WASHINGTON — CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds announced that the conference committee draft of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes two major CNMI provisions, placing them in the negotiated text that will move to the House and Senate for final approval.
King-Hinds said one provision updates federal law to allow military vessels to undergo repair and maintenance in the CNMI, removing what she described as a legal omission that previously prevented CNMI businesses and workers from competing for such work. She said the change does not guarantee immediate contracts but establishes eligibility for future projects tied to Defense Department maritime needs.
She said the second provision directs a comprehensive study on expanding U.S. Coast Guard operations in the CNMI, including port visits, deployments, and the potential assignment of fast response cutters, and would assess what operational activity the CNMI can support and what infrastructure may be needed for an increased Coast Guard presence.
King-Hinds said the provisions position the Commonwealth to benefit from future maritime and defense activity and support long-term economic opportunity.
