Senate sees need for aggressive lobbying

Senate leaders are eyeing to launch an aggressive lobbying program, in fresh attempts to strengthen the Commonwealth’s ties with the administration of President W. Bush.

Senate President Paul A. Manglona told reporters yesterday that some members of the CNMI Legislature’s upper chamber are seriously looking at traveling to the nation’s capital for a meeting with US Congressional leaders.

Although no definite date has been set for the Washington DC visit, Mr. Manglona said the trip should be made within the next several months to complement efforts by CNMI lobbyists.

The senate president underscored the importance of keeping US leaders updated on efforts carried out by the CNMI government in addressing labor and immigration concerns raised by the previous US administrations.

The CNMI government is hoping to win over support of the US Congress in blocking the passage of anti-CNMI legislation, which seeks to gradually repatriate nonresident workers in the Northern Marianas through a federal takeover of local labor and immigration systems.

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial is in Washington where he met with key US Congress and Bush Administration officials.

Mr. Fitial said communication lines have already been established between Commonwealth and US governments as part of local efforts to ensure Washington that measures are being taken to correct previous concerns raised by the Clinton Administration.

The speaker also mentioned that strong relationships have been established with a good number of US legislative leaders who are completely aware of the damaging effect of a federal takeover to the CNMI economy.

Mr. Fitial added federal takeover proposals have thinner chances at being able to make a first base not only because CNMI has more allies in the US now but, more importantly, because measures have been properly taken to improve the labor conditions in the Northern Marianas.

US legislators recently renewed attempts to extend the implementation of federal minimum wage and immigration laws to the Northern Marianas with the introduction of a new takeover measure.

Senators Frank Murkowski and Daniel Akaka, known staunch critics of the Commonwealth, have joined forces to introduce S. 507, which seeks to gradually eliminate the Commonwealth’s nonresident worker program.

Although passage of the legislation failed after it was tossed back to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for further review, CNMI lobbyist informed local lawmakers yesterday that there are strong indications that enough votes exist in favor of the measure.

Provisions of the proposed measure allow for a nine-year transition period wherein the islands’ nonresident workforce will be slowly phased out, while also giving room for eligible foreign workers to stay and apply for employment-based immigrant visas.

S. 507 also allows the CNMI to admit temporary alien workers who may not be eligible for admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act from the time the measure becomes a law until Dec. 31, 2009.