FAS bill to go ahead, says Faisao

The chair of the House committee on Federal and Foreign Relations yesterday vowed to push a proposed measure restricting the stay of Freely Associated States in the CNMI, brushing aside criticisms as “misinterpretation” of its provisions.

Rep. Melvin Faisao also clarified that the restrictions apply only to either of these criteria: those who have contracted communicable diseases, with criminal record, people who are public charge or terrorists.

He said nationals from the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Marshalls, which together form the FAS, will still be welcome to enter the CNMI provided they don’t fall under the categories.

“The people do not seem to fully understand what the bill is proposing. The thinking is that we are restricting their entry,” Faisao told in an interview. “They are still welcome to come in and stay for as long as they want.”

He was reacting to comments aired during the two previous public hearings on House Bill 11-294, which he sponsored in an attempt to deal with the growing problems associated with hosting FAS citizens on the island.

While the measure has drawn overwhelming support from related government agencies, such as the Department of Public Health and the Public School System, residents from neighboring islands have opposed it due to what they claim as “discriminatory” nature of the proposal.

They instead have asked the CNMI government to mount a strong lobbying campaign in Washington to claim payment from the Compact Impact agreement that has been promised by the US. government under the 1986 accord.

But Faisao maintained his bill is a separate matter from the CNMI monetary claims, noting that even the amounts being sought by each government of US. territories in the Pacific seem to have disparity.

“This is to set the record straight on how much do they really owe us so that we can have an accountability to rely on,” he said.

Under the proposal, the commonwealth government will set up a monitoring scheme to keep track of FAS nationals eligible to stay on the island under the habitual residency act for record purposes.

Once the CNMI has documented these findings, then it will be easier for the government to demand reimbursement from Washington, according to Faisao, as set forth by the Compact of Free Association that allowed open migration of residents from neighboring islands into US soil.

A House joint panel, comprised of the committees on Federal and Foreign Relations as well as the Labor and Immigration, is expected to make its recommendations soon on the bill for deliberation by lawmakers.

The last public hearing has also been scheduled for April 7 on Tinian, after which the panel will fine tune the bill, according to Faisao.

The Northern Marianas, as well as Guam and Hawaii, have pressed for reimbursements on the costs of hosting FAS citizens, which they claim has strained limited infrastructure and public funds, like schools, hospitals, housing and welfare system.

Washington has reneged on its earlier pledges to provide financial assistance to these governments, compounding the costs that run to millions of dollars each year.