By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
BY adopting the conference committee reports, the House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously passed the compromise versions of bills appropriating local funds for Super Typhoon Sinlaku relief efforts and the Marianas Visitors Authority’s tourism recovery initiatives.
Once the Senate approves them as well, the bills will be transmitted to the governor for consideration. The Senate will hold a session this Wednesday.
Prior to the roll call vote, Rep. John Paul Sablan reported the bicameral conference committee’s agreement to retain the Senate versions of House Bills 24-89 and 24-91, which allocate $300,000 in dividends collected by the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to fund Super Typhoon Sinlaku relief operations on Tinian and Rota.
Sablan, who chaired the House conferees, also informed lawmakers that the joint committee had agreed to recommend passage of House Bill 24-96 in its original House form. The measure allocates $960,235.74 in tobacco settlement funds to assist MVA with its tourism recovery efforts.
The original versions of H.B. 24-89 and H.B. 24-91 were intended to fund projects on Tinian and Rota. The Senate later amended the measures to redirect the funding toward Super Typhoon Sinlaku relief efforts. The House rejected the Senate amendments, leading to the formation of a bicameral conference committee.
Similarly, the Senate amended H.B. 24-96 to reduce MVA’s allocation to $370,176 and appropriate the remaining funds to other programs and projects. The House also rejected that version.
During Thursday’s session, Sablan said the measures before the House represented compromise versions reached after Senate and House conferees recognized the “noble intent” behind each chamber’s proposals and worked toward final agreement on the legislation.
All 19 House members present voted in favor of adopting the conference committee report for H.B. 24-89 and H.B. 24-91. Rep. Roman Benavente was excused.
For H.B. 24-96, all 18 House members present also voted in favor of adoption. Benavente was excused, while Rep. Angelo Camacho was absent from the chamber during the roll call vote.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
