Fitial meets with US leaders

WASHINGTON, DC — During a private trip to the nation’s capital this week, House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial grabbed the chance to meet with officials in the new Bush Administration and key leaders in Capitol Hill to discuss a myriad of issues.

Among the issues discussed during the meeting were the state of the CNMI economy, federal funding for capital improvement projects, and the application of certain environmental laws to the CNMI.

The visit is being privately funded by Mr. Fitial, the Covenant Party’s gubernatorial candidate who is traveling with other party candidates.

In meetings with high-level officials at the US Department of the Interior, Speaker Fitial began the process of healing the CNMI’s relationship with the Department and the Office of Insular Affairs.

For the past eight years, the relationship between the CNMI and the Clinton Administration, especially the Office of Insular Affairs, was often adversarial.

“The past Administration seemed unable to put politics aside and review the CNMI’s reforms and progress in an objective manner. I’m confident that the new Administration and Secretary Norton will work together with the CNMI Government and the Legislature to achieve our mutual goals,” he added.

In particular, Speaker Fitial sought assistance from the interior department in resolving the dispute involving the cattle ranchers in the Marpi area.

“I am confident that we will be able to work together to find a solution that balances our desire to protect the environment with our need to protect the livelihood of those who made significant investments in and who continue to support their families on this land,” Mr. Fitial said after the meeting.

Mr. Fitial was also able to build support for his legislative agenda for the islands, emphasizing the success of the labor reform efforts that have occurred.

This progress, he said, undercuts the arguments for federal takeover legislation reintroduced recently by Senator Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Senator Daniel Akaka (D- Hawaii).

On Capitol Hill, Speaker Fitial met with long-term ally of the CNMI Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and new Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Conrad Burns (R-Montana) to discuss economic and labor reforms, federal takeover legislation, and appropriations for vital infrastructure projects.

During his meeting with Majority Whip DeLay, Mr. Fitial was assured of the continued support from the House leadership to defend the CNMI Covenant and the local government’s power to control minimum wage and immigration.

The Speaker’s meeting with Interior Appropriations Chairman Conrad Burns also proved to be very productive. The two leaders talked about policies to strengthen the CNMI economy, the importance of local control, and ways in which the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee could assist the Islands with infrastructure and community development as well as capital improvements.

Apart from economic reforms and development, Mr. Fitial was also able to outline his proposals to institute measures to clean up the environment and provide comprehensive health programs for residents, hallmarks of his campaign for Governor.

Speaker Fitial is scheduled to meet with Rep. Jim Hansen (R-Utah), Chairman of the House Committee on Resources, Representative Nick Rahall (D-West Virginia), the top Democrat on the panel, as well as other key members of the House and Senate.