House bills prefiled re legislative expenditures and Marpi Protected Area; Briefing with Air Force Commander next week
This is to announce the following:
1) I have prefiled House Bills 16-266 and 16-267, and will be formally introducing these bills at the next session.
- House Bill 16-266 proposes to provide clearer guidelines for expenditures from legislators' operational accounts, and includes a prohibition on government-paid cell phones and vehicles (except for documented and itemized expenses on official business for reimbursement); a prohibition on housing allowances and subsistence allowances for legislators; the application of standard government compensation rates and reporting requirements to legislators for official travel within and outside of the Commonwealth; a bar on solicitation; and penalties for violations.
- House Bill 16-267 is also sponsored by Natural Resources Chairman Rep. Ray Tebuteb and by Rep. Edward Salas. This bill proposes to create a new Marpi Protected Area, to be restored and managed for conservation purposes by the Department of Lands and Natural Resources. The bill requires the development and implementation of a management plan, and further requires minimum qualifications for the planner, a public education component in the plan, and a public comment period prior to the final adoption of the plan.
Both bills are attached in this email. My thanks to all who assisted in reviewing and commenting on drafts of both bills; any additional comments are also welcome.
2) There will be a Joint Legislative Meeting with General Ruhlman of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on Tuesday, July 28 at 9:30am in the House Chamber. General Ruhlman is Commander of the 36th Wing, and he will be briefing the Legislature regarding the military buildup in the Marianas and the mission of the Air Force in the region.
