Koshiba said with elections upcoming in the United States , congressional hearings might be derailed.
The United States Congress Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment has conducted their first hearing Sept. 29 on the Compact financial package for Palau in the next 15 years.
The first hearing was dedicated to the Department of Interior and American Samoa Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega is a member of the Subcommittee, according to the Compact Review Office here.
Palau government has sent its Palau team to attend the hearing.
The U.S. government is now operating on a continuing resolution which provides temporary fiscal year 2011 funding through December 3rd, 2010 for all programs and agencies that receive appropriations funding. Nearly all federal education programs are funded through the annual appropriations process.
Koshiba added that it is also unclear whether the Palau advisory team will be called to testify before the committee.
The hearing was supposed to be conducted in July but the Compact financial package was not finalized at that time.
Palau has accepted a $250 million financial package. Koshiba is however optimistic that the figure would not change during the budget deliberation.
He said that they were assured that the Compact financial package will be approved by U.S. Congress after Nov. 15.
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