More cosponsors for status bill

Three more Members of Congress have co-sponsored the Northern Mariana Islands Workforce Stabilization Act, bringing the total number of Republicans and Democrats supporting my bill to 27. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-California), Barbara Lee (D-California), and Yvette Clark (D-New York) all added their names to H.R. 6578. I wanted to include status for long-term workers to the U.S. Workforce Act, Public Law 115-218, but legislation requires negotiation. And when you negotiate, you do not get everything you want. This year, what was most important for the Marianas economy — and for long-term workers — was to get 10 more years and reset the CW cap to 13,000. And we succeeded. Next year, I expect Democrats will regain control of the House and introduce a comprehensive immigration bill. I plan to “piggyback” the Stabilization Act on that larger bill and finally reach my goal of status for our long-term workers and investors.