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House minority pushes for session
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Posted on Aug 05 2004
Citing the need to resolve critical issues, the House minority is pressing for the immediate holding of session at the lower chamber.
“There’s a number of issues that need our immediate attention. These are crucial issues,” said minority Rep. Ray Tebuteb.
He cited the need to resolve pending measures affecting the land compensation, scholarship, and purchase of monitoring equipment for the Northern Islands.
“For me this seismic monitoring equipment is very critical. We’re talking here of a life and death situation,” he said, referring to recent reports by the U.S. Geological Survey indicating that the Northern Islands remains unsafe in view of unpredictable volcanic movements.
The USGS, which made a presentation before the Legislature and the Executive Branch on its latest assessment of the volcanoes in the islands, cited the urgency to install the equipment.
USGS said it would need the Legislature’s help to lobby the U.S. Congress for release of funds.
The projects require congressional appropriation of at least $7 million and $500,000 in annual maintenance.
Tebuteb said there is already a draft resolution waiting to be adopted.
“A resolution is ready for adoption expressing the leaders’ support for the USGS project,” he said. “We really have to hold a session now.”
Tebuteb said that the minority has been asking the leadership to call for a session but to no avail.
“We haven’t received a response,” said Tebuteb.
When asked, he said that he has verbally asked acting Speaker Timothy Villagomez on the possibility of calling a session.
“We’ve been asking the leadership since last week. So far, we’ve got no response,” he said.
House Speaker Benigno Fitial is still off-island on family matters. He is said to be back in a couple of weeks.
Tebuteb said, though, that a session can be held in the absence of the Speaker.
“There’s an acting Speaker. Several of us are here; we can meet anytime,” he said.
