Kilili given lists of projects that cost almost $5B

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) returns to the nation’s capital this week carrying with him lists of CNMI projects worth almost $5 billion in all that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and CNMI government agencies gave him.

Sablan, who left Saipan Sunday to return to Washington D.C., said in a Facebook post over the weekend that he will try to get as much money as he can possibly get for CNMI infrastructure improvements for water, wastewater, airports and ports, roads, health facilities, and electricity, among others.

Sablan said his congressional office colleagues (in Washington, D.C. Rota, Saipan, and Tinian) have started the work they need to do to get the Northern Marianas as much help as they possibly can.

Last month, Sablan asked the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to provide his office information about its needs, saying the likelihood of U.S. Congress funding key infrastructure in the Marianas continues to grow.

Among the information he sought from CUC executive director Gary P. Camacho are the list of CUC projects and costs in developing potable water, protecting water supplies and coastal waters, and reducing power costs—all in preparation should Congress loosen the federal purse strings for these types of projects.

Sablan said the American Rescue Plan that includes an estimated $483 million for the CNMI to use for water and sewer infrastructure, among other permissible needs, is likely to be followed by an American Recovery Plan, also with significant infrastructure funding.

Sablan said in his Facebook post over the weekend that he expects the CNMI to get additional funds for broadband improvement (bringing subsidized internet connections to homes without them), money for childcare and child development, money for programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, and hopefully money to build new schools or improve existing ones, and much more.

Sablan said the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee, which he chairs, will play a role in American Recovery bills.

“And I will use the little influence I have over issues that fall under the jurisdiction of my subcommittee to help both the Northern Marianas and the nation,” he said.

The delegate said a family of seven—two parents and five children—will be receiving quite a substantial amount from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

First, he said, everyone in the family will qualify for and receive the third stimulus payments, totaling $9,800. Then there is the increased child tax credit for this family since three children are 5 years or younger and two are over 5 years old. He said the Child Tax Credit computes to $16,800.

If Torres decides to make the monthly payments for the Child Tax Credit, Sablan said such a family will receive $1,400 every month for 12 months.

He said Congress granted Torres the authority do the monthly payments and gave the CNMI government $300,000 for the administrative cost to make these monthly payments for the Child Tax Credit.

“The children shouldn’t have needs for clothing, school supplies, shoes, etc.,” said Sablan, who urged parents to use the Child Tax Credit money for their children’s needs.

Sablan hopes the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 programs, the stimulus payments, the increased Child Tax Credit, the renter’s assistance, the increased money for food assistance, the continuation of the unemployment assistance claims payments to Sept. 30 for those that lost their jobs, and so much more, would give people a chance to catch up and to have a financial bridge until the CNMI’s economy rebounds in 2022 and 2023.