[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6569332,"mediaKeyId","3189481-fd4543522e8150832a4fa84a7a141119","parentId",3189481,"title","Speaker Villegomez walks students through House structure, precincts and differences with Senate","audioSeconds",628,"startMs",88000,"endMs",716000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3189481-fd4543522e8150832a4fa84a7a141119&start=88&end=716","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3189481-fd4543522e8150832a4fa84a7a141119/thumbnail_88000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6569332/Speaker-Villegomez-walks-students-through-House-structure-precincts-and-differences-with-Senate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569332-d93b1765dc690a172f2e82111d90ec55/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447852&Signature=fu377fHhjdj8mgmF2EzqwkQo3ppCefHKgxwYJoEP5WwM7wnmHj0YMQFApX130QFfKxdp3MEQZHrrqNpLe8emPLxdwujFCfng-6Nj4sq8fQEoeJBo9JjBLluF0t9oekIIKsKjVC3XkcgzTbz43vWHR5hsZ-r4zQlsescJcseR2eRxY~SOem1O11bCmZshIsZbvcoO5BqkHaa0v3bBthlk8~WqydsFCcxQ-5MWjh247NthvY7PK7c-B09PYvt2CYzko8dGcwYrGQUMqnhm6OZMiNAWERtut8RBj4HBDmtba3VCIyvKeqyNF2wc9AOzWrTrLPsyFnLG80pkTT~fGVRZdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-05-04T23:38:45.923Z","article","House Speaker Edmund Villegomez introduced visiting students to the structure and membership of the Commonwealth’s legislature, describing the House’s role in appropriations and how representation is allocated among Saipan’s precincts.

Villegomez said the House currently has 20 members, the constitutional maximum, and that membership earlier had been 18 before a court decision added two seats. He explained that Saipan’s Precinct 1 is the largest and is allotted six House seats, Precinct 3 also has six seats, while other precincts have fewer seats: Precinct 2 has two seats; Precinct 4 has two seats; the newest precinct, Precinct 5, is represented by two members; and the sister islands (Tinian, Rota and the Northern Islands) have separate representation.

\"When it comes to money and appropriations ... it has to start here in the House,\" Villegomez said, contrasting the House’s budgetary authority with the Senate’s role in confirmations of executive nominees. He said the Senate has nine members — three each from Saipan/the Northern Islands, Tinian and Rota — and that confirmation power is a key Senate responsibility.

Villegomez also described internal House roles: the speaker manages meetings and operations; the floor leader is responsible for making motions and shepherding legislation; the vice speaker acts when the speaker is absent; and committee chairs can influence what bills reach the calendar. He urged students to keep following local issues and to contact their representatives.

No votes or formal procedural actions were taken during the classroom session; the presentation was informational.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","250505 Class Visit [8:30am]","oneSentenceSummary","House Speaker Edmund Villegomez explained the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands' legislative structure — the House's 20-member composition, precinct seat allocations and the House's budgetary role versus the Senate's confirmation power — during a classroom visit.","taxTitle","House, Northern Mariana Legislative Sessions, Northern Mariana Islands","taxId",20281,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6569335,"House members and students discuss public-safety programs, DARE and local concerns about prostitution and substance abuse",764,1734000,2498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3189481-fd4543522e8150832a4fa84a7a141119&start=1734&end=2498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3189481-fd4543522e8150832a4fa84a7a141119/thumbnail_1734000.jpg","/articles/6569335/House-members-and-students-discuss-public-safety-programs-DARE-and-local-concerns-about-prostitution-and-substance-abuse","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569335-224322978dccbcb71a044a45e862f941/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447852&Signature=M4Bax3L7AZlxTDgmsGq3pjErcRViVOt8k6QwosuPai0Vfy4~-SJiAG9GY2vPmShGjyMeEqXt1S75NuCwbbdF3MvItE7v7KPixoRaDhqRsZBCcV2lnt185yyRg2~NCNCv17l7UMmvr38klqjV9u-it30L1HSzotNTim2KPFSxZaf3JPexGhTOlLr21YpQeP41tB7y79tTPPQt04c-B147pSBoSbjzHuF8uXEML~Tk4mKVGAPplNenoW8BvIdMrZtShTXVNwEcQkvV3NEKgipZUpXx-L1j4fWK~VwHFLk3Bj4IqCnyT8ksPJx78506iTvAAnrWbo8Mv2yOGK3XlcqcFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A group of students visiting the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives raised investigative findings about prostitution, drugs and drunk driving, and asked lawmakers how those issues are being addressed.

A student told representatives the class had pursued investigative reporting into \"the obvious prostitution rings and other things going on within the CNMI,\" and asked for lawmakers’ thoughts on possible direct responses. The student asked whether the government could do more public education or direct interventions.

Representative Blas \"BJ\" Atau and other House members acknowledged those concerns and discussed public-safety programming. Members described past programs such as DARE, which they said had provided youth outreach and prevention education, and noted that DARE had waned in the commonwealth when leadership, funding priorities and grant administration shifted.

\"We relied so much on external [grants],\" Atau said, referring to federal and other external funding streams. He and other members said grant-funded programs can collapse if leadership does not maintain consistent messaging and follow-through.

House floor leader Marissa Flores and committee members said grants often came through the local Criminal Justice Planning Agency (C J P A), and that sustaining programs required steady leadership, careful use of grant funds and coordination with agencies such as the Department of Public Safety. Flores said appointing qualified leaders and ensuring confirmation and oversight were essential to keep programs operating.

Chairman O'Don (identified in the transcript with that name) framed the issue around funding and priorities, telling students that many programs fail when agencies do not use funding for their intended purposes. He urged civic engagement and argued that long-term sustainability requires accountable leadership and prioritization of limited government resources.

Representatives and staff discussed DUI enforcement as an example where efforts had produced measurable reductions; they suggested that combining enforcement, public education and grant-supported programs could be part of a broader approach to curb prostitution-related harms, substance abuse and impaired driving. No new grants, ordinances or enforcement actions were proposed or voted on during the classroom session.","Students raised concerns about prostitution, drugs and drunk driving; House members described past and potential public-safety programs, grant reliance, and leadership and funding challenges affecting program sustainability.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6569339,"CNMI House members outline push to diversify economy beyond tourism, cite flight and casino setbacks",814,847000,1661000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3189481-fd4543522e8150832a4fa84a7a141119&start=847&end=1661","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3189481-fd4543522e8150832a4fa84a7a141119/thumbnail_847000.jpg","/articles/6569339/CNMI-House-members-outline-push-to-diversify-economy-beyond-tourism-cite-flight-and-casino-setbacks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569339-575f0aafd63729187d506ba7f253582f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447852&Signature=DqOm-ZdaBnQI-PiqWt65e7bHPfCsThkCK3vU2Qn3ub2nu9DBmpFaw7ybbkw-BH21~m8WxXNrqS2Wtz85pyB~6FKyqDvrmClGrKlxTKEJNN~qGjZ4JhbuhhWOJTMcH1cHiBg4BKJRLeb5DjkCzQnBg~s6QEnY0Kd5KyMilpSoUZ~8FhQWpY9fs82QJrp1RhlmKJz2tzQ2ftGEiKfXAbRXGHtWXu9JQfQT383pexF8chTlnvU36oQD~xQWNeVinUBnMvZ3shEARL8htSBxcgKn9Q2zXvcEe1vH0k3k1ukJjj4PdAaf5e2fP~qKNbji7K639PTvqowBDK2GfufWVPwtEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During a classroom visit to the Northern Mariana Islands legislature, House Speaker Edmund Villegomez said lawmakers are pursuing industry diversification — including courting manufacturing investors, expanding the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority's marketing role and exploring free-trade zones — to reduce the commonwealth’s heavy reliance on tourism.

\"In the legislature, this is where the law making process starts,\" Villegomez said, explaining the House’s lead role on appropriations. He said the House has met with the governor and outside investors and has recently discussed semiconductor manufacturing as one potential new industry.

Villegomez described several obstacles to bringing visitors back and to attracting investors. He said some charter flights from Hong Kong stopped after federal actions and unclear implementation of new rules, creating delays in permit approvals for travelers. \"We wrote a letter to the governor to have him look into the issue,\" Villegomez said, adding that turnaround times that were once a matter of hours have stretched and in some cases \"no action\" has been taken.

Lawmakers also discussed the local casino and internet-gaming sectors. Villegomez said a casino asset sale was being negotiated at a steep discount — \"I think you're looking about 12 to $14,000,000 when that investment is close to half a billion dollars already,\" he said — and that legal disputes and a recent gubernatorial veto of a local internet-gaming bill have complicated efforts to stabilize that industry. He did not specify the buyer, the asset list or the bill citation.

On marketing and investment promotion, Villegomez said the former Commonwealth Development Authority was amended and renamed the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority to take on a stronger investment-marketing role alongside the Marianas Visitors Authority. He also said legislators have discussed a free-trade zone to attract businesses but cautioned that tax terms and eligible industries would determine interest.

Villegomez and other representatives emphasized that tourism remains the commonwealth’s largest industry. \"Tourism will always be our our main thing,\" he said, while noting efforts to expand types of tourism — such as educational and business travel — and to attract investment that could create year-round jobs and additional air service.

Lawmakers urged students to watch how external policies and markets affect local planning. Villegomez said the House wrote to the governor seeking clarity on the travel-permit process and that the legislature is coordinating with the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority to pursue investors and evaluate incentive tools.

Clarifying details discussed by legislators included the existing structure of the marketing and development agencies, the existence of negotiations and legal disputes in the casino sector, and that reported dollar figures for asset sales and investments were presented as approximations rather than finalized transactions. No formal votes or ordinance adoptions were recorded during the classroom visit.","House Speaker Edmund Villegomez and colleagues told visiting students the Northern Mariana Islands is pursuing investments, marketing changes and regulatory tools to reduce reliance on tourism, but said paused charter flights, legal disputes over casinos and other factors are hindering recovery.","actionData","errors"]

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Speaker Villegomez walks students through House structure, precincts and differences with Senate

House members and students discuss public-safety programs, DARE and local concerns about prostitution and substance abuse

CNMI House members outline push to diversify economy beyond tourism, cite flight and casino setbacks