Congresswoman King-Hinds Introduces H.R.1797 to Support Local Workforce Development in the CNMI

Washington - Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds has introduced her first bill, H.R.1797, to amend the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 and include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) in federal employment service programs. The legislation ensures that workers in the CNMI receive the same employment assistance, job training, and labor exchange services currently available in the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

“Our economy is headed into unprecedented and difficult waters, and if we do not act now to prepare, we will find ourselves unable to weather the storm ahead,” said Congresswoman King-Hinds. “That is why my first piece of legislation is focused on making sure CNMI workers have access to the workforce programs and federal resources they need to prepare for an uncertain future and find opportunities to stay in the Commonwealth.”

The Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 established a nationwide system of public employment offices, known as the Employment Service, to help job seekers connect with employers. Over time, this system evolved under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to integrate with American Job Centers, providing workforce development services across the country. However, the CNMI has never been included in the law, leaving workers in the Commonwealth without access to critical federal workforce programs.

“For too long, workers in the CNMI have been excluded from the same employment services that benefit other Americans, despite facing greater expectations under the Immigration Transition Period,” said Congresswoman King-Hinds. “We are dealing with rising rates of business closures and serious disruptions to our labor force, and if we don’t take action now, we will not be able to rebuild in the years ahead. This legislation is about ensuring our workforce has the support, resources, and training they need to remain in the CNMI and find new opportunities.”

The CNMI’s economy has been steadily deteriorating, with business closures rising at an alarming rate and labor force participation increasingly unstable due to continued economic disruptions and the slow return of tourism. Many businesses that once provided stable employment have shuttered or scaled down operations, and without intervention, the situation will only worsen.

“We are standing on the precipice of economic collapse,” said Congresswoman King-Hinds. “We need to put the systems in place now to support workers, prepare for an economic turnaround, and ensure that when recovery efforts begin, our workforce is ready.”

H.R.1797 will amend the Wagner-Peyser Act to ensure that the CNMI is included in federally funded workforce programs, guaranteeing local workers access to employment services that have long supported workers in other U.S. jurisdictions. Under the legislation, the Department of Labor will work with the CNMI government to establish employment service offices that integrate with the one-stop delivery system created under WIOA. Furthermore, the bill will also provide funding to establish workforce training programs, helping residents gain the skills needed to stay in the CNMI and find viable job opportunities. Additionally, it ensures that the CNMI receives funding allotments comparable to those received by Guam, granting fair access to job placement, career counseling, and labor exchange services.

Congresswoman King-Hinds called this legislation a long-overdue step toward economic equality for workers in the CNMI, emphasizing that federal workforce policies must support all Americans—not just those in the 50 states.

“This is not a theoretical problem for the future—it is a crisis that is already unfolding,” said Congresswoman King-Hinds. “Our workforce is shrinking, businesses are closing, and our economic foundation is eroding. With this bill, we are ensuring that workers in the CNMI have access to job training, career counseling, and workforce development programs that will help them stay in the Commonwealth and build sustainable careers.”