Governor Palacios recently spoke at the first, or inaugural, White House Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander NHPI Convening that brought together key NHPI leaders, private sector leaders, federal and state elected officials, federal appointees and staff.

This past weekend, Governor Arnold I. Palacios welcomed Commander David Gardener, Commander Eric Burtner-Abt, Command Senior Chief Kendall Lindvold, and the crew of the USS Mobile to Saipan. The ship is making a port call through Thursday. The USS Mobile, an Independence-variant littoral combat ship, adds to the increasing number of port calls to the CNMI and underscores the CNMI’s role in  regional security and its partnership with the United States Department of Defense.

Governor Arnold Palacios and Lt. Governor David Apatang today met with a staff delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives – Committee on Defense Appropriations. Their discussion focused on economic and military priorities and other topics meant to provide the congressional staff expanded understanding of the urgent issues that are facing the CNMI, especially as it pertains to appropriations from U.S. Congress. Governor Palacios reiterated that the economic stability of the CNMI is inextricably tied to national interests of the United States; he sought legislative advocacy, funding assistance, and other support from the staffers.