Pete Domenici: “today I join my colleague, the Ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Bingaman, in…”

“today I join my colleague, the Ranking member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Bingaman, in introducing three bills, by request, to make necessary changes to law regarding the U.S.-affiliated islands. Briefly, the bills include: First, legislation requested by the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). This bill accomplishes two objectives--to provide the Commonwealth with the same ownership and jurisdiction over offshore submerged lands as has been provided to other United States territories and to provide a less formal mechanism for the Governor of the CNMI to raise issues with the Federal Government than the procedures under section 902 of the Covenant that established the Commonwealth in political union with the United States. The legislation also provides a general authorization for the Commonwealth to raise issues arising under provisions of the Covenant with the Secretary and for the Secretary to resolve those issues with assistance from other agencies as appropriate. This would provide a less formal approach than the more elaborate procedures for issue resolution set forth under section 902 of the Covenant which require, among other items, the formal appointment of negotiators. Section 902 is unique to the Commonwealth and legislative approval of a less formal approach may serve to improve Federal-commonwealth relations and the ability of both sides to reach agreements.…”