By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THREE officials of the executive branch yesterday flew to Washington, D.C. for the hearing set by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday there.
Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, his legal counsel Teresa Kim and Finance Secretary Eloy Inos will meet with three other members of the CNMI delegation that are already in the nation’s capital, the governor’s senior policy advisor Howard Willens, Attorney General Matthew Gregory and Immigration Director Melvin Grey.
Senate President Joseph M. Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian, and Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, are also part of the delegation.
According to the governor’s public information officer Cathy Anderson, the CNMI team is expected to return next week after the hearing.
In a separate interview, Rep. Ray N. Yumul, Covenant-Saipan, said the CNMI “should strongly recommend that the U.S. Congress to have an open forum to give the CNMI community the opportunity to comment on these very important issues,” referring to measures that will federalize local labor and immigration policies.
He said he was told that a fact-finding team of congressional staffers will fly to the CNMI after the U.S. Senate committee hearing.