Political Quotes

“today, I express my support of S. 2739, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act. I commend the chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for their leadership and the work of their staff on this important legislation. This bill represents a bicameral-and-bipartisan supported package of bills. It has many good initiatives that demonstrate our commitment to be responsible stewards of our national treasures and historic sites. The legislation also has targeted provisions that address unique circumstances and issues occurring in the Pacific region. I express my support for titles VII and VIII of S. 2739 that relate to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, CNMI, and the Freely Associated States, the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The CNMI is a group of islands located east of the Philippines and south of Japan. Following World War II, the United States administered the islands under a United Nations trusteeship. In 1975, the people of the CNMI voted for a political union with the United States. The 1976 covenant enacted by Congress gave U.S. citizenship to CNMI residents and extended most U.S. laws to the CNMI. However, the covenant exempted the CNMI from U.S. immigration law. As a result of the CNMI's policies, today the population has increased fivefold, from 16,000 to 80,000.”