August 7, 1997

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. ----

WASHINGTON, D.C. ---- FALEOMAVAEGA SENDS COPIES OF SENATOR AKAKA'S CNMI LEGISLATION TO GOVERNOR AND FONO

Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he has sent copies of legislation introduced by Senator Akaka on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and each member of the Fono. The legislation would amend federal immigration, labor, and trade laws applicable to the Commonwealth. The text of the letter follows:

"Last May, I wrote to you forwarding a copy of Congressman George Miller's legislation affecting the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Today, I am forwarding a copy of legislation introduced last week by Senator Daniel Akaka concerning the same subject. Senator Akaka is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and is influential on territorial issues within the Committee and the Senate."

"As you can see, the substantive part of Senator Akaka's legislation is similar to that of Congressman Miller's legislation. The bill would: apply the federal minimum wage to the CNMI, bring the CNMI under the jurisdiction of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), set new standards for textile products made in the CNMI carrying the `Made in the USA' label, and require the Secretary of the Interior to make annual reports on the status of problem areas to the U.S. Congress."

"Senator Akaka's and Congressman Miller's two pieces of legislation, the report issued by the Democratic Staff of the House Committee on Resources, and a recent report issued by the Department of the Interior are focusing Congressional attention on the CNMI and are providing considerable negative publicity on the CNMI. Given the current state of affairs, the 105th Congress could take action on this issue before it adjourns next year."

"The enactment of either piece of legislation would leave American Samoa as the only part of the United States without INS jurisdiction or the federal minimum wage requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Although the legislation applies only to the CNMI, it could lead to a change in federal laws governing American Samoa, and I feel I should bring this to your immediate attention."

"With kindest regards,"

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