All the 15 representatives voted to pass House Bill 17-7 which now goes to the Senate.
Reps. Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan; Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan; Ray A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan; Janet U. Maratita, R-Saipan; and Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota attended the session but were not in the chamber during the vote.
Introduced by Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, in January 2010, H.B. 17-7 languished in the House Committee on Judiciary and Governmental Operations because the measure had to go through a public hearing and thorough study.
The proposal got the nod of all the committee members before it was brought up yesterday.
The committee stated in its report that the U.S. “has made unilateral decisions to which the commonwealth has declared opposing views.”
Some of these issues included the submerged lands, the marine monument in the Northern Islands and the federalization of the local immigration system.
The committee also noted that old documents from the White House showed “condescending comments and discussions about the inability of the Micronesians to properly govern themselves because of their lack education and other issues.”
If it becomes law, H.B. 17-7 will form an 11-member commission that will “reexamine the present political status of the NMI as a commonwealth of the U.S., and examine the interpretation of the U.S. in the Covenant that establishes the CNMI in political union with the U.S.”
The bill will authorize the governor to reprogram $50,000 as an “advance to the commission to begin operations.”
The Legislature can also “appropriate such additional funds as may be necessary….”
The commission will assess the performance of the U.S. in meeting its obligations under the Covenant. It will also study future political and economic ties with the U.S., including “complete independence.”
Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, in an interview said she was extremely pleased that they were finally able to act on the measure. The idea, she said, has been brought up years ago.
Creating such a commission, she said will give the CNMI people the opportunity to re-evaluate their islands’ relationship with the U.S.
Ogumoro said now is the best time to assess the ties and see if the people are still satisfied with them.
