THE 19th Youth Congress has passed Youth Congress Bill 19-4, which proposes a $30 stipend for each member for every regular session.
There are currently eight youth senators.
Y.C.B. 19-4 or the CNMI Youth Congress Reform Act would also provide youth senators from Rota and Tinian air transportation, subsistence allowance and other related travel expenses at the established CNMI government rates.
Authored by Youth Sen. Ayden Sean C. Yumul, the bill would likewise increase the number of regular sessions held each year. Instead of every three months, the Youth Congress would hold sessions every two months on the third Saturday, excluding holidays, for one day, starting on the third Saturday of April.
Moreover, the bill proposes that a member who transfers to a different school from the one where they are registered to vote and represent would forfeit the balance of their term. The vacancy must then be announced by the Speaker of the Youth Congress in consultation with the member’s former principal.
Youth Congress bills, when passed, are forwarded to the governor and the presiding officers of the Legislature “for disposition.”
According to the fiscal year 2025 budget, the Youth Congress has been allocated $26,668 in public funds.
