By Jayvee Vallejera
The Marianas Islands Legislature Association has adopted a resolution seeking to replace the CNMI’s foreign worker program with a joint Marianas visa tailored to meet the unique needs of both Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
MILA unanimously passed Resolution 2-GA-05, which CNMI Rep. Ed. Propst introduced Friday on the second day of the MILA general assembly at the Guam Congress Building in Hagatna.
Propst’s resolution also recommends the creation of a federal Marianas Regional Commission to streamline federal programs focusing on infrastructure, transportation, workforce development, military buildup, climate and environmental risks and other priority concerns of both Guam and the CNMI.
The resolution includes a provision requiring that any fees associated with the proposed Marianas Visa program would not leave Guam and the CNMI, but will be used for workforce development training in both territories.
Propst said the matter was urgent because the CNMI Transitional Worker Program, popularly known as the CW-1 program, will end on Dec. 29, 2029.
The temporary-need exemption for certain H2B workers in Guam and the CNMI will also expire on the same date.
The CW-1 program has a cap of 13,000 workers and is reduced by 1,000 yearly. In fiscal 2025, the CW-1 cap will be set at 9,000 and will not authorize hiring extraction and construction occupations.
“Currently, we have approximately 5,000 CW-1 workers in the CNMI. The CNMI may need as many as 15,000 foreign workers to meet the demands of the growing economy and development of new industries,” Propst said.
He pointed out that Guam is similarly situated: It currently has over 5,500 H2B workers, but needs approximately 15,000 foreign workers or more to meet the demands of the tourism industry, the military buildup and the development of new industries.
Propst said any fees associated with the proposed Marianas Visa, if implemented, would fund workforce training.
The idea, he added, was discussed in a previous meeting with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio, who "both have been very supportive of this Marianas Visa."
Propst also said the recovery and sustained economic growth of Guam and the CNMI would be fostered by the creation of a federal Marianas Regional Commission, which would be co-chaired by a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate, and an appointee selected by the CNMI and Guam governors.
Guam Sen. Jesse Lujan, a co-sponsor of the resolution, said the issues outlined in it were part of discussions in his role as the Guam-Philippine legislative liaison.
“One of the issues discussed in this resolution is being tackled as we speak—from visa waivers to extending the H2B exemptions, to Medicare portability,” said Lujan, who was named legislative liaison by Guam Del. James Moylan.
Moylan is co-chair of the Philippine Friendship Caucus in the 18th House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress, which is working with the Philippine government to ease tourism exchange between the Marianas and the Philippines.
Lujan said he would inform Moylan about Propst’s resolution and its proposed Marianas Visa. “I’m sure he’ll be ecstatic [and] glad to be able to push this forward and probably join in the resolution as well with [CNMI] Delegate [Gregorio] Kilili [Sablan],” he said.
Guam Sen. Joanne M. Brown also supported the resolution, noting that both Guam and the CNMI face similar challenges in meeting the workforce needs across different sectors. She introduced an amendment to address the growing lack of affordable housing in Guam.
“That is an area [of concern] for a lot of our people and I’m sure also with you in the CNMI. The cost of construction has risen substantially (and) our own local people have not been able to build a home or even do any extension or expansion because the cost has gone up significantly," she said.
Brown pointed out that most of Guam's construction workers are focused on military buildup-related projects.
“Our local community on the other side of the fence [has] substantially suffered…in the last five or six years,” Brown added.
The planned relocation of some 5,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam, which is expected to start later this year. is causing housing prices in Guam to skyrocket, causing concerns that Guam residents are now unable to afford rent or build new homes.
Brown said including the local construction industry among the beneficiaries of the proposed Marianas Visa would enable Guam residents to do major or minor construction.
Sen. Celina R. Babauta also spoke to support the resolution and she urged Guam lawmakers to join the CNMI’s efforts by supporting it.
The non-binding resolution was one of several adopted by the assembly for submission to the U.S. President and the U.S. Congress.
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