"King-Hinds also spoke of a need to collaborate with the Department of Labor and the business community in order to have a 'conversation about a [labor] policy that is particularized to the needs of the people of the Commonwealth.'"
Work with the Department of Labor and the business community to develop a labor policy tailored to the needs of Commonwealth residents.
Occurrences
Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds has shared a draft proposal to amend the Commonwealth’s immigration transition framework and is inviting review and feedback from Governor David M. Apatang and leaders across the CNMI before formally introducing the legislation in Congress.
Evidence
I met with the Department of Labor this week to discuss workforce challenges and ongoing programs, including the successes of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the possibility of continuing it.
Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds has shared a draft proposal to amend the Commonwealth’s immigration transition framework and is inviting review and feedback from Governor David M. Apatang and leaders across the CNMI before formally introducing the legislation in Congress.
Proposed Amendment: Extends the program through December 31, 2039. Proposed Amendment: Requires petitions filed for employment beginning in the first fiscal year after enactment to be approved by the Governor, in a manner substantially similar to the Governor of Guam’s approval role under federal H-2B regulations.
The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Governor, shall... determine the labor needs of the Commonwealth for the ensuing 10-year period... and determine whether an extension of up to 10 years is necessary.
Assessments
King-Hinds materially advanced a CNMI-tailored labor policy during the same federal term by meeting with labor officials, circulating draft labor-stabilization legislation, and proposing a framework involving Department of Labor labor-needs determinations and local approval mechanisms. However, the evidence shows development and consultation rather than enactment or a completed policy, and it does not clearly establish full collaboration with the business community. This supports serious effort and partial fulfillment, not full delivery.
Evidence shows King-Hinds engaged labor officials on CNMI workforce issues and circulated draft labor-stabilization legislation with mechanisms tailored to Commonwealth labor needs, including Department of Labor involvement and CNMI Governor approval. However, the record provided shows draft development and consultation rather than a completed, adopted, or demonstrably finalized labor policy developed jointly with both the Department of Labor and the business community. This supports partial fulfillment with a serious policy effort in the same term.