| <home> -- <press releases> -- <May 1, 2003> Delegates Call for Resurrection
of the FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Thursday, May 1, 2003 – Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Bordallo joined Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) and Congresswoman Donna Christensen (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) in sending President Bush a letter today requesting the re-appointment of the Interagency Group on Insular Affairs (IGIA). “It is our hope that the reestablishment of the IGIA will serve as a reaffirmation of President Bush’s commitment to the well-being of our respective islands,” remarked Congresswoman Bordallo. “It would further bring to the forefront issues that affect American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the CNMI. A consistent and efficient coordination amongst the various Federal agencies on issues affecting the insular areas is needed and the IGIA has proven this coordination in the past,” added Bordallo in explaining her request. In the past, the IGIA had been co-chaired by the Special Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management, and Budget. The Delegates recommended Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs, Mr. David Cohen, for this position. The IGIA would serve as a forum for addressing insular issues and for coordinating federal policy among federal agencies. “Due to our political status and relationship to the federal government, there are certain issues that are unique to insular areas that current federal policy is inadequate in addressing” said Congresswoman Bordallo. “The IGIA would go a long way towards properly addressing these issues.” ###
Contact: Neil Weare
in Washington, D.C., at (202) 225-1188 or Joaquin
Perez in Guam at (671) 477-4272. |
