McPhetres bats for proper representation in Congress

The Commonwealth is losing federal support due to lack of proper representation and the absence of effective mechanisms that will help secure grants and other opportunities for CNMI residents.

Citing the need to be properly represented in the US Congress, Democratic Party’s Washington Resident Representative bet Agnes McPhetres laid down a two-point proposal to effectively promote the CNMI to the US.

During a fundraising dinner Friday night at the Island Castle, Ms. McPhetres said the Office of the Resident Representative should establish internships for CNMI college students within federal agencies using existing funds and federal grants.

“By getting our own students to work with federal agencies, we could accomplish two goals: make the agencies more aware of the CNMI and its needs, and make our students more aware of the operations of the federal government,” said Ms. McPhetres during her speech.

This kind of familiarization will help improve the Commonwealth’s relationship with the US government, she added.

Ms. McPhetres also mentioned the need to promote the permanent employment of CNMI residents in the US Congress and in federal administrative offices in order to build mutually beneficial relationship.

She noted the need to establish relationships and allies in the US Congress and at the White House, adding that proper representation of the CNMI to the US government is what democracy should be all about.

“As citizens of the United States, it is our right that we be represented equally with our peers. We are the only territory that joined by popular vote outside the 48 continental states that have been left out of the national decision-making process,” Ms. McPhetres stressed.

She also listed areas which the Resident Representative should actively act on to secure federal funding opportunities for the Northern Marianas.

This include identification of available opportunities for appropriate CNMI agencies, tracking of proposed changes in funding conditions, and working thorough congressional channels to eliminate statutory problems which separate the insular areas from the states.

Ms. McPhetres also vowed to work on Compact-Impact funding to help immigrants from Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Marshall Islands whose needs should be met with assistance from the federal government.

Ms. McPhetres likewise cited the need to foster investment in the CNMI to improve the local economy.

“All of our Asian neighbors are represented in Washington, DC through their embassies, all of which have representatives specifically tasked with promoting trade and investment. We need to do the very same thing. Investment is the key to building our tourism industry and our only significant trade in goods is in garments. We must expand and develop our economic base,” she said.

At least 200 guests and supporters gathered at the Island Castle to support the dinner-fundraising campaign for Ms. McPhetres’ bid to the Washington Resident Representative position.

Ms. McPhetres is a former president of the Northern Marianas College. She is banking on her credentials and experience in various fields to get the essential and optimal benefits for CNMI residents including adequate representation of views at the mainland US, if she wins the November elections. (EGA)