[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E909]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SUPPORT FOR ENDING ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN CNMI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 13, 1997

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, one of the major newspapers of 
the Pacific region has added its highly influential support to efforts 
to end the well-documented pattern of systematic human rights and labor 
abuses in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands [CNMI]. 
I would like to bring to the attention of my colleagues this editorial 
from the April 25, 1997, Pacific Daily News, a newspaper based in Guam 
with widespread circulation both in the Pacific and the United States.
  The article, ``Plans to Strip CNMI of its Labor, Immigration 
Authority Not Surprising,'' supports legislation I recently introduced 
with nearly 40 of our colleagues to bring immigration and minimum wage 
policies in the CNMI under Federal jurisdiction. H.R. 1450 also would 
require that goods made in the CNMI be labeled ``Made in USA'' only if 
all U.S. labor laws were adhered to in the manufacture of the goods.
  Contrary to promises by the CNMI government to crack down on 
continuing labor and human rights abuses, the government has actually 
rolled back worker protections. Just last week, the CNMI governor 
announced that he will seek to repeal current law that would have 
provided a 15-cent increase in the existing subminimum wage for the 
garment and construction industry--an increase that would at least have 
brought the wages of these workers into conformity with other 
industries. The lowest paid workers in America, these foreign 
laborers--and especially the women--work long hours, are often denied 
overtime wages, live and work in unsanitary and unhealthy conditions, 
and face physical and mental abuse from employers.
  The editorial strongly states ``If even a fraction of the numerous 
allegations of tolerance for illegal and immoral recruiting practices, 
human rights abuses and uncontrolled immigration are true, the CNMI 
deserves to be censured.'' Based on information contained in a report 
recently released by the Resources Committee, Economic Miracle or 
Economic Mirage, this threshold is easily met.
  The Pacific Daily News editorial articulates the concerns of many 
Members of Congress, religious and human rights organizations, labor 
unions, and U.S. citizens, when it notes that if the CNMI government 
and local businesses ``want to benefit from America's reputation, then 
they need to subscribe to the principles that founded this nation.''
  The article follows:

              [From the Pacific Daily News, Apr. 25, 1997]

 Plans To Strip CNMI of its Labor, Immigration Authority Not Surprising

       If U.S. Congressman George Miller has his way, the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas will be stripped of its 
     power to control immigration, set its own labor standards or 
     sell goods with the label ``Made in the USA.''
       That announcement should not come as a surprise, because 
     U.S. lawmakers and federal officials who have oversight of 
     the common-wealth's affairs have threatened to do that for 
     several years because of continued reports of abuse of these 
     powers.
       Besides curtailing CNMI immigration and labor powers, 
     Miller has written legislation that will force the Saipan 
     government to increase its minimum wage--something that 
     Northern Marianas leaders have been reluctant to enact.
       For years the commonwealth has been the subject of numerous 
     investigations and scathing criticism about indiscriminately 
     importing thousands of alien workers to fill low-paying 
     jobs--frequently described as sweat shops.
       Even with repeated promises from CNMI leaders to comply 
     with federal demands to clamp down on admitted abuses, Miller 
     isn't buying that anymore.
       Along with his bill, Miller will release a 21-page report 
     that details ``systematic labor, human rights and immigration 
     abuses in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas and 
     attempts to shield these abuses from public scrutiny.''
       If Miller, who is the senior-ranking Democrat on the House 
     Resources Committee, gets the support he needs, this may be 
     the end of the line for unchecked control of immigration and 
     labor in the Northern Marianas.
       If even a fraction of the numerous allegations of tolerance 
     for illegal and immoral recruiting practices, human rights 
     abuses and uncontrolled immigration are true, the CNMI 
     deserves to be censured.
       There must be competitive balance for states and 
     territories that comply with federal rules. And it's not 
     right that foreign workers are treated so shabbily while 
     someone else profits.
       If the CNMI government and businesses that indulge in this 
     practice want to benefit from America's reputation, then they 
     need to subscribe to the principles that founded this nation.
       Otherwise, sew a label on every garment that says: ``Made 
     in the CNMI by Low Paid Alien Workers.''

     

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