Last year, Sablan used this process to double the number of slots available for Northern Mariana Islands young people who want to attend the U.S. military academies.
“This year, again, I am focusing on correcting inequities in the way the Northern Mariana Islands are treated under federal law,” said Sablan.
“As the first representative of the Northern Marianas people in Congress, it is one of my most important responsibilities to look for areas of the law where we are not provided the same status as States or the other territories — and work to correct those inequities.”
Sablan has submitted four member requests to the committee:
• A feasibility study for the creation of a National Guard unit for the NMI. The Northern Mariana Islands is one of only two jurisdictions in the U.S. without a National Guard unit to respond to local emergencies. Although Guam’s National Guard unit also serves the Marianas, its priority has to be to meet the needs of Guam first. Sablan believes the CNMI governor needs a Northern Marianas Guard unit to call upon in case of disaster.
• A feasibility study for the establishment of a Post Exchange in the NMI. Sablan wants the Department of the Army to study the feasibility of establishing a Post Exchange in the Northern Marianas. Currently, there is only a small facility and many military personnel, veterans, and their families consider it inadequate. Sablan has requested language in the Defense Authorization requiring a study of the practicality of upgrading the facility to an exchange.
• Merchant Marine Academy nominations for residents of the NMI. When P.L. 110-229 created a seat in Congress for the Northern Mariana Islands, it provided the delegate with authority to make nominations to the U.S. military academies. But nominations to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy were overlooked. Sablan is requesting an amendment to give the NMI delegate the same authority to make nominations to the Merchant Marine Academy that all other members of the U.S. Congress can provide to their young people who aspire to a career at sea.
• Expansion of naval vessel overhaul and repair restrictions to the NMI. Responding to a constituent request, Sablan has asked the Armed Services Committee to expand certain restrictions on the overhaul and repair of vessels in foreign shipyards to the Northern Mariana Islands. This would prohibit a naval vessel home ported anywhere in the U.S., including the NMI, from being overhauled, repaired or maintained in a shipyard outside the U.S., including the NMI, unless in mid-voyage. Currently, the law does not cover a naval vessel with a homeport in the Northern Mariana Islands.
