One clarifies the Secretary of Energys authority to make grants to advanced energy efficiency technology transfer centers under the Energy Policy Act of2005. and the other reauthorizes the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988. The package contains two important measures related to the territories. The first involves the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana IslandsCNMIto respond to longstanding Federal concerns regarding immigration. labor. and law enforcementconcerns that are greatly heightened following the September 11 attacks. This bill culminates 11 years of congressional and executive branch efforts to extend the U.S. immigration laws to the CNMI including the establishment of Federal border control as anticipated by the 1976 covenant agreement between the CNMI and the United States. The bill also includes special provisions to meet the special needs of the islands economy. The citizens of the CNMI have been U.S. citizens and members of the U.S. family for over 20 years. but they have been unable to participate in American democracy as have the other territories.
Keywords matched
border control immigration