President George Bush created two national wildlife refuges in my district, the Northern Mariana Islands: the Mariana Arc of Fire National Wildlife Refuge and the Marianas Trench National Wildlife Refuge.

I was rather shocked when I started reading through today's testimony, because at the same time that we are trying to raise a little money with efforts like the semi-postal stamp, and save the taxpayers the cost of keeping our refuge clean…

Madam Secretary, technical assistance grants are truly important to the insular areas, to the Northern Marianas, in particular.

But one thing I would like to know a little bit more about is the President's budget recommends moving $1.7 million from compact impact discretionary funds from OIA that OIA gets and putting their money into the ABC initiative.

The Service's welcome foresight in this instance is based on sound science, not politics, and it is a logical step to protect our environment, while also making government more efficient.

Instead of addressing the threat invasive species pose to our environment and economy, some of this committee would prevent the Federal Government from acting swiftly against the threat.

Economic damage from biological invasions in the United States is estimated at $137 billion per year.

This would allow the people in the Northern Mariana Islands to have greater access to school to get a college education where they can't otherwise.

I can't and my family can't afford to send me to college and so I am going to go and do my 6 years and use the G.I. Bill to get an education.

increasing the interest rate on a student loan is just as important, it is truly important to me

It is really very important for us to keep the costs of college down.