CNMI Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds on Tuesday introduced H.R. 9787, the Northern Mariana Islands Labor Stabilization Act, a sweeping proposal to replace the Commonwealth’s expiring federal transition program with a long-term labor framework designed to give employers, workers and families greater certainty.
The bill arrives as the CNMI continues operating under the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW‑1) program, created by the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018. Under current law, the CW‑1 system — the backbone of the Commonwealth’s foreign labor force — is scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2029, with annual permit caps already phasing down. King-Hinds said the approaching deadline underscores the urgency of establishing a stable, locally informed workforce structure.
“For too long, the CNMI has operated under a framework of continual transition and uncertainty,” King-Hinds said. “Employers have struggled to plan, workers have questioned their future, and our economy has carried the weight of policies that were never intended to become permanent. This bill replaces that uncertainty with a framework centered on labor stabilization, predictable workforce planning, and greater local participation.”
H.R. 9787 would extend the Commonwealth’s labor stabilization program through at least Dec. 31, 2039, create a process for future extensions based on documented labor needs, strengthen the governor’s role in workforce determinations, modernize labor certification requirements, restore the Covenant cover-over of immigration and naturalization fees, and add new enforcement resources. The bill also seeks to provide greater certainty for long-term workers and resolve several longstanding issues raised by employers and the Commonwealth over the past decade.
King-Hinds said the legislation reflects more than a year of engagement with employers, workers, business organizations, local government and community members. She noted that the proposal builds on a policy framework she first outlined publicly in July 2025 and incorporates recommendations from the governor, labor representatives and residents across the islands.
“While I have the privilege of introducing H.R. 9787 in Congress, I hope it will be viewed for what it is, a Commonwealth bill that reflects the priorities and aspirations of our islands,” she said. “The strongest legislation comes from listening, and this bill is stronger because so many people across our community took the time to participate in its development.”
The legislation would replace the concept of a temporary “transition period” — the foundation of the CW‑1 program — with a stabilization structure acknowledging the CNMI’s continuing need for a legal foreign workforce while maintaining strong federal oversight, enforcement and worker protections. Future extensions would be tied to formal assessments of the Commonwealth’s labor needs rather than fixed expiration dates.
King-Hinds said Tuesday’s introduction marks the beginning of the next phase of the effort.
“Introducing a bill is an important step,” she said. “The work now turns to building support in Congress, working with the administration, and continuing to present a unified Commonwealth voice. This legislation is about providing certainty, strengthening our economy, and ensuring the CNMI has the workforce necessary to grow and prosper for decades to come.”
She thanked Gov. David M. Apatang, his administration, members of the Legislature, employers, workers, business organizations and community members who contributed ideas during the bill’s development. Advancing the legislation, she said, will require continued partnership across the Commonwealth and sustained engagement with Congress and the administration.
“This legislation will be strongest when it is supported by a unified Commonwealth,” King-Hinds said. “Speaking with one voice will strengthen our ability to demonstrate that these reforms represent the considered judgment of the CNMI as a whole.”
