Legislator assures hearing on FAS bill

A member of the House of Representatives yesterday said he would press for a public hearing on a pending legislation that will restrict the migration of citizens from the Freely Associated States into the Northern Marianas because of its “sensitive” nature.

Rep. Melvin Faisao, chair of the House Federal and Foreign Relations Committee, said the bill which he introduced should get input from the local community aside from the position of various government departments and agencies.

“This is a very sensitive legislation knowing that many FAS citizens have established deep-rooted relationships with the people and their relatives in the CNMI,” he told in an interview.

The statement came on the heels of overwhelming support from some agencies hailing the measure as a step in the right direction in view of growing number of FAS families living on government subsidy.

CNMI leaders maintain the unrestricted entry of the thousands of Micronesians from neighboring islands have strained local infrastructure and public funds — and compounded by failure of the U.S. government to shoulder the costs as provided under the Compact of Free Association.

Set to expire in two years, the landmark 1986 agreement has allowed thousands of citizens from the Federated States, Marshalls and Palau to migrate freely into the United States and its territories, including Guam and the CNMI.

According to Faisao, House Bill 11-294 is an effort by the commonwealth to be ready ahead of the Compact negotiations next October which may reduce Washington’s financial assistance to FAS governments.

“We would like to be prepared just in case the U.S. cut the amount of economic aid granted to FAS,” he explained. “We don’t want to see thousands of Micronesians flocking to the CNMI because of the reduction.”

Under the proposal, a mechanism will be set up to monitor Micronesians residing on the island to help lessen their impact on limited funds and infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals and social welfare services.

The bill will also provide clear-cut policies on the stay of FAS citizens who will have to be required to work or study full time — regulations to be imposed by the federal government on U.S. soil, excluding CNMI which controls its own immigration system.

Major government agencies, including the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation, have expressed support over the move as it will forbid FAS families from relying heavily on government subsidy.

Due to Washington’s inability to reimburse the costs, the Compact has come under close scrutiny from wealthier Pacific islands of Guam, Hawaii and the CNMI which have provided free education, housing and medical benefits in the past decade without federal assistance.