Governor: Thanks for H.R. 339 support

I sent Governor Ralph DLG. Torres a letter of thanks for his strong support of H.R. 339, my bill increasing the number of CW permits available for the Marianas in 2017. President Trump signed it into law in August.

Public Law 115-53 also blocks the use of CW permits for new construction work to protect local businesses unable to renew their legacy workers. And it adds extra money for training local workers. The Governor testified to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in April that the bill was “necessary and important.” And he agreed that “construction workers could be sourced through H2-B visas.” This could prove crucial, if the Trump administration deeply cuts CW permits for 2018. Many CW permits are now being used by temporary construction workers, who could get the H-2B visa instead. I have advocated for a CW cut of just one for 2018—to 12,997. That would be consistent with what the Obama administration had been doing.

Other community leaders, who provided letters of support for H.R. 339, also received letters of thanks, including Ms. Velma Palacios, President of the Board of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Gloria Cavanagh, Chairman of the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands; Mr. Alexander A. Sablan of the CNMI Strategic Economic Development Council; and Ms. Esther L. Muna, Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation. As a memento, they are also receiving a photo of the new law, signed by President Trump, framed with the pen that the President used.