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Fitial thanks US senators for support
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Posted on May 11 2006
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial wrote to U.S. Sen. Pete V. Domenici and other members of his committee yesterday to thank them for their letter to Senate Finance Committee chair Charles E. Grassley, which had sought support in addressing the CNMI’s dire economic concerns.
Domenici, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, ranking member Jeff Bingaman and fellow committee members Daniel K. Akaka and Lisa Murkowski had sent their letter to Grassley and ranking member Max Baucus to seek support and address specific CNMI issues.
Domenici asked Grassley, on behalf of the CNMI, to support Senate Bill S. 1954, “The Insular Possessions Act of 2005”, which would amend HeadNote 3(a) to reduce local value-added requirements for Saipan apparel manufacturers. The change in law would assist in what has been a rapid decline in CNMI revenue as factories continue to close operations and many jobs are being lost.
Fitial recently discussed S. 1954 with key federal administration and congressional members in an attempt to attach language to upcoming Senate tariff legislation.
The governor, concerned with declining CNMI revenue, remains cognizant of domestic impact issues and has been negotiating with officials to appease potential American textile industry concerns by limiting future CNMI apparel export to the U.S. should S. 1954 make its way through the U.S. Congress.
Domenici also expressed support for, and asked the Finance Committee for its support, in addressing the current unresolved dispute between the CNMI and the U.S. Treasury Department, where cover over taxes due the CNMI, pursuant to Section 703(b) of the Covenant, remain unpaid.
In his letter to Domenici, Fitial thanked the members for their “eloquent statement” to Finance, and offered any support his office could provide in working toward common goals they have so magnanimously presented to the committee on behalf of the CNMI.
Fitial also thanked Resident Representative Pete A. Tenorio for carrying out the intent of his administration’s directives and initiatives in Washington, D.C., and for doing the hard work in communicating the Office of the Governor’s projects, goals and missions with federal officials. (PR)
