“Additionally, this legislation clarifies that the waiver requirement applies to all federal agencies, including the Department of Interior, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, etc.  As we often find ourselves unable to meet the matching fund requirements required by these agencies, H.R. 1189 is critical to helping us address our health and education needs.”  

       “This is why I would like to thank Chairman Pombo for honoring my request to move this bill to full committee mark-up and to Ranking Member Rahall for his continued support of the insular areas.  I would also like to thank my colleagues including Congresswoman Bordallo and Congresswoman Christensen for co-sponsoring this legislation.”

       “I also want to commend Congressman Robert Underwood for his work on this matter.  Last year, Congressman Underwood sponsored this legislation with Congresswoman Christensen and I as original co-sponsors.  Unfortunately, this legislation was held up in Committee until at my request Congressman Hansen, former Chairman of the Committee, was kind enough to move the bill to mark-up without a hearing.”
 
       “I am now pleased that our new Chairman has also honored my request to move this year’s bill straight to mark-up and I thank my colleagues on the Resources Committee for recognizing how critical this legislation is in providing some relief to the economic difficulties the territories are facing and for adopting H.R. 1189 by unanimous consent.  I am now hopeful that this legislation will soon pass the House and move to the Senate for further consideration,” the Congressman concluded.