Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Grand Master Navigator Sesario Sewralur, captain of the Alingano Maisu, a cultural teacher, steward, and guardian of ancestral wayfinding knowledge.

A son of Satawal in the Federated States of Micronesia and the son of legendary master navigator Mau Piailug, Sesario began sailing with his father at just 5 years old. He went on to lead 20 voyages across the Marianas, Palau, Yap, Taiwan, and Japan, helping preserve the ancient art of navigating the Pacific without modern instruments.

Sesario carried forward his father's legacy and helped ensure traditional navigation remained a living heritage, one that connects the peoples and islands of Oceana across our vast Pacific.

On behalf of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, I extend my deepest gratitude to Captain Sesario; his wife, Florentina; his children; grandchildren; family; and friends.

His teachings will endure for generations, and his spirit will live on in the stars, skies, and seas.

``A very big thank you''; ``Un dangkulu na Si Yu'us ma'ase yan, kinisou.''

Honoring Guam-CNMI ESGR

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Guam-CNMI Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve State Committee for its steadfast support for our servicemembers, their families, and the employers who support them.

ESGR helps our citizen-warriors balance military and civilian responsibilities through outreach, education, recognition, and assistance with employment protections under USERRA. This mission is especially meaningful in the Northern Mariana Islands, where military service is deeply rooted in our community.

The Guam-CNMI ESGR has earned national recognition for three consecutive years. In 2024, Major General Benny Paulino received the James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism National Award. In 2025, Dave Sablan received national ESGR recognition, and in 2026 Don Clark was named National Employer Outreach Volunteer of the Year. These honors reflect the dedication of the entire committee and its volunteers.

On behalf of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, I thank the Guam-CNMI ESGR for supporting those who serve our nation and strengthening the communities they call home.

``Thank you''; ``Si Yu'us ma'ase.'' ``Thank you''; ``ghilisow.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Association of Pacific Ports and its more than a century of advancing maritime commerce, cooperation, and security across the Pacific.

For Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, our ports are lifelines. They connect our islands to the world and ensure our communities receive the food, fuel, medicine, and supplies we depend on every day.

Before coming to Congress, I had the privilege of serving as the chairperson of the Commonwealth Ports Authority and later as the president of the Association of Pacific Ports. I saw firsthand how collaboration among Pacific ports strengthens our economies, improves resilience, and supports our shared future.

As our Nation increases its focus on the Indo-Pacific, Pacific ports play an increasingly vital role in both economic prosperity and national security.

This August, the association will hold its 112th conference in Guam under the theme Inafa'maolek: Strengthening our Shared Pacific, reflecting the enduring value of partnership and mutual respect.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Association of Pacific Ports for its outstanding service and to congratulate its members and this important milestone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to lend my voice in strong support of H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act.

This comprehensive package is designed to address the critical needs of our Nation's veterans.

The legislation represents a meaningful step forward closing resource gaps that have persisted for far too long. Among its provisions are vital improvements for veterans affected by traumatic brain injuries, expanded survivor benefits, and increased access to medical care in the U.S. territories and the Freely Associated States.

I am proud to note that two bills I authored are included in this package. First is the Territorial Response and Access to Veterans' Essential Lifecare, or TRAVEL Act. This provision, which already passed in the House, establishes a VA program enabling physicians to travel to the U.S. territories and deliver essential medical care directly to veterans.

The second bill, the U.S. Vets of the Freely Associated States Act, empowers the VA to provide telehealth services and mail prescriptions to veterans residing in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. These Pacific Island countries are among our closest allies whose citizens serve in our military at exceptionally high rates, yet they lack access to basic care and benefits. This legislation will help remedy that inequity.

The Take Care of America's Veterans Act is not just important. It is urgent. Our veterans deserve the best we can offer, and this package delivers on that promise.

I thank Chairman Bost for his leadership and dedication to veterans everywhere. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of H.R. 9237.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate four outstanding young people from my district, the Northern Mariana Islands, who are graduating from the United States Coast Guard Academy Class of 2026: Pution Palacios-Camacho, Seiji Suzuki Gonzales, Noah Fleming Mesa, and Kyle Peter San Nicolas.

Their graduation is a proud and well-earned achievement, reflecting years of discipline, perseverance, and commitment to service.

As they prepare to serve as officers in the United States Coast Guard, they carry with them the values that define our islands: family, humility, resilience, and responsibility to others.

For the Northern Marianas, their accomplishment reminds us that our young people can rise to serve at the highest levels while carrying with them the spirit of our island community.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Pution, Seiji, Noah, and Kyle. The CNMI is proud of them and thanks them for their continued service.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the extraordinary response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku and to honor the many people and organizations who stepped up and continue to step up for the Northern Mariana Islands in our time of need.

I commend our local first responders, utility crews, and linemen across the Marianas, our mayors' offices, FEMA, and the Army Corps of Engineers for their steadfast partnership in response and recovery.

I also extend my deep gratitude to World Central Kitchen, Team Rubicon, Samaritan's Purse, the Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Project Buddy Check 670, the Ayuda Foundation, Karidat, Team Koka, Ohala, and the Tan Sia Lin Foundation, and the many nonprofit and faith-based organizations who continue help rebuild our communities.

I say to the CNMI diaspora, our churches, medical workers, community volunteers, and residents who raise funds, ship supplies, clear roads, deliver aid, and care for our neighbors: Your resilience reflects the very best of the Northern Mariana Islands.

In the CNMI, recovery is powered not only by government, but by community.

Mr. Speaker, my district, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is incredibly far from this Chamber, nearly twice as far from Washington, D.C., as Moscow, Russia.

Yet, the distance between the Northern Mariana Islands and Washington is

not measured only in miles. In many ways, our people are also living with systems and conditions decades behind the rest of our country. Power infrastructure built over 40 years ago struggles to stay online. Water systems built generations ago are failing under the weight of time. Long before Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck our islands this year, our economy was already under extraordinary strain.

Tourism had not recovered. Businesses were closing. Families were leaving. Air service was shrinking. Government revenues were collapsing.

Mr. Speaker, this did not happen in a vacuum. For decades, Federal policies toward the territories, while often well-intentioned, have too often operated as barriers instead of bridges to long-term economic sufficiency.

One-size-fits-all Federal policies may work on the mainland, but they do not work for small, remote-island economies in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

When transportation policies fail to account for isolation, we pay more. When healthcare systems fail to account for remoteness, people leave. When economic policies fail to account for the fact that tourism is our customer base, entire industries collapse.

When Federal systems are built around the assumption that every community has the same market access and the same economic flexibility, places like the Northern Mariana Islands are left trying to survive under rules that were never truly designed for us.

Then, Super Typhoon Sinlaku arrived.

Mr. Speaker, we are now weeks into a territory-wide recovery emergency across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. More than 5,000 residents have already registered for FEMA individual assistance. Nearly half of surveyed households suffered major or catastrophic housing damage.

Entire islands lost power. Water systems failed. Hospitals, schools, sports, airports, and government facilities were forced into emergency operations.

While national media attention has already begun moving on, the people living this reality did not have the luxury of changing the channel because, for us, this is not a headline. This is home.

Thankfully, recovery is happening, but, Mr. Speaker, disasters do not create weaknesses out of nowhere. They expose the weakness that already exists. When a community has spent years operating at the edge, even a single storm can push entire systems toward failure.

The Indo-Pacific is often discussed through the lens of strategic competition and force projection, but national resilience in the Pacific also depends on whether American communities in the region remain economically and socially viable.

A collapsing utility system is a national security issue. A collapsing transportation system is a national security issue. The inability of American territories to sustain population, workforce, and economic activity in a strategically important region is a national security issue.

If we are serious about maintaining a durable American presence in the Indo-Pacific, then we must also be serious about the long-term viability of the American communities already living there.

In the coming weeks, I will be working with my colleagues, Federal agencies, and the administration on proposals aimed at addressing the underlying vulnerabilities this disaster has exposed because we cannot simply rebuild to what existed before. We must build systems that are stronger, more flexible, and actually designed to give communities like ours a chance to survive and grow.

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning, I mentioned that the Northern Mariana Islands live a day ahead of the rest of the country. Sometimes, it also feels like communities like mine experience America's future first.

What happens when infrastructure ages beyond sustainability? What happens when economic systems become too fragile to absorb disruption? What happens when communities lose the flexibility to respond to their own realities because the systems governing them have become too distant and too rigid?

In the Northern Mariana Islands, those pressures arrive earlier and more visibly because we are small, remote, and heavily dependent on decisions that are made here, but the lesson is not unique to the Pacific. A country as large and diverse as the United States cannot remain strong if every community is treated as though it faces the same conditions, the same constraints, and the same path forward.

Recovery is not only about debris removal and emergency response. It is about whether American communities still have a future once the cameras leave and the attention moves on. For the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands that question is immediate. It is urgent, and it deserves the attention of Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as my home, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is taking a direct hit from supertyphoon Sinlaku, one of the most powerful storms on Earth this year.

Right now, families on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota are sheltering from catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge, and severe flooding. Homes are being damaged. Power is going out, and communications are being disrupted.

For many of us here in Washington, there is a particular kind of pain that comes with this moment. That is because while we are here doing our jobs, our hearts are back home with our families and praying that they are alive and safe.

Mr. Speaker, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands are strong. We prepare, we endure, and we rebuild. But let me be clear: Resilience should never be mistaken for self-sufficiency. We are a small, remote island community. When disasters strike, the margin for error is thin, and the need for a fast,

coordinated Federal response is critical.

I want to thank President Trump for approving the emergency declaration and FEMA for mobilizing resources. Now we must act with urgency and precision. First, I call on FEMA to ensure rapid deployment of personnel and pre-positioned supplies, with a focus on restoring access to food, clean water, and emergency medical care.

Second, I urge the administration to expedite individual assistance and public assistance under the Stafford Act so families can begin recovery immediately, not weeks from now.

Third, we must prioritize the rapid restoration of power and water systems. I ask for full Federal cooperation, including support from the Department of War, to stabilize critical infrastructure as quickly as possible.

Fourth, I ask this body to be prepared to support supplemental disaster funding, if needed, because for island communities like ours, recovery costs are disproportionately high, and resources are limited.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I ask that we not lose sight of the bigger picture. Events like this highlight the vulnerability of remote U.S. communities to increasingly severe weather and the need for sustained Federal investment in resilient infrastructure, energy security, and emergency preparedness in the territories.

Mr. Speaker, right now this is about life and safety. In the coming days, it will be about recovery. In the months ahead, it must be about resilience.

But today I ask for something simple and human. I ask this body and the American people to keep the Northern Mariana Islands in your prayers. Pray for the families riding out this storm as we speak. Pray for our first responders and pray for strength as our community begins to pick up the pieces.

We are proud to be a part of this Nation. We serve this Nation, and in this moment, we are asking this Nation to stand with us.

May God bless the Northern Mariana Islands.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 50th anniversary of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in political union with the United States of America.

I do so thinking about the generations before me. My grandmother's generation, a generation that came through war and hardship, lived in a time when survival, not opportunity, was the priority. They experienced conflict, uncertainty, and change in ways that shaped how they understood the world around them.

They did not grow up debating policy, yet they were raised to deal with the consequences of it. From that experience, they made a clear decision about what kind of future they wanted.

Fifty years ago, the people of the Northern Marianas chose that future. On March 24, 1976, the Covenant became law following years of negotiation between our leaders and the United States. Those negotiations were deliberate and sustained, resulting in a political union that reflected the will of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Nearly 79 percent of our people said yes. They chose to join the United States because they believed in its system of government, in its institutions, and in the opportunities that relationship could provide. That decision placed the Northern Mariana Islands within the broader American story.

As this country approaches 250 years, we reflect on its founding as well. That history has continued to develop as new lands, communities, and people have chosen to join and contribute to it.

The Covenant is part of that history. It established a relationship unlike any other. The Northern Mariana Islands remain the only U.S. territory to enter into this kind of voluntary, negotiated political union with the United States. It reflects a union grounded in mutual consent and a shared commitment between the Northern Marianas and the United States.

Mr. Speaker, for 50 years, our people have carried that commitment forward. Our people serve in the United States Armed Forces at one of the highest rates in the Nation. They contribute through public service. They live and work in a region that remains central to the future of this country.

This anniversary also invites us to look at where things stand today. The purpose of that union was to create a future where people in the Northern Marianas could build stable lives with access to opportunity, security, and economic growth. Back home, any honest assessment shows that outcome is not yet fully realized.

Our people chose to be a part of this country and the vast seas of opportunity it represents because it stood for freedom and the ability to determine their own future. Federal policy has too often stood in the way of that goal, limiting growth and holding back the very progress that choice was meant to achieve.

Our people continue to face real challenges. The economy is still recovering. Families are making the decision to leave in droves. Conditions on the ground do not always reflect what people expect from life in the United States, and Federal policy does not always respond to those realities but instead work as barriers.

Honoring the Covenant requires continuing the work set in motion 50 years ago. Our people made a choice to become part of this country. Today, Congress has a choice as well: to show what American ideals actually look like in practice and what is possible when people are given the room to build, grow, and reach for opportunity no matter where they live.

It means strengthening the ability of the Northern Mariana Islands to build a stable economy, sustain our islands, and give families a real opportunity to remain at home and build their lives.

That was the intent behind the decision made by our people, and it remains the work in front of us as we mark 50 years as Americans.

On this day, I look back to the strength of my grandmother's generation and to the leaders who forged this union. I recognize and express my appreciation to the negotiators of the Covenant, including Pedro A. Tenorio and Vicente T. Camacho who remain with us today and to all those who continue to carry forward the vision that they set in motion.

``I salute you beautiful Northern Marianas''; ``Mit beses yan Mas. Hu Saluda hao. Gatbo na Islas Marianas.'' Thank you. May God bless the United States of America, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and this union we commemorate today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3496, as amended, the Northern Mariana Islands Small Business Access Act.

This bill would include my district, the Northern Mariana Islands, in the Small Business Administration's microloan program. The microloan program issues loans of $50,000 or less at low interest rates to help small businesses that may be unable to access capital elsewhere, grow their businesses, or create jobs.

Since the program became operational in 1992, it has issued over 69,000 loans, totaling over $900 million, and supported over 250,000 American jobs. Despite the program's impressive impact for Americans across the country, the Northern Mariana Islands is the only State or territory not explicitly included under the law. This bill would simply add the CNMI to be eligible for the program alongside every other territory.

The CNMI is currently facing an economic crisis following the collapse of our primary industry, which is tourism. Local small businesses are struggling to get approved for affordable loans, in part because of this economic uncertainty. Gaining access to this program could help local entrepreneurs make the investments they need to help put our economy on a more solid footing.

Madam Speaker, I thank my co-lead on the bill, Representative Conaway, for his steadfast support, as well as Representatives Cisneros and Goodlander for also cosponsoring this legislation. I also thank Chairman Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez for their support and help in bringing this bill to the floor.

Again, my bill simply adds my district to the microloan program that is already available to all other Americans. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan, commonsense, no-cost bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.

For two decades, the NMIFA has been a source of pride, opportunity, and unity for our islands. Since its founding in 2005, it has transformed football from a small community of enthusiasts into a thriving Commonwealth-wide movement that brings together players, coaches, referees, and families across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Under the theme ``20 Years of Passion, Purpose, and Promise,'' the Association has built a legacy of perseverance and inclusion. Through programs that nurture youth athletes, develop women's football, and expand access to quality facilities, the NMIFA has created a pathway for the next generation to dream bigger and reach farther.

This year alone, the Northern Mariana Islands national teams competed in five major international tournaments, including the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, where our women's team secured the NMI's first- ever AFC victory, which represented a milestone that captured the spirit of determination and resiliency that defines our islands.

I commend the NMIFA's leadership, member clubs, and countless volunteers and families who have made these achievements possible. Their dedication has built not only better players, but stronger communities.

On behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, I congratulate the NMIFA on its 20th anniversary and thank them for their continued commitment to building a future for our youth grounded in teamwork, discipline, and pride.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Diego Tenorio Benavente, the fisherman, entrepreneur, Speaker, and Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, whose steady leadership helped shape the Commonwealth across more than two decades of public service. A son of Saipan and a graduate of Mount Carmel School, Mr. Benavente pursued higher education in Idaho and returned home to build Diego's Mart, Inc., a well-known small business, before entering public life.

Prior to becoming Lieutenant Governor, he served in the Northern Mariana Islands Legislature for six consecutive House terms (6th-12th), rising to vice speaker and then speaker across three legislatures (9th- 12th). In 2002, he answered a broader call as the sixth lieutenant governor of the CNMI, serving through January 2006; he later returned to the people's House for two more terms (16th-17th) and was chosen minority leader in 2011.

Lieutenant Governor Benavente's record of service paired principle with practical results. In the 10th Northern Mariana Islands Legislature, he championed education by cosponsoring the Educational Tax Credit, enacted as CNMI Public Law 10-73, which encouraged private- sector support for our educational institutions, such as the public/ private schools, public library, and the humanities council.

As lieutenant governor, he helped advance sound stewardship of our lagoon and reefs and modernize waste management. During policy debates over net fishing in 2004, the House considered HB 14-274, which addressed gillnet use by setting noncommercial mesh-size limits as part of a broader effort to protect nearshore stocks while respecting tradition. And as the Babauta Benavente Administration prioritized closing the long-used Puerto Rico dumpsite and establishing the Marpi landfill, the Legislature created financing tools such as the Solid Waste Management Revolving Account (PL 13-42) to support closure, reclamation, and landfill operations.

After serving as Lt. Governor, and returning to the CNMI House of Representatives, he further pursued fuller Northern Mariana Islands representation in the federal government. Through co-authoring Public Law 16-13 he established the process by which the people of the Marianas could elect their representative in the U.S. House.

On behalf of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, I extend our deepest thanks to Lieutenant Governor Benavente, his wife Vicky Benavente, their children, and family for a lifetime of service to our Commonwealth.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 3400, as amended, the Territorial Response and Access to Veterans Essential Lifecare Act, otherwise known as the TRAVEL Act of 2025.

This legislation is a vital step toward improving healthcare access to veterans residing in U.S. territories, including my district, the Northern Mariana Islands.

Our veterans have served our country with honor, but too many of them still struggle to receive even the most basic care close to home.

The TRAVEL Act directly addresses the critical shortage of specialized medical care in remote and underserved areas. It authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to temporarily deploy VA physicians and medical specialists to the territories. These professionals would receive travel bonuses and provide much-needed care, helping close persistent gaps in the VA service network.

When I meet with veterans back home, I often hear the same heartbreaking stories: long travel, long waits, and feeling forgotten by the very system meant to care for them. This bill is driven by those voices. Their needs, their experiences, and their dignity are at the heart of the TRAVEL Act. This bill brings care to them rather than asking them to sacrifice even more.

I extend my deep appreciation to the Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost and Ranking Member Takano, as well as their dedicated staff, for their work and support of this legislation. This bipartisan effort reflects a shared commitment across the aisle and across the country ensuring that no veteran is left behind, no matter where they live.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the TRAVEL Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the remarkable athletes of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for their outstanding performance at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Competing on a regional stage with more than 1,000 athletes from across Oceania, Team CNMI brought home 31 medals--10 gold, 8 silver, and 13 bronze--a proud achievement for a small but determined community.

These results speak to more than athletic talent; they reflect the resilience, discipline, and unbreakable spirit that define the people of the Marianas. Our athletes trained through distance, limited resources, and the everyday challenges of island life--and still excelled.

I also extend my deepest gratitude to the coaches, trainers, families, and volunteers who stood behind these competitors every step of the way. Their sacrifice, encouragement, and quiet hours of service are the foundation on which these victories were built.

Today we celebrate the medals, but we also celebrate the example these athletes set for every young person back home; dream big, work hard, and represent our islands with pride. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Team CNMI for lifting the Marianas

onto the international stage and inspiring us all.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am proud to introduce critical legislation that would include my district, the Northern Mariana Islands, in the Department of Transportation's Essential Air Service (EAS) program. This would place the Northern Mariana Islands alongside Alaska and Hawaii as locations exempt from EAS requirements, ensuring that scheduled air service remains consistently available for residents and visitors of the Marianas.

Air service is vital and the only practical means of transportation between the islands of the Marianas. Unfortunately, commuter air service has often been unreliable. In recent years, fare prices have surged and remain at historically high levels. For nearly two decades, only one carrier has provided air service between the islands of Tinian, Rota, and Saipan, as well as to Guam.

The sole carrier has suspended air service multiple times for extended periods due to disputes with airport authorties. This instability and uncertainty are a constant worry for the local community knowing air service can cease at any moment for our remote, isolated islands. This uncertainty not only disrupts daily life but also hampers our ability to attract tourists, draw investments, and rebuild our economy. Restoring EAS eligibility would guarantee that the Northern Marianas always have a baseline level of daily air service across all three of our airports.

While the Northern Mariana Islands was originally eligible for EAS, none of our airports participated in the program in Fiscal Year 2011. As a result, we became ineligible following the enactment of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which changed the definition of `eligible place' for EAS assistance.

By amending this eligibility, we would ensure that EAS support is available to us if the need arises. This change would not automatically place Marianas airports in the program, but it would ensure that assistance is available whenever necessary to guarantee reliable air service.

I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce legislation that would amend the Wagner-Peyser Act to finally include the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.

The Wagner-Peyser Act established the Employment Service, a network of public employment offices that connects job seekers with employers. Yet, despite participating in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs, the Marianas and American Samoa are not eligible for the employment services formula grant that is currently provided to all other states and territories.

In the 2017 902 report submitted to Congress, both the special representatives of the CNMI and President Trump recommended the Departments of Interior and Labor work to extend the Wagner-Peyser Act to the Marianas. I agree, but it is up to Congress to advance this legislation.

The Wagner-Peyser grant would provide support to the CNMI and American Samoan workforce through skills assessment, career guidance, and training for prospective employees. Inclusion in Wagner-Peyser would also finally allow these insular areas to have employment data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A stronger workforce builds a stronger economy. Let's make things right and ensure parity for all American workers. I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.