Pete A. takes delegate bid to White House

CNMI Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio met with White House officials Friday last week to seek the Executive Branch’s support for a CNMI delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.

“I feel very good about the meeting,” said Tenorio. “They were very receptive and supportive.”

Tenorio met with Angela K. Flood, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Political Affairs; and Toby Burke, Special Assistant to the President from the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

In that meeting, he reminded them of the historic and strategic importance of the CNMI. “This is particularly poignant now that we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Saipan, the dedication of the National World War II Memorial, and our ongoing struggles in Iraq.”

“This is the last step before we are fully members of the American family, and I want everyone to know that granting the CNMI a delegate is not only the fair and equitable thing to do, it is the right thing to do. We played a vital role in bringing World War II to a close, and have contributed our land for U.S. military readiness and training by providing the only live fire bombing range in the Pacific, Farallon de Medinilla.”

Momentum for a delegate bill has been growing since a congressional delegation led by House Resources Committee chair Richard Pombo and Interior Secretary Gale Norton visited the Northern Marianas in January.

Upon returning to Washington, Pombo held a hearing on the need for a CNMI delegate.

David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs, was supportive of a CNMI delegate at the hearing.

“I knew the White House was supportive because they had to approve Cohen’s testimony before the hearing, but this meeting was important so that they would understand the need and justification for a delegate. With a presidential election later this year, and a war in Iraq, I have to keep this issue from being pushed off of the agenda,” Tenorio explained.

Tenorio is also preparing for an oversight hearing in the Senate Energy Committee next month where he plans to bring some critical issues for their consideration.

“I want them to know about the pending submerged lands issue, stateless persons, and our problems with water. I will definitely highlight the critical need for federal involvement in the improvement of the water systems throughout the CNMI, particularly on Saipan. Our people should be able to drink water from their faucets, just like all other Americans,” Tenorio said.