Preserving Our Story, Supporting Our Future
I had the chance to stop by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council this week to meet with Executive Director Leo Pangelinan and Board Chair Gretchen Smith. Funding for the humanities in the CNMI is a critical public function. Preserving our history and heritage matters, and we have to treat our story as a public good. The work NMHC does supports not only my role in Congress, but also countless organizations that serve our community and contribute to our nation’s understanding of this region. Real progress in the CNMI requires knowing where we’ve been, and that understanding starts with the humanities—through research, storytelling, and cultural insight. That’s why, in addition to writing to Acting NEH Chairman Michael McDonald, I joined my colleagues in both the House and Senate in urging President Trump to support continued funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our voice, our culture, and our future deserve it.