Del. Kimberlyn King‑Hinds pushed back Wednesday against criticism from two of the CNMI’s top legislative leaders — House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez and Rep. Blas Jonathan “BJ” Attao, chair of the House Committee on Federal and Foreign Affairs — after the pair questioned her advocacy on the implementation of the Disaster Nutrition Assistance Program following Typhoon Sinlaku.
Villagomez and Attao, who are running together for governor and lieutenant governor, issued a public statement asking why the CNMI’s lone representative in Washington was not “banging down the doors of the USDA and Congress” to demand broader flexibility for D‑NAP. They argued that the CNMI should not be treated “like a carbon‑copy of a mainland state” and said every household not enrolled in regular NAP should automatically qualify for baseline food assistance.
In a letter dated June 24, King‑Hinds responded to both lawmakers, emphasizing that the D‑NAP plan now in effect was developed and submitted by the Apatang administration, not her office. She said any changes or additional flexibility must originate from the Commonwealth’s implementing agencies — Department of Community and Cultural Affairs and Nutritional Assistance Program — before the United States Department of Agriculture can consider amendments.
“Families across the Commonwealth are still recovering from Sinlaku, and food assistance needs to reach eligible households as quickly and fairly as possible,” she wrote, noting that her office supported the governor, DCCA, NAP and federal partners in securing USDA approval.
She added that she is “not aware of any formal request” from the CNMI administration seeking amendments to the approved plan.
King‑Hinds also reminded the two House leaders that their positions carry responsibility not only to raise concerns but to work directly with the agencies empowered to address them. “The questions you have raised deserve thoughtful consideration,” she wrote, urging “constructive engagement” rather than public criticism alone.
The delegate said she remains in communication with USDA and NAP and will raise implementation concerns when she meets with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on July 1. She invited Attao and Villagomez to submit specific recommendations before that meeting.
“The challenges facing families recovering from Sinlaku require more than public statements,” King‑Hinds wrote. “They require practical solutions and coordinated action.”
