Islands Business - Politics: ONE FEDERALISATION BILL AFTER ANOTHER

CNMI governor opposed to ‘takeover’ proposals

Criselda B. Hernandez
On the eve of a U.S. Senate panel’s hearing on a bill seeking to extend federal immigration and border control law to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) on July 19, another bill with the same intent was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In unison... long-term foreign workers hold lit candles during a prayer rally for the passage of a U.S. Senate bill giving improved status to long-term guest workers in the Northern Marianas.

The only difference is that the House bill—introduced by Rep. Donna Christensen, —also proposes to provide the CNMI with a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House.

Christensen said it is “shameful” that the CNMI is the only U.S. territory without representation in the United States Congress.

“This issue is simple. It’s about equality and the people of the CNMI should be equally represented alongside their sister companies,” she said in a statement on the introduction of H.R. 3079.

About 8500 miles away, hundreds of long-term foreign workers in the CNMI held a prayer rally on Saipan on July 18 for the passage of the first bill, S. 1634.

Some of the workers of different nationalities—mostly Filipinos, Bangladeshis, Chinese, Koreans and Thais—not only support S. 1634’s granting of a non-immigrant visa to long-term foreign workers in the CNMI, but are also pushing for U.S. citizenship they say they “deserve.”

“We urge you to pass legislation that would federalise immigration and help us achieve the stability and United States citizenship we deserve,” the group, which is headed by the Human Dignity Act Movement, said in a petition letter with over 3000 signatures. The petition was addressed to Senator Jeff Bingaman, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

OPPOSING SIDES

CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial personally testified against S. 1634’s passage during the July 19 hearing in Washington, D.C. He urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to defer action on the immigration bill until the Government Accountability Office—the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress—has completed a study on the bill’s impact on CNMI’s economy.

“If the federal government wants to support us, we welcome that support and assistance. But if the federal government wants to do my job, then there is no more reason for me to exist,” said during the hearing presided over by S. 1634’s principal sponsor, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

Fitial said CNMI welcomes federal help in securing the commonwealth’s borders, but not take away local control of immigration. But Akaka said the CNMI immigration and border control cannot be separated, and action on the immigration bill should not be delayed until a study is done as requested by Fitial and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, whose president, Juan Guerrero, also testified against the bill’s passage.

U.S. Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs David Cohen, in his testimony, called for a federalisation of CNMI “as soon as possible,” a move which he said has the support of President Bush.

Just like Akaka, Cohen said an impact study “must not be used as an excuse to delay” the passage of the bill.
Cohen said while the CNMI has made progress in its labour and immigration system, there are still major concerns.

In his written testimony, Cohen cited the following as major reasons for a speedy federalisation: an ineffective pre-screening process for aliens entering the CNMI; a human trafficking problem that is between 8.8 and 10.6 times more prevalent than in the United States; and the CNMI government’s uncooperative stance regarding refugee protection.

Akaka asked Fitial whether he agrees that federal legislation would establish the most stable policies on labour and immigration, given that “CNMI governors and legislative leaders change and, with them, the policy and commitment to reform.”

Fitial replied by citing his efforts to abolish the Marianas Public Lands Authority for its officials’ abuse of power, and the reorganisation of the Department of Labour.

The governor also cited his administration’s progress in reducing government expenditures amid declining revenues, and the adjudication of over 3000 labour cases in only about six months.

“My mission,” Fitial told Akaka, “is to establish a new trend of administration, a new trend that will replace the trend of abuses from previous administrations. I hope that whoever succeeds me will continue the trend I am now trying to establish.”

Akaka ended the July 19 hearing—aired live via a Web cast—by saying he looks forward to working collaboratively with the parties involved on the Senate immigration bill, or the Northern Mariana Islands Covenant Implementation Act.

Many residents in the CNMI tuned in to the Web cast which started at around 11:30pm Saipan time, and ended the following day at around 1:30am.

SAIPAN HEARING

The hearing on H.R. 3079, or the Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security and Labour Act, will be held on Saipan on August 15. As of July 19, the House subcommittee on Insular Affairs invited about 15 individuals to testify on the bill, including former governors and community and business leaders.

Pete A. Tenorio, CNMI’s resident representative to Washington, D.C., said he is “very pleased” that the House subcommittee accepted his invitation to hold the field hearing in the CNMI.

He said the bill, with some modifications, “will provide the CNMI with the stability that our economy needs to flourish”.

Like the Senate bill, the House bill would extend federal immigration laws to the CNMI. It would also create a federal-controlled guest worker programme, establish visa programmes for visitors and investors, allow certain long-time guest workers in the CNMI a non-immigrant resident status, and provide technical assistance to develop CNMI’s economy.

Christensen said her bill would bring stability and security to the CNMI and the Marianas region.

“There is a real opportunity here to address past abuses and unpredictable immigration policies that did not result in a healthy and productive CNMI economy.

The U.S. military’s reinvestment in the Marianas’ region should make everyone want to make these islands secure,” said Christensen, who chairs the subcommittee which will hold the hearing on Saipan.

While CNMI waits for further actions on the Senate and House bills, it also has to contend with other immigration and labour issues that include the exodus of garment factories that employ mostly foreign workers from China, a continuous decline in tourist arrivals, a new federal law that raises CNMI’s minimum wage of US$3.05 an hour to US$3.55 an hour (effective July 25, 2007), and another 50 cents increase every year thereafter until it reaches the new federal minimum wage of US$7.25 an hour over an eight-year period, and the closures of more businesses due to skyrocketing utility bills and lack of revenues.