Delegate bill introduced anew

The CNMI delegate bill was reintroduced in the U.S. Congress last Thursday—a development that a jubilant Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio described as “earlier than expected.”

Tenorio, who is currently on island, said that House Resources Committee chair Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) introduced H.R. 873 shortly after lunch on Feb. 17.

Ranking minority leader Nick Rahall, along with 17 lawmakers, co-sponsored the measure.

“This is indeed great news. It came earlier than I had thought. I’m very surprised that it didn’t take that long,” said Tenorio during a press briefing held yesterday at his office on Capitol Hill.

He said the measure is identical to last year’s bill, H.R. 5135, which passed Pombo’s committee. As such, the new bill should not require a hearing, said Tenorio.

With the early introduction, Tenorio believes that this gives the bill more time to pass both houses of Congress within the year.

“I feel very positive that this will be it. I don’t anticipate any problems,” he said, noting that the Resources Committee consists of the same members, with the addition of a representative from Puerto Rico.

Tenorio said the proposal has gained bipartisan support.

He pointed out that even Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), who has been critical of CNMI, did not object to the bill. In fact, Miller openly aired support for the delegate bill last year, citing that the CNMI has made significant progress in its immigration and labor policies.

In 1996, a similar bill H.R. 4067, passed the committee, but not unanimously. Miller was the primary dissenting voice, questioning the CNMI’s commitment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution in relation to the treatment of nonresident workers in the CNMI.

Tenorio said yesterday that he does not expect opposition from the U.S. Senate, adding that the delegate bill is “a non-controversial bill.”

“This is basically a House bill because it affects the House composition. I have full confidence that the Senate will act on it,” said Tenorio.

The official said he is ready for a public hearing at the Senate. “I’m prepared to do that. I may also invite other CNMI leaders to speak on the issue before the Senate.”

Tenorio said that if the bill is passed within the year, it would mean holding an election for a House delegate by next year.

“The election is 2006 which is following the election cycle. As such, every year, there would be an election here,” said Tenorio.

The CNMI is set to hold its general elections in November this year. After every two years, the Commonwealth holds its mid-term elections.

The old delegate bill passed Pombo’s panel last October but due to limited time it did not make it prior to the adjournment of the 108th Congress.

In reintroducing the bill, Pombo said the issue is about letting the CNMI people “pursue a voice in our democracy.”

“The people of the CNMI have stood with the U.S. in times of need and now we must stand with them as they pursue a voice in our democracy,” Pombo said.

He said that Tenorio “has the bipartisan support of members of our Committee on this legislation. I look forward to working closely with him on this.”

The CNMI is the only U.S. territory without representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Last year, Tenorio, accompanied by Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, announced the introduction of H.R. 5135 at a reception for the Department of the Interior’s Business Opportunities Conference in Los Angeles..