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Talafofo bridge funding bill fails to pass Congress
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Posted on Nov 23 2004
The Highway Reauthorization bill providing in part for a $12.5 million Talafofo Bridge project on Saipan failed to pass the U.S. Congress.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta said yesterday that Alaska Rep. Don Young, chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, informed him that the bill was not part of the $388 billion spending plan for 2005 that Congress approved last Friday.
“Chairman Young informed me that it didn’t make it through this session of Congress, but [he] expects it to be in the next session of Congress,” said Babauta.
Meantime, Babauta said that Young is inclined to lead a congressional delegation to the Marianas in February 2005.
He said Young is also concerned about the water situation in the CNMI. In fact, he said, Young’s committee plans to introduce a bill in support of the CNMI’s water development projects.
“He told me that his committee will be developing a comprehensive water authorization legislation in the next Congress and that he would support CNMI water projects being included in that bill. He encouraged the CNMI to stay involved in the bill,” he said.
Upon assuming his post in 2002, Babauta had sought the help of the U.S. Congress to boost the CNMI’s transportation system, including the granting of federal funding for the construction of a bridge and highway in the Talafofo-Marpi area.
He said he had discussed the Commonwealth’s transportation situation with Young, focusing on improving the ferry operations between Saipan and Tinian, air transportation between Saipan, Tinian and Rota, and the construction of the bridge.
The Talafofo-Marpi area used to be connected by a road, but it was destroyed by flood.
Early this year, the CNMI hosted a congressional visit led by U.S. House Resources chair Richard Pombo.
After the visit, Pombo co-authored a CNMI delegate bill, which was approved by the committee last month. The bill will be reintroduced when the 109th Congress opens next year.
