By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

THE Senate yesterday passed a measure that will give lawmakers a bigger say in how federal funds are appropriated to finance capital improvement projects.
By a vote of 8-0, senators passed Senate Bill 15-91 offered by Sen. Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota.
Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, was excused.
If the bill becomes law, legislative approval would be needed for any capital improvement project federally funded through the Covenant agreement or the Compact-Impact aid.
S.B. 15-91, which now goes to the House of Representatives, proposes to insert a new section in the Commonwealth Code, Planning and Budgeting Act.
The proposed new section specifically requires legislative approval for projects such as public school and college facilities, streets, highways, roads, parking, wastewater, storm drainage, sewage removal or treatment facilities that are funded by the federal government.
The measure also covers solid waste disposal, including landfill or incineration, remediation, recycling or resource recovery facilities, water treatment, power generation or distribution facilities, fire suppression facilities, public parks and public buildings.
“The governor or his designee shall submit any necessary document describing any project affected by this section to the respective presiding officers of the legislature for action,” the bill states.
The CNMI is entitled to at least $11 million in regular CIP funding from the federal government as part of the islands’ Covenant with the U.S.
Additionally, the Northern Marianas, like other states and U.S. jurisdictions that host migrants from the Freely Associated States, is entitled to receive Compact-Impact aid.