Washington, D.C. — CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds said she is preparing to roll out a proposed measure she calls the Northern Mariana Islands Labor Stabilization Act, framing it as an effort to create a more stable, long-term workforce policy as the current federal CW program heads toward its scheduled expiration in 2029.
In a video message posted Thursday, King-Hinds said the CW program’s annual permit numbers are expected to shrink each year leading up to 2029, and that “unless something changes,” the program will end completely, which she described as an unsustainable “cliff.”
King-Hinds said her proposal would extend the CW program another 10 years, with an option to extend it an additional 10 years after that, arguing the CNMI needs a workforce solution grounded in “real world needs” rather than an “arbitrary deadline.”
She also said the bill would change how decisions are made by giving the Governor “a voice” in the process and a funding source to support that role, which she compared to an arrangement she said Guam already has.
On wages, King-Hinds said the bill would adjust prevailing wage rules, arguing the CNMI is currently “lumped in with Guam” when there is not enough local wage data, something she said does not reflect the CNMI’s economic reality.
King-Hinds also pointed to construction, saying the CNMI has been under a “blanket ban” on construction permits unless a worker has long-term status. She said her proposal would remove that restriction and create a dedicated pool of construction permits so federal projects and private development are not competing with each other.
She said the bill would also eliminate the “touchback rule,” describing it as a policy that forced workers to leave the islands after a few renewals even if they had followed requirements, causing disruption.
King-Hinds said the proposal would create a narrow pathway for certain workers who fell out of status during or after COVID to return to lawful status, but only if they have been in the CNMI since 2019 and meet other requirements.
On enforcement, she said the bill includes new fees intended to go directly to immigration enforcement in the CNMI and seeks to give the Department of Homeland Security tools to remove people who should not be in the CNMI, “especially if they’ve committed crimes.”
King-Hinds described the bill as “practical” and “fair,” and said the measure is being built with community feedback. She said her office plans to roll out the bill and additional information so the public can review it and provide input before it is formally introduced.
Watch the full video on the NMI News Service Facebook page and YouTube channel.