House Clears Final Hurdle for CNMI Immigration Bill
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today took the final legislative step needed by the Congress to approve legislation to extend U.S. immigration laws to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and to authorize a CNMI non-voting Delegate to the House of Representatives. The legislation, which passed by a vote of 291-117, will now be sent to the White House to be signed into law.
“For too long, abuses took place in the CNMI, and for too long, remedial legislation was held hostage in this body. Let this legislation bring forth a new dawn, a start of a new era, and with a Delegate to this body, let the voices of the people of the CNMI be heard,” said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), a co-sponsor of the bill.
The Northern Mariana Islands Immigration, Security and Labor Act (ISLA) and the Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act (H.R. 3079), which would extend U.S. immigration laws to the CNMI and establish a federally administered guest worker program on the island, was unanimously approved by the House on December 11, 2007. H.R. 3079 was later incorporated into a larger package of bills, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (S. 2739), sponsored by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM); the legislation was approved by the U.S. Senate on April 10, 2008.
Delegate Donna M. Christensen (D-VI), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs and chief sponsor of H.R. 3079, praised the passage of the legislation and said, “The Congress’ approval of ISLA will ensure that employers have the ability to fill jobs, continue vocational training to empower CNMI residents with skills needed to succeed in their economy, foster partnerships with neighboring Guam to diversify the region’s economy, maintain adequate protections for the non-resident guest worker community, and strategically secure the Marianas archipelago.”
“Extending federal immigration law to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas closes the guest worker loophole under which so many were held in modern slavery. The Constitution’s guarantee of freedom must apply everywhere in the United States, no matter how remote,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr., (D-MI), a co-sponsor of H.R. 3079.
“The people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands will have a greater voice in Congress with the authorization for the election and seating of a Delegate to represent them in the House of Representatives. I look forward to the day that the Delegate from the CNMI is sworn in to the House of Representatives. This is long overdue, and a very important component of this omnibus, consensus bill. I thank Chairwoman Donna Christensen and Chairman Nick Rahall for their leadership in advancing this comprehensive legislation and ensuring the Delegate bill was made part of the overall effort,” said Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU).
The Bush Administration has testified before both the House and Senate in support of the legislation. Chairwoman Christensen, expressing a strong concern that all people on the CNMI have an opportunity to voice their opinions on H.R. 3079, held the first Congressional hearing on the islands in August 2007.
Apr 30, 2008
News Flash: House Passes Federalization and Delegate Bill...
...by a vote of 291 to 117. Unless President Bush vetos it (not likely), the bill will become law within 10 days.
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26 comments:
Assuming the President signs the bill into law in May 2008, the federal transition program (“federal takeover”) will thus begin on June 1, 2009 or possibly as late as November 28, 2009.
. . . depending on whether or not the feds seek a delay of up to 180 days to complete their regulations.
We won't likely know of any requested delay until closer to the commencement of the Transition Program.
Will workers still have united rally Sunday, May 4?
Does this mean the NMI residency plan is over?
Will Tina's bill still be voted on?
Will we be allowed to be deported after the President signs.
Sorry, I have so many questions.
This may surprise you but Federal law will supersede Tina's legislation. These lawmakers would not even qualify to manage a Hardy's restaurant. All laws pertaining to immigration and labor will be Federal, not local.
Yes you will still be allowed to be deported until the federalization law becomes effective either a year from now or up to 18 months from now. And then once it does go into effect, many of you will be losing your jobs and shipped back to your countries of origin as the federal system takes over. The goal of this law is to replace contract workers with local workers, gradually phasing out as many of you as they possibly can.
Yes you will still be allowed to be deported until the federalization law becomes effective either a year from now or up to 18 months from now. And then once it does go into effect, many of you will be losing your jobs and shipped back to your countries of origin as the federal system takes over. The goal of this law is to replace contract workers with local workers, gradually phasing out as many of you as they possibly can.
Save our contract workers! Tina for Delegate! Repeal federalization now!
David B. Cohen and the Ombudsperson have played the guest workers for dupes, using them to justify and expand their bureaucratic empires, obtain lucrative follow-on opportunities, then discarding the guest workers like used condoms.
Wow, the dishonest sore losers are out in force.
There were those who tried to warn you people that the proposed federalization was not really in your best interests, but you chose to listen to deceitful lawyers instead, who only wanted your money. This was not a victory for you, it is your ultimate demise. Congratulations, you got what you wanted!
The orginal bill had some provision for the guest workers remember the non-immigrant visa? But because of the misinformation disseminated to guam lawmakers it was blocked.
Good job Dekada Shyster! You got what you wanted.
SEC. 701. STATEMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL INTENT.
(a) IMMIGRATION AND GROWTH.—In recognition of the need to ensure uniform adherence to long-standing fundamental immigration policies of the United States, it is the intention of the Congress in enacting this subtitle—
(1) to ensure that effective border control procedures are implemented and observed, and that national security and homeland security issues are properly addressed, by extending the immigration laws (as defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(17)), to apply to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (referred to in this subtitle as the ‘‘Commonwealth’’), with special provisions to allow for—
(A) the orderly phasing-out of the nonresident contract worker program of the Commonwealth
S. 2739, tit. VII, subtit. A, § 701(a)(1)(A) (passed House, Apr. 29, 2008) (emphasis added). Good riddance, suckers!
Be careful what you wish for guest workers. Ask the people assisting and lobbying for your green card to do their work faster. because those undesirable or low-skilled and non-skilled guest workers would be sent back home fast. tsk tsk tsk. all plannings, plenty talkings and writings, do fast as you can.
Yep.. the sore losers are crying like babies aren't they. Funny.
I hope that all guestworkers will understand what's federalization is,what's the scenario.My only suggestion is save some money and be prepared on next 365 days.
I guarantee you every one of these idiot sore losers are on the payroll of Governor Benignorant Fitial.
Senate President "Slow", you really ought not be posting anonymously here ....
This is part of the effort to scare guest workers into supporting the lame-brained scheme to sue the Federal Government to stop this from happening. The people who are "gloating in defeat" are shedding crocodile tears for guest workers, whom they could otherwise a give a rat's ass about.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
We DEKADA,MOVERS,BICOL,UNITY MARCH CORE GROUP & UNITED FILIPINO ORGANIZATIONS(21 ORG.) are inviting all guestworkers to participate in forum this coming Saturday,May 03,2008 at 5:00 pm in Bicol Pavilion across Marianas High School.
Our agenda are regards to federalization and Longterm residence Status.Cong. Tina Sablan and Atty. Woodruff will be the guest speakers.Maraming Salamat po.
I'm also using anonymous here but you can call me "whatever"! My mesages for DEKADA, MOVERS, BICOL, UNITY MARCH CORE GROUP and UFO. Stop inviting us to your nonsence! Ang-kakapal ng pagmumukha ninyo, nakakahiya kayong lahat! hinde na kayo naawa at nakuntento sa mga katulad naming walang ginusto kunde makapagtrabaho at kumita para lang may-maipadala sa aming pamilya sa Pilipinas. Malapit ng bumalik sainyo ang lahat ng mga ginawa ninyo, dahil once the federal will take over the CNMI all of you will have to leave! gaya ng sinabe ng Tao Tao Tano "go home to your own home land!" (that will include us too). A lot of the Filipino guest workers are not stupid and now they learn that you are all panggulo sa CNMI! UFO? alam ba iyan ng ating consulado, iyang mga pinaggagawa ninyo? Tama na! Itigil na ninyo dahil wala na kayong magagawa pa, kahit pa anong gawin ninyo, hinde na mangyayari ang inaasam ninyo. Malalaman ninyo rin sa lalong madaling panahon na mali ang mga ginawa ninyo dito sa Saipan. Sinayang ninyo ang maganda sanang apportunidad para sa lahat ng manggagawa dito sa Saipan, dahil sa subra ninyong pagmamagaling, Iyan tuloy bagsak Filipinas tayong lahat. Hope to see you all there in the Philippines!!!
To last Anon;
Sa tingin ko ikaw ang makapal ang mukha,bakit kamo sarili mo lang dapat ang irepresent mo huwag mong idamay ang iba.Kung ayaw mong dumalo sa forum manahimik ka.Baka ikaw lang ang uuwi at ung ibang sinasama mo e nandito pa.Ang maipapayo ko sa iyo kung wala kang magagawa tumahimik ka na at kung gusto mo nag umuwi dahil nahihirapan kana umuwi ka na.At kung wala ka nang pera pakamatay kana ,dyan ang laki ng pacific ocean palunod ka na.Eto sa sasabihin ko sa iyo ISA KANG PINOY NA WALANG KWENTA TAKOT KA DI MO KAYANG IPANGTANGGOL ANG KARAPATAN MO.UMUWI KA NA BAKA ILEGAL KA NA.
translation?
Irene and Jerry;'s boys have over one thousand at Sunday rally even with Dekada boycott. They still want NMI residency. The United States runs labor and immigration now. God Bless America.
This economy is so bad, our leaders here are so dumb, that the reality is PI may have more opportunity.
If all of the Filipinos leave, who is going to do the real work on the island? The truth might be hard to swallow, but the local people of Saipan aren't known for their worth ethic...
That is actually one of the benefits of Public Law 110-229.
There will be no other choice. The CNMI will no longer have such a gross oversupply of unskilled workers.
Employers will need workers. Workers will need to pay CUC bills. Given adequate remuneration, people will increase the amount of work they do to meet the demand.
Thank God for the Ombudsperson.
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