Sablan’s H.R. 670 “will provide the CNMI with the title, rights, and interest of the United States in lands permanently or periodically covered by tidal waters for a three-mile area extending from the shores of the CNMI.”
The Association of Pacific Island Legislatures, which met recently in Palau, said the CNMI will greatly benefit from the pending federal legislation, which entitles it to have access to the “three mile territorial sea and exclusive economic zone in its surrounding waters.”
Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, earlier wanted to introduce a House joint resolution stating that submerged lands surrounding the CNMI should be from the mean low tide mark to 200 miles.
She wanted to “respectfully request and urge” the U.S. Congress “to recognize the rights of the people of Northern Marianas descent to the waters.”
Ogumoro has withdrawn her resolution.
