8 US lawmakers on Saipan, talk immigration with key businesses

U.S. House Natural Resources Committee chair Doc Hastings (R-Wa) and seven other members of Congress arrived on Saipan yesterday and were treated to a beachside welcome dinner reception that mixed island hospitality and informal talks with key business leaders about immigration policies such as the requested extensions of the CNMI’s exemption from accepting asylum applications, national H visa cap, CNMI-only investor visa, and foreign worker program by legislation.

U.S. House Natural Resources Committee chairman Doc Hastings, left, presents a memento to Gov. Eloy S. Inos, right, at a welcoming dinner reception that the governor and Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) hosted last night for members of Congress, at the beachside of Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan. (Haidee V. Eugenio)

The Hastings delegation, which includes the CNMI’s own delegate, Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), also stopped in Australia and New Zealand for talks on the free-trade Trans-Pacific Partnership, energy development, and the realignment of U.S. forces in the Western Pacific.

Gov. Eloy S. Inos and Sablan co-hosted the welcome dinner reception at the beachside of Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan.

“We’re glad to have you all here on Saipan,” the governor told the delegation.

Besides Hastings, the delegation also has Agriculture Committee chairman Frank Lucas.

Also on the team are Chairman Jack Kingston, the third-ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee and Chair of its Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Chairman John Fleming, who heads the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs; Doug Lamborn, who chairs the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee; Richard Hudson, Chairman of the Transportation Security Subcommittee; and Rob Woodall, Chairman of Rules Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process.

“Your hospitality has been very, very good. We surely look forward to tonight,” Hastings said at the welcoming reception.

He said he’s privileged to lead the delegation, and privileged to chair the House Natural Resources Committee, which has jurisdiction over U.S. territories.

Hastings presented the governor with a porcelain memento depicting Washington, D.C.

Only a few minutes into the reception and the congressional delegation members were already in informal talks with key business leaders in the CNMI, mainly on immigration policies that affect the CNMI.

A pending bill seeks to extend beyond 2014 the CNMI’s exemption from accepting asylum applications to help protect the now recovering tourism industry. The bill also seeks to extend beyond 2014 both the E2-C investor visa program and the foreign worker program, along with an extension of the CNMI and Guam’s exemption from the national H visa cap.

Among the CNMI business leaders that got to sit down and talk to the visiting members of Congress were Duty Free Shoppers’ Marian Aldan-Pierce, Joeten Group of Companies’ Norman Tenorio, Triple J’s Robert Jones, McDonald’s Joe Ayuyu, Delta Air Lines’ Chris Concepcion, Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Alex Sablan, Dr. Vicente Aldan, and Delta Management’s Jim Arenovski.

The governor was also joined by other government officials, including House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), Senate President Ralph Torres (R-Saipan), Northern Marianas College President Dr. Sharon Hart, and Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio.

Sablan, in a statement, said he’s “very grateful that these Members accepted my invitation and took the time from their very busy schedules to visit the Northern Marianas and learn about the work we are all doing to grow our economy and improve life for everyone in our islands.”

This morning, the congressional delegation will join the governor in cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the new Garapan public market.

Funding for this project was a $200,000 earmark that Sablan obtained during his first year in Congress. Sablan got $1.35 million in earmarked funds specifically to the CNMI that year, but it was also the last year than earmarks were permitted.

The market will be a venue for local farmers, ranchers, and fishermen to make their produce available seven days a week.

“The Garapan Public Market was just an idea for years, because there was no funding. Now, because of the earmark I pushed through, we have a place that will help grow our agricultural and fishing economy, add to our tourism, and help us all be a little healthier by eating fresh, local foods. I’d say that is a pretty good return on a $200,000 investment,” Sablan said.

He also recognized the work that the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources did to put his earmark to use, including Secretary Arnold Palacios and staff.

The Garapan public market has also led to the formation of a new CNMI Farmers Cooperative Association, which could mean greater cooperation and coordination among farmers.

The congressional delegation heads back to Washington shortly after the Garapan Public Market opening ceremony.