THE office of Sen. Manny Castro, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications, issued the following statement on Tuesday:
Recent public comments criticizing the Senate for taking time to review legislation raise an important question: What is the role of the Senate?
The answer is simple.
The Senate is not a rubber stamp.
The Senate was established as a co-equal legislative body with an independent constitutional duty to review legislation carefully, conduct oversight, hear from stakeholders, and ensure that the laws we enact are in the best interests of the people of the Commonwealth.
That duty does not disappear because a bill passes the House.
That duty does not disappear because someone wants immediate action.
And that duty certainly does not disappear because of public pressure, political rhetoric, or social media attacks.
The people of the CNMI deserve a Legislature that does more than simply move bills from one chamber to another They deserve lawmakers who ask difficult questions, seek expert advice, identify unintended consequences, and make informed decisions.
Unfortunately, there have been too many instances where important legislation has moved quickly through the legislative process without adequate hearings, meaningful public input, or comprehensive review.
Complex issues involving public assets, utility systems, government finances, or long-term obligations cannot and should not be decided hastily.
The Senate has an obligation to do its homework.
That means holding hearings.
That means inviting testimony from government agencies, businesses, experts, and members of the public.
That means listening to differing viewpoints.
That means asking hard questions.
And yes, that means taking the time necessary to understand the full consequences of legislation before casting a vote.
Due diligence is not obstruction.
Careful review is not delay.
Oversight is not weakness.
These are fundamental responsibilities entrusted to the Senate by the people of the Commonwealth.
No member of the House of Representatives, no matter how passionate they are about a particular bill, has the authority to dictate how the Senate conducts its hearings, manages its committees, or exercises its independent judgment.
The Senate will not be rushed.
The Senate will not be bullied.
And the Senate will not abandon its constitutional responsibilities simply to satisfy political timelines or public narratives.
Our obligation is not to pass bills quickly.
Our obligation is to pass laws that are thoughtful, transparent, and serve the people long after the headlines have faded.
History teaches us that rushed decisions often become tomorrow’s problems.
The Senate intends to learn from history, not repeat it.
This institution owes the people of the Commonwealth more than speed.
We owe them diligence.
We owe them transparency.
We owe them courage to ask questions when others demand unquestioning approval.
That is not weakness.
That is leadership.
And that is precisely what the Senate will continue to provide.
