Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said the committee will meet any time next week to prepare the initial draft.
Once it’s done they may call for another series of meetings with various government agencies, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and other members of the community to discuss the draft report.
Manglona said they intend to finish the draft on Oct. 1, conduct more meetings and finalize the report on Nov. 1.
He said the committee will submit the report to the U.S. Congress.
According to Manglona, their report will be more comprehensive than what Interior submitted.
It will contain what the CNMI people and its leaders have to say about the federalization law and Interior’s improved status recommendation for guest workers.
Manglona said the public hearings are in compliance with the joint resolution that the Legislature adopted after Interior submitted its report to the U.S. Congress last April.
CNMI leaders insist that they were never consulted by Interior, which the department denies.
Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota, said “we must move forward and address the issue in a diplomatic way.”
Sen. Ralph DLG, Torres, R-Saipan, said the CNMI still needs guest workers but the concerns of the local people should also be addressed.
Former Rep. Alvaro Santos, a supporter of the Fitial administration, said the Legislature’s report should include the number of workers that the CNMI really needs — those who occupy hard-to-fill positions.
