Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-Northern Mariana Islands) was one of 33 House Representatives to testify before the House Committee on the Budget to discuss the FY2010 budget.

“This is the first time is history that a member of the Northern Mariana Islands, since entering the United States Commonwealth in 1978, have a representative in Congress to speak on their behalf before this committee and for this I am grateful, humbled and very privileged,” Congressman Sablan said.

Congressman Sablan said he views himself as the “single voice” appointed to raise awareness about a “great gulf in the standard of living” between his constituents in the Northern Mariana Islands and the continental United States.

Congressman Sablan asked the committee to help support the Northern Mariana Islands financially in securing safe drinking water. At present, a large majority of Northern Mariana residents have to buy their drinking water as the water that is stored in the water containers is not safe to drink.

“For such a simple thing as turning on the kitchen faucet and having water flow out, anytime of the day or night; water you can put in a glass and drink now, without having a second thought. This is the type of experience that the people I represent mostly do not have,” he said.

“What is today an infrastructure problem for us, could very soon, in the very near future become a health epidemic for the entire island...My solution is simple. I am asking the committee to accept the list of water and sewer projects that EPA has compiled...and provide the budgetary authority sufficient to permit Department of Interior to meet this need,” Congressman Sablam concluded.

Other requests to the Committee included, a request for more money to be spent on science and technology by Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ), and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich). Congresswoman Betsy Markey (D-Colo), asked for the budget to include assistance to Farmers in Colorado and for money to be spent on education. Whilst, Congressman Philip Hare (D-Ill) wants to see money spent on public transportation in Illinois.