Assistant Secretary Kia'aina to Make First Official Visit to the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam; Deliver Keynote Remarks at GEDA Symposium

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Beginning this week, Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas
Esther Kia’aina will make her first official visit to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands (CNMI) and Guam, where she will meet with  government officials, private sector leaders, 
and community leaders and deliver keynote remarks at the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA) 
Economic Symposium.

Her discussions with island leaders and community members will cover a wide variety of issues to 
include climate change, economic and energy development, labor and immigration, the Guam- CNMI 
visa-waiver programs, the Department of Defense Buildup, and Compact Impact.
Assistant Secretary Kia’aina will also tour various projects and programs being implemented and 
administered through grants from the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), including Capital Improvement 
Projects.

From October 13 to 17, the Assistant Secretary will be in the Northern Mariana Islands, where she 
will meet with CNMI Lieutenant Governor Jude Hofschneider and legislative leaders from both the 
House and Senate.  She will also meet with members of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, visit the 
Northern Marianas College, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, the Commonwealth Utilities 
Corporation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and tour American Memorial Park, among 
other activities.  She will also fly to Tinian to meet with Mayor Ray Dela Cruz to learn first-hand 
the issues important to the Tinian community.

The Assistant Secretary’s visit to Guam will be from October 20 to 24.  She will begin her visit by 
meeting with Guam Governor Eddie Calvo, Guam Legislature leadership, and officials from Joint 
Region Marianas.  She will also participate in a luncheon hosted by the Guam Women’s
Chamber of Commerce, and meet with members of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, and
officials from Guam Energy and Natural Resources.  The Assistant Secretary will also visit the
Guam Memorial Hospital, the University of Guam, and the Guahan Academy Charter School, among other 
activities.

Assistant Secretary Kia’aina will deliver a keynote address at the GEDA Economic Symposium on 
Thursday, October 23, when she will underscore the importance of the Federal relationship with Guam 
and the Office of Insular Affairs’ role in improving the quality of life on Guam, supporting 
programs and initiatives that create economic opportunity, and promoting government efficiency.

The Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas carries out the administrative responsibilities of the 
Secretary of the Interior in coordinating federal policy for the territories of American Samoa, 
Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance to the Freely Associated States of the 
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau 
under the Compacts of Free Association. The Assistant Secretary executes these responsibilities 
through the Office of Insular Affairs.

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