News From the CNMI

February 1, 2008

Guam Rep. Madeleine Bordallo Says H.R. 3079 Good For Islands
The Saipan Tribune reported that Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, a co-sponsor of H.R. 3079, said that the legislation will benefit the islands.

In her Congressional Address to the people of Guam Thursday, Representative Bordallo said:

The House-passed bill applying federal policy to CNMI immigration includes a number of provisions important to Guam, Bordallo reported.

One of those provisions extends to Guam the same exemptions from temporary work-or H-visa caps that the CNMI would receive under the bill. She said this “ensures parity for our two jurisdictions.”

Bordallo also highlighted the provision creating a regional visa waiver program for Guam and the CNMI. The new visa waiver program would be similar to the existing Guam-only visa waiver program, but would extend from 15 to 45 days the length of stay for visitors.

“This provision has the potential to make our visitor product more competitive,” she said.

Guam's public and private sectors both contributed to the drafting of the provision, according to Bordallo.

CNMI DOL Holds More Forums to Explain Regulations
Friday's Marinas Variety story, "Labor wants to clear ‘misconceptions’ about new regs," by Moneth G. Deposa, reported that the Director of Labor spoke to guest workers in the DOL waiting area to clear up misconceptions concerning the new regulations.

The story also addresses a letter that Deanne Siemer sent to Federal Ombudsman Jim Benedetto:

In a letter to the Federal Labor Ombudsman’s Office signed by attorney Deanne C. Siemer, the department said it wants to submit a report in September regarding the implementation of the controversial Public Law 15-108 so that the Legislature can schedule hearings if it wishes to.

Siemer is the wife of the governor’s special legal adviser, Howard Willens.

Labor said it will give its “swift attention” to any actual difficulties encountered in individual cases that are reported to the department.

It said it believes that experience under the new law will “demonstrate the effectiveness of the solutions that the Legislature devised in enacting P.L. 15-108 and the practical implementation of the law to the benefit of all segments of the community under the regulations adopted by the department.”

According to the department, there was no attempt to “legislate” through regulations.

P.L. 15-108 went into effect today. A forum was held on Friday in Saipan for members of the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce. The team of Cinta Kaipat, Deanne Siemer, and DOL Labor Director Barry Hirshbein spoke to the meeting of business people according to reports from the CNMI.

Congressman Eni Faleomavaega Introduced H.R. 5154 to Address Minimum Wage in CNMI and American Samoa
Rep. Eni Faleomavaega introduced federal legislation to amend the federal minimum wage legislation that applies to the CNMI and American Samoa, the Marianas Variety reported. Governor Fitial supports the legislation:

“I thank Congressman Faleomavaega for prudently introducing H.R. 5154 in the U.S. Congress,” said Fitial. “I am very happy that the underprivileged and underrepresented U.S. insular areas have a great champion in Congressman Faleomavaega.”

Faleomavaega, D-American Samoa, proposes to allow the U.S. secretary of Labor to prevent mandated federal minimum wage increases from damaging the CNMI and American Samoa economies.

The bill will allow the U.S. secretary of Labor to adjust federal wage increases based on an objective determination of their potential impact on the islands’ economies, in consultation with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the governments of the CNMI and American Samoa.

Fitial said he is prepared to submit testimony to support H.R. 5154 and protect the CNMI economy from “further losses.”

He hopes the H.R. 5154 can be promptly addressed before the next 50-cent wage hike takes place on May 25.

The Pacific Magazine reports that the minimum wage hearing will be held on American Samoa on February 21st.

Speaking on his weekly radio program Wednesday night, Faleomavaega said the “oversight hearing” will be held first and this deals with the new federal minimum wage
that went into effect last year.

He said the hearing will provide a good opportunity for the public to voice its concerns about the escalating minimum wage, which affects both American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.