[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1301-E1302]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, July 8, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and 
     for other purposes:

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendment, submitted 
by my good friends and colleagues, Mr. Tonko and Mr. Bass, that would 
amend the Energy and Water Appropriations for fiscal year 2012. This 
important amendment restores funds to the fiscal year 2011 levels for 
the Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program.
  The Weatherization Assistance Program funds are intended to assist 
low-income residents across America and in the Northern Marianas to 
improve energy efficiency, and reduce energy use and fossil fuel 
emissions in their homes. The State Energy Program funds are used to 
upgrade the efficiency of government facilities, promote consumer 
products that carry the Energy Star label, or invest in alternative 
fuel infrastructure. Both of these funds create an immediate benefit to 
those being helped and a long-term benefit to all of us by investing in 
our future and making America more energy efficient and independent.
  Where I live in the Northern Mariana Islands, electricity rates are 
unusually high and energy efficiency is especially important due to the 
fact that the Northern Mariana Islands is warmer in climate. As of 
January 2011, the current base electric rate is 28 cents per kilowatt 
hour. While electricity rates are one of the highest in the nation, our 
minimum wage is only $5.05 an hour. Therefore, we rely on 
Weatherization Assistance Program to give funds to those who need the 
assistance the most and to alleviate the financial burden that energy 
use places on these low-income households.
  The Northern Mariana Islands also benefit from the funds under the 
State Energy Program by creating programs like the Green Energy 
Project, which provided for solar panels and wind turbines at eleven of 
our public schools on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
  In addition, both programs have the potential and a record of 
creating local jobs in the construction and energy sectors for all of 
our economies. I ask that my colleagues support the Tonko-Bass 
amendment. It is an amendment that helps those that need it most and 
invests in our future. Taking money away from these very important 
programs hurts our progress in energy efficiency and job creation.

[[Page E1302]]



                          ____________________