The recent visit of Sens. Roger Wicker and Deb Fischer of the Senate Armed Services Committee has opened discussions on aligning national defense priorities with the economic challenges facing the CNMI and Guam.
Northern Mariana Islands Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds met with the senators during their brief stop on Tinian and later on Guam, where she emphasized the need to view Pacific territories not just as strategic military assets but as American communities deserving equal economic opportunity.
King-Hinds said both CNMI and Guam face shared challenges, including limited infrastructure, labor shortages, and high transportation costs. Without federal investment, she warned, the region remains vulnerable to foreign influence from adversarial powers.
She added that addressing these issues requires a coordinated approach across federal agencies, with policies that support both defense objectives and local economic development.
