Sen. Paul A. Manglona, R-Rota, told Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan, that U.S. Public Law 109-59 or the Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, will expire on Sept. 30, 2009 and that Congress is working on a replacement bill covering the next six years.
“If you have not already done so, I respectfully request that your office begin to work with the current administration and the appropriate legislative committees to ensure that the CNMI may secure funding from this proposed legislation,” Manglona wrote to Sablan.
In 2005, the CNMI obtained about $12 million under such law.
The financial aid was on top of the annual federal highway funding estimated at $4 million that the CNMI received.
Manglona said the CNMI needs funding to carry out other numerous transportation infrastructure projects on the three main islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
“There are still many transportation infrastructure projects in the CNMI that have stalled and/or in need of funding, particularly on the island of Rota,” he said.
“It is my sincere hope that by working closely with the Obama administration, and with your colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives, you may be able to secure sufficient funding for these projects in the CNMI, and perhaps, obtain an increase in the annual appropriations that were set in 2005,” he added.
