SNILD names committee chairs

Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chair Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) has already appointed the heads of the nine committees that would assist him in creating laws to benefit Saipan and the Northern Islands, officially called the Third Senatorial District.

Sablan was once again elected to head the delegation during their organizational meeting last week on Capital Hill. Sen. Sixto K. Igisomar (R-Saipan) was voted as vice chair, while former House speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) was chosen floor leader.

First-time lawmakers Reps. Donald C. Barcinas and Francisco C. Aguon, both Saipan Republicans, will be heading the delegation’s committees on Commerce and Education while Rep. Janet U. Maratita (R-Saipan), who is also the House of Representatives’ vice speaker, is the Health & Welfare chief and Rep. Joseph Leepan T. Guerrero (R-Saipan) is the Tourism Committee chair.

Saipan GOP Reps. Ivan A. Blanco, Francisco S. Dela Cruz, Angel A. Demapan, Alice S. Igitol, and Gregorio M. Sablan Jr., will each be leading the same committees they have in the House this 20th Legislature.

Blanco got the Judiciary and Governmental Operations portfolio, while Dela Cruz got the Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communications Committee. Transportation is not part of the House committee of the former vice speaker since it was created separately and given to Barcinas.

Demapan became the delegation’s Ways and Means chair, Igitol the Natural Resources chief, and Sablan the Federal and Foreign Affairs presiding officer.

Other House committees

The committee chairs of Commerce and Tourism, and Natural Resources also completed their membership, along with Rules Ad Hoc.

Blanco acts as Guerrero’s vice chair in Commerce and Tourism with Igitol, Reps. Edwin P. Aldan (R-Tinian), Blas Jonathan T. Attao (Ind-Saipan), and Vinson F. Sablan (Ind-Saipan), and House floor leader Glenn L. Maratita (R-Rota) as members.

Igitol is the Natural Resources committee chair, while Aldan is her vice chair. Aguon, Barcinas, and Reps. Jose I. Itibus (R-Saipan) and Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) will be joining them as members.

The other committee chairmen in the House are Sablan (Federal and Foreign Affairs), Demapan (Ways and Means), Itibus (Health and Welfare), Blanco (Judiciary and Governmental Operations), Dela Cruz (Public Utilities and Communications), Aguon (Social and Human Services), Barcinas (Transportation), Guerrero (Commerce and Tourism), Aldan (Education), and Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Gaming).