[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 15 (Monday, January 30, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H710-H712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS ECONOMIC EXPANSION ACT
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 339) to amend Public Law 94-241 with respect to the Northern
Mariana Islands.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 339
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Northern Mariana Islands
Economic Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS:
TRANSITIONAL WORKERS.
Section 6 of Public Law 94-241 (48 U.S.C. 1806) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(6), by striking ``$150'' and
inserting ``$200''; and
(2) in subsection (d)(2)--
(A) by striking the period at the end of the first sentence
and inserting ``, except a permit for construction
occupations (as that term is defined by the Department of
Labor as Standard Occupational Classification Group 47-0000
or any successor provision) shall only be issued to extend a
permit first issued before October 1, 2015.''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end of the third sentence
and inserting ``, except that for fiscal year 2017 the number
of permits issued shall not exceed 15,000.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana
Islands (Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, the House has before it H.R. 339, sponsored by
Congressman Sablan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The House passed an identical bill this past December just before the
conclusion of the 114th Congress. However, that bill was unable to pass
the Senate and make it to the President's desk for signature before the
end of that Congress, and so I am here today to once again urge the
bill's passage through the House and on to the Senate.
The Northern Mariana Islands are benefiting by new investment and
growth of consumer spending, particularly in tourism. Their economic
growth rate is almost twice that of the rest of our country.
To meet this growth, the Commonwealth has to maintain a workforce to
match it. Currently, the Northern Marianas is phasing out the use of
foreign workers by slowly reducing the total number of CW-1 permits
issued by the Department of Homeland Security. Economic growth is
dynamic, but bureaucracy is not. If the CW-1 permits are phased out too
quickly, the islands may suffer a growth-stopping shortage of labor.
This bill would provide flexibility to the Commonwealth in order to
protect its newfound economic prosperity in three critical ways:
First, it would fund ongoing vocational education curricula and
program development to assure a skilled domestic workforce funded from
an increase in CW-1 fees from $150 to $200.
Second, it would limit the CW-1 permits for construction occupation
to those issued prior to October 1 of 2015.
And third, it would temporarily increase the number of CW-1 permits
during this transition period.
Mr. Speaker, these changes will continue to accommodate the economic
growth in the Northern Marianas, while assuring a trained domestic
workforce for the future.
I would urge adoption of the bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H711]]
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Rob Bishop for allowing
my bill to come to the floor again.
We passed the same bill in the House on December 6, but the Senate
adjourned 3 days later without acting, and the problem has not gone
away.
The economy of the Northern Mariana Islands grew 3.5 percent last
year, the fourth straight year of growth for my district.
This strong economic expansion is good news for the people I
represent. We desperately want this growth to continue because our
economy is still smaller than it was in 2000.
The Northern Mariana Islands Economic Expansion Act addresses that
problem and is broadly supported back home.
Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from Governor
Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres of the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands; from the Commonwealth's Strategic Economic Development
Council; the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation; the Hotel Association
of the Northern Mariana Islands; and from the Saipan Chamber of
Commerce.
CNMI Strategic Economic
Development Council,
December 1, 2016.
Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Sablan: The CNMI Strategic Economic
Development Committee is in strong support of H.R. 6401,
critical legislation that will provide short-term relief from
the labor shortage threatening the growth of the Northern
Marianas economy.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis indicates the
Commonwealth economy grew for the fourth consecutive year, a
recent high of 3.5 percent. This is attributable to increased
private investment and tourism now threatened by the lack of
available qualified workers on the island.
The modest one-year increase in Commonwealth-Only
Transitional Workers (CW) proposed under H.R. 6401, will
provide the business community with the necessary human
resources to continue to operate and propel an expanding
economy.
It is imperative that we do not stymie our plan for fixture
economic growth, now beginning to come to frutition, with a
labor shortage in critical areas.
The bill also provides additional funds for the job
training/education programs proven effective at expanding the
pool of qualified and skilled U.S. workers in the CNMI.
The CNMI Strategic Economic Development Council fully
supports H.R. 6401 and appreciates all of your efforts in
addressing the labor crisis in the Northern Marianas.
Very truly yours,
Alexander A. Sablan,
Sub Committee Chairman, Labor & CW Task Force, CNMI
Strategic Economic Development Committee.
____
Saipan Chamber of Commerce,
December 2, 2016.
Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Sablan: The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is
in strong support of H.R. 6401, critical legislation that
will provide short-term relief from the labor shortage
threatening the growth of the Northern Marianas economy.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis indicates the
Commonwealth economy grew for the fourth consecutive year, a
recent high of 3.5 percent. This is attributable to increased
private investment and tourism now threatened by the lack of
available qualified workers on the island.
The modest one-year increase in Commonwealth-Only
Transitional Workers (CW) proposed under H.R. 6401, will
provide the business community with the necessary human
resources to continue to operate and propel an expanding
economy. It will also provide additional critical funds for
job training and education programs that are steadily
expanding the pool of qualified and skilled U.S. workers on
Saipan.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce fully supports H.R. 6401 and
appreciates all of your efforts in addressing the labor
crisis in the Northern Marianas.
Very truly yours,
Velma M. Palacios,
President of the Board, Saipan Chamber of Commerce.
____
Hotel Association of the
Northern Mariana Islands,
December 2, 2016.
Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Sablan: The Hotel Association of the
Northern Mariana Islands is in strong support of H.R. 6401,
critical legislation that will provide short-term relief from
the labor shortage threatening the growing hospitality
industry in the Northern Marianas.
Due in large part to increased private investment and
tourism the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis recently
announced that the Commonwealth economy grew for the fourth
consecutive year.
However, our hotel and resort properties are in critical
need of labor, particularly those with skills and experience
in the hospitality industry, culinary arts and property
maintence. The inability of employers to renew or hire new
Commonwealth-Only Transitional Workers (CW) threatens their
continued operations and chills future investment in our
islands.
The modest one-year increase in CWs, proposed under H.R.
6401, will allow the hospitality industry to continue to
provide first-class service to our tourists.
The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands fully
supports H.R. 6401 and appreciates all of your efforts in
addressing the labor crisis in the Northern Marianas.
Very truly yours,
Gloria Cavanagh,
Chairman, Hotel Association of the
Northern Mariana Islands.
____
Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands,
December 2, 2016.
Hon. Gregorio ``Kilili'' Camacho Sablan,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Sablan: Commonwealth Healthcare
Corporation (CHCC) is in strong support of H.R. 6401.
This critical legislation would provide an increase in the
FY 2017 limit on Commonwealth-only Transitional Workers (CW)
and allow the CHCC to petition for renewal of 39 essential
healthcare workers impacted when the CW cap was reached just
two weeks into the Fiscal Year.
Our Commonwealth Health Center (CHC) is the only hospital
in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, providing
inpatient and outpatient acute, chronic, and emergency health
care services to the people of the CNMI. We also maintain
community health centers on the populated islands of Saipan,
Tinian, and Rota.
Our ability to continue to provide these essential on-
island health care services, and maintain quality patient
care and safety as well as maintain overall public health,
depends on being able to maintain current staffing levels and
specialized expertise.
Without an increase to the CW cap this year, CHC stands to
lose the services and experience of 34 staff nurses, two
infection control nurses, a clinical laboratory scientist and
specialists in mammography and ultrasonography.
For the foregoing reasons, we are in full support H.R. 6401
and are grateful for your work in addressing this critical
health care issue.
Sincerely,
Esther L. Muna,
Chief Executive Officer.
____
Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands,
December 4, 2016.
Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Congressman Sablan: I write to support H.R. 6401,
critical legislation that will provide short-term relief from
the labor shortage facing the Commonwealth that threatens our
growing economy and public health.
The latest report from Bureau of Economic Analysis
indicates the Commonwealth economy grew for the fourth
consecutive year. A growing economy needs a qualified
workforce. And while there are now more U.S. workers than
foreign workers in the Northern Marianas for the first time
in decades, there are still not enough to meet the labor
demand. The temporary increase in the number of Commonwealth-
Only Transitional (CW) workers provided in your bill will
particularly help small businesses retain the workers needed
to maintain operations.
Most importantly, the Commonwealth's only hospital, stand
to lose critical staff including 34 staff nurses, two
infection control nurses, a clinical laboratory scientist and
specialists in mammography, ultrasonography without the
relief provided in H.R. 6401.
Building a qualified U.S. workforce in the Northern
Marianas is a priority for my administration. The CW worker
fee increase in the legislation will provide additional
funding for efforts to recruit, educate, and train these
workers and establish a permanent pool of workers to fill
local jobs.
H.R. 6401 is critical to continued economic growth in the
Northern Marianas. The bill has my full support.
Sincerely,
Ralph DLG Torres,
Governor.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank again Chairman Rob Bishop of
the Natural Resources Committee for his understanding and support. I
also thank Chairman Don Young who held a hearing on this issue last
September and agreed that action was needed.
I appreciate the support of Ranking Member Raul Grijalva and our new
Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee Ranking Member
Norma Torres.
Mr. Speaker, I am indebted to the minority whip, Mr. Hoyer, and to
the
[[Page H712]]
majority leader, Mr. McCarthy, and to my friend Mr. McClintock of
California who agreed to bring H.R. 339 to the floor today.
I ask for support of H.R. 339.
Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would urge the House to finish the
work that it began in December by passing this bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 339.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________