[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3879 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3879

  To provide for representation of the Northern Mariana Islands by a 
          nonvoting Delegate in the House of Representatives.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 23, 1996

Mr. Gallegly (for himself, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Underwood, and Mr. 
Faleomavaega) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for representation of the Northern Mariana Islands by a 
          nonvoting Delegate in the House of Representatives.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Northern Mariana Islands Delegate 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DELEGATE TO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NORTHERN MARIANA 
              ISLANDS.

    The Joint Resolution entitled ``Joint Resolution to approve the 
`Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 
in Political Union with the United States of America', and for other 
purposes'' approved March 24, 1976 (48 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), is amended 
by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 6. DELEGATE TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Northern Mariana Islands shall be 
represented in the United States Congress by a nonvoting Delegate to 
the House of Representatives. The Resident Representative of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, as authorized by section 901 of the foregoing 
Covenant and upon election pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, 
after the date of the enactment of this section, shall be the Delegate.
    ``(b) Compensation, privileges, and immunities.--Until the Rules of 
the House of Representatives are amended to provide otherwise, the 
Delegate from the Northern Mariana Islands shall receive the same 
compensation, allowances, and benefits as a Member of the House of 
Representatives and shall be entitled to whatever privileges and 
immunities are, or hereafter may be, granted to the Delegate from Guam 
to the House of Representatives.
    ``(c) Election of Delegate.--The Delegate from the Northern Mariana 
Islands shall be elected, but not appointed, as authorized by section 
901 of the foregoing Covenant and the Constitution and laws of the 
Northern Mariana Islands so long as such authorization complies with 
the Federal election criteria for, and provides for elections in 
sequence with, the election of other Delegates to the House of 
Representatives.
    ``(d) Vacancy.--In case of a permanent vacancy in the office of 
Delegate, by reason of death, resignation, or permanent disability, the 
office of Delegate shall remain vacant until a successor is elected and 
qualified.
    ``(e) Lack of Effect on Covenant.--This section shall not be 
construed to alter, amend, or abrogate any provision, other than 
section 901, of the foregoing Covenant.''.
                                 <all>