July 21, 2025

CHC expected to lose nearly 30 non-US nurses in 6-8 months

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) has informed the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce during a “markup” session last Tuesday that the CNMI’s only hospital, Commonwealth Health Center, anticipates losing nearly 30 non-U.S. nurses over the next six to eight months.

Asked about Sablan’s statements, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief executive officer Esther L. Muna said yesterday that losing non-U.S. nurses is due to the touchback provision.

“But we’re replacing them [non-U.S. nurses] as we go along with local nurses and new hires. Of course, replacing is not as fast as losing them,” Muna said.

Touchback provision refers to the requirement for foreign workers to leave the CNMI before their work visas could be renewed for a third consecutive time. The departure requirement means that these workers will have to stay away from the CNMI until a new permit is approved, which could take months.

Sablan said in his testimony before the Committee on Education and Workforce that making investments in the Marianas workforce as Wagner-Peyser Act program would help ensure that the CNMI has U.S. workers well prepared to meet the needs of businesses and employers.

The delegate said he strongly supports H.R. 6655, also known as A Stronger Workforce for America Act.

Sablan’s legislation, H.R. 3193, or the Employment Services and Jobs Parity Act, is included in H.R. 6655.

H.R. 3193 seeks to include the Marianas and American Samoa in the Federal Employment Service by amending the Wagner-Peyser Act.

He said they have a bipartisan agreement and that now is the time to upgrade America’s economic competitiveness by making sure job seekers and employers in the Marianas or throughout the United States get the same high-quality services as other Americans everywhere else in the United States does.

Sablan thanked Committee chair Virgina Foxx (R-North Carolina) for the commitment to work together to support U.S. workers and employers “in this way and to reach bipartisan agreement.”

“It has been a long-standing priority of mine, along with the gentle lady from American Samoa to include the Northern Mariana Islands and the American Samoa under the Wagner- Peyser Act,” he said.

Sablan said it is not what he was looking for, but he will take this agreement nonetheless.

The CNMI and American Samoa are the only two remaining U.S. jurisdictions ineligible to participate in the critical programs under Wagner-Peyser Act.

Sablan said for the CNMI, his bill fills a critical gap in the workforce development services as it will able to provide employees by adding the Northern Marianas to the fundamental Federal Employment Service, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit under Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program, “strengthening available services for workers and businesses needed now more than ever before.”

He said the Marianas and Americans Samoa have a reliance on non-U.S. workers that has contributed to ongoing disruptions for workforce.

Sablan said in his e-kilili newsletter over the weekend that the committee completed its markup and favorably reported four pieces of legislation addressing investments in the workforce and workers’ rights.

He said of significant importance to the Marianas is the H. R. 6655, A stronger Workforce For America Act, which incorporated his proposal (H.R. 3193) to expand support for Marianas job seekers and employers by including the Marianas and American Samoa under the Wagner-Peyser Act.

H.R. 6655 received bipartisan support from members of the committee and now advances to the House floor for consideration.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (D-MP) talks about the Commonwealth Health Center’s anticipation of losing nearly 30 non-U.S. nurses in the next six to eight months during the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce markup session last Tuesday.

-CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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