press: releases: 44 rows where party = "Independent", state = "MP" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending

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44 rows where party = "Independent", state = "MP" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending

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url	title	date ▲	year	month	party	chamber	state	member_name	bioguide_id	domain	date_source	text	has_text	collected_at	updated_at
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

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