Date: 1988-06-14
Speaker: DE LUGO (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentlewoman from Nevada for yielding. and I thank the chairman of the subcommittee for his consideration of this matter. Mr. Speaker. I support the request of the gentleman from Minnesota. Chairman VNro. not only because of the bills park provisions but also because of a insular provision added by the Senate. This provision would effectively technically amend the authorization for the Saipan. Northern Mariana Islands Harbor project which I sponsored. It would also authorize the Tinian Harbor project in that Commonwealth. This part of the amendment was worked out between the Insular and International Affairs Subcommittee. which I chair. and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. chaired by BENNETT JOHNSTON. The Insular areas can always count on Senator JOHNSTON to lead the response in the other body to their needs. His work on this matter. including a recent visit to the Commonwealth. proves that this case is no exception. Members of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs have been working with Senator JOHNSTON on the need for port facilities in the Northern Mariana Islands for some time. The 1980 Omnibus Territories Act required a study of the need for improvements. The study was conducted by the Corps of Engineers in 1981 and then Interior Under Secretary Donald Paul Hodel said it concluded the Commonwealths ports "are generally in a state of disrepair and that Improvements are necessary." In particular. the report noted that the Commonwealths primary port in Saipan could not accommodate even commonsized vessels. The inadequacy of the facilities has restricted the Economic and Social Development of the Commonwealth. It also has implications for the vital role of the islands in our Nations Pacific defense. as is shown by the current inability of a military preposition vessel homeported In the islands to actually dock there. The 1986 Omnibus Water Projects Act included an authorization for $14 million for the offshore improvements to the Saipan -Harbor. The Commonwealth would fund the other third of the cost of this phase of the project. about $7 million. as well as the onshore phase of the project. estimated to cost some $35 million. The Senate amendment would require that the project be developed as planned in a 1987 study by the Corps of Engineers. It is supported by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorlo. The Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs has recommended funding ol the Federal share of the project in fLcal year 1989. I hope that at least a portion of these funds can be provided. The Senate amendment would also authorize planning. design. and construction of the offshore phase of Improvements to the Tinian Harbor. I understand that this phase of the Tinian project should cost about the same as the offshore phase of the Saipan project. The same FederalCommonwealth costsharing is also intended to apply. Tinian has the potential to be an important fishing port and much of the island is leased to the Federal Government for military purposes. These potential uses are limited by its inadequate dock and seriously deterriorated breakwater. which was built in World War II. however. It had been our intent to include the authorization for this project in the omnibus insular areas legislation that the gentleman from California. Representative LAGOMARSINO. and I have been working on with Senators JOHNSTON and MCCLURE and other Members of this House and the other body. However. I am pleased that we have this earlier means of addressing this need. I urge the acceptance of the amendment and final passage of the bill.