‘Our work is not done’

President Bush has signed S. 2739 into law!

This is a significant victory for every advocate, every federal official, and every person who has fought to end labor and human rights abuses in the CNMI. It is a momentous victory for the guest workers in the CNMI. It is a personal victory for me, and for my family.

As an advocate who has worked on passing this legislation for almost 2 decades, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the members of the U.S Congress, especially to the members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources, and their dedicated staff members. They devoted hundreds of hours of hard work, untiring perseverance, and self-less determination to see this issue resolved.

Some members of Congress and staff members including Congressman George Miller (D-CA), Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), and Allen Stayman have pushed for effective reform for over a decade in a fight that has been difficult and fraught with obstacles. Some of the strongest proponents of this legislation have been personally vilified, attacked, libeled, and have even have lost jobs because of their conviction and determination to extend just and democratic laws to the CNMI. Yet, they stood their ground and continued the battle. The late Congresswoman Patsy Mink (D-HI) fought vehemently for immigration and labor reform in the CNMI. She is the one member of Congress who answered every e-mail, and replied to every letter that I sent to her with a handwritten personal note. Thank you also to Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), CNMI Washington Representative Pete A. Tenorio, Congressman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), Congresswoman Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI), Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), and Congressional staffers Tony Babauta, Brian Modeste, Josh Johnson, Ben Miller, Marie Howard, and Rich Stanton.

There are advocates and human rights organizations who helped to educate the public and officials on this issue, and who have worked to get this bill passed who should be thanked and applauded. Dennis Greenia, who some know as dengre from the Daily Kos, is a dear friend and fellow advocate. He never saw the faces of the guest workers, yet he educated thousands of Americans of their plight and disenfranchisement through his posts on the Daily Kos. He spent hundreds of hours working with me, communicating with members of Congress, and assisting the guest workers through his writing and efforts to get other human rights groups including Co-op America on board to assist.

Committed clergy and staff from The Sisters of the Good Shepherds, Guma Esperansa, and the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa have worked tirelessly to assist victims of human trafficking, have educated the public on the human trafficking problem in the CNMI, and have worked for solutions.

Since the 1990’s others have worked to institute meaningful reform in the CNMI – Dr. Eddie del Rosario, David Cohen, Danny Aranza, Phil Kaplan, Jess Varela, Global Survival Network, Sweatshop Watch, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Aloha Medical Mission, Filipino Community of Guam, Federation of Asian People of Guam, and dozens of friends and employees from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Interior, and other federal agencies. Not to mention, the numerous CNMI workers’ groups, attorneys, and residents who supported and fought for federalization. Most importantly, the guest workers, themselves who over the last couple year found their voices!

Our work is not done. We still need to address the issue of federal permanent status for the long-term guest workers. Now that the bill is signed, I will be carrying the petition from the guest workers to Washington, D.C. that requests green card status for the legal CNMI long-term guest workers. The guest workers have gotten over 5,000 signatures and are still working to get more.

We have to work to monitor the progress on setting policies to ensure that they are in the best interest of every person who calls the CNMI their home. Everyone deserves to have a seat at the table in negotiations, including representatives and advocates of the guest worker community.

It is time for the CNMI government to work in unity with the federal government to set the CNMI on a path towards prosperity; to work to unify all of the people who call the CNMI home.

Best wishes to all of the guest workers and their families on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian! I am with you in spirit today as you celebrate this victory in unity!