U.S. congressman Dan Burton said he is hopeful that the CNMI delegate bill would pass the U.S. House of Representatives within the year.<\/p>\n
In an interview during his brief visit to Saipan early this week, Burton said that the bill would likely be tackled on the floor next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cI supported the bill in the committee level. In fact, I co-sponsored it. I\u2019m hoping to see it passed when we hold our session… This can be done before the end of the year,\u201d said Burton.<\/p>\n
Burton stopped by Saipan and Guam from a business trip to Taiwan.<\/p>\n
The U.S House of Representatives Committee on Resources had unanimously approved the bill that calls for a CNMI nonvoting delegate in Congress. <\/p>\n
The CNMI representation bill also received backing from long-time CNMI critic, Democrat congressman George Miller.<\/p>\n
Miller said improvements in the CNMI in recent years \u201cmerit recognition and, in my view, representation in this House.” <\/p>\n
Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio, himself said that \u201cthere is a chance we can get this bill passed into law.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf not, we will begin again early in the next Congressional session,” he said.<\/p>\n
If enacted into law, H.R. 5135 would provide for the first election of a CNMI Delegate in the federal general election in 2006.<\/p>\n
The bill was introduced by the Resources committee chair himself, California congressman Richard Pombo, and ranking member Nick J. Rahall.<\/p>\n
Pombo led a congressional delegation visit to the CNMI in January 2004 and held an oversight hearing in February this year that examined the potential for a Delegate in Congress for the CNMI.<\/p>\n
The bill currently has 16 co-sponsors, including Roy Blunt, majority whip; Don Young, chair of the House Transportation Committee; Dan Burton, chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness; the three territorial delegates: Madeleine Bordallo, Eni Faleomavaega, and Donna Christensen; members of the delegation that visited the CNMI: Jeff Flake, Dennis Cardoza, and Dennis Rehberg; Hawaii Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Ed Case; David Scott, Wayne Gilchrest, Tom Cole, and Greg Walden.<\/p>\n
The bill didn\u2019t make it to a vote before the entire House before the scheduled recess on Oct.8. This means that the CNMI must wait for the lame duck session scheduled for late November through January 2005.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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