SAIPAN — Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds said Friday her office will work to educate incoming DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin on the importance of the CNMI’s tourism and travel policies, the same approach it took with his predecessor.
Mullin, nominated Friday by President Trump to replace Kristi Noem at the Department of Homeland Security, co-signed a January letter calling for the elimination of EVS-TAP, the sub-program of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program that allows Chinese nationals to enter the CNMI visa-free.
King-Hinds acknowledged the reality of turnover in Washington but said it would not change her approach.
“The one thing you learn pretty quickly in Washington is that people and positions change all the time,” King-Hinds said. “That’s just the nature of the job.”
She said her office had invested significant time in recent months building understanding of CNMI-specific policy concerns with Noem’s team and would do the same with Mullin.
“Now Senator Mullin is stepping into the role, and like every federal partner we work with, we’ll take the time to make sure he understands our islands, our economy, and what these policies mean for our people,” she said.
King-Hinds said her core responsibility remains unchanged.
“My responsibility is to keep showing up, keep educating folks in Washington, and keep advocating for the CNMI. And that’s exactly what we’ll continue to do,” she said.
