Gregorio Sablan

I thank Chairman Frelinghuysen very much. Mr. Chairman, let me put it this way. You have a piece of property, and it belongs to you in title. I come over; and without asking you if I could use your land, I come in with a yardstick. I bring…

I am offering an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute for H.R. 1335, which was submitted to the Rules Committee by my colleague Mr. Huffman. Mr. Chair, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act is a sterling example…

This month, 72 Samoans who were exiled to my home, the Northern Mariana Islands, will receive the ceremonial farewell they were never given--100 years late. In 1909, the 72 Samoans were exiled to the Mariana Islands by the Governor of…

If it were not for NEPA, the military might never have had to explain their plans to the public or estimate what the costs would be to our environment and way of life.

Many of the people I represent, including the Governor of the Commonwealth and other elected officials, even argue that the process should be slower, should allow more time for the public and for technical and scientific experts to review…

The people of the Northern Mariana Islands deserve the same protections of federal law as other Americans. Making sure my people get equal treatment is one of the reasons I came to Congress and equivalent treatment brings me to the floor…

I support S. 1086, reauthorizing the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. We all talk about jobs bills. Well, in my district, the Northern Mariana Islands, mothers and fathers in 200 families can go to their jobs every day…

Lowering the cost of electricity is extremely important to the people I represent in the Northern Mariana Islands. Residential customers in my district pay 40 cents per kilowatt-hour--three times the U.S. average. And those electricity…

H.R. 4284 gives states more responsibility for protecting threatened and endangered species, even though those species have become imperiled.

I would hope that those Members who support government-subsidized rearing of non-native fish will also support investments in wildlife refuges.

The refuges bring in some big money. They create business opportunities and jobs, they are great for people who like to hunt and fish and enjoy the outdoors.

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…

But despite these efforts, nearly 90 percent of global marine fish stocks are fully exploited or depleted largely because of persistent IUU fishing.

Scientifically supported management standards are critical to the sustainability of our fisheries and, therefore, to the livelihoods of our fishermen.

IUU fishing has been linked to human trafficking and drug running, making it a threat not just to our economies but to our security as well.

40 years ago, Jose C. Tenorio, a visionary businessman of the Northern Mariana Islands, founded Pacifica Insurance Underwriters. 1973 was an exciting time in our islands. The Covenant was being negotiated. Hotels, tourists, and investors…

The people of the Northern Mariana Islands know the terror when a typhoon strikes. We know how difficult are the days and months of recovery after, but none of us has known a storm with the power and intensity of Typhoon Yolanda. So our…

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.

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

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.

Public education in the Northern Mariana Islands was transformed 25 years ago by the Education Act of 1988, creating an autonomous public school system outside of the executive branch of government, overseen by an elected board of…

I have no further speakers, but I would like to thank Doc Hastings for a wonderful way of managing bills. This is probably at the fastest pace, and we should do this more often. I yield back the balance of my time.

At this time I would like to yield such time as he may consume to my friend, the distinguished gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega). (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. From his days in the California State House and now here in Congress, Congressman Jared Huffman has been a leader in protecting our valuable natural resources. H.R. 1411 is a fine example of this…

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