Hawaii has received an additional $11.2 million, while the Compact-Impact grant payments for the CNMI and American Samoa are still pending, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
According to Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Tony Babauta and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo the funds are allocated based on a formula derived from the latest enumeration of Compact migrants, which is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Although Guam has been receiving the lion’s share of the annual Compact grant, local officials insist that the territory should be getting way more than what it receives each year.
Sen. Frank Blas maintains that the U.S. owes Guam about $400 million for services provides to Compact migrants since 2003.
But just the same, Bordallo sees the grant as a welcome treat for Guam. “These funds may be used for education, healthcare and social services for FAS citizens,” she said.
U.S. jurisdictions stand to receive Compact grants until 2023 to aid them in defraying costs incurred as a result of increased demands placed on health, educational, social, or public sector services, or infrastructure related to such services, due to the residence of qualified non-immigrants from the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau.
