releases: http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-3-2017
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://sablan.house.gov/week-congress-february-3-2017 | THIS WEEK IN CONGRESS - February 3, 2017 | 2017-02-05 | 2017 | 2017-02 | Independent | House | MP | Gregorio Sablan | S001177 | sablan.house.gov | legacy | In this issue: __________________________________________________________ Insular reps: Include us in health reform. This week I led a letter from all five insular representatives in Congress – Republican and Democrat – to House leadership on inclusion of our areas in health care reform. We were largely left out of Obamacare, so now, with “repeal and replace” on the table, we want any replacement to meet President Trump’s standard of “insurance for everybody.” I am grateful to my counterparts – Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands), and Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam) – for joining with me in this bipartisan position statement to Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, both of California. Among the reforms we want are ending the cap on Medicaid insurance payments to insular areas and computing the federal/local shares of Medicaid in a way comparable to states. We also support Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wisconsin) idea to have federally-supported, refundable tax credits for health insurance. CW bill again passes House. My bill, H.R. 339, adding 2,002 CW permits to the number allowed this year, passed the House of Representatives on Monday, without dissent. This same bill passed on December 6, but Congress adjourned four days later without action by the Senate. Increasing permits remains as important as ever especially to many local, small business owners, who have employed CW workers for years and now cannot apply to renew their permits. Our local businesses were squeezed out when the CW cap was reached last October by a rush of foreign construction workers, who should use unlimited H-2B visas, not the scarce CW permits. My legislation will give those local businesses – and the Commonwealth Healthcare Center, which is in the same predicament – an opportunity to keep their legacy employees, until they can be replaced with U.S. workers. Thanks to Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and the business community for their continued support. Ban on U.S. entry for certain foreign citizens. Constituents in the Marianas are asking how President Trump’s Executive Order on Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry to the United States last week may affect them. In summary, the order bars citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen – from entering the United States for 90 days. Lawful Permanent Residents, also known as "green card" holders, from those countries are exempted, but may face additional vetting during the entry process. Refugees from any nation are barred from admission for 120 days. Syrian refugees are barred indefinitely. The congressional office is at all times prohibited from giving legal advice, so citizens of any of the affected countries, living in the Northern Marianas, are encouraged to seek private legal counsel before traveling. I spoke on the House floor this week in favor of Congress voting whether this Executive Order should be rescinded. In my view, it hurts innocent people. FEMA sends CUC $6.5M for Soudelor. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced this week a grant of $6,596,263.11 in federal funding to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The funds are intended for reimbursement of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation for costs incurred repairing damage to the electrical system and restoring power after Typhoon Soudelor. To date FEMA has provided $25 million to individuals and households in the Northern Marianas for Soudelor recovery and $35.7 million for restoration of public infrastructure. The disaster relief grants are authorized by Congress under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. Federal Opportunities for/in the Marianas: Scholarships: US Pacific Territories Capacity-Building Scholarship – The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council is offering up to three academic scholarships to support the capacity building of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam to effectively manage their fisheries and related resources. Applications are due on February 28, 2017 . For more information, go to http://files.constantcontact.com/f764162f201/d856dcfe-5e3d-4256-9520-e54d3c188710.pdf. Grants: Drug-Free Communities Support Program – The DFC Support Program’s main goal is to establish and strengthen collaboration among communities, non-profit agencies, and all levels governments to support the efforts of community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. Current closing date is March 15, 2017 . For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=291062 . Jobs: IT Specialist (Customer Support) – The Army National Guard has an opening for an IT Specialist on Guam. The purpose of this position is to serve as the primary interface between the incumbent's assigned organization and all information systems customers associated with the C4 mission. Position is open until February 26, 2017 . For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/463385000/. – The Army National Guard has an opening for an IT Specialist on Guam. The purpose of this position is to serve as the primary interface between the incumbent's assigned organization and all information systems customers associated with the C4 mission. Position is open until . For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/463385000/. IT Specialist – The Air Force Personnel Center has an opening for an Information Technology Specialist on Guam. Incumbent will be responsible for analysis, planning, design, and implementation of the enterprise structural framework to align IT strategy with the mission of the organization. Position is open until April 30, 2017 . For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/463560400/. – The Air Force Personnel Center has an opening for an Information Technology Specialist on Guam. Incumbent will be responsible for analysis, planning, design, and implementation of the enterprise structural framework to align IT strategy with the mission of the organization. Position is open until . For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/463560400/. Social Worker – The Air Force Personnel Center has an opening for a Social Worker on Guam. Incumbent will provide professional social work services in support of the Family Advocacy Program requirements and initiatives. Position is open until April 30, 2017 . For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/463059400/. Highlights in the Legislative Program THIS WEEK On the Floor | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |