SENATOR Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, were on Tinian Monday for a “fact-finding” visit to assess ongoing military construction.
They were accompanied by their respective spouses, U.S. congressional staff members, and military officials.
U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds, Lt. Gov. Dennis Mendiola, Senate President Karl King-Nabors, Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas Camacho, Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan, Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog, and Special Assistant for Military Affairs Edward Camacho also joined the Senate delegation in touring sites of diverted airfield construction and runway restorations on Tinian’s North Field.
Wicker, who is also a member of the Senate Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and his wife Gayle, along with Fischer, who is also a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and her husband Bruce, were also guided by CNMI officials to historical sites on Tinian, including the bomb pit where the Enola Gay was launched 80 years ago.
Wicker expressed appreciation for the warm welcome from local officials and community members. “It’s good to be here with fellow Americans,” he said.
He emphasized the principle he and his fellow senators have advocated on the Armed Services Committee: “That we want peace through strength,” a concept rooted in President Ronald Reagan’s platform. Wicker added that “peace through strength” was the principle that prevented the Cold War from escalating into active conflict. He also noted that, in the past, U.S. unpreparedness contributed to global conflicts: “Perhaps not being prepared or willing to admit war could happen led to World War II.”
“Part of what the U.S. Senate is doing,” Wicker said, “is fact-finding to see how our buildup is going here on the island of Tinian.” He added that after Tinian, the delegation will visit other Pacific islands before proceeding to “our allies in the Philippines and making a meaningful visit to Taiwan.”
King-Hinds noted that this is the first time a chairman of the Armed Services Committee has visited the site of ongoing military construction on Tinian. She added that much of the discussion during the tour focused not only on military development but also on the economic challenges the community is facing.
“When you have visits like this, they now have the opportunity — by ‘they,’ I mean the chairman of the Armed Services Committee and Sen. Fischer, who also sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee,” King-Hinds said.
She emphasized the importance of listening directly to CNMI residents about their economic challenges. “So that we can all figure out together how we can move forward, whether through the [amendment] to the cabotage law or the amendment of CW rules to address labor shortages,” King-Hinds said.
Lt. Gov. Mendiola, representing Gov. David M. Apatang, said the visit was a valuable opportunity for the CNMI community. “So that we can actually show some of the legislators in the nation’s capital what the CNMI is really going through. It’s challenging for us economically, but through this diverted airfield project, maybe we can find mutual aid where they can help us and ensure that people benefit from this,” Mendiola said.
‘Dangerous moment’
In a statement, Wicker said, “we live in the most dangerous national security moment since World War II.” He said Congress “plays a vitally important role in reassuring U.S. allies and partners of our commitment to maintaining a favorable regional order in the Indo-Pacific.”
“On this trip, I will be meeting with our senior military leaders and speaking to our partners about opportunities for acceleration of our mutual national security efforts. Given the historic combination of the One Big Beautiful Bill’s defense investments and a ground-breaking FY26 NDAA, I want to ensure we do not miss any opportunities to build the right capabilities in the right places and help President Trump maintain peace through strength.”
For her part, Fischer said, “At a time of global unrest where the Chinese Communist Party continues its military buildup, maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific plays a crucial role in safeguarding our nation’s and our allies’ security. I look forward to joining Chairman Wicker on this CODEL to see firsthand how we can strengthen our posture in the region in order to safeguard American interests and our allies.”
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, fourth from left, and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, third from left, pose for a photo with CNMI officials at a World War II bomb pit on Tinian’s North Field during their visit on Monday.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, center, with Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan and Senate President Karl King-Nabors.
From left, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer and U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds visit the World War II bomb pit on Tinian’s North Field on Monday.
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds at the World War II bomb pit.
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker at the World War II bomb pit on Tinian’s North Field.
