2/22/2017 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Mail - Congressman Sablan Open House Ottley, Basil <[email protected]> Congressman Sablan Open House 2 messages Sablan, Kilili <[email protected]> Tue, Jan 3, 2017 at 9:31 AM Hafa Adai – You are invited to join us for a swearing-in reception/open house today, January 3, 2017 at 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. Please note that we have moved to a new address: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2411. Lunch will be provided. We hope to see you! Leizear, Charlene <[email protected]> Fri, Feb 10, 2017 at 10:34 AM To: "Ottley, Basil" <[email protected]> Basil - all I have is this email. It took 1 minute to find it. Charlene Leizear Director, Technical Assistance Division Office of Insular Affairs 1849 C Street, NW MS 2429 Washington, DC 20240 Phone: 202-208-3239 Website: www.doi.gov/oia [Quoted text hidden] https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=c8250da7eb&view=pt&q=from%3Acharlene_leizear%40ios.doi.gov&qs=true&search=query&th=15964bf71b43f649&siml=15964bf71b43f649&siml=15a28a9053f709d8 1/1 News Release February 10, 2017 For Immediate Distribution Kilili appointed to Veterans’ Affairs Committee Washington, D.C. – Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan has been appointed to serve on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, it was announced this week. Veterans’ Affairs will be the Congressman’s third committee, which required a special waiver from the usual two-committee limit for members of the Democratic Caucus. “Veterans in the Marianas need more attention,” Sablan said. “Too often, veterans and their families in the islands—and around the nation—are forgotten, after giving so much. “So, I went to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and asked for a waiver of the Caucus rule that would allow me to serve on Veterans’ Affairs without giving up my other equally important committee assignments. “After listening to my explanation of the situation for our Marianas veterans, Leader Pelosi submitted my request to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee with her recommendation for its approval. And the Committee voted this week approving my request. “I am very appreciative; and I look forward to the new opportunities that being on Veterans’ Affairs will give me to work for my constituents.” The Marianas Congressman already serves on the Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over insular affairs. He is also on the Education and the Workforce Committee, where he recently won the Ranking Member seat on the subcommittee in charge of health, employment, labor, and pension issues nationwide. And in this Congress, for the first time, Sablan is a member of the subcommittee responsible for federal college and university programs in the United States. “With seniority and experience in Congress comes the expectation that you will take a leadership role,” Sablan said. “I am willing to do that, especially when it gives me new ways to help the people I work for in the Marianas.” Sablan said he especially looks forward to membership on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee because the new Ranking Member, Tim Walz (D-Minnesota), is energetic and eager to get veterans what they need. “Tim Walz graduated from West Point, he served in the National Guard for almost 25 years, many of his staff are veterans—he knows what the needs are and he knows how to get things done. I have already invited him to come to the Marianas and meet with our veterans; and Mr. Walz’ staff has already been working with us to kick up the level of service to Marianas veterans.” Even before appointment to the Committee, Sablan had begun focusing more of the congressional office time and resources on the needs of veterans. This month he is hosting a Veterans Resources Fair on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. On Veterans Day he presented a special “Welcome Home” tribute to Marianas Vietnam veterans to mark the 50th anniversary of the war. And last year he put the Northern Marianas Humanities Council together with filmmaker and veteran Tom Voss, who brought the documentary of his struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome to the islands. Voss then followed up with a Power Breath Meditation Workshop that has proven a powerful tool in the treatment of PTSD. About two dozen veterans, family, and friends attended the training. In 2015 Sablan began introducing veterans in the Marianas to the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project, which shows interested members of the public how to collect oral histories and documentary memorabilia from veterans about their service. The records then become part of the permanent collection of the Library of Congress. Several Marianas veterans have already added their experience to this national archive. Congressman Sablan has also been active legislatively. In 2014, he worked to include language in the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act, to help veterans, such as those on Rota and Tinian, who have to travel by air to reach a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility. The resulting Veterans Choice Cards allow veterans in rural areas to obtain care from qualified non-VA providers closer to where the veterans live. “I look forward to working even harder for veterans as a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee,” the Marianas Congressman said. “They earned it.” -30- News Release February 7, 2017 For Immediate Distribution Kilili to host Veterans Resource Fair NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS – Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan is hosting the first Northern Marianas Veterans Resource Fair this month, to provide veterans, military service members, and their families with information about federal and local programs available to assist and support them. The event is free and open to the public. “The goal of this Veterans Resource Fair is to help connect those who have served in our nation’s military, and our military families, with the resources that can benefit them right here in the Marianas,” Congressman Sablan said. “I encourage our veterans, service members, and their families on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to come to the fair on their respective islands, learn more about the different programs that are available, and meet with the agencies and service providers who are here to help them.” The dates, times, and venues for the Veterans Resource Fair are as follows: • SAIPAN – February 22, Multipurpose Center, 1pm – 7pm • TINIAN – February 23, NMC Instructional Site, 10am – 4pm • ROTA – February 24, Rota Resort, 10am – 4pm Representatives from the Veterans Health Administration and Veterans Benefits Administration will be at all three events to answer questions and assist with enrollment or claims. Other Veterans Resource Fair participants will include the U.S. Army Reserve’s Family Programs, the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, various civilian health providers who work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver care to veterans in the Marianas, and a wide range of commonwealth agencies and community organizations offering services in education and career training, employment assistance and vocational rehabilitation, counseling, legal aid, disability advocacy, emergency assistance, social support, and more. Veterans and military families who wish to meet with VA representatives at the fair are asked to bring supporting documents (i.e., copies of DD214 forms, medical records, marriage or birth certificates for dependents, etc.) that may be relevant to their questions or claims. For more information, contact the congressional office at (670) 323-2647 or email [email protected]. -30- News Release January 17, 2017 For Immediate Distribution Congressman Sablan congratulates Governor Torres on completion of 902 Washington, D.C. – Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan issued the following statement today upon the release of the Report to the President on 902 Consultations. The Report was prepared by Governor Ralph DLG. Torres of the Northern Mariana Islands and Interior Assistant Secretary Esther P. Kia’aina following eight months of discussions focused on federal immigration and labor policy in the Marianas and proposed U.S. military activities in the islands. “I want to congratulate Governor Torres and Assistant Secretary Kia’aina for bringing these consultations to a successful conclusion with release of today’s report. “The recommendations they have made and the policy justifications the Report puts forward will certainly be an important addition to the discussions that we are having here in Congress regarding immigration and labor issues in the Marianas.” Among the Report’s immigration recommendations are proposals to extend the Commonwealth-only Transitional Worker program into the future and to allow 18,000 foreign workers to be in the Northern Marianas. The Report also supports considering extending the existing immigration policy to Guam to address that island’s workforce challenges. With respect to proposed military activities in the Marianas the Report calls for establishment of a CNMI/Department of Defense Coordinating Council so that leaders can find common ground to enable the U.S. military to move forward, while preserving the Marianas way of life. Congressman Sablan has previously acknowledged that permitting use of public land in the Northern Marianas by the military is within the purview of the Commonwealth government. The 902 Report has been sent to President Obama and the leadership of the U.S. Congress. -30- This page intentionally left blank. About the 902 Consultations Between the United States and the