U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) applauded the House of Representatives adoption of the Senate-amended version of H.J. Res. 63, the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, a joint resolution to codify the negotiated agreements between the United States, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The House action clears the legislation for the President's signature.
"After four years of hard work and good faith negotiations, I am pleased to see the legislation sent to the President for his signature," Akaka said. "Congress has passed solid legislation to assist the RMI and FSM achieve economic self-sufficiency in the next 20 years, while preserving our shared national security interests."
The resolution sent to the President includes the additional $15 million Senator Akaka and the Hawaii Congressional delegation worked to add to the annual amount of mandatory funding for Compact Impact which is shared by the affected jurisdictions of Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The resolution also includes language authorizing reimbursements to health care institutions in the affected jurisdictions for costs associated with the migration of FAS citizens. Hawaii's medical providers are owed thousands of dollars in unpaid medical bills, and the situation has had an adverse impact on health care in Hawaii. "I am very pleased that this resolution addresses the health care costs and other annual expenses borne by the State of Hawaii and Hawaii's social services institutions," said Akaka.
The resolution enables referrals of FAS citizens to Department of Defense medical facilities on a space available and reimbursable basis; makes Hawaii eligible for grants to address communicable diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis and Hansen's disease; maintains federal funding for Pell Grants and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) [eligibility for all other educational programs is converted to a cash grant and the Senate resolution mandates that those discretionary funds be added to the education sector grants]; retains eligibility for Job Corps; provides for a full inflation adjustment after 2015 for grants and the trust funds; and provides mandatory payments to Enewetak and Rongelap, two communities affected by U.S. nuclear weapons tests, to operate programs to import food and thus reduce the radiation dose from eating foods grown locally.
