NMI Del. Kimberlyn King‑Hinds said a two‑day visit by a congressional staff delegation last week provided an important opportunity to show federal officials the progress and ongoing challenges facing the Northern Mariana Islands as the U.S. military expands its presence in the region.
King‑Hinds said the delegation — led by staff from House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office and representing members of the House Armed Services Committee — visited Saipan and Tinian to see “firsthand some of the important developments and challenges facing our islands.”
During the trip, King‑Hinds joined the group in reviewing progress on the Tinian Divert Airfield and the North Field runway project — two major Department of Defense initiatives intended to strengthen U.S. operational capacity in the Pacific.
“We also visited the Tinian power plant to see the significant damage caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku and the challenges facing our island’s critical infrastructure,” King‑Hinds said.
She said the visit allowed for direct conversations about how federal agencies can better coordinate military development with the civilian systems that support local communities.
“As the military expands its presence in the Marianas, we have to recognize that a strong, resilient local economy and reliable public infrastructure are essential to supporting that mission,” the delegate said.
King‑Hinds said she appreciated the delegation’s willingness to travel to the islands and see local conditions.
“These are exactly the kinds of conversations we need to make sure that federal investments in our region also recognize and address the needs of the communities that support them,” she said.
