Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 122.djvu/877

 12 2 STA T .854PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 22 9—M A Y 8, 2008 (ref erre dtoin t h i s s ub tit l e a s the ‘ ‘ C o m mon w ealth ’ ’ ), with s p e -c ial pro v isions to allow for — ( A ) the orderl y phasin g -out of the nonresident contract wor k er program of the Commonwealth and ( B ) the orderly phasing-in of F ederal responsibilities over immigration in the Commonwealth; and ( 2 ) to minimi z e, to the greatest e x tent practicable, potential adverse economic and fiscal effects of phasing-out the Common- wealth’s nonresident contract worker program and to maximize the Commonwealth’s potential for future economic and business growth by— (A) encouraging diversification and growth of the economy of the Commonwealth in accordance with funda- mental values underlying Federal immigration policy; (B) recognizing local self-government, as provided for in the Covenant T o E stablish a Commonwealth of the N orthern M ariana I slands in P olitical U nion W ith the United S tates of America through consultation with the G overnor of the Commonwealth; (C) assisting the Commonwealth in achieving a progressively higher standard of living for citizens of the Commonwealth through the provision of technical and other assistance; ( D ) providing opportunities for individuals authorized to work in the United States, including citizens of the freely associated states; and (E) providing a mechanism for the continued use of alien workers, to the extent those workers continue to be necessary to supplement the Commonwealth’s resident workforce, and to protect those workers from the potential for abuse and exploitation . (b) A VOID I NG ADV ERS EE F FE CT S.—In recognition of the Commonwealth’s uni q ue economic circumstances, history, and geo- graphical location, it is the intent of the Congress that the Common- wealth be given as much flexibility as possible in maintaining existing businesses and other revenue sources, and developing new economic opportunities, consistent with the mandates of this sub- title. This subtitle, and the amendments made by this subtitle, should be implemented wherever possible to expand tourism and economic development in the Commonwealth, including aiding prospective tourists in gaining access to the Commonwealth’s memo- rials, beaches, parks, dive sites, and other points of interest. SEC.702 . IM MI GRAT I ON RE F ORM FOR T H E COMMON W EA L TH. (a) A M ENDMENT TO J OINT R ESO LU TION A P PROVING COVEN A NT ESTA B LIS H ING COMMON W EALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS.—The Joint Resolution entitled ‘‘A Joint Resolution to approve the ‘Covenant To Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America’, and for other purposes’’, approved March 2 4, 1976 (Public L aw 94 – 241; 9 0 Stat. 26 3 ), is amended by adding at the end the following new section

‘SEC. 6 . IMMIGRATION AN D TRANSITION. ‘‘(a) APPLICATION OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALIT Y ACT AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRANSITION PROGRAM.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Sub j ect to paragraphs (2) and (3), effec- tive on the first day of the first full month commencing 1 Ef f ectiv e da te .48USC1 8 06.

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