This week in Congress
August 12, 2022
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- Biden signs PACT Act
- PACT Act benefits
- VA Dep Secretary to visit Marianas
- Insular teacher awards bill now law
- Q&A next week
- $3.1m for Saipan port improvements
- Meeting with Art Competition winner
- $1.2m for CHCC lab improvements
- Happy ESGR Week
- $121k for coral restoration
- Touching base with UFO leaders
- 87 years of Social Security
- Welcome, visitors
- Internships available
- App Challenge now open
- KILILI TIME CAPSULE
- OPPORTUNITIES
- HIGHLIGHTS
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Biden signs PACT Act
President Biden signed the Honoring our PACT Act into law Wednesday, securing access to life-saving care for the 3.5 million veterans exposed to deadly toxins in the line of duty. The Department of Veterans Affairs has begun honoring claims reflecting the 23 new conditions and cancers included in the legislation to qualify for presumptive eligibility for VA benefits. Veterans can access the list of qualifying conditions here: https://www.va.gov/pact. As an original cosponsor of the PACT Act, I have fought alongside the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and veteran service organizations for the passage of this legislation, so toxic exposed veterans in the Marianas and elsewhere can receive the care they deserve.
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PACT Act benefits. This week's enactment of the PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pit and other toxic substances. The bill’s passage also ensures that veterans who were once denied access to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) will be contacted by the Department of Veterans Affairs about new eligibility. See the above flyer for more information on new survivor benefits, and for more information on the PACT Act, click here.
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VA Dep Secretary to visit Marianas
Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Donald Remy, and I met virtually on Wednesday to discuss his upcoming trip and the VA’s recent efforts to improve services for Marianas veterans. Deputy Secretary Remy informed me that he plans to visit the Marianas this month and that they are actively working on the successful rollout of the Caregivers program in our islands. I congratulated Deputy Secretary Remy on the passage of the PACT Act, as this marks a major victory for veterans across the country. I look forward to hosting Deputy Secretary Remy during his visit and continuing to work with him to serve our veterans.
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Insular teacher awards bill now law
One science or math teacher from the Marianas can be selected each year for a Presidential Award for Excellence under provisions of a bill I wrote that the President signed into law Tuesday. The selected Marianas teacher will receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and will participate in expert-led training and collaboration opportunities in Washington. Currently, Marianas teachers must compete with teachers from American Samoa, Guam, and the Virgin Islands for the annual prize. My STEM Educator Awards Equity Act makes the Presidential Award available in each of these insular areas and was included in the CHIPS and Science Act, H.R. 4346, passed by Congress last month. H.R. 4346 makes historic investments to strengthen American manufacturing, supply chains, research, and development of our science and technology workforce. Read more about the CHIPS and Science Act here.
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Q&A next week. Constituents are once again invited to ask me questions for this month’s Q&A. Head over to my Instagram account @kilili_sablan between 11AM ChST on Monday, August 15 to 11AM ChST on Tuesday, August 16 to submit your question via my Instagram stories. I look forward to answering your questions.
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$3.1m for Saipan port improvements
The Commonwealth Ports Authority is receiving $3,135,000 in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Grant funding, the Department of Transportation announced Thursday. The RAISE grant funds will be used to study navigational improvements for two potential future projects in the Saipan Harbor. The first prospective project is to extend Charlie Dock. The second is to dredge the entrance channel, turning basin, north and south seaplane ramps, and Echo Dock areas to allow larger vessels to dock at the port, including cruise ships, ferries, and bulk vessels. The projects aim to address safety challenges, expand port capacity, and boost economic competitiveness. Congratulations to CPA.
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Meeting with Art Competition winner. On Tuesday, I met with our 2022 Congressional Art Competition winner, Gericho Conge, and his mother, Ms. Joy Conge. I presented Gericho with a certificate of commendation for winning the 2022 Northern Marianas Congressional Art Competition. Gericho’s artwork titled Hopeful Sunrise currently hangs on the walls of the U.S. Capitol. Thank you, Gericho and Ms. Conge, and, congratulations!
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$1.2m for CHCC lab improvements
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation was awarded a $1,200,000 Community Project Funding grant for the modernization of their laboratories, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday. With lessons learned during the pandemic, the need for updated lab equipment will help the Commonwealth be better prepared for infectious disease in the future. Congratulations, CHCC!
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Happy ESGR Week. On Tuesday, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Marianas Committee Chair Dr. Rita A. Sablan, volunteer Joshlyn Blas, Employer Outreach Coordinator Rose Igitol, and Area Committee Ombudsman Joann Aquino (l-r) stopped by the congressional office for a courtesy visit as part of ESGR Week. The ESGR team updated me on their work and activities for ESGR week which kicked off August 8. Thank you for the visit, ESGR, and for all that you do for our service members.
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$121k for coral restoration
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Touching base with UFO leaders. On Tuesday, I met with United Filipino Organization President Mar Masilungan and Mr. Lito Espino. The two gentlemen briefed me on various issues of concern to the Filipino community in the Marianas. Thank you, both, for stopping by and sharing your concerns.
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87 years of Social Security. On Sunday, we commemorate the 87th anniversary of Social Security. Here in the Marianas, Social Security helps 2,149 of our retirees; delivers financial assistance to 1,331 surviving parents, spouses, and children; and provides supplemental income for 281 workers with disabilities. I know how important Social Security is to our community, and that is why I stand with House Democrats in vowing to protect the Social Security Program for our seniors and our families.
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Welcome, visitors!
Jaqueline Doctor, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Miller Bundoc, Nate Snodgrass, Michael Ortizo, and Athena Tiu (l-r) visited their congressional office in Washington Monday. The group consists of friends from the class of 2017 who met at Mount Carmel School. Jaqueline is attending nursing school at Augusta University in Georgia; HM3 Bundoc is a Corpsman in the U.S. Navy currently stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia; Nate lives and works in Denver, Colorado; Michael is attending law school at Syracuse University; and Athena is studying nutrition at University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Nate and Michael are return visitors of the office, having interned in the Saipan and DC offices, respectively. We arranged a tour of the Capitol for the group. Thank you all for stopping by!
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Internships available. The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL), a public service nonprofit organization, is accepting applications for its public service scholarship and internship program. With a mission to empower Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth, CAPAL’s internship program places students within the public sector throughout the US while their scholarship grants financial aid to students with unpaid public service internships in the DC area. Apply now for their autumn program cycle. Deadline is August 15.
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App Challenge now open. Students, the 2022 Congressional App Challenge has launched. Showcase your technological and programming skills by creating and submitting an original app for the chance to have your app displayed in the U.S. Capitol building for one year! More details regarding the App Challenge can be found on the congressional office website at https://sablan.house.gov/ or at the App Challenge's official website https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/. You can pre-register for the 2022 Challenge here.
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The Marianas received $11.1 million for the P-EBT program through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.
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To help veterans learn how the Choice program allows them to go to private providers for their health care needs, we hosted workshops on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. More than 80 veterans and family members attended, as well as over 50 representatives from the hospital, community health centers, and private clinics.
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The U.S. Postal Service informed your congressional office this week that packages will now be available at any time NMI post offices are open for business.
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Grants:
- Regional Ocean Partnership and Data Sharing
- Humanities Collections and Reference Resources
- Energizing Insular Communities
- FEMA Public Assistance for Safe Opening and Operating of Schools
- FEMA 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program
- Emergency Rural Health Care Funds
- Indigenous Communities Program (EDA)
Jobs:
Public comments:
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The House is in Recess for the District Work Period.
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U.S. Capitol Office
2267 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
P: (202) 225-2646
F: (202) 226-4249
Saipan Office
P.O. Box 504879
Saipan, MP 96950
P: (670) 323-2647/8
F: (670) 323-2649
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Tinian Office
P.O. Box 502394
Tinian, MP 96952
P: (670) 433-2647
F: (670) 433-2648
Rota Office
P.O. Box 1361
Rota, MP 96951
P: (670) 532-2647
F: (670) 532-2649
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