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By Rolynda Jonathan
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to retain the Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs’ post.
The 22 members cited that the U.S. territories and affiliated islands have benefited greatly from the last four years as it allowed “the Assistant Secretary to focus on your address your administration’s policy” to the region.
The members further urged President Obama to retain and quickly fill the position that has remained vacant since Tony Babauta’s resignation on February 1, 2013.
Prior to Babauta’s appointment, the post was inactive for more than a decade under the U.S. Department of Interior.
The office oversees the American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas Islands, the US Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.