NMI Democrats thank Kilili

In his first floor speech as the newly elected Northern Mariana Islands delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives (111th Congress), Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan affirmed his support for House Resolution 114, which recognized Feb. 4, 2009, as the 23rd National Girls and Women in Sports Day. His speech wasn’t flashy and wasn’t the stuff of headlines, but it would set the tone for his tenure in office. He was there to do the people’s work.

Between his first speech and his most recent one—he introduced the Fostering Family Cohesion Nationwide Act on Nov.15, 2023—that’s exactly what he did.

Sablan did not take for granted that he would always be sent back to Washington, D.C. Consequently, he worked doubly hard every time the people of the CNMI gave him their vote of confidence. He ensured that the Northern Mariana Islands had a seat at tables where decisions were made that would affect the people—all the people—of the Northern Marianas. Though he caucused with the Democrats, he was able to work with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to pass legislation vital to the Northern Marianas.

It should not go unsaid that serving in elective office requires sacrifice, but it’s a sacrifice borne not only by the person who is elected but also by the people closest to them. Thus, we recognize and thank Sablan’s wife, Andrea Cunanan Sablan, his children, his father, the late Jesus Diaz Sablan (Jesus Kilili); his mother, Victorina Camacho Sablan; his siblings and extended family who stood with the Congressman and supported him all these years. Because they stood with him, he could go to work every day to stand up for all the families in the CNMI.

“The Democratic Party of the Northern Mariana Islands thanks Congressman Kilili for his service, wishes him the best as he determines his next steps, and looks forward to the ways he will continue to be a voice of reason, a champion of good governance, and an arbiter of common-sense politics in the Northern Marianas,” said a news statement from the party. (PR)

Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan