Previous Story
‘Federalization hearing is postponed indefinitely’
|
Posted on Mar 11 2009
An oversight hearing on the implementation of the federalization law was postponed until new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and other administration officials have their feet fully on the ground, a congressional source said.
The hearing on Public Law 110-229 was scheduled for Tuesday in Washington D.C. A new date has not been scheduled.
Once the Obama administration has been in place longer they will be able to speak more authoritatively on the CNMI transition, said the source, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak for DHS.
Charles Reyes, press secretary for the Governor’s Office, said Gov. Benigno Fitial asked for the postponement because he wanted to focus on the CNMI’s stimulus grant issues. The governor had also just returned from a trip to the nation’s capital and needed more time, Reyes added.
Fitial, CNMI Delegate Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan, and the CNMI House of Representatives have asked Napolitano to delay the June 1 federalization start date by 180 days—the maximum amount of time allowed by law. DHS is expected to make a decision on the request in the next few weeks. Congress must be notified of any decision on a delay 30 days before June 1.
A representative from the Department of Homeland Security could not be reached for comment yesterday.
