The Marianas Visitors Authority is optimistic about U.S. H.R. 3770 introduced last week by U.S. Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) to extend the transition period for the new CNMI visitor entry program.
The legislation, introduced on Oct. 8, amends the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 to give an additional one year of transition after the CNRA is enacted. Immigration now managed by the CNMI, including visitor entries to this resort destination, will become federal jurisdiction once the CNRA is enacted on Nov. 28, 2009.
The CNMI's tourism community has argued that the loss of visitors from the People's Republic of China and Russia will have a devastating effect on this fragile island economy in the western Pacific, which is driven by tourism largely from surrounding Asian countries.
In addition, the bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report within 30 days on the economic situation in the CNMI and the effect of the CNRA amendments on the future economic situation of the Commonwealth
A related legislation, H.R. 3647, introduced by U.S. Rep Gregorio Kilili Sablan (D-MP) on Sept. 24, 2009, seeks to move the transition date to federal immigration to Dec. 1, 2010. H.R. 3647 further requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress every 30 days on, among others, a fully detailed budget for fiscal years 2010 and 2011 to implement the CRNA, infrastructure plans, required “additional layered security measures” to include PRC and Russia in the visa waiver program, and a timetable for such inclusion.
“The Marianas Visitors Authority commends Delegate Bordallo for introducing this important amendment to the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008,” said MVA managing director Perry Tenorio. “This, along with Delegate Sablan's legislation and the Department of Homeland Security's willingness to make special consideration for the China and Russian source countries, underline the precariousness nature of our tourism industry. We are very appreciative of DHS' and everyone's efforts and urge to find a permanent solution for the inclusion of these two emerging markets in the Guam/CNMI visa waiver program and in the spirit of the statutory intent of the CNRA of 2008.”
H.R. 3770 also provides for the Secretary of Homeland Security to administer the visitor entry program of the CNMI consistent with the provisions of Commonwealth law governing the program during the one-year transition period.
U.S. H.R. 3770 is co-sponsored by Donna Christensen (D-VI), Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS), Dan Boren (D-OK), Henry Brown (R-SC), Henry Johnson (D-GA), Pedro Pierluisi (D-PR), and Addison Wilson (R-SC). Bordallo, Brown, Christensen, and Faleomavaega all visited the CNMI on a fact-finding trip earlier this year.
The bill was referred to the House Committees on Natural Resources and Judiciary. (MVA)
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