Kilili’s CW bill goes to a vote

Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan’s (Ind-MP) bill that would increase the numerical limit of the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker Nonimmigrant Visa (CW1 program) goes to a vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday (early Tuesday in the CNMI).

Sablan reintroduced his bill, House Resolution 339, in the first session of the 115th Congress on Jan. 5. HR 339 aims to add 2,002 CW workers permits in fiscal year 2017. It is the same bill that passed the House in December but died when the U.S. Senate adjourned four days later without tackling it.

HR 339 was immediately referred to the House committees on Natural Resources and Judiciary. The latter was for a period to be determined by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) for consideration that falls in the jurisdiction of the concerned committee.

Reps. Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) chair the Natural Resources and Judiciary committees.

Sablan said he is thankful to the leadership of the GOP-dominated House and his Democratic Party counterparts who gave his bill a new lease in life.

“I am grateful to the Republican and Democratic leadership in the House who are giving my effort a second chance. Hopefully, with more time [H.R. 339] can pass the Senate and get to the President for signature,” said Sablan.

The cap increase provides a temporary solution to the CNMI’s ongoing labor shortage, especially with the numerical limit already reached a few weeks after the beginning of fiscal year 2017.

“The increase is as important as ever. More and more businesses will find themselves unable to renew their CW permits over the coming months. The cap of 12,998 permits for fiscal 2017 was reached in mid-October,” Sablan said. “Employers of foreign workers have been blocked from applying for new permits or submitting renewals for any existing permits expiring after mid-April.”

HR 339, if it becomes a law, would increase the number of CW permits from 12,998 to 15,000 just for fiscal year 2017.

The 15,000 total was the same level more than three years ago.

HR 339 is known as the Northern Mariana Islands Economic Expansion Act.

HR 339 also aims to increase the education fee for each approved CW permit of a foreign worker from $150 to $200, with the funds to be used to train U.S. qualified workers that are either studying at the Northern Marianas College or at the Northern Marianas Trades Institute.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, as the CNMI’s special representative to the 902 talks, and the other members of the Commonwealth’s panel had suggested in the 902 report that the CW cap be increased to 18,000 and the program be extended for another 10 years as it is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2019.