Congressional staff delegation to visit NMI

A congressional staff delegation composed of staff members of the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary will be visiting the CNMI on Aug. 10.

The delegation will be led by group leader Tony Babauta, who is the staff director of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs.

“The Subcommittee on Insular Affairs has requested my office to arrange meetings for the group. My District Office staff will be contacting those groups specified by the group leader [Babauta] to schedule the various meetings and courtesy calls,” said Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio.

The delegation will be meeting with some of the groups and individuals that met last month when staff from the Department of Homeland Security visited the CNMI. Officials from the U.S. DHS and other federal agencies tasked with drafting new federal labor and immigration rules for the CNMI came to the Northern Marianas July11-16 to begin talks on the regulations.

The upcoming congressional staff delegation reportedly wants to make sure that the intent of Public Law 110-229 is being met and, to the greatest extent possible, minimize any adverse economic and fiscal effects as the law is implemented.

“The staff delegation will also focus on programs that will be providing training for our local people for jobs in the private sector. They want to see what our resources are and how we are providing better opportunities for locals. Vocational training and job preparedness are vital in insuring a secure future for our people, and something that I pushed hard for in the legislation,” said Tenorio.

“I think that these meetings are important and that Congress remains engaged in the process. I am also pleased to see so many individuals and groups interested in the development of the regulations for this law. I have encouraged DHS officials as well as congressional staff to listen to the businesses community, government officials, the general public and other non-government organizations. Local input is vital to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security drafts regulations that are realistic, responsive to our unique needs, and helpful in our critical effort for our economy recovery,” said Tenorio. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]