,i  #aae? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #dhfi  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #ai1 #bjah    
,mr4 ,sablan introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2   
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,natural
 ,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to inc5tivize ! 
hir+ ( ,unit$ ,/ates work]s 9 !         
,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s1
 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title     
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,nor!rn       
,m>iana ,isl&s ,u4,s4 ,work=ce ,act4    
#b4 ,purpose ,! purpose ( ?is ,act is-- 
7#a7 to increase ! p]c5tage ( ,unit$    
,/ates work]s 7z def9$ 9 section #f7;i7 
( ! ,jo9t ,resolution entitl$ ,a ,jo9t  
,resolution to approve ! ,cov5ant ,to   
,e/abli% a ,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn     
,m>iana ,isl&s 9 ,political ,union ) !  
,unit$ ,/ates ( ,am]ica1 & = o!r        
purposes 7#dh ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjf77 9 !     
total work=ce ( ! ,commonweal? ( !      
,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s1 :ile ma9ta9+ !  
m9imum numb] ( work]s :o are n ,unit$   
,/ates work]s to meet ! *ang+ dem&s ( ! 
,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s' economy2  7#b7  

to inc5tivize ! hir+ ( ,unit$ ,/ates    
work]s into su* work=ce2 &  7#c7 to     
ensure t no ,unit$ ,/ates work]--  7,a7 
is at a competitive disadvantage =      
employm5t comp>$ to work]s :o are n     
,unit$ ,/ates work]s2 or  7,b7 is       
displac$ by a work] :o is n a ,unit$    
,/ates work]4  #c4 ,transitional        
provisions  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section #f ( !
 ,jo9t ,resolution entitl$ ,a ,jo9t     
,resolution to approve ! ,cov5ant ,to   
,e/abli% a ,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn     
,m>iana ,isl&s 9 ,political ,union ) !  
,unit$ ,/ates ( ,am]ica1 & = o!r        
purposes 7#dh ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjf7 is       
am5d$--  7#a7 9 subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 9 
p>agraph 7#b71 by /rik+ #bjai & ins]t+  
#bjbi2 &  7,b7 by am5d+ p>agraph 7#f7 to
 read z foll[s3  7#f7 ,fees = tra9+     
unit$ /ates work]s  7,a7 ,supplem5tal   
fee  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,9 addition to fees   
impos$ pursuant to sections #bjh7;d77#c7
 & #bde7;i71 ! ,immigration &           
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aaeh7;d77#c7 & #abee7;i77 to recov] !  

full co/s ( adjudication s]vices1 !     
,secret>y %all impose an annual         
supplem5tal fee ( #bjj p] nonimmigrant  
work] on ea* prospective employ] :o is  
issu$ a p]mit "u subsection 7d77#c7 dur+
 ! transition program4  7ii7 ,inflation 
adju/m5t ,beg9n+ 9 fiscal ye> #bjbj1 !  
,secret>y may annually adju/ ! fee      
impos$ "u clause 7i7 by a p]c5tage equal
 to ! annual *ange 9 ! ,consum] ,price  
,index = ,all ,urban ,consum]s publi%$  
by ! ,bureau ( ,labor ,/ati/ics4  7iii7 
,use ( funds ,am\nts collect$ pursuant  
to clause 7i7 %all be annually deposit$ 
into ! ,treasury ( ! ,commonweal?       
,gov]nm5t = ! sole & exclusive purpose (
 fund+ vocational education1            
appr5tice%ips1 or o!r tra9+ programs =  
,unit$ ,/ates work]s4  7,b7 ,plan = !   
exp5diture ( funds ,at ! beg9n+ ( ea*   
cal5d> ye>1 & be=e any ( ! supplem5tal  
fees are deposit$ into ! ,treasury ( !  
,commonweal? ,gov]nm5t = t cal5d> ye>1 !
 ,commonweal? ,gov]nm5t %all submit to !
 ,secret>y ( ,labor--  7i7 a plan = !   

exp5ditures ( am\nts deposit$ "u        
subp>agraph 7,a77iii72  7ii7 a          
projection ( ! effectiv5ess ( su*       
exp5ditures 9 ! placem5t ( ,unit$ ,/ates
 work]s into jobs held by non-,unit$    
,/ates work]s2 &  7iii7 a report on !   
*anges 9 employm5t ( ,unit$ ,/ates      
work]s attributable to exp5ditures ( su*
 am\nts dur+ ! previ\s ye>4  7,c7       
,paym5t re/riction ,paym5ts may n be    
made f am\nts deposit$ "u subp>agraph   
7,a77iii7 until aft] ! ,secret>y (      
,labor has approv$ ! exp5diture plan    
submitt$ "u subp>agraph 7,b77i74  7,d7  
,report ,! ,secret>y ( ,labor %all      
submit an annual report to ,congress t  
describes ! effectiv5ess ( !            
,commonweal? ,gov]nm5t at meet+ ! goals 
set =? 9 ! exp5diture plan submitt$ "u  
subp>agraph 7,b77i74  2  7#b7 9         
subsection 7b71 by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+3  7#c7 ,report ,n lat] ?an #c    
ye>s aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( !       
,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s ,u4,s4 ,work=ce  
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all submit a report  

to ! ,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural    
,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate1 ! ,committee on ! 
,judici>y ( ! ,s5ate1 ! ,committee on   
,natural ,res\rces ( ! ,h\se (          
,repres5tatives1 & ! ,committee on !    
,judici>y ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives   
t--  7,a7 projects ! numb] ( asylum     
claims ! ,secret>y anticipates foll[+ ! 
t]m9ation ( ! transition p]iod2 &  7,b7 
describes ! ef=ts ( ! ,secret>y to      
ensure appropriate int]diction ef=ts1   
provide = appropriate treatm5t ( asylum 
seek]s1 & prep>e to accept & adjudicate 
asylum claims 9 ! ,commonweal?4  2  7#c7
 9 subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 by r$esignat+  
p>agraphs 7#b7 ?r\gh 7#e7 z p>agraphs   
7#c7 ?r\gh 7#f71 respectively2  7,b7 by 
ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#a7 ! foll[+3     
7#b7 ,protection = unit$ /ates work]s   
7,a7 ,=eign labor c]tification  7i7 ,9  
g5]al ,be=e apply+ = a nonimmigrant     
work] p]mit "u ?is subsection1 a        
prospective employ] %all obta9 a        
c]tification f ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,labor     
confirm+ ! prospective employ]'s        

ass]tion t--  7,i7 no qualifi$ ,unit$   
,/ates work] is able1 will+1 qualifi$1 &
 available to accept ! propos$ job at ! 
prevail+ wage = t occupation 9 !        
,commonweal?2 &  7,,ii7 employm5t ( !   
=eign work] w n adv]sely affect ! wages 
& work+ conditions ( simil>ly employ$   
,unit$ ,/ates work]s4  7ii7 ,petition   
,aft] receiv+ a c]tification "u clause  
7i71 a prospective employ] may submit a 
petition to ,u4,s4 ,citiz5%ip &         
,immigration ,s]vices = a ,commonweal?  
,only ,transitional ,work] p]mit on     
behalf ( ! =eign work]4  7,b7 ,prevail+ 
wage survey ,9 ord] to effectuate !     
requirem5t = =eign labor c]tification1 !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,labor %all conduct p]iodic
 prevail+ wage surveys 9 ! ,commonweal?4
  7,c7 ,m9imum wage ,an employ] %all pay
 ea* ,commonweal? ,only ,transitional   
,work] a wage t is n less ?an ! great]  
(--  7i7 ! /atutory m9imum wage 9 !     
,commonweal?2  7ii7 ! ,f$]al m9imum     
wage2  7iii7 ! prevail+ wage 9 !        
,commonweal? = ! occupation 9 :i* !     

work] is employ$2 or  7iv7 ! actual wage
 level paid by ! employ] to any o!r     
individual employ$ 9 ! same occupation4 
2  7,c7 by am5d+ p>agraph 7#c71 z       
r$esignat$1 to read z foll[s3  7#c7     
,p]mits  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all
 e/abli%1 adm9i/]1 & en=ce a sy/em =    
allocat+ & det]m9+ ! numb]1 t]ms1 &     
conditions ( p]mits to be issu$ to      
prospective employ]s = ea* su*          
nonimmigrant work] describ$ 9 ?is       
subsection :o w\ld n o!rwise be eligible
 = admission "u ! ,immigration &        
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja et
 seq474  7,b7 ,comm5ts f gov]nor ,9     
c>ry+ out ?is p>agraph1 ! ,secret>y--   
7i7 %all consid]1 9 good fai?1 any      
comm5ts or advice submitt$ by ! ,gov]nor
 ( ! ,commonweal?1 includ+ any          
recomm5dation to res]ve a numb] ( p]mits
 ea* ye> = occupational categories      
necess>y to ma9ta9 public heal? or      
safety 9 ! ,commonweal?2  7ii7 %all1 n  
lat] ?an #cj days aft] ! receipt ( su*  
comm5ts or advice1 submit a writt5      

response to ! ,gov]nor2 &  7iii7 9 !    
,secret>y's sole discretion1 may make ! 
res]vation ( p]mits recomm5d$ by !      
,gov]nor4  7,c7 ,num]ical cap ,! numb] (
 p]mits issu$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 may n 
exce$ #ac1jjj dur+ fiscal ye> #bjai4    
7,d7 ,annual adju/m5ts ,beg9n+ 9 fiscal 
ye> #bjbj1 & annually !reaft]1 ! numb] (
 p]mits issu$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 may n 
exce$ a numb] t is #ejj few] ?an ! numb]
 ( p]mits t 7 issu$ dur+ ! imm$iately   
prec$+ fiscal ye>4  7,e7 ,reports reg>d+
 ! p]c5tage ( dome/ic work]s  7i7 ,by   
gov]nor ,n lat] ?an #fj days be=e ! end 
( ea* cal5d> ye>1 ! ,gov]nor %all submit
 a report to ! ,secret>y t id5tifies !  
ratio betwe5 dome/ic work]s to          
non-dome/ic work]s 9 ! ,commonweal?'s   
work=ce bas$ on income tax fil+s ) !    
,commonweal? = ! tax ye>4  7ii7 ,by     
,,gao ,n lat] ?an ,decemb] #ca1 #bjai1 &
 bi5nially !reaft]1 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all submit a report 
to ! ,*air & ,rank+ ,memb] ( !          
,committee on ,en]gy & ,natural         

,res\rces ( ! ,s5ate & ! ,*air & ,rank+ 
,memb] ( ! ,committee on ,natural       
,res\rces ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t 
id5tifies ! ratio betwe5 dome/ic work]s 
& non-dome/ic work]s 9 ! ,commonweal?'s 
work=ce dur+ ea* ( ! previ\s #e cal5d>  
ye>s4  7,f7 ,application2 issuance (    
p]mits  7i7 ,submission ,a prospective  
employ] may submit an application-- 7,i7
 = a new p]mit #ahj days be=e ! beg9n+ (
 ! allocation ye> 9 :i* ! p]mit w become
 effective2 or  7,,ii7 = ! r5ewal ( an  
exi/+ p]mit #ahj days be=e ! end ( !    
allocation ye> 9 :i* ! exi/+ p]mit      
expires4  7ii7 ,adjudication ,!         
,secret>y %all adjudicate an application
 = a p]mit submitt$ pursuant to clause  
7i7 n lat] ?an #fj days aft] ! receipt (
 su* application4  7iii7 ,employm5t     
v]ification ,! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a 
sy/em = ea* employ] ( a ,commonweal?    
,only ,transitional ,work] to submit a  
qu>t]ly report to ! ,u4,s4 ,immigration 
& ,cu/oms ,en=cem5t (fice 9 !           
,commonweal? t provides evid5ce to v]ify

 ! cont9u+ employm5t & paym5t ( su*     
work] "u ! t]ms & conditions set =? 9 ! 
p]mit petition t ! employ] fil$ on      
behalf ( su* work]4  7iv7 ,revocation   
7,i7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may revoke a 
p]mit approv$ "u ?is p>agraph if-- 7aa7 
! employ] fails to ma9ta9 ! cont9u\s    
employm5t ( ! subject work]1 fails to   
pay ! subject work]1 or commits any o!r 
violation ( ! t]ms & conditions (       
employm5t2 or  7bb7 ! b5efici>y ( su*   
petition does n apply = a visa )9 #fj   
days aft] ! approval ( su* petition4    
7,,ii7 ,use ( revok$ petition ,a revok$ 
petition "u ?is p>agraph %all be        
imm$iately available = use )9 ! same    
fiscal ye> = :i* ! petition 0 approv$ & 
%all n be fur!r c\nt$ aga9/ ! num]ical  
limit = t ye>4  7v7 ,legitimate bus9ess 
7,i7 ,9 g5]al ,a prospective employ] t  
is n a legitimate bus9ess may n be      
grant$ a petition4  7,,ii7 ,def9$ t]m ,9
 ?is clause1 ! t]m legitimate bus9ess   
means a real1 active1 & op]at+ comm]cial
 or entrepr5eurial und]tak+ t !         

,secret>y1 9 ! ,secret>y's sole         
discretion1 det]m9es--  7aa7 produces   
s]vices or goods = pr(it1 or is a       
gov]nm5tal1 *>itable1 or o!r validly    
recogniz$ nonpr(it entity2  7bb7 meets  
applicable legal requirem5ts = do+      
bus9ess 9 ! ,commonweal?2  7cc7 has     
sub/antially compli$ ) wage & h\r laws1 
occupational safety & heal? requirem5ts1
 & all o!r ,f$]al requirem5ts relat$ to 
employm5t dur+ ! prec$+ #e ye>s2 &  7dd7
 does n directly or indirectly engage 9 
pro/itution1 human traffick+1 or any o!r
 activity t is illegal "u ,f$]al or     
,commonweal? law4  7vi7 ,con/ruction    
occupations ,a p]mit = ,con/ruction &   
,extraction ,occupations 7z def9$ by !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,labor z ,/&>d ,occupational
 ,classification ,gr\p #dg-jjjj7 may    
only be issu$ to ext5d a p]mit t 0 fir/ 
issu$ be=e ,octob] #a1 #bjae4  2  7,d7 9
 p>agraph 7#d71 z r$esignat$1 by ins]t+ 
or to ,guam = ! purpose ( transit only  
aft] except admission to ! ,commonweal?2
  7,e7 9 p>agraph 7#e71 z r$esignat$1 by

 add+ at ! end ! foll[+3 ,approval ( a  
petition fil$ by ! new employ] )9 ! same
 fiscal ye> z ! curr5t p]mit %all n c\nt
 aga9/ ! num]ical limitation = t p]iod42
 &  7,f7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3     
7#g7 ,,cw-#c work]s  7,a7 ,designation  
,! ,secret>y %all designate an ali5     
admitt$ "u ?is subsection z a ,,cw-#c   
work] if ! ali5--  7i7 0 admitt$ to !   
,commonweal? z a ,commonweal? ,only     
,transitional ,work] dur+ fiscal ye>    
#bjad & e subsequ5t fiscal ye> beg9n+   
be=e ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ! ,nor!rn    
,m>iana ,isl&s ,u4,s4 ,work=ce ,act2 &  
7ii7 is o!rwise admissible4  7,b7 ,p]mit
  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,ea* ,,cw-#c work] %all  
be deem$ to h met ! =eign labor         
c]tification requirem5t "u p>agraph 7#b7
 &1 ^u application1 %all be issu$ a     
p]mit to rema9 9 ! ,commonweal? dur+ !  
#c-ye> p]iod beg9n+ on ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ! ,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s     
,u4,s4 ,work=ce ,act4  7ii7 ,r5ewal ,!  
p]mit issu$ "u clause 7i7 may be r5ew$ 9
 #c-ye> increm5ts dur+ ! transition     

p]iod describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#b7 if !
 ali5 rema9s outside ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates =
 a cont9u\s p]iod ( n less ?an #cj days 
dur+ ! #ahj-;day p]iod imm$iately prec$+
 ea* su* r5ewal4  7iii7 ,num]ical       
limitation ,ea* p]mit issu$ "u clause   
7i7 %all c\nt aga9/ ! annual num]ical   
limitations set =? 9 subp>agraphs 7,c7 &
 7,d7 ( p>agraph 7#c74  7,c7 ,ro/] ,!   
,secret>y %all ma9ta9 a ro/] ( ali5s 9  
?is category4  7,d7 ,fee ,employ]s (    
,,cw-#c work]s %all be subject to !     
annual education fee "u subsection      
7a77#f74  7#h7 ,requirem5t to rema9     
outside ( ! unit$ /ates ,except z       
provid$ 9 p>agraph 7#g71 ! p]mit = a    
,commonweal? ,only ,transitional ,work] 
may n be r5ew$ = m ?an #b consecutive   
ye>s4 ,an ali5 may n aga9 be eligible = 
su* a p]mit until aft] ! ali5 has rema9$
 outside ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = a cont9u\s 
p]iod ( n less ?an #cj days4  2 &  7#d7 
by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7i7         
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3  7#a7       
,allocation ye> ,! t]m allocation ye>   

means ! fiscal ye> imm$iately foll[+ !  
curr5t ye>4  7#b7 ,commonweal? ,! t]m   
,commonweal? means ! ,commonweal? ( !   
,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s4  7#c7           
,commonweal? only transition work] ,!   
t]m ,commonweal? ,only ,transition      
,work] means an ali5 :o has be5 admitt$ 
into ! ,commonweal? "u ! transition     
program = ! purposes ( a p]mit provid$  
"u subsection 7d77#c74  7#d7 ,curr5t ye>
 ,! t]m curr5t ye> means ! fiscal ye> 9 
:i* an allocation is det]m9$ = !        
allocation ye>4  7#e7 ,dome/ic work] ,! 
t]m dome/ic work] means any work] :o    
is--  7,a7 a ,unit$ ,/ates work]2 or    
7,b7 a citiz5 ( ! ,republic ( ! ,m>%all 
,isl&s1 ! ,f$]at$ ,/ates ( ,micronesia1 
or ! ,republic ( ,palau 7kn[n           
collectively z ! ,freely ,associat$     
,/ates7 :o has be5 lawfully admitt$ to !
 ,unit$ ,/ates pursuant to--  7i7       
section #ada ( ! ,compact ( ,free       
,association betwe5 ! ,gov]nm5t ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,gov]nm5ts ( ! ,m>%all
 ,isl&s & ! ,f$]at$ ,/ates ( ,micronesia

 7#dh ,u4,s4,c4 #aiba note72 or  7ii7   
section #ada ( ! ,compact ( ,free       
,association betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ! 
,gov]nm5t ( ,palau 7#dh ,u4,s4,c4 #aica 
note74  7#f7 ,gov]nor ,! t]m ,gov]nor   
means ! ,gov]nor ( ! ,commonweal? ( !   
,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s4  7#g7 ,secret>y 
,! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y (    
,homel& ,security4  7#h7 ,tax ye> ,! t]m
 tax ye> means ! fiscal ye> imm$iately  
prec$+ ! curr5t ye>4  7#i7 ,unit$ ,/ates
 work] ,! t]m ,unit$ ,/ates work] means 
any work] :o is--  7,a7 a citiz5 or     
national ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 or  7,b7 an 
ali5 :o has be5--  7i7 lawfully admitt$ 
= p]man5t resid5ce2  7ii7 admitt$ z a   
refugee "u section #bjg ( ! ,immigration
 & ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4      
#aaeg72 or  7iii7 grant$ asylum "u      
section #bjh ( su* ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4   
#aaeh74  4  7b7 ,rulemak+ ,n lat] ?an   
#fj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is 
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,homel& ,security   
%all publi% regulations 9 ! ,f$]al      
,regi/] to implem5t ! am5dm5ts made by  

subsection 7a74  7c7 ,dep>tm5t ( !      
,int]ior te*nical assi/ance ,n lat] ?an 
,octob] #a1 #bjai1 & bi5nially !reaft]1 
! ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior %all submit a  
report to ,congress t describes !       
fulfillm5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior's 
responsibilities to ! ,commonweal? ( !  
,nor!rn ,m>iana ,isl&s--  7#a7 to       
id5tify opportunities = economic gr[? & 
div]sification2  7#b7 to provide        
assi/ance 9 recruit+1 tra9+1 & hir+     
,unit$ ,/ates work]s2 &  7#c7 to provide
 su* o!r te*nical assi/ance &           
consultation z outl9$ 9 section #gjb7;e7
 ( ! ,consolidat$ ,natural ,res\rces    
,act ( #bjjh 7#dh ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjg74