Section 902 Consultations Resume in Washington
Section 902 Consultations under the Covenant reconvened this week in Washington with Governor Apatang, the CNMI consultation team, and federal representatives. At its core, the 902 process is a conversation about the health of our relationship with the federal government and the steps both sides can take to strengthen it for the people of the CNMI and the for the nation we are a part of. The CNMI’s Delegate to Congress is not typically included in these talks, so I am grateful to Governor Apatang for inviting me to participate. This round of talks focused on the serious economic and fiscal challenges facing our islands. As with any meaningful dialogue, there was honest exchange and information sharing. I was glad to offer my perspective on the immediate actions the federal government can take to support recovery in our economy, to bring people back to work, and to provide opportunity for our community to thrive at home. We made the case and continue to work on the issues along with the CNMI government, and I am looking forward to sharing what updates I can with you in the weeks ahead.