House sets Teno's Commonwealth address on Aug. 21

The House of Representatives has set the State of the Commonwealth address by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio on Monday, August 21.

But the Senate will still have to approve the date for holding a joint special session to hear the governor report to the people on the health of the CNMI government.

Mr. Tenorio last week said he is ready to come out with the report, but is awaiting whether lawmakers would want him to deliver that through the State of the Commonwealth address as required under the Constitution.

Last year, the governor delivered his address on June 3 during a joint House and Senate session at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Susupe.
It coincided with the holding of the yearly State of the Washington Office Report.
The House leadership has been wanting to request the governor to address the CNMI and plans to meet with him to arrange the event.

The traditional address highlights the achievements of both offices as well as current status of the CNMI in economic, political and social fields. It also provides recommendations and steps that lawmakers must consider for action into the next year.

Last year’s report tackled the economic difficulties confronting the islands since 1997 and the attempts by the Clinton administration to strip the Commonwealth of its control over local immigration, minimum wage and customs standards.