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House adopts resolution to provide direct financial relief
The House of Representatives unanimously adopted Wednesday a House joint resolution that seeks to provide direct and expedited financial relief of $500 per eligible adult in the CNMI and $500 per eligible dependent.
House Joint Resolution 22-12 that Rep. Christina E. Sablan (D-Saipan) formally introduced Wednesday strongly encourages and endorses the issuance of a new local economic impact payment to provide direct and expedited financial relief to qualified households.
Sablan said the resolution also seeks the expansion of eligibility for premium pay “bonuses” for essential workers in the government and private sector.
House of Representatives Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) placed the resolution on calendar for action.
Sablan stated in the resolution that the new local economic impact payment will be funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and within the guidelines set by the U.S. Treasury.
She said putting money directly in the pockets of individuals and families who need it, and delivering extra pay to deserving essential workers in other areas of the public and private sectors will boost the buying power of more residents.
The lawmaker said this will also stimulate the local economy through the multiplier effect for every dollar spent locally, to help small businesses, and increase local collections through revenue streams such as Business Gross Revenue Taxes, Northern Marianas Territorial Income Taxes, and Excise Taxes.
Sablan said that, as of January of 2022, many individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth are in serious need of financial relief, including thousands of CNMI residents who remain unemployed or underemployed.
She said many are still waiting for long-overdue payments of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Commonwealth-COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance.
