The letter of Sens. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.N., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Ak., was also signed by Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo and CNMI Congressman Gregorio C. Sablan.
Bingaman chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources while Bordallo heads the U.S. House subcommittee on insular affairs which last month heard Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s plea to further delay federalization.
The letter of the four U.S. lawmakers was addressed to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
The lawmakers said they are also opposed to any delay in the submission of Interior’s report on foreigners working and residing in the CNMI.
“There are many challenges to overcome in implementing the [federalization] law,” they told Salazar and Napolitano. “However, your responsibility is to carry out the law according to the schedule set forth in the statute and consistent with congressional intent.”
They said Interior and Homeland Security should review the Government Accountability Office report on federalization’s potential economic impact and implement its key recommendation — “establish an interagency process to jointly implement the legislation and to jointly develop strategies to obtain critical data.”
“We share a concern for the economic condition in the CNMI,” the lawmakers said. “Quick and coordinated implementation of the new law is needed to end the current uncertainty and establish a firm foundation for the future. We look forward working with you to establish this foundation quickly.”
The lawmakers at the same time are seeking a “classified briefing, in coordination with the Department of Defense, on the security risks associated with foreign visitors in the CNMI and Guam.”
The islands want China and Russia included in the U.S. visa waiver program, which the lawmakers said “appears to establish standards that are not appropriately tailored to the unique needs of the CNMI and Guam.”
Under the program, tourists from China and Russia must apply for U.S. visas before they can visit the islands.
The CNMI believes this will further cripple its tourism industry.
