Leveling up in the CNMI signifies not just personal growth, but also collective advancement. It's about elevating our communities, enriching our culture, and empowering our people to reach new heights together. In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, leveling up is our commitment to building a brighter future for all. This means creating opportunities for economic prosperity, enhancing educational outcomes, improving healthcare access, and ensuring that our unique cultural heritage is preserved and celebrated. Leveling up is about making sure that every resident of the CNMI can thrive in an environment that supports their ambitions and fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose. This platform aims to outline the topics and policy areas that I seek to address in my first term as your delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Together, we can achieve a stronger, more resilient, and more prosperous CNMI.

The federal mandate to transition our immigration system has eroded self-government, imposing unrealistic expectations on the CNMI without adequate federal resources or support. This uncertainty has already stunted our development and affected investment decisions, creating a cloud of doubt about our future workforce and economic viability.

My key goals in immigration focus on establishing a permanent and sensible program that allows businesses and the economy in the CNMI to access foreign workers to meet labor demands unmet by the local workforce. I aim to expand long-term residency status for more foreign workers who have committed their lives to the advancement of the CNMI. Additionally, I seek to simplify and streamline the processes for welcoming international visitors from source markets that will benefit the CNMI’s tourism-based economy. Coordination between local and federal processes is essential to reduce and eventually end birth tourism. Enhancing federal enforcement of immigration violations is also a priority.

To achieve these goals, I propose eliminating the termination date of the current transition program and replacing it with a permanent visa category for the Marianas Region. This program would restructure permit allotments to not exceed 15,000, with mechanisms to adjust this number as needed to meet local workforce and economic needs. Local processing of Temporary Labor Certifications will be secured, along with building local capacity for U.S. workforce development. The criteria for long-term worker classification will be broadened, and a pathway for CNMI-residency status for long-term foreign workers will be created. I will engage in concentrated conversations with the Department of Homeland Security to include more countries, such as the Philippines, in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program. Additionally, stakeholder meetings with airlines, hospitals, healthcare providers, and federal agencies will help develop a system to disincentivize travel to the CNMI for birth tourism. Increased federal enforcement presence and streamlined deportation processes for undocumented individuals who have committed crimes will further strengthen our immigration system.

Federal policies have historically posed significant threats to the CNMI's economy, impacting our ability to sustain ourselves more than natural disasters, global pandemics, and geopolitical conflicts. The people of the CNMI are suffering and the lack of security throughout our economy impacts the everyday lives of our people and the mental health of our community. The lack of a cohesive federal and local policy on CNMI development leaves our community vulnerable to decisions made by individuals unfamiliar with our unique challenges.

My economic strategy involves coordinating a realistic and achievable plan for the CNMI as a U.S. Territory and effectively communicating this plan to Congress. I aim to combat federal interference in CNMI economic growth and target federal resources and programs to address long-standing economic challenges. This includes increasing the tools and resources to truly realize the dream of self-government, as well as improving transportation access and affordability to connect our people with the world and the world with our people.

Policies to achieve this include coordinating within Congressional Committees and Federal Agencies on short-term policy and developmental objectives for the CNMI, institutionalizing these objectives into the federal budget process and statutes, and coordinating with territorial offices on a unified position on territorial development. I will utilize the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and AAPI Caucus to advance unified territorial policy. We must advocate for a specific policy for the territories that comes hand-in-hand with the resources and programs to make growth in our islands a reality. This includes pursuing statutory amendments to assemble federal resources for the CNMI into block grants where appropriate, amending the Essential Air Service statute to include airports in the CNMI, pursuing the necessary and common-sense exemption to U.S. cabotage policy, and providing federal resources to establish and subsidize inter-island ferry service.

I will work to ensure that federal policies are adapted to the specific needs of the CNMI, reducing the economic burden imposed by one-size-fits-all regulations. This includes advocating for policy changes that recognize the strategic importance of the CNMI in the Pacific and ensuring that local voices are heard in federal decision-making processes. By fostering a strong partnership between the CNMI and the federal government, we can build a resilient economy that supports both local and national interests.

Educational attainment levels in the CNMI do not meet national standards, and our institutions lack the funding and infrastructure to support teachers, staff, and students adequately. There is also a need for a curriculum that reflects our unique cultural heritage while preparing students for the future.

My key goals for education include raising educational attainment levels in primary and secondary public institutions to meet or exceed national measurements. I aim to develop the Northern Marianas College (NMC) into an R1 research university and increase funding to support teachers and support staff directly interacting with students. Additionally, I seek increased infrastructure funding to advance the capabilities of our public schools. To achieve these goals, I will advocate for Seagrant status for NMC, enhancing its research capabilities and access to federal funding for marine and environmental sciences. I will pursue the inclusion of NMC in federal research grant programs offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Partnerships with mainland universities will facilitate student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and access to advanced educational resources. Furthermore, securing federal grants and loans for the construction, renovation, and modernization of school facilities, including classrooms, laboratories, and technology centers, will ensure students have access to modern learning environments. I will also pursue federal grants for acquiring modern educational technology and implement programs to ensure all students have access to high-speed internet and digital learning resources.

Additionally, I will collaborate with local educators and cultural experts to develop a curriculum that reflects the unique cultural heritage of the CNMI while coordinating with federal educational officials to incorporate cultural education into the CNMI’s metrics toward meeting national educational standards. This includes developing educational materials and programs that incorporate the history, language, and traditions of the CNMI. And we must start the life of education as soon as possible, with Early childhood education being a priority. To this I will work to secure federal funding for the expansion of Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the CNMI so that all our children will be ready for a life of learning, growth and success.

The CNMI workforce faces immense pressure, with federal expectations to perform beyond their capacity without adequate support or resources. Workers are expected to carry heavy loads, sacrificing personal time and well-being to sustain the economy. Additionally, the lack of local enforcement of federal labor laws leaves our workforce vulnerable and unsupported.

My workforce development strategy is centered on securing greater funding to support workforce development initiatives and obtaining more data on the CNMI’s workforce. Increased technical assistance for the CNMI government on workforce development is also essential.

We must pursue implementing specific funding objectives and pathways separate from DOI TAP Grants to fulfill the goals of 48 U.S.C. 1807 Technical Assistance. I will secure funding for a comprehensive study of the CNMI’s workforce capacity and develop a long-range plan for workforce development funded through CW worker education fees. Coordination and legislation to produce timely, accurate, and detailed workforce and immigration statistics will allow the CNMI to establish an adequate plan for the training and development of U.S. Workers. I will also secure funding for the extension of U.S. Department of Labor enforcement to the CNMI Department of Labor.

The CNMI has faced unique challenges due to federal policies that do not align with the region's specific needs, resulting in economic and infrastructural vulnerabilities. As the United States continues to realign its military forces in the Pacific, it is essential to address these gaps to ensure both regional security and economic self-sufficiency.

My goal is to integrate military development within the CNMI into a framework that supports national security while promoting local economic growth. By ensuring that military initiatives align with the CNMI’s economic and infrastructural needs, we can create a more secure and prosperous region.

To achieve these goals, I will advocate for the establishment of permanent military installations in the CNMI, ensuring they align with the Covenant and Technical Agreement. This includes securing federal funding and support for these installations to enhance regional security and create local job opportunities. I will push for a more collaborative approach between local and federal governments to address the unique challenges of the CNMI, such as labor shortages, shipping access, and infrastructure development.

The CNMI faces significant health challenges, including high rates of noncommunicable diseases, methamphetamine addiction, domestic violence, and sexual abuse, coupled with inadequate federal support for Medicaid and healthcare infrastructure. These issues are exacerbated by higher rates of uninsured populations, poverty, and non-communicable diseases, leaving our community underserved and in need of greater resources.

My health strategy aims to secure federal recognition of substance abuse challenges in the CNMI and raise awareness and resources to support services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. I seek parity with the states in the funding and treatment of CNMI Medicaid benefits and advocate for increased funding and on-island resources for medical treatment of veterans. Sustainable solutions to offset rising costs of operating the CNMI hospital are also a priority.

Policies to achieve these goals include pursuing greater federal resources to address long-standing issues related to methamphetamine addiction, securing more resources for domestic violence and sexual abuse victim services, and making the formula distribution of the Federal Medicaid Cost share permanent. I will work to remove the Medicaid cap permanently, restart presumptive eligibility for Medicaid enrollees, and target infrastructure funding to support CHCC hospital development, upgrades, and electricity systems.

The CNMI stands at a pivotal moment. Leveling up is about more than just individual success; it's about our collective rise, ensuring that every member of our community can thrive. By addressing critical issues in immigration, workforce development, education, the economy, health, and military development, we can build a future where the CNMI not only meets national standards but sets new ones ourselves.

As your delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, I am committed to advocating for policies that will create a sustainable, prosperous, and resilient CNMI. Together, we can secure the resources, support, and recognition we need from the federal government to enhance our quality of life, protect our unique cultural heritage, and ensure our economic independence.

By fostering a strong partnership between the CNMI and the federal government, we can overcome the challenges that have held us back time and time again. Let’s work together to create a brighter future where the CNMI is recognized for its strategic importance, cultural richness, and economic potential, and one where we cast aside the one-size-fits-all mentality that has stifled the unique beauty of who we are as a people. With your support, we will level up the CNMI, achieving new heights!