DEAR U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds:
We, the Unified Mayors of the Northern Mariana Islands, write to express our collective support for H.R. 2132, a critical bill that seeks to restore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ eligibility for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service Program. This legislation is vital for addressing the transportation challenges our islands face and ensuring long-term economic stability, healthcare accessibility, and sustainable growth.
The CNMl’s geographic isolation presents significant logistical and economic hurdles, and reliable air service is a necessity-not a luxury-for our community. The EAS Program will help mitigate these challenges by ensuring affordable, reliable, and consistent air transportation for our residents. This program is essential in three critical areas:
1. Ensuring access to healthcare for CNMI residents
Many of our residents require specialized medical treatment that is unavailable in the CNMI, necessitating travel to Guam, Hawaii, or the U.S. mainland. The reinstatement of the EAS Program will help alleviate the financial burden associated with limited flight availability and high airfare costs, ensuring that our people, particularly those with chronic illnesses, cancer, or emergency medical needs, can receive proper treatment without excessive delays or financial hardship.
Medical referrals outside of the CNMI are not a choice but a necessity. Limited flight availability and high airfare costs currently create severe barriers to healthcare access. By reinstating EAS subsidies. we can guarantee stable air service, allowing our people to seek life-saving medical care in a timely and affordable manner.
2. Revitalizing the CNMI’s economy through tourism
Tourism is the lifeblood of the CNMI’s economy, accounting for a substantial portion of our revenue and employment. The decline in air service to the CNMI has significantly impacted visitor arrivals, with many potential tourists discouraged by the high cost and limited availability of flights.
By restoring the EAS Program, we can attract more airline carriers, increase flight frequency, and reduce airfare costs, making the CNMI a more accessible and competitive destination in the global tourism market. This will directly benefit local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and tour operators, all of which rely on a steady influx of visitors to sustain their operations and workforce.
3. Securing a stable supply chain for essential goods and materials
The CNMI’s remote location makes it heavily dependent on imported goods and materials for daily necessities, including food, fuel, medical supplies, and construction materials. Limited and unreliable air service disrupts the timely delivery of these essential goods, driving up costs for consumers and businesses alike.
The EAS Program will ensure a consistent and sustainable air transport network, reducing supply chain disruptions and maintaining affordable pricing for essential goods. This will benefit small businesses, healthcare providers, and local industries that depend on timely shipments to operate efficiently.
With ongoing economic challenges, many businesses in the CNMI are struggling to survive. Several have already closed due to declining revenue, exacerbated by high operational costs and low tourist arrivals. Without affordable and reliable air service, businesses will continue to suffer, leading to more closures, job losses, and a weakened economy.
A healthy business climate is essential for the CNMI’s recovery and sustainability. The EAS Program will help businesses lower transportation costs, attract more customers, and expand economic opportunities. This, in tum, will prevent additional closures and create a more resilient economic environment that benefits both residents and the government.
The CNMI’s isolation and unique challenges require federal support to ensure reliable and affordable air transportation. H.R.2132 is a critical piece of legislation that will help address these challenges by restoring the CNMI’s eligibility for the EAS Program.
We fully support your efforts in advancing this bill through Congress and engaging with federal agencies to ensure its passage. Restoring the CNMI’s eligibility for the Essential Air Service Program is vital to our economic recovery, healthcare accessibility, and overall quality of life.
As Unified Mayors, we stand together in urging swift congressional action to address our transportation challenges and reaffirm our commitment to working alongside your office to secure a sustainable and equitable air service solution for the people of the CNMI.
Thank you for your dedication to the people of the CNMI and for your efforts to improve our transportation infrastructure.
Sincerely,
RAMON “RB” JOSE BLAS CAMACHO
Mayor of Saipan
AUBRY M. HOCOG
Mayor of Rota
EDWIN P. ALDAN
Mayor of Tinian and Aguigan
VALENTIN N. TAISACAN
Mayor of the Northern Islands
