Gregorio Sablan: “Let me make one thing very clear. The amendment that the distinguished lady from American Samoa and I have introduced…”

“Let me make one thing very clear. The amendment that the distinguished lady from American Samoa and I have introduced does not change the formula. But I also want to take the time to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio and all the committee members who worked together successfully to bring this bipartisan bill to the floor. {time} 1815 I want to thank the committee, also, for deciding to increase funding for the Territorial Highway Program from $40 million to $42 million per year. The territories are some of the poorest parts of our country. We face a financial challenge providing transportation on separate islands and from one island to another island. I think the only territory that doesn't have to do that is the southernmost territory in the Mariana Islands. We are grateful for the assistance we receive from our fellow Americans. It is in the spirit of bipartisanship and with a deep respect for the wise use of Federal funds that Congressman Radewagen of American Samoa and I are offering the amendment at the desk. The amendment simply requires the Department of Transportation to use some rational basis for allocating the Territorial Highway Program funds among the territories. Currently, the Department is on autopilot. It uses a fixed allocation it devised back in 1992 and has continued to use ever since, without thinking about any changes that have occurred in the last 23 years. I believe that Federal dollars should not be spent willy-nilly.…”