IV
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 164
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government of the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands should provide for a plebiscite
on the question of compliance with United States immigration and wage
laws or independence from the United States.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 1, 1997
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Resources
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government
of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
should provide for a plebiscite on the question of compli-
ance with United States immigration and wage laws or
independence from the United States.
Whereas the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
entered into a political union with the United States pur-
suant to the covenant ratified by the people of the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and ap-
proved by the Congress in Public Law 94–241;
Whereas section 503 of the covenant authorized the Congress
to extend to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands certain immigration and wage laws of the United
States;
HCON 164 IH
Whereas the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
has used its interim control of immigration and wages to
develop an economy in which over 90 percent of its pri-
vate-sector workforce consists of temporary, alien work-
ers, who are reportedly, under-paid and ill-treated;
Whereas the exploitation of alien workers is inconsistent with
the covenant and United States labor, civil rights, and
human rights laws;
Whereas inconsistent immigration and wage policies under-
mine the ability of the United States to achieve a more
fair and equitable society;
Whereas pursuant to section 701 of the covenant, the United
States Government has invested about $500,000,000 to
promote economic development in the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands;
Whereas the United States has the right to expect that the
economic development which it underwrites will be under-
taken in compliance with United States laws;
Whereas the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
ships products duty-free and without regard to quotas to
the United States even though many such products con-
tain an amount of foreign materials, or were produced
with an amount of foreign labor, which exceeds the
amount permissible under General Note (3)(a)(iv) of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States;
Whereas the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, and other local leaders, have stated
their preference for independence over the extension of
the United States laws as contemplated by section 503
of the covenant; and
HCON 164 IH
Whereas the United States Government believes the people of
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
should have the right to affirm or reject our assertions:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved in the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the Gov-
ernment of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands should provide for a plebiscite of the people of the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on the
question:
Shall the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands be governed under the United States immi-
gration and wage laws; Or, shall the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands seek to terminate
its current relationship with the United States and
seek independence?
Æ