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House leadership lauds Young
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Posted on Mar 14 2000
House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial hailed yesterday efforts by U.S. House Resources Committee Chair Don Young (R-Alaska) to block proposal that would have raised minimum wage in the CNMI to $6.15 an hour over a two-year period.
Mr. Fitial said that he has a “profound gratitude” to Mr. Young for his continuing support in protecting the local affairs of the island.
As a result of his efforts and friends of the Commonwealth in Congress, the NMI is successfully excluded from the recently approved federal minimum wage. The measure proposes to raise the hourly wage by a dollar over the next two years.
Mr. Fitial said the exclusion of the NMI from the federally mandated wage should “grant us the opportunity to regroup and work on positive economic reform measures foremost of which is the emplacement of investment stability in these islands”.
He added: “We will work closely with Congressmen Tom DeLay, Young, Dick Armey and all our friends to ensure that labor laws, federal and local, are adhered to by all industries. It’s the only way to revive lasting investments in the NMI.”
The House leader also disclosed that such an effort “ensures that the opportunity to strengthen our democratic institutions are effected forthwith so we don’t waste time fighting a war of special interest.
“My profound Si Yuus Maase` to our friends in the U.S. Congress and friends of the Commonwealth for an exemplary job in protecting our economic freedom,” added Mr. Fitial.
