Fighting for the CNMI economy

Businesses are struggling in the CNMI, and the stress we are all feeling stems from a hard truth - our economy is in serious trouble. To stop the wave of closures and furloughs, we need to rebuild our tourism sector and restore consistent air service to our islands. No one understands these challenges better than the private sector, which is why I was so grateful that representatives from the CNMI’s business community traveled to Washington this week to speak directly to federal leaders. We met with officials from the White House, the Office of Insular Affairs, and key congressional leaders including Chairman Jim Jordan of Judiciary, Chairman Troy Nehls of the Aviation Subcommittee, Chairman Roger Williams of the Small Business Committee, and Chairman Bruce Westerman of the Natural Resources Committee. Our message was clear: delays in programs like EVS-TAP and visa processing are hurting our economy, and the federal government has a role to play in helping us recover. The only way forward is to keep showing up and speaking out - for our businesses, our workers, and our future.