U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, third left, lays a wreath with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang at the American Memorial Park Court of Honor on Friday, July 21, 2023. Secretary Haaland, along with Assistant Secretary Carmen Cantor, right, and Deputy Assistant to the President & Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison Erika Moritsugu — not in photo — arrived on Saipan Thursday as part of their week-long visit to the U.S-affiliated Pacific Islands. Also in photo is Superintendent of Guam and Saipan National Parks Barbara Alberti.
From left, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Carmen Cantor, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, White House Senior Liaison for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Erika Moritsugu and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang in the governor’s conference room on Friday.
U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday said President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda will benefit the people of the CNMI.
Haaland, Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Carmen G. Cantor and White House Senior Liaison for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders Erika Moritsugu met with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang in the governor’s conference room on Friday morning to discuss certain issues facing the Commonwealth.
Prior to the closed-door meeting, Haaland provided a brief statement about their visit.
She said they were honored to be here. She knew it was a short time, but they were going to make the most out of it.
She noted that Cantor, as a former U.S. ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, has very deep knowledge of the issues in the region and the CNMI.
Haaland said the U.S. is a Pacific country and her department is honored to be a partner of the CNMI.
“We are also very proud of the president’s Investing in America agenda that is also ensuring that a lot of projects and work can move forward to benefit the people here,” Haaland said.
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda includes the American Rescue Plan Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Palacios said they were very honored that Haaland, Cantor and Moritsugu were on island for a visit.
He said he and Apatang wished the visit could last a week or two, “but I know they are very busy so there are going to be some discussions that we will have, and we welcome the opportunity and we are very honored by their visit and presence.”
Apatang thanked the federal officials for visiting the CNMI. He said it’s very rare that the Commonwealth is visited by high-level federal officials.
“We really appreciate your visit and I hope that you enjoy your stay here on island,” Apatang said.
He also told them that “we are looking forward to additional assistance — we still need a lot of assistance.”
