SENATE President Jude U. Hofschneider has asked the Office of Grants Management-State Clearing Office to provide him an update on the federal funding provided to the CNMI recently.
Jude U. Hofschneider
“Due to the current shortfall of revenue in the CNMI, there was a shifted increase in reliance on federal funding,” he said in a letter to OGM Administrator Epiphanio Cabrera.
“It is critical that the Legislature [is informed about] all the federal funding awarded, distributed and pending approval in order to fully understand the fiscal sustainability of the CNMI government,” Hofschneider added.
The Senate president requested of OGM the following:
• A detailed description of all grants and all federal funding awarded to the CNMI, their current status and explanation of any balance of funds, including federal funding for capital items, equipment, vehicles, personnel, and other operational expenses.
• Total funding and detailed description breakdown of the sub-grants funded by 20% of OGM’s budget.
“[So we can] clearly understand the distribution of funds, please prepare the report by Senatorial district,” the Tinian lawmaker told Cabrera.
Hofschneider wanted the OGM to provide the information within 10 days, but Cabrera is “kindly asking for more time to [comply with the senator’s] request.”
Cabrera said OGM was planning a Covid-19 food distribution on Saipan, Tinian and Rota as well as the launching of the new Commonwealth Emergency Rental Assistance program, including its policies, framework, forms, staffing and office.
Cabrera also mentioned numerous administrative tasks pertaining to grant projects, contracts and progress reports that are due for submission.
