Kempthorne reaches out

The U.S. Department of the Interior is ready to work with local officials on implementing the newly signed federalization measure.

President George W. Bush signed into law Senate bill 2739 on Friday. Now Public Law 110-229, the measure applies federal immigration to the Commonwealth. It also grants the Northern Marianas a delegate with limited voting powers in the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne hailed the President’s approval of the legislation in a statement issued Saturday.

“The President’s action marks a milestone in relations between the federal government and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas,” said Kempthorne. “This historic legislation will provide the people of the Northern Marianas—for the first time—an elected voice in the House of Representatives to represent them and advocate their interests as part of the American family.”

Before the President signed Senate Bill 2739, the Northern Marianas had been the only populated U.S. insular area that did not have a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The first election for a CNMI delegate will take place in November 2008 to coincide with the U.S. general elections.

“The Department of the Interior has been a strong advocate for establishing a Northern Marianas delegate seat in the House of Representatives,” Kempthorne said. “And we look forward to working with the Commonwealth’s government and business leaders on a variety of programs to assist them in building a better future for their people.”

“It’s important to note,” Kempthorne added, “that after the enactment of this significant congressional legislation, there is still much work to be done by federal agencies and the Northern Marianas government to implement U.S. immigration laws in the Commonwealth.”

As Secretary of the Interior, Kempthorne is responsible for coordinating federal policy for the U.S. insular areas, advocating for the islands within the federal government, overseeing the distribution of appropriated funds for island territories, and administering U.S. financial aid for the freely associated states. A major objective of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, which carries out the secretary’s responsibilities for the islands, has been promoting stronger self-governance in the U.S. territories.

Kempthorne has announced a new deputy assistant secretary for insular affairs, who will likely represent DOI in the coming talks with regard to federalization. Douglas W. Domenech, who currently serves as Kempthorne’s deputy chief of staff, will be the U.S. government’s new point person for Washington’s relationships with the territories and the freely associated states. He will serve in both capacities. (See sidebar.)

Kempthorne previously met with Gov. Benigno Fitial, Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez, Cabinet members, Resident Representative Pete A. Tenorio, several legislators, and members of the business community to discuss the legislation the President signed yesterday. During an official visit to the U.S. Commonwealth last year, Kempthorne reaffirmed the importance of continuing to work and partner with Northern Marianas leaders to strengthen the islands’ economy.

The CNMI government remains vague on how to proceed with immigration federalization, which the Fitial administration has strongly opposed. The governor said on Friday that he will continue to consult with the Legislature, the private sector, and other interested stakeholders about the government’s options in dealing with federalization.

In his recent State of the Commonwealth Address, Fitial had said that suing the U.S. government remains one of his options to stop federalization. The other two are to help draft the implementing regulations and to seek amendments to the new law.