The bill, H.R. 934, was the first legislation introduced by CNMI Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan.
Sablan, D-MP, submitted the following statement for the record at the committee’s mark-up hearing:
“I want to thank all the members who have co-sponsored H.R. 934, which gives the people of the Northern Mariana Islands the right and power to protect and to benefit from the submerged lands and natural resources in waters we have always believed are ours.
“Today, I ask for all the committee members’ support of the purpose of H.R. 934 and of the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute, which fulfills that purpose in more simplified language than the original bill.
“The amendment also adds an assurance that H.R. 934 in no way affects the presidential proclamation of Jan. 6, 2009, which established the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. The terms and conditions of this proclamation were negotiated by the Bush administration, Northern Marianas Gov. Benigno Fitial, and groups representing business, environmental, and cultural interests. It would be inappropriate for this Congress to amend the product of their mutual agreement.”
