11 FEBRUARY 2009 SAIPAN (Pacnews) ---- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security needs US$97 million to operate in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands beginning on 01 June , but received US$5 million only, according to Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan, reports Marianas Variety.
Mr Sablan said he wants to make sure that Homeland Security is fully funded when it takes over local immigration.
Homeland Security needs adequate funding for personnel, equipment, a secured tele-communication system, detention centers for six points of entry and exit in the CNMI and for other things necessary to run the federal immigration programme here, Mr Sablan said.
He said the money that Homeland Security will get for the CNMI will, for the most part, be spent here.
This is the same way I approach Medicaid, food stamps, No Child Left Behind, vocational rehabilitation programmes for public health, etc. Mr Sablan said.
One of the most difficult problems that he and the other delegates face is the fact that the insular areas do not pay federal taxes.
He said all the monies made available to the territories come from federal taxes.
So we must fully understand that we ask for these monies knowing full well that all that we receive is taken away from those who pay federal taxes, Mr Sablan said.
He added that the CNMI was fairly successful, particularly with the stimulus package, although we do not receive all that we asked for.
Mr Sablan said he and other delegates are trying to make sure that the territories and commonwealths are not left out of the stimulus package, which remains pending in the U.S. Senate.
Mr Sablan enumerated his priorities: Money for the CNMI; a least painful transition to, and eventual efficient administration of, the federalised immigration system; the military academy nominations so that the CNMI can send two to three individuals to the academies every year rather than just one every four years; submerged lands; working with the CNMI education board, the Public School System and the U.S. House Education Committee to make education programmes more effective; and working with the U.S. Office of Insular Affairs on capital improvement project funds.
