‘HR 339 falls severely short’

The latest form of H.R. 339, which opened up 360 more slots for the Commonwealth’s foreign worker program, CW-1, has drawn flak from two local lawmakers.

According to Senate Health and Welfare Committee chair Sen. Teresita Santos (R-Rota), the amendment to H.R. 339 was “unexpected and sad.”

Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan) raised concerns about the effectiveness of H.R. 339, given that fiscal year 2017 will end on Sept. 30, 2017.

H.R. 339, as authored by Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan, sought to bump up the CW-1 slots from 12,998 to 15,000 in fiscal year 2017; increase the supplemental education fee from $150 to $200; and allow construction workers who were first issued permits before Oct. 1, 2015, to extend those permits.

However, the version passed by the U.S. Senate opened up only 350 CW-1 slots—reserving 60 slots for “healthcare workers” and 10 for power plant workers. That means only 280 slots for all others.

“With our growing population due to growing developments in the CNMI, it is highly imperative that the U.S. Congress considers increasing our CW-1 slots for nurses for 2018 to avert our nurses working longer hours, decreasing nurses burnout, and reducing overtime pay,” said Santos in an email to Saipan Tribune.

She said the increasing number of patients in the CNMI, which includes a diverse demographic that consists of tourists, locals, and even CW-1 workers, is being affected by the limited number of nurses.

“Maintaining an appropriate nurse-patient ratio is crucial to ensure the best healthcare is provided to our patients. Anything in the contrary would impact the safety and quality of patient care at our hospital and clinics,” said Santos.

Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan) is concerned over the nearing end of the fiscal year.

“… By the time this bill becomes law, if it does become law, businesses will essentially not be able to avail of the additional CW slots,” said Demapan.

Though thankful for the amendments offered by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), “the [Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s] capacity will still not be met with only 60 permits set aside.”

“The numbers simply do not add up and, obviously, if the intent was to ensure we have enough nurses to take care of our people, then H.R. 339 falls severely short of doing so,” said Demapan.

Possible construction worries

Demapan noted that, although H.R. 339 addresses some problems of the CW-1 program, it overlooks another problem caused by one of its provisions: construction workers.

“I am even much more concerned about the short-sighted approach of the bill to not set aside a certain amount of permits for construction workers,” said Demapan, adding that he has been contacted by “almost all the Commonwealth’s longstanding and honest construction companies that…helped build our residential homes, schools, churches, and even our roads.”

“ [The construction companies] have expressed their disappointment with regards to how H.R. 339 was crafted to put construction companies out of business and chokehold the future of our economy,” said Demapan.

He said he is “deeply concerned” about the impacts H.R. 339 imposes on CNMI residents and “their chance at building affordable homes in the future.”

“What we need is legislation that addresses our long-term needs and provides equity for residents and businesses alike,” said Demapan.

H.R. 339 is back in the U.S. House for action. However, Congress is in recess right now.