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House OKs use of $1.3M tobacco funds
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Posted on Apr 02 2005
The House of Representatives has passed a bill appropriating $1.3 million of the Tobacco Control Funds for health-related programs.
House Bill 14-8, authored by Rep. Benjamin B. Seman, aims to provide a total of $605,000 to the Department of Public Health for the following: design and construction, including furnishing, of the Kagman Wellness Center ($50,000); renovation and expansion of the San Roque Wellness Center ($45,000); and renovation of the San Antonio Wellness Center ($60,000).
The bill also gives $156,000 to the Office of the Special Assistant for Youth Affairs for the House of Manhoben and youth learning centers on Saipan for the implementation of Youth Tobacco-Free programs.
Other projects identified in the bill are $44,000 for the Tanapag and As Matuis Learning Center; $305,000 for the Public School System for the enhancement and implementation of a comprehensive school health education program; $50,000 for Guma Esperanza-Women’s Shelter to provide needed services to victims of domestic violence triggered by alcohol abuse; $50,000 for the Family Violence Task Force; $55,000 for Rota Health Center; $55,000 for Tinian Health Center; $17,000 for Drug and Alcohol Resistant Education; and $11,000 for the Joeten-Kiyu Library for the procurement of books and education materials relating to the prevention of tobacco use by the youth.
The bill was passed during the House session on March 17.
Earlier, Rota Rep. Crispin Ogo introduced a different bill tapping the same source of funds.
House Bill 14-308 wants to earmark $800,000 for Rota and Tinian and some $500,000 for the medical referral program of the Department of Health.
Ogo offered to amend Seman’s bill during the March 17 session to include his projects, but his motion was defeated.
