releases: https://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-september-18-2020
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| https://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-september-18-2020 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - September 18, 2020 | 2020-09-21 | 2020 | 2020-09 | Democrat | Senate | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: NMI Biz Development Act passes Swift wage survey review requested $7.7m for lost wages First PHC home constructed $17.5m for water/sewer $1.2m to CHCC for COVID response COVID-19 stats as of September 18 $1.8m in DOJ grants to the Marianas $1.7m for insular energy projects $1.1m more for compact impact $335k for Tinian road upgrades House protects pregnant workers Military academy nominations open Welcome, Peter Tenorio Telework update Kilili Time Capsule Opportunities Legislative highlights __________________________________________________________________ NMI Biz Development Act passes Businesses in the Marianas will have more access to Small Business Administration programs under terms of my Small Business Development Act, which the House passed Monday. The bill makes the Marianas eligible for a grant to establish an SBDC Lead Center and provides technical assistance to small businesses interested in seed funding from the federal SBIR and STTR programs. With this additional funding, small businesses on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota could have access to free or low-cost services such as incubator workspaces for entrepreneurs, assistance with loan applications, business planning, operations, personnel administration, marketing, export assistance, sales, and other requirements for growth and success. The House also passed the Microloan Improvement Act, containing provisions I wrote making SBA microloans of up to $50,000 available to Marianas businesses. Both bills are now with the Senate for consideration. Swift wage survey review requested Now that the Commonwealth has completed submission of this year's prevailing wage survey, I have requested U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia to expedite certification. Labor received the Commonwealth's final documents on September 10. Meanwhile, many CW-1 employers have been waiting for approval of the survey to request a prevailing wage determination and apply for temporary labor certifications. The U.S. Workforce Act requirement that employers obtain certification that no U.S. worker is available before employers petition for a CW-1 worker went into effect last year. The Labor Department had approved the wage survey for 84 occupations by May last year. But this year's survey has been delayed, putting pressure on Marianas businesses already hurt by the coronavirus and still recovering from Super Typhoon Yutu. $7.7m for lost wages The Marianas will receive $7,721,288 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide an additional $300 per week to eligible individuals. This will be on top of the continuing $345 weekly benefit from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program that Congress created in the CARES Act. The CARES Act provided a $600 per week supplement, but that program expired at the end of July. The House-passed HEROES Act would extend the additional $600 per week supplement, but Senate Republicans are refusing to negotiate and have instead proposed measures to cut any additional unemployment assistance in half to $300. $17.5m for water/sewer Marianas water and sewer infrastructure gets another $17,519,000, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday. $10,400,000 is the specific set-aside for the Marianas I included in last year's disaster relief act, U.S. Public Law 116-20. The balance of $7,191,000 is the set aside for the Marianas and other territories in the EPA appropriation for fiscal year 2020, U.S. Public Law 116-94. The money is more welcome than ever with so much of our attention on the need to raise standards for public health and maintain a clean environment for residents and to reassure prospective tourists that the Marianas is safe to visit. We increased water and sewer funding every year since 2010 by changing a formula in annual appropriations bills. Together with one-time funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act total funding has now reached $97.6 million. In July, I successfully offered a floor amendment to H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, making a permanent formula change. The House passed the bill, 233-188, but the Republican-led Senate has refused to take action. $1.2m to CHCC for COVID response The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation was awarded a $1,228,636.27 Public Assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday for emergency protective measures taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds, which represent the 75 percent Federal cost-share, cover the costs for materials, equipment, and contract services needed to set up and operate a temporary medical facility and provide prevention and treatment services for the period beginning March 17 through May 31, 2020. Funding is authorized under the Stafford Act Section 403 and obligated directly to the Commonwealth, which is then responsible for reimbursement to the CHCC upon receipt of proper documentation. $1.8m in DOJ grants to the Marianas The Commonwealth is receiving six grants worth $1,784,393 for crime prevention, domestic and sexual violence, victim assistance, training, and the sex offender registry, the U.S. Department of Justice announced this week: $618,551 - STOP (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant award to the Criminal Justice Planning Agency (CJPA) to develop and strengthen efforts to combat violent crimes against women and strengthen and improve victim safe and services. $62,589 - Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Formula Program grant to CJPA to support rape crisis centers and nonprofits that provide direct assistance and services to sexual assault victims. $395,338 - Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program to the Department of Public Safety to implement the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act which requires jurisdictions maintain a sex offender registry and sex offenders register and maintain current registration in area they live, work, or attend school. SORNA requirements also include participation in the National Sex Offender Public Website. $193,048 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program to CJPA for local crime control and prevention initiatives in one or more program areas within the criminal justice system. CJPA indicates funds will be used for programs aimed at reducing crime and enhancing public and officer safety, including multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces, justice information sharing initiatives, crime prevention and domestic violence programs $59,098 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act Formula Grants Program to CJPA for compliance monitoring, delinquency prevention, juvenile justice systems improvement, planning and administration, and the state advisory group allocation. $455,769 - Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program to CJPA to enhance crime victim services in the Marianas with an emphasis on victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse and underserved victims generally. $1.7m for insular energy projects The Northern Marianas is receiving $1,706,075 in Energizing Insular Communities program funds, Interior's Office of Insular Affairs announced Wednesday. Fund will go towards the following six high-priority energy projects, as identified by the Commonwealth: $672,000 to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for phase 3 of the Pre-Pay Meter Conversion Project to purchase and install 1,600 pre-pay electric meters on Rota and Saipan $403,500 to CUC for the acquisition of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system for each of the engines at Power Plant 1 in Saipan $301,700 to CUC to hire a solar energy systems engineer to provide professional capacity in solar photovoltaic and renewables technologies $212,920 to the Department of Public Works for Energy Star/Energy Efficiency rebates as incentive for residents to replace old and inefficient appliances and reduce overall energy and utility costs $77,530 to the Office of the Governor to apply a cool roof system to three facilities at the Government complex on Capitol Hill $38,425 to the Women's Affairs Office for energy efficiency measures including a cool roof system, LED lighting, and window reflective film Appropriated annually by Congress to be administered by OIA, the Energizing Insular Communities program was funded at $6.25 million for FY 2020, up from $5 million in FY19. The Trump administration repeatedly attempts to reduce funding to the EIC program and proposed cutting it to just $2.8 million for FY 2021, but the House passed the Interior Department appropriation bill on July 10 with my request increasing funds to $12 million, nearly doubling last year's appropriation. $1.1m more for compact impact The Northern Marianas is receiving $1,123,263 in compact impact funding assistance, Interior's Office of Insular Affairs announced Monday. The aid is in addition to the $750,000 awarded the Marianas in March, for a total of $1,873,263 in Compact Impact Aid funds for FY 2020. $220,384 of the award must be used exclusively for education services. Congress provides this money to the Pacific insular areas and Hawaii to help defray health, education, and infrastructure costs associated with migrants from the freely associated states of Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. FAS citizens can live, study, and work throughout the U.S under terms of the Compacts of Free Association. In 2018, the Census Bureau estimated the number of FAS migrants in the Northern Marianas at 2,431, a decrease from 2,660 in 2013. $335k for Tinian road upgrades The Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs has been awarded $335,000 under the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot program, the Defense Department's Office of Economic Adjustment announced Thursday. The grant funds will be used to relocate power and water infrastructure, so the U.S. military may pave and improve several roads in Tinian, as requested by Commonwealth and Tinian officials. The project aims to improve the quality of life for Tinian residents and supports service members and support personnel rotating through the island. The Defense Community Infrastructure Program is a pilot program, funded by Congress at $50 million for FY20, to address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation to enhance the military family quality of life. House protects pregnant workers On Thursday, the House passed H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act 329-73. I am a cosponsor. This bipartisan bill would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers so that they may continue employment safely. The bill also ensures that pregnant workers cannot be denied employment opportunities or be retaliated against for asking for accommodations. The Senate will now have the opportunity to consider this bipartisan legislation. OPPORTUNITIES Grants A note to those receiving or applying for federal grants during the coronavirus crisis: The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) may extend for up to 12 months certain grants set to expire between March 31 and December 31, 2020. OMB is also providing some deadline flexibility for grant applications. Check out these links for OMB's March 9 and March 17 memo on these extensions. Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grants NEH Care: Cultural Organization Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services LEGISLATIVE HIGHLIGHTS THISWEEK H.R. 2694 - Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (passed, 329-73) NEXTWEEK Bills to be considered not available at time of print. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |