119th Congress
On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the House Veterans Affairs Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs Committee joi
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6472, bipartisan legislation that ensures students from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, along with Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, can attend public colleges and universities on the U.S. mainland at in-state tuition rates. This historic step addresses a long-standing barrier for CNMI families, making higher education more affordable and accessible for students leaving the islands to pursue degrees.
A recent report highlights growing international concern over declining eel populations, including the Japanese eel, which reproduces near the CNMI before traveling to East Asia. Known as unagi, this prized delicacy is cherished in Japan and is also enjoyed here in the CNMI, reflecting the deep cultural and culinary ties between our islands and Japan. As demand for unagi grows, eel populations face pressures from habitat loss, overfishing, and environmental changes. For the CNMI, this issue hits close to home. Our waters play a critical role in the life cycle o
Joining Erlinda in Washington D.C. was her son, Steven Dela Cruz, who serves as a Police Officer for VA in Arkansas. Steven sat down with my VA Staffer and educated her on what it’s like to serve as a Police Officer for VA and how it’s different from other departments. Thank you Steven for sharing your knowledge and expertise!
It was wonderful to meet with Ms. Erlinda Naputi who has worked for the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library for over 30 years and is currently the Library Director. Erlinda highlighted the many services the library provides to our community and the importance of funding it for everyone to enjoy. From supplying resources for special needs children to being a place the entire family can enjoy, the library has over 200 neighbors visit every week!
Working alongside Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) is critical when understanding the needs of veterans not only in the CNMI but across
On Tuesday, I had the honor of attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. As the nation’s priorities