By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King‑Hinds closed 2025 with a series of legislative accomplishments in Washington, D.C. She championed measures to stabilize the Commonwealth’s economy and secure long-term labor solutions, positioning herself for a 2026 reelection bid.
King‑Hinds has made the CNMI‑Only Transitional Worker or CW‑1 visa program a central priority. Set to expire in 2029, the program is vital to the Commonwealth’s economy, sustaining the hospitality, construction, and healthcare sectors. She has introduced measures to strengthen and extend the program, arguing that without a reliable labor force, the CNMI cannot stabilize its tourism industry or attract new investment.
“We cannot afford uncertainty when it comes to our workforce,” King‑Hinds said earlier this year. “The CW‑1 program is essential to keeping our economy afloat and ensuring businesses can operate.”
Securing CNMI’s role in the NDAA
Her most notable success in 2025 was securing the Commonwealth’s inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act. The measure provided funding for defense infrastructure, workforce training, and elevated the CNMI’s role in U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. Analysts said the NDAA provisions could generate contracts for local businesses, create skilled jobs, and strengthen the islands’ visibility in Washington.
Implications of NDAA inclusion
• Defense infrastructure investment. Funding for military readiness projects in the Marianas, including upgrades to ports and airports, strengthens both national security and local economic activity.
• Workforce development. Provisions allow for training programs aligned with defense needs, creating new opportunities for CNMI residents in skilled trades and technical fields.
• Federal visibility. Inclusion in the NDAA elevated the CNMI’s profile in Washington, signaling that the Commonwealth’s strategic location is integral to U.S. Indo-Pacific policy.
• Economic spillover. Defense-related projects are expected to generate contracts for local businesses, providing a boost to the private sector while tourism revenues remain depressed.
Addressing tourism challenges
King‑Hinds also pressed federal agencies to resolve delays in the Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program, which disrupted tourism arrivals earlier in the year. After sustained advocacy, the Department of Homeland Security resumed processing approvals, helping stabilize air service routes.
She worked with the U.S. Department of Transportation to secure support for air service restoration and infrastructure upgrades, framing these efforts as critical to rebuilding the CNMI’s tourism economy.
Her legislative portfolio also included the Veterans TRAVEL Act, aimed at improving medical access for veterans in remote territories, and provisions in the NDAA linking defense readiness to local workforce development.
Community partnership
King‑Hinds emphasized that her initiatives rely on community involvement.
“I need everyone in the community to help shape our legislative direction,” she said. “Our success in Washington depends on the voices and ideas of the people I represent.”
Looking ahead
King‑Hinds, a Republican, won her seat in a five-ray race 2024 in. For this year’s election, Galvin Deleon Guerrero, president of Northern Marianas College, is so far the only challenger to announce his candidacy.
The contest is expected to test whether King‑Hinds’s Washington record resonates with voters against Deleon Guerrero’s local leadership credentials.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
