Kim King-Hinds

Last Friday, we welcomed former Saipan residents Suzanne and Noah Archibald to Washington, D.C. They stopped by the congressional office and joined a staff-led tour of the U.S. Capitol, learning about its history and the work of Congress. Thank you, Suzanne and Noah, for visiting. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

Our campus outreach journey continues! Our office had the pleasure of visiting the mighty Dolphins at Marianas High School and connecting with students who represent the next generation of leaders in our Commonwealth. As the district's largest high school, MHS brings together young people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and aspirations, making every conversation an opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand what matters to them.

As the Commonwealth government prepares for another round of austerity and budget cuts, including potential reductions in work hours and personnel, we have to anticipate what that will mean for our families. With less income coming into households, more people may need assistance through programs like Medicaid and the Nutrition Assistance Program. I was grateful for the opportunity to sit down with George Cruz and Roman Tudela from the CNMI Medicaid Agency last week to discuss where the program stands today and how we can prepare to meet the needs of our community in the months ahead. These conversations are important because we have to be able to do multiple things at once. We need to continue the work of rebuilding our economy and strengthening our ability to stand on our own feet, while also recognizing the critical role federal programs play in supporting our people during difficult times. That means planning ahead, protecting the resources available to us, and making sure federal assistance reaches the families and households that need it most.

Catch Up with Kim -- September 12, 2026 -- Letter from the Congresswoman October 12, 2026 Newsletters Image Back to top button

The Marianas’ own Zeno Deleon Guerrero, Jr. and Gregorie Michael Towai, along with their colleagues from Right To Democracy, visited the Washington congressional office to discuss issues important to the U.S. territories, including deep-seabed mining and environmental protections. They were in Washington for the Supreme Court case Department of the Air Force v. Prutehi Guåhan, which considers efforts to require the Air Force to conduct a full environmental review of the military’s management of hazardous waste and munitions in Guam. Thank you for visiting and for your continued advocacy on behalf of our islands and communities.

Domestic violence is an issue that affects not only individuals, but families and entire communities. Too often, the pain and struggles experienced behind closed doors go unseen, and many victims face difficult circumstances when seeking safety, support, and a way forward. As we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are reminded that raising awareness is only one part of our responsibility. We must also continue working to ensure that victims and survivors have access to the protection, resources, and support they need to rebuild their lives.

We are proud to see Saipan native Dr. Cecilia Lizama Salvatore featured in the Field Museum’s Talk Story: Pacific and Filipino Voices in the Museum in Chicago. Dr. Salvatore has dedicated her career to preserving Pacific Island cultural heritage and ensuring that Indigenous communities have a voice in how their histories are documented and shared. She has served as a professor and coordinator of the Archives and Cultural Heritage Program at Dominican University, collaborated with the Field Museum on its Pacific Islands collection, and serves on the inaugural Board of Directors of IPIKU, a partnership focused on Marianas and Micronesian heritage. She earned her Ph.D. in Library and Information Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin and, in 2000, was honored by the CNMI Legislature as the first Chamorro woman from the CNMI to earn a Ph.D. from UT Austin. Her accomplishments continue to make the Commonwealth proud. If you’re in Chicago, we encourage you to check out this special conversation on October 27 from noon to 1:15pm at the Field Museum. The event is included with museum admission and offers a great opportunity to hear Pacific voices reflected in our nation’s cultural institutions. Image

The Congressional Award October 7, 2026 In The News Image Image Back to top button

2026 Congressional App Challenge October 7, 2026 In The News Image Back to top button

U.S. Service Academy Congressional Nomination October 7, 2026 In The News Image Back to top button

The 2027 Congressional Art Competition October 7, 2026 In The News Image Back to top button

The Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence has been awarded $343,065 through the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women Fiscal Year 2026 State and Territory Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program. The grant will strengthen services and support available to CNMI residents affected by domestic and sexual violence by improving coordination among victim service providers, law enforcement, courts, government agencies, and other organizations. Funding will also support public education and efforts to improve how sexual assault cases are addressed, helping ensure victims and survivors can access more coordinated and effective support. Congratulations to the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence on this award and its continued commitment to protecting and supporting residents across the Marianas.

On Wednesday, the Department of the Interior held the 2026 Interagency Group on Insular Affairs (IGIA) Midyear Senior Plenary Meeting virtually, bringing together Governors and Members of Congress from across the U.S. territories to discuss issues affecting our islands and ongoing federal initiatives. During my remarks, I called for IGIA to become more project- and action-oriented. Rather than focusing primarily on broad policy discussions, IGIA can serve as a forum for territorial leaders and senior federal officials to work together on specific priorities identified by the territories and develop concrete steps to move them forward. The proposal received support from participants and the Office of Insular Affairs, which committed to following up on ways IGIA can evolve. I will continue working to ensure federal programs and policies translate into tangible, effective results for the people of the Northern Mariana Islands and other U.S. territories.

Dr. Riya Nathrani returned to the Washington congressional office on Tuesday, this time accompanied by her parents, long-time Saipan residents Rajkumar and Sapna Nathrani. After visiting with congressional staff, the Nathrani family toured the U.S. Capitol, including the House Floor. Thank you to the Nathrani family for stopping by the office and for making the most of their time in our nation’s capital.

National History Day (NHD) is a nationwide contest for students in the 6th through 12th grades. Since 1974, the contest has challenged students to produce an original project based on an annual theme. Contestants compete at local, state, and regional levels, culminating in a national championship held each June at the University of Maryland at College Park. The NHD campaign encourages students to utilize a variety of primary and secondary resources, including archival documents, art, photographs, written narratives, and oral histories. We provide such resources—focused on House history—for students, educators, and local cultural institutions in your districts and encourage you to share them widely. History, Art & Archives website

Guam Teacher of the Year Acie Jo Sablan Cruz and Northern Mariana Islands Teacher of the Year Dr. Marifi Doculan visited the Washington congressional office while in DC for programs organized by the Council of Chief State School Officers. The programs provided opportunities for the educators to receive national recognition, participate in professional learning, and elevate the voices of teachers in public education. Dr. Doculan teaches chemistry and physics at Marianas High School. Thank you to both educators for visiting and for your admirable work educating and inspiring the youth of our islands.

CNMI fishermen are encouraged to explore the Marine Resource Education Program’s (MREP) Western Pacific Fisheries Science and Management Workshop, taking place April 2–8, 2027, in Honolulu. This workshop offers commercial, charter, noncommercial, and subsistence fishermen an opportunity to learn how federal fisheries science and management work and how to make their voices heard. Administered by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, the program provides lodging, meals, and travel reimbursement for non-federal participants. No prior formal education is required, and active fishermen receive first priority for the limited seats. Interested applicants should Apply through MREP’s official application page under “Western Pacific” by November 10, 2026, for priority consideration. You can find the organization's FAQ page here.

A lot of the work we do in Washington begins with understanding what our communities are dealing with here at home. The people working on the front lines of public safety, disaster recovery, village needs, and everyday community services see those challenges up close, and that perspective should help shape the federal work we pursue. Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho stopped by the District Office last week to talk about his advocacy for federal support for CNMI needs and to strategize how his work serving the Saipan community and our work in Washington can be leveraged to produce tangible progress for our people. Anyone who knows Mayor RB knows he does not mince words. I appreciated the opportunity to sit down with a fellow straight talker, get down to business, and talk frankly about where we are, where we need to go, and how we can work together to get to a better place.

One of the best things about the Northern Marianas Technical Institute is that it gives our people the opportunity to get hands-on training in the fields our Commonwealth needs most. But to get that experience, you need a solid physical place where students can get in, get dirty, work with the tools, and learn by doing. Last week, I joined CEO Jodina Attao and her team at NMTech to celebrate Careers in Construction proclamation month and witness first hand the progress on their new campus facility being built in Koblerville. This new home will give NMTech greater space to train the next generation of skilled workers and continue building our local workforce. I was overjoyed to join the NMTech family for the first of many proclamations and see their vision for a permanent home getting closer to reality. Happy Careers in Construction month!

A stable workforce is essential to rebuilding our economy. Our businesses need the ability to plan beyond the next few years, our workers need greater certainty about their futures, and the Commonwealth needs a workforce system that reflects the realities of our islands. That was at the center of my conversation with the SHRM general membership last week. SHRM was the first organization I spoke to when I started my term as Delegate, so it was good to return and report on the progress we have made since then. We talked about our legislation to bring Wagner-Peyser employment services to the CNMI, our work to eliminate the CW-1 touchback requirement, and the broader Northern Mariana Islands Labor Stabilization Act to provide greater workforce stability beyond 2029. We also talked about where workforce fits into the larger work of rebuilding our economy. Tourism, power costs, access to capital, transportation, and workforce all affect whether businesses can grow, whether people can find opportunity here, and ultimately whether our economy can move forward. Thank you to SHRM for the opportunity to return, share where this work stands, and hear directly from the people who deal with these challenges every day.

It's always fun to see a journalist making the news. Congratulations to Rota native Thomas Manglona II on being named the inaugural Marianas Science Communications Fellow by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant. Thomas’ passion for journalism began in Rota, and he has since built an impressive career telling stories across the Marianas and the Pacific. A graduate of UC Berkeley and Stanford University, Thomas is a Gates Millennium Scholar, Obama Asia-Pacific Leader, Rosalynn Carter Journalism Fellow, and Nia Tero Storytelling Fellow, with his work appearing in outlets including ABC News, CNN and Al Jazeera. We are proud to see a son of Luta using his talents to highlight our islands, our environment, and the science that will help shape our future. Way to go, Thomas! Image

Beginning October 1, 2026, the U.S. Postal Service will adjust delivery expectations for Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage packages to and from the Northern Mariana Islands, USPS announced Friday. Customers should expect longer delivery windows for packages, particularly those sent using Ground Advantage. Priority Mail packages to or from the CNMI will have a 2- to 6-day expected delivery window, compared with the previous 3-day expectation. Ground Advantage packages to and from the CNMI and the continental United States will have an expected delivery time of 10 days or more, with some shipments taking longer depending on distance. Ground Advantage packages will primarily travel by surface transportation regardless of weight, which will increase transit times for packages under one pound. Priority Mail Express and First-Class Mail service standards will not change. USPS says the adjustments align delivery expectations with available transportation and travel times. For more information, visit https://postalpro.usps.com/node/15616.

The CNMI Judiciary is receiving $252,159 in FEMA funding for emergency protective measures taken in response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku. FEMA is covering 100% of the eligible project costs, with no local match required. This funding will help support measures taken to protect public health, safety, and property in the immediate aftermath of the storm. We’re glad to see the federal government providing the full support needed to help our institutions respond and recover from Sinlaku.

Saipan International School junior Halynn Seo visited her congressional office while in Washington for HOSA’s (Future Health Professionals) Washington Leadership Academy. Halynn founded the first HOSA chapter in the Northern Mariana Islands, officially chartered as NM000. HOSA is one of the world’s largest student organizations dedicated to developing future health professionals. During her visit, Halynn interviewed me about my work in Congress to improve health care services in the Marianas. Halynn also serves as interim editor-in-chief of her school newspaper and founded Saipan Social Policy Insight, a student-led publication focused on public health and social policy in the Marianas. Congratulations, Halynn, on your pioneering accomplishments and inspiring leadership. We look forward to seeing your continued impact in the years ahead.

A $250,180 FEMA grant will fund backup generators and emergency power systems for Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) lift stations and water facilities across the CNMI. The generators will provide critical backup power to help maintain water services during power outages and emergencies. The project has a total estimated cost of $1.22 million and is funded through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program under Section 404 of the Stafford Act, following Super Typhoon Yutu. This investment will help keep essential water services running when the CNMI needs them most.