Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie today introduced legislation to reinstate certain federal benefits for migrants from the Freely Associated States (FAS) that are currently costing Hawaii more than $90-million.

The bill restores federal eligibility for non-emergency Medicaid, food stamps, supplemental security income, and temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) that was guaranteed by the U.S. government to FAS migrants, but when funds were cut, the State of Hawaii was left to pay the costs.  The Freely Associated States include the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

“Eligibility for these benefits was in the original Compact of Free Association, agreements between the Government of the United State and these sovereign nations,” said Abercrombie.  “It is simply wrong for Hawaii taxpayers to be stuck with the bill for an international agreement.”  

Last year, Hawaii spent more than $90 million to provide health and social services to FAS migrants, a cost which has nearly doubled since 2003.

Under the Compact of Free Association, citizens of the Freely Associated States have access to direct services of over forty U.S. federal domestic programs; the U.S. accepted responsibility for the security and defense of each island state; and FAS citizens the right to work and live in the United States as nonimmigrant residents.  In return, other countries have no access to FAS for military purposes.

Abercrombie’s bill is cosponsored by Representative Mazie K. Hirono, and has been introduced in the Senate by Daniel Akaka and co-sponsored by Dan Inouye.

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