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House members OK ‘mixed’ petition on submerged land
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Posted on May 04 2006
The House of Representatives adopted yesterday a joint resolution on the submerged lands issue that carries “mixed” messages for the U.S. Congress.
Members approved House Joint Resolution 15-4 which “requests that the Congress of the U.S. to enact S. 1831 and H.R. 4255 bills.” Both measures aim to grant the CNMI control over three miles of submerged lands seaward from the shore.
The resolution was introduced by the minority bloc headed by minority leader Arnold I. Palacios.
The House leadership supported the bill but not without an amendment.
Rep. Absalon Waki moved to insert a clause that essentially calls for the CNMI’s control of its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
“The further expansion of this three-mile exclusive economic zone to 200 miles will provide a valuable natural resource to the people of the CNMI in order to better contribute to the political union between their islands and the greater American society,” reads part of the amendment.
This was voted on and approved by the majority bloc.
This did not sit well with the minority, who pointed out the “confusing” message being sent out by the resolution.
“What we’re asking is, don’t put that together in one resolution. We’re asking Congress, ‘give us three miles,’ yet in the same breath, we’re also saying, ‘we want 200 miles,’” said minority bloc spokesman Rep. Ray Tebuteb.
The minority bloc essentially supports the position taken by Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio on the bills.
Tenorio, in his speech during the State of the Commonwealth Address last month, asked the CNMI public to support the enactment of the bill in the U.S. Senate granting the CNMI a three-mile control, following the Commonwealth’s defeat in the Supreme Court over control of the entire submerged lands.
During his speech, Tenorio disclosed that Gov. Benigno R. Fitial submitted his opposition to the bill’s passage, citing the need for negotiation with the federal government to obtain a larger portion of the submerged lands.
Fitial’s position was echoed by the House majority bloc.
