) 323-2647 (Northern Marianas), (202) 225-2646 (Washington, DC) or Toll-Free at (800) (877) 446-3465. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/typhoon-soudelor-epa-update | Typhoon Soudelor - EPA Update | 2015-11-08 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Typhoon Soudelor - EPA Update Nov 8, 2015 The Environmental Protection Agency reports that it continues to work closely with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation on collection and disposal of damaged transformers. More than 650 transformers have already been assessed, evacuated of oil, and shipped off island for recycling. Special shipping containers are needed, however, for the larger transformers, and EPA has determined that the required equipment would take several weeks to arrive on island. EPA additionally reports having identified 8 sites on Saipan where transformers containing PCBs may have spilled. Assessment of these sites was complicated by Tropical Storm Champi, which caused flooding in some of these areas, so additional sampling and investigation are now underway. Meanwhile, EPA is also working with the Public School System to coordinate electronic waste collection, which has become more feasible as power has been restored to the schools and assessments, inventories and other procedures required for disposal of public equipment can now be conducted. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/190086-liheap-grant-nmi | $190,086 in LIHEAP grant for NMI | 2015-11-02 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | $190,086 in LIHEAP grant for NMI Nov 1, 2015 Households in the Northern Mariana Islands, who need help paying their CUC bills, will benefit from the $190,086 in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds announced this week. The money is a partial payment of fiscal year 2016 LIHEAP, until Congress passes an appropriation for the entire year. This energy assistance goes to about 400 families in the NMI. The grant is four times higher than when I started work in Washington as a result of my efforts to get the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate the full amount authorized by law. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made the decision to provide the maximum in 2014. With median household incomes less than half the national average and with the price of electricity in our islands two to four times more than most Americans pay, LIHEAP remains an important federal program for the Northern Marianas. The CNMI Department of Community and Cultural Affairs administers locally. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/supporting-clean-extension | Supporting a clean extension | 2015-11-02 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Supporting a clean extension Nov 1, 2015 As of 3:00 a.m. Friday, October 30th, the House and Senate have both passed a Bipartisan Budget Agreement that increases the borrowing authority of the U.S. government, ensuring we can pay our bills after November 5. A week ago, I joined other Democratic Members in urging Speaker Boehner to lift the debt ceiling in a clean bill without any of the politically charged provisions that could result in America defaulting on our obligations. The Budget Agreement, negotiated by the outgoing Speaker in a final gesture of bipartisanship with the President, is not clean. But many of the provisions added are commendable, including an increase in both domestic and defense spending and relief for seniors on Medicare, who were facing as much as a 54 percent increase in their premiums starting in January. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/bill-help-train-northern-marianas-workers-fill-jobs-introduced | Bill to help train Northern Marianas workers fill jobs introduced | 2015-11-01 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Bill to help train Northern Marianas workers fill jobs introduced Nov 1, 2015 This week, along with 36 of my Democratic colleagues, I introduced the Community College to Career Fund Act, which is designed to train people for the jobs businesses need. Written by Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), H.R. 3862 sets up a competitive grant to fund partnerships between businesses and two-year colleges, like our Northern Marianas College, to address local shortages of skilled workers. The recent reduction in the number of foreign, CW workers allowed in the Northern Marianas means employers must find ways to hire more U.S. workers, if growth is to continue in our islands. The Community College to Career Fund Act would respond to that problem by helping NMC close the skills gap between local workers and businesses. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/house-democrats-introduce-working-families-resolution | House Democrats Introduce Working Families Resolution | 2015-11-01 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | House Democrats Introduce Working Families Resolution Nov 1, 2015 In our local culture, family is a top priority. That is why I joined 108 House Democrats in introducing H. Res. 506, the Working Families Resolution. The resolution calls on Congress to pass legislation to increase wages, provide for paid family and medical leave when necessary, provide flexible, predictable, and stable work schedules, and give workers access to quality learning opportunities and affordable child care. October is National Work and Family Month, a time to call attention to the challenges working families face in balancing family and work responsibilities. We in the Northern Marianas are very fortunate to have extended family and friends we can call upon for help when family and work responsibilities conflict. Many have to do so more than they would like in order to earn enough for their families to live on. The Working Families Resolution outlines an agenda aimed at boosting wages, helping families achieve a better work-life balance, and removing barriers that prevent hard working families from getting ahead. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/typhoon-soudelor-update-week-13 | Typhoon Soudelor Update - Week 13 | 2015-11-01 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Many people are feeling that life is returning to normal. But we will continue to include a recovery update in the weekly e-news as long as we are receiving questions from constituents about aspects of the repairs or as new problems arise that need answers. American Memorial Park restoration will take time As we reported on September 4, the National Park Service provided $120,000 in fiscal year 2015 emergency funds to help repair the damage to American Memorial Park with another $140,000 set aside from fiscal 2016. But damage was extensive and recovery is slow because the work is technical and sometime dangerous, according to National Park Service Superintendent Jim Richardson. Richardson estimates that the Park lost 90% of its trees in Typoon Soudelor. Three months later, the popular park pathway remains inaccessible, covered in debris. The tennis courts are also still closed. And mold associated with the storm has shut down the Visitors Center Auditorium. The good news is that the Visitors Center Museum and Gift Shop have reopened at regular hours - 9am to 6pm daily, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Public access to the Flag Circle and the marinas has also been cleared. The American Memorial Park Visitors Center Museum and Gift shop is open once again to the general public. FEMA accepting appeals to replace damaged appliances As power is restored, families are discovering electrical appliances that no longer work because they were damaged in the storm. FEMA has provided a way for those families to file appeals to their initial claims for assistance, so they can get help repairing or replacing the damaged appliances. You will need: A written appeal letter specifying that the appliances were damaged by the typhoon, but could not be tested until power was restored; A letter from the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation indicating the date when power was restored to your area; and A letter from a qualified technician certifying that the appliance(s) need to be repaired or replaced, that the damages we… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-october-30-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - October 30, 2015 | 2015-11-01 | 2015 | 2015-11 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: ________________________________________________________________ $190,086 in LIHEAP grant for NMI. Households in the Northern Mariana Islands, who need help paying their CUC bills, will benefit from the $190,086 in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds announced this week. The money is a partial payment of fiscal year 2016 LIHEAP, until Congress passes an appropriation for the entire year. This energy assistance goes to about 400 families in the NMI. The grant is four times higher than when I started work in Washington as a result of my efforts to get the Department of Health and Human Services to allocate the full amount authorized by law. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made the decision to provide the maximum in 2014. With median household incomes less than half the national average and with the price of electricity in our islands two to four times more than most Americans pay, LIHEAP remains an important federal program for the Northern Marianas. The CNMI Department of Community and Cultural Affairs administers locally. Supporting a clean extension. As of 3:00 a.m. this morning, the House and Senate have both passed a Bipartisan Budget Agreement that increases the borrowing authority of the U.S. government, ensuring we can pay our bills after November 5. A week ago, I joined other Democratic Members in urging Speaker Boehner to lift the debt ceiling in a clean bill without any of the politically charged provisions that could result in America defaulting on our obligations. The Budget Agreement, negotiated by the outgoing Speaker in a final gesture of bipartisanship with the President, is not clean. But many of the provisions added are commendable, including an increase in both domestic and defense spending and relief for seniors on Medicare, who were facing as much as a 54 percent increase in their premiums starting in January. Typhoon Update - Week 13: Many people are feeling that life is returning to normal. But we will continue to include a recovery update in the weekly e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/9-m-awarded-water-sewer-environmental-protection | $9 m. awarded for water, sewer, environmental protection | 2015-10-26 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | $9 m. awarded for water, sewer, environmental protection Oct 25, 2015 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a total fiscal year 2015 award of $9 million to the Northern Mariana Islands this week. The consolidated grant includes $6.7 million to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for water and sewer projects and $2.3 million to the Commonwealths Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality for environmental programs. The water and sewer money reflects the increase in funding that began after the Northern Marianas obtained representation in Congress and the funding formula was increased. The Commonwealth has received an additional $41 million as a result. That money is responsible for the achievement of having the public water supply system provide 24-hour service to 95 percent of its population up from 25 percent in 2006, according to EPA. This year the money that Congress has appropriated will be used for water storage tanks, waterline replacements, improvements to the sewer system, and work to make water and sewer infrastructure more able to withstand storms, like Typhoon Soudelor. Congratulations to CUC and BECQ. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/apply-today-nomination-us-service-academy | Apply today for nomination to a U.S. Service Academy | 2015-10-26 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | Young women and men from the Northern Marianas, interested in a high quality education and committed to serving our country, can apply now for a congressional nomination to a U.S. Service Academy. At this time, there are two openings available: one at the Merchant Marine Academy and one at the Naval Academy. The first step in applying for a nomination is to fill out the form at https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/academy-nomination-form. At the same time, applicants should open an application at their academy or academies of choice: the Merchant Marine Academy (https://www.usmma.edu/admissions) and/or the Naval Academy (https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/index.php).More information and nomination applications are available at https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you/academy-nominations and at the district offices on Rota, Saipan, and Tinian. While Members of Congress make nominations, the final selection from among nominees is made by academy admission officials.They look for strong grades in high school, high SAT or ACT scores, physical ability, and leadership potential. Requests for nomination are due December 11, 2015. Deadlines for completing academy applications are March 1, 2016 for the Merchant Marine Academy and January 31, 2016 for the Naval Academy. Those interested are strongly encouraged to start now. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-october-23-2015 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - October 23, 2015 | 2015-10-26 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: ________________________________________________________________ Apply today for nomination to a U.S. Service Academy. Young women and men from the Northern Marianas, interested in a high quality education and committed to serving our country, can apply now for a congressional nomination to a U.S. Service Academy. At this time, there are two openings available: one at the Merchant Marine Academy and one at the Naval Academy. The first step in applying for a nomination is to fill out the form at https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you.... At the same time, applicants should open an application at their academy or academies of choice: the Merchant Marine Academy (https://www.usmma.edu/admissions) and/or the Naval Academy (https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/inde...). More information and nomination applications are available at https://sablan.house.gov/serving-you... and at the district offices on Rota, Saipan, and Tinian. While Members of Congress make nominations, the final selection from among nominees is made by academy admission officials. They look for strong grades in high school, high SAT or ACT scores, physical ability, and leadership potential. Requests for nomination are due December 11, 2015. Deadlines for completing academy applications are March 1, 2016 for the Merchant Marine Academy and January 31, 2016 for the Naval Academy. Those interested are strongly encouraged to start now. $9 m. awarded for water, sewer, envonmental protection. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a total fiscal year 2015 award of $9 million to the Northern Mariana Islands this week. The consolidated grant includes $6.7 million to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for water and sewer projects and $2.3 million to the Commonwealths Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality for environmental programs. The water and sewer money reflects the increase in funding that began after the Northern Marianas obtained representation in Congress and the funding formula was increased. The Commonwealth h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://sablan.house.gov/cms-open-enrollment-begins | CMS Open Enrollment Begins | 2015-10-25 | 2015 | 2015-10 | Independent | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | CMS Open Enrollment Begins Oct 25, 2015 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Medicare Open Enrollment period for 2016 is open through December 7, 2015. If you are satisfied with your current coverage and feel it will meet your needs for 2016, you do not need to do anything. However, individuals who need to enroll or need additional information regarding their Medicare Part D prescription drug plans in the Northern Marianas can visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) TTY 1-877-486-2048. You may also view the 2016 Medicare & You handbook online at: www.medicare.gov/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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