WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds rose in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, Sept. 30, to honor Diego Tenorio Benavente, recounting his accomplishments as a fisherman, entrepreneur, speaker, and lieutenant governor.
King-Hinds highlighted Benavente’s path from Mount Carmel School to higher education in Idaho, and then back home to establish Diego’s Mart, Inc. She recalled his six consecutive House terms, rising to vice speaker and speaker, before serving as the Commonwealth’s sixth lieutenant governor from 2002 to 2006. He later returned for two more terms and was chosen minority leader in 2011.
She pointed to his legislative contributions, including co-sponsorship of the Educational Tax Credit (PL 10-73), which encouraged private sector support for schools, libraries, and the humanities council. As lieutenant governor, she said, he helped advance protections for the lagoon and reefs and guided efforts to close the Puerto Rico dumpsite and establish the Marpi landfill, supported by financing tools such as the Solid Waste Management Revolving Account (PL 13-42).
King-Hinds also cited his co-authorship of Public Law 16-13, which created the process by which the people of the Marianas elect their delegate to the U.S. House.
“On behalf of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, I extend our deepest thanks to Lieutenant Governor Benavente, his wife Vicky Benavente, their children, and family for a lifetime of service to our Commonwealth,” she said.
