SENATOR Paul A. Manglona prefiled on Tuesday, Senate Resolution 23-2, respectfully requesting the U.S. Department of Treasury to investigate the expenditures American Rescue Plan Act funds, by NMI government under former Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ administration.
It one of the first pieces of legislations pre-filed in the Senate.
The resolution states that Building Optimism, Opportunities and Stability Together program that the Torres administration launched on August 18, 2022 intends to support the viability of businesses and employment opportunities offered to residents of the CNMI to further diversify the local economy and increase tax revenue. The program is implemented in collaboration of the Office of the Governor, CNMI Department of Finance, and CNMI Department of Commerce and administered by the Bank of Saipan.
In light of all the concerns surrounding the awarding and administration of BOOST program, S.R. 23-2 states, the 22nd House of Representatives conducted a joint committee investigative hearing.
During the hearing, it was shared that increased efforts to promote the BOOST Program via print, online, and social events costing thousands of dollars coincided with the NMI election dates, and it was discovered that approximately $17 million of ARPA funds were allocated for the BOOST program, with roughly $15 million committed to approximately 400 applicants out of 4,000 applications.
It also came out in the joint fact-finding hearing that there was no standard operating procedure in place for the review or awarding process of the BOOST program.
The resolution noted that the U.S. Treasury adopted its interim final rule in May 2021 and the final rule on Jan. 6, 2022 regarding the implementation of eligible categorical use and restriction of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. On Sept. 20, 2022, the U.S. Treasury published the Coronavirus tate and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds Guidance on Recipient Compliance and Reporting Responsibilities to support compliance of the final rule as adopted.
