31St GUAM LEGISLATURE
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31sT GUAM LEGISLATURE I MINA'TRENTAI UNU NA LIHESLATURAN GUAHAN May 29, 2012 =:: -<~ N .____,.....,,_. --0 The Honorable Judith T. Won Pat, Speaker _ , I Mina'trentai unu na Liheslaturan Guahan 155 Hesler Place Hagatfia, Guam 96910 Re: Report on Resolution No. 375-31 (COR) Hafa Adai Speaker Won Pat: Transmitted herewith for consideration by the body is the Report on Resolution No. 375-31 (COR), "Relative to recognizing and agreeing with the desires of the Northern Mariana Islands Legislature to form the Mariana Islands Legislature Association and to establish within that entity a Mariana Islands Cooperative Initiative to explore areas of joint economic development and mutual benefit between the governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands," which was publicly heard on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Sincerely, Attachment: Report on Resolution No. 375-31 (COR) SENATOR FRANK F. BLAS, .JR. Minority leader Ste. 908, DNA Bldg., 238 Archbishop Flores St.. Hagiltiia, Guam 96910 Telephone: (671) 472-2527/31/32 •Facsimile: (671 472-2528 ... e-mail: [email protected] • web: www.guamlegislature.com I MINA'TRENTAI UNU NA LIHESLATURAN GUAHAN Vote Sheet Resolution No. 375-31 (COR), "Relative to recognizing and agreeing with the desires of the Northern Mariana Islands Legislature to form the Mariana Islands Legislature Association and to establish within that entity a Mariana Islands Cooperative Initiative to explore areas of joint economic development and mutual benefit between the governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. To do Notto Report Inactive Committee Members Initial Adopt Adopt Out Abstain File ~,' v/ Frank F. Blas, Jr. - Thomas C. Ada ~ / V. Anthony Ada // Benjamin J. Cruz (1\t(7)~ \ -- Christopher M. Duenas Judith P. Guthertz / ,/ Shirley A. Mabini ~ o/?'tf ''- I--- I j t Tina Rose Mufia Barnes / d~/;-i- Adolpho B. Palacios, Sr. "'~v ~ ~ Vicente C. Pangelinan ~)U/1v Rory J. Respicio ~ /~/ Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. q~/;~ Mana Silva Taijeron ~ Sldf/!~ Judith T. Won Pat @ 7 I ;I Aline A. Yamashita fl/ ~ M l'0 u I MINA'TRENTAI UNU NA LIHESLATURAN GUAHAN 2012 (SECOND) Regular Session Resolution No. 375-31 (COR) /~·· Introduced by: F. F. Blas, J/. , r,~ Relative to recognizing and agreeing with the desires of the Northern Mariana Islands Legislature to form the Mariana Islands Legislature Association and to establish within that entity a Mariana Islands Cooperative Initiative to explore areas of joint economic development and mutual benefit between the governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 1 BE IT RESOLVED BY I LIHESLATURAN GU HAN: 2 WHEREAS, the people of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern 3 Mariana Islands (CNMI) share a common heritage, history and language, our 4 separation caused by events of history outside our control; and 5 WHEREAS, the unincorporated territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of 6 the Northern Mariana Islands are both strategically located in the Western Pacific 7 chain of islands known as the Mariana Islands Archipelago; and 8 WHEREAS, the indigenous people of Guam and the CNMI have for long 9 freely established contacts and interacted with one another before being "discovered" 10 by Westerners; and 11 WHEREAS, the Mariana Islands that was once one was separated by 12 geopolitical necessity and strategic convenience; more importantly, Guam and the 1 1 CNMI proudly share the same indigenous culture, language, ethnicity, and history; 2 while at the same time, share common interests and concerns such as in the tourism 3 market, barriers to economic development in part due to the unanticipated effects of 4 federal statutes and regulations and indigenous ancestral ties; and 5 WHEREAS, the governments of Guam and the CNMI have the freedom and 6 power to enter into mutually beneficial agreements concerning public areas of 7 cooperation, including government and political exchange and cooperation; and 8 WHEREAS the members of I Liheslaturan Guahan recognize that the 9 Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature is desirous in establishing an 10 alliance of legislators from the Mariana Islands evident by the adoption of House Joint 11 Resolution 17-1 calling for the formation of the Mariana Islands Legislature 12 Association; now, therefore be it 13 RESOLVED, that the members of I Liheslaturan Guahan believe that now is 14 an appropriate time for the representatives of the territory of Guam and the CNMI to 15 mutually discuss and explore areas of possible cooperation for mutual benefit, 16 including but not limited to joint economic development, law enforcement assistance, 17 academic and cultural exchanges, health care facilities, personnel and governmental or 18 political exchanges and cooperation and to examine the possibility of creating a 19 formal entity for these purposes consisting of an equal number of representatives from 20 the CNMI and Guam; and be it further 21 RESOLVED, that I Liheslaturan Guahan, on behalf of the people of Guam, 22 does hereby support the discussion and formation of the Mariana Islands Legislators 23 Association (MILA); and be it further 24 RESOLVED, that I Liheslaturan Guahan respectfully suggest the discussion of 25 a Mariana Islands Cooperative Initiative and the establishment of a sub-group within 26 the Mariana Islands Legislature Association to explore areas of joint economic 2 1 development and mutual benefit between the governments of Guam and the 2 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and be it further 3 RESOLVED, that the Speaker certify, and the Legislative Secretary attest to, 4 the adoption hereof, and that copies of the same be thereafter transmitted to the 5 Honorable Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Guam Delegate to the United 6 States Congress; to the Honorable Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, 7 CNMI Delegate to the United States Congress; to the Honorable Eliceo Diaz Cabrera, 8 Speaker of the House, 1ih Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature; to 9 the Honorable Paul A. Manglona, President of the Senate, 1ih Northern Mariana 10 Islands Commonwealth Legislature; to the Honorable Members of the 17th 11 Commonwealth Legislature; to the Honorable Benigno R. Fitial, Governor of the 12 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and to the Honorable Edward J.B. 13 Calvo, I Maga'lahen Guahan. 3 SEVENTEENTH NORTHERN MARIANAS COMMONWEALTH LEGISLATURE FIRST REGULAR SESSION, 2010 H.J. R. 17-1 A HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION Supporting the alliance between the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam through the MARIANA ISLANDS LEGISLATURE ASSOCIATION (MILA); and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam are 2 both strategically located in the Western Pacific chain of islands known as the Mariana 3 Islands; and 4 WHEREAS, the indigenous people of these islands have for long freely 5 established contacts and interacted with one another before being "discovered" by 6 Westerners; and 7 WHEREAS, the Mariana Islands that was once one was separated by geopolitical 8 necessity and strategic convenience; and 9 WHEREAS, both the CNMI and Guam proudly share the same indigenous 10 culture, language, ethnicity, and history; and 11 WHEREAS, both island entities share common interests and concerns such as in 12 the tourism market, barriers to economic development in part due to the unanticipated 13 effects of federal statutes and regulations and indigenous ancestral ties; and 14 WHEREAS, with the anticipated military build-up on the island of Guam, it 15 opens an opportunity for the Commonwealth to benefit; and 16 WHEREAS, the signing of Public Law 110-229 by then President George W. 17 Bush, which took over immigration of the CNMI, tourist markets such as China and 18 Russia were excluded in the visa waiver; and 19 WHEREAS, the Chinese and Russian markets are fairly new, they're a fast 20 growing market and a vital part of the ailing tourism industry in the CNMI and Guam; 21 and HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 17-1 WHEREAS, it is in the best public interest that the Legislatures of these two 2 island entities work cooperatively for their mutual interests, concerns and benefits with 3 the United States; 4 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives of 5 the Seventeenth Commonwealth Legislature, the Senate concurring, support the 6 formation of the Mariana Islands Legislature Association (MILA); and 7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Speaker of the House of 8 Representatives and the President of the Senate shall certify and the House Clerk and the 9 Senate Legislative Secretary shall attest to the adoption of this resolution and thereafter I 0 transmit certified copies to the Honorable Judith T. Won Pat, Speaker of the 30th Guam 11 Legislature; the Honorable members of the 30th Guam Legislature; the Honorable Felix 1 12 P. Camacho, Governor of Guam; the Honorable members of the l 7 h Commonwealth 13 Legislature; the Honorable Melchor Mendiola, Mayor of Rota; the Honorable Ramon 14 Dela Cruz, Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan, the Honorable Donald Flores, Mayor of 15 Saipan, the Honorable Ramona T. Rubuenog, Mayor of the Northern Islands; and the 16 Honorable Benigno R. Fitial, Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 17 Islands. Prefiled: 1/25/10 Date: January 28, 20 I 0 Introduced By: Isl Rep. Diego T. Benavente Isl Rep. Joseph M. Palacios Isl Rep. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero Isl Rep. Trenton B. Conner Isl Rep. Ray N. Yumul Isl Rep. Eliceo D. Cabrera Isl Rep. Antonio P. Sablan Isl Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb Isl Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz Isl Joey P. San Nicolas House Legal Counsel Page 2 PCO: 211110 House Adopted: 2/1110 Report on RESOLUTION No. 375-31 (COR) Relative to recognizing and agreeing with the desires of the Northern Mariana Islands Legislature to form the Mariana Islands Legislature Association and to establish within that entity a Mariana Islands Cooperative Initiative to explore areas of joint economic development and mutual benefit between the governments of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.