Workforce Act puts U.S. workers first

Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) agreed with my characterization of the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act as a change in the dynamic of labor policy in the islands, as she wrapped up the hearing on the bill. As I see it, the Act leads to a Marianas economy where local workers are the main workforce. CW workers fill the gaps, when U.S. workers are not able, willing, and qualified for needed jobs.

Murkowski and I introduced the U.S. Workforce Act in the Senate and House on January 19 after months of drafting with a bipartisan congressional working group. The bill adds 10 years to the current labor transition period and 8,000 extra CW permits. Once we introduced the bill, Murkowski, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, quickly called a hearing. There was bipartisan support from Committee members and from the Trump administration.

I submitted for the record statements from Marianas government officials, businesses, and other constituents in favor of the bill. See video of the hearing at https://sablan.house.gov.

Read my statement to the Senate committee here.