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Military homestead bill goes to Babauta
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Posted on Jun 20 2004
Sen. Thomas Villagomez maintained Wednesday that homestead permits should be allotted to indigent families in the Commonwealth who lack the financial ability to build the own homes without assistance from the government.
Villagomez was the lone opponent of Senate Bill 14-47 that amends a statute to ensure that homestead permits of homesteaders serving in the U.S. Armed Forces are not revoked while on active duty.
The measure passed the Senate Thursday and is now heading to Gov. Juan N. Babauta for approval. According to Villagomez, military servicemen have access to a lot of financial assistance, unlike ordinary families in the CNMI.
“I believe that the homestead program is for everybody but I also believe that we should give needy families the chance. On Rota and Tinian, there is no waiting list for the homestead program but here on Saipan, we have over 1,000 families I believe,” said Villagomez.
The measure, which was approved by the majority last week, stressed that the CNMI’s men and women in uniform serve a vital role in the security of the nation.
“The Legislature finds that every effort should be made to assist these distinguished individuals in maintaining their homesteads while on active duty,” part of the bill reads.
The measure amends 2 CMC Section 4310 to exempt homesteaders serving in the military from revocation of their homestead lots while on duty.
According to the House of Representatives, since most of military homesteaders are deployed outside the CNMI, they cannot return to the Commonwealth to develop their assigned lots.
“Active duty members of our armed forces cannot physically reside in the CNMI and fulfill their domicile requirements and it would be impossible because of their inability to control where they are deployed or stationed,” said the report.
Because of these reasons, both the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the measure, noting that the amendments would not impose additional expenses to the CNMI government.
