In this issue:
Close Up, Jr. Statesman awards confirmed
$11.3 m. from 2005 road earmark OK'd for repurposing
Veterans invited to Fireside Chat
Surge in passport applicatins expected - Apply early
Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for/in the Marianas
Highlights in the legislative program
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Close Up, Jr. Statesman awards confirmed.
Since questioning Secretary Sally Jewell on future funding for the Close Up program at the Interior Department budget hearing last week, I have received word that the program has been awarded $900,000 for the current fiscal year. The money will be used to bring students from the Marianas and other island areas to Washington as well as underwrite the Youth Summits that allow more students to participate in Close Up on-island. An additional $360,300 has gone to fund the Junior State of America’s Summer School Program that sends insular area students to Georgetown, Princeton, and Stanford University summer sessions. The announced funding for Close Up is still less than the $1.1 million Interior included in its FY16 budget justification to Congress; and I remain concerned that there is no mention of Close Up at all in Interior’s FY17 budget. But I will continue to fight for both these programs, which have meant so much to so many Marianas students.
$11.3 m. from 2005 road earmark OK'd for repurposing.
The Commonwealth now has $11.3 million it may use for federal highway projects. The funds are what is remaining from a $12 million earmark for a road connecting Talofofo to Bird Island that was part of the 2005 highway bill, SAFETEA-LU. That 3.7 mile road has never been built because of environmental concerns and the potential for cost overruns. In December,Congress authorized reprogramming of over 1,200 such “orphan” highway projects nationwide that had been authorized more than 10 years ago and still had 90 percent of funds unspent. The Talofofo road qualifies. The Commonwealth may still use the funds for the Talofofo to Bird Island connector, if it chooses, or the money can go to other road work in the Marianas within 50 miles of the original project. But a decision must be made by this September and the funds must be obligated by September 30, 2019. Otherwise, whatever remains will return to the U.S. Treasury.
Veterans invited to Fireside Chat.
Veterans and their families are invited to a Fireside Chat this Sunday, March 13, from 6-7 p.m. at the Carolinian Utt in Garapan. The Fireside Chat aims to bring younger and older veterans together to share their experiences in a relaxed and informal setting. The event is hosted by the NMI Humanities Council, part of a year-long program of the Standing Together Initiative funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The initiative seeks to promote understanding of the history, experience, and meaning of war and military service, and to support returning veterans and their families. For more information, contact the NMI Humanities Council at northernmarianashumanities@gmail.com. The Humanities Council is also cooperating with the congressional office on the Veterans History Project.
Surge in passport applications expected - Apply early.
The U.S. Department of State expects a surge in passport applications this year and is encouraging anyone in need of a new passport or renewing an expiring passport to apply early. The 2007 Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative required citizens leaving or entering the U.S. to have a passport, and a large number were issued that year as a result. Now, those passports are expiring. The department expects 17 million applications this year and 21 million the next. Current processing times for the Honolulu Passport Office, which handles applications from the Northern Marianas, is 6 weeks for routine service and 3 weeks for expedited service. For more information on how to apply, including requirements and fees, visit http://travel.state.gov/applyearly.
Opportunities - Federal grants, jobs for and in the Marianas:
Grants:
National Endowment for the Humanities – Humanities Access grants establish or augment term endowments (that is, endowments whose funds are entirely expended over the course of a set time period) to provide funding for existing programs at institutions such as public libraries, local and regional museums, historical societies, community colleges, HBCUs and tribal colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, archival repositories, and other cultural organizations. Current closing date is May 4, 2016. For more information, go tohttp://www.neh.gov/grants/challenge/humanities-access-grants.
Local Food Promotion Program – LFPP Implementation Grants are used to establish a new local and regional food business enterprise, or to improve or expand an existing local or regional food business enterprise. Eligible entities may apply if they support local and regional food business enterprises that process, distribute, aggregate, or store locally or regionally produced food products. Current closing date is May 12, 2016. For more information, go tohttp://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=282075.
Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking – The purpose of this program is to support the development and enhancement of multidisciplinary human trafficking task forces that implement collaborative approaches to combat all forms of human trafficking sex trafficking and labor trafficking of foreign nationals and U.S. citizens (of all sexes and ages) within the United States. Current closing date is May 5, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=282071.
Small Agency Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program – The FY2016 Small Agency Body Worn Camera (BWC) Policy Implementation Program will support the implementation including the purchase, deployment, maintenance, data storage, and policy development of a body-worn camera program, and the necessary policies for law enforcement agencies. Current closing date is April 27, 2016. For more information, go tohttp://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=282077.
Preservation and Access Education and Training Grants – The grant is aimed to help the staff of cultural institutions, large and small, obtain the knowledge and skills needed to serve as effective stewards of humanities collections. Current closing date is May 03, 2016. For more information, go tohttp://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=282106.
Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP Act) Grants – The purpose of the STOP Act grant program is to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth ages 12-20 in communities throughout the United States. STOP Act grant funds must focus primarily on strengthening collaboration among community entities to reduce alcohol use among youth in current and former DFC grantee communities. Current closing date is May 10, 2016. For more information, go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=282127.
Jobs:
Congressional Internship Program – The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Inc. is accepting applications for interns who will learn firsthand about how the legislative system works, spending four days each week (Monday-Thursday) working on Capitol Hill. Current closing date is April 22, 2016. For more information, go to http://chci.org/programs/internships/.
Accountable Property Specialist – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security is accepting applications for an Accountable Property Specialist in Guam. As an Accountable Property Specialist (APSP) in FEMA’s Reservist Program, you will be responsible for accountability, protection, transfer, and ultimate disposition of personal property. Position is open until March 23, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/431450000/.
Logistics Specialist – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security is accepting applications for a Logistics Specialist in Guam. Incumbent will engage in activities in support of field logistics operations, assisting in inventories, coordinating and delivering requested resources, among other related duties. Position is open until March 23, 2016. For more information, go to https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/431441300/.
Highlights in the Legislative Program
THIS WEEK:
The House is in recess for the District Work Period.
NEXT WEEK:
On the floor
H.R.2984 – Fair RATES Act
H.R.1268 – Energy Efficient Government Technology Act
H.Con.Res.121 – Expressing the sense of the Congress condemning the gross violations of international law amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity by the Government of Syria, its allies, and other parties to the conflict in Syria, and asking the President to direct his Ambassador at the United Nations to promote the establishment of a war crimes tribunal where these crimes could be addressed
H.Con.Res.75 – Expressing the sense of the Congress that the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL against religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria include war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide
S.2426 – To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the International Criminal Police Organization
H.R.4721 – Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2016
H.R.3797 – SENSE Act
H.R.4596 – Small Business Broadband Deployment Act
Consideration of a House resolution authorizing the Speaker to appear as amicus curiae on behalf of the House of Representatives in the matter of United States, et al. v. Texas, et al.
Committee Hearings
March 15
Committee on Education and the Workforce Hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”
Committee on Natural Resources Markup – Opening Statements
March 16
Committee on Education and the Workforce Hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Labor”
Committee on Natural Resources Markup