Comment Submitted by Ron Hodges, Saipan (3rd Comment)

“that for all the cruelty and hardship of our world, we are not mere prisoners of fate. Our actions matter, and can bend history in the direction of justice.”President Obama They key issue that initiated federal legislation was to address the CNMI’s failed and broken system of labor and immigration and what to do with contract guest workers. This administration doesn’t want them to leave, doesn’t want their wages to increase, doesn’t want them to have the right to change employers or have the freedom to travel, and they still want to retain the status quo of servitude. Some want older CGWs deported because they are owed at least 6 million dollars in judgments for non-payment and to replace them with a younger class of guest worker provided they can restrict them as well. This is complicated by the well being of thousands of US citizen children who have resided here their entire life. The only logical answer is to improve the status of legal workers here. Economically, it is the best solution and morally it is our obligations as US citizens to make past commitments to guest workers whole. Again, I appreciate the opportunity to comment a second time in the comment period extension. I also appreciate the work the federal government is doing to promote social justice in the Commonwealth of the Northen Mariana Islands. I would suggest that this web site be updated to incude us as part of the United States, as I am offended that we can't list the US as our country of residence. I am sure that is an error that will be corrected. Ron Hodges Saipan