Gregorio Sablan: “In closing, I want to thank again Chairman Rob Bishop of the Natural Resources Committee for his understanding and…”

“In closing, I want to thank again Chairman Rob Bishop of the Natural Resources Committee for his understanding and support. I also thank Chairman Don Young, who held a hearing on this issue in September and agreed that action was needed. I appreciate the support of Ranking Members Raul Grijalva and Raul Ruiz. And, of course, Mr. Speaker, I am indebted to the minority whip, Mr. Hoyer, and to our majority leader, Mr. McCarthy, who agreed to bring H.R. 6401 to the floor today. I ask my colleagues for the support of H.R. 6401. Mr. Speaker, The economy of the Northern Mariana Islands grew at a rate of 3 point 5 percent last year and the fourth straight year of growth for my district. The Bureau of Economic Analysis announced the new data a week ago. This strong economic expansion is good news for the people of the Mariana Islands. We desperately want this growth to continue. Because our economy is still only three-quarters of what it was in 2000. But there is a problem with keeping that growth going: our limited population. For that reason, I have introduced with Congresswoman Radewagen bipartisan legislation, H.R. 6401, the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Expansion Act. The Marianas has a very small population--only about 54,000 people. And economic expansion demands not only entrepreneurial capital and investment, which we are suddenly receiving. Economic expansion demands workers, as well. We have struggled to bring more workers into our labor force.…”