Islanders from the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau have visa-free access to the United States as part of Compacts of Free Association that provide the U.S. government with military authority over an area of the Pacific about the size of the continental U.S.
Since the first Compact went into effect between the U.S. and the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia in 1986, and Palau in 1994, questions have been raised by Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Marianas about the adequacy of U.S. federal “Compact-Impact” funding provided to cover costs for providing education, health and other services to islanders legally residing in these U.S. areas. Since a second Compact was approved in 2003, with the number of islanders moving to the U.S. increasing, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Marianas have escalated complaints that $30 million annually reimburses them for only a fraction of the costs to provide services.
Now, mainland states such as Arkansas — where an estimated 5,000 Marshall Islanders live — are expressing concern that while they support large populations of islanders, they receive no Compact impact funding.
“We are interested in receiving recommendations for improving both the adequacy and effectiveness of such federal aid,” said U.S. House members Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Guam), Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (American Samoa), Neil Abercrombie and Mazie K. Hirono (Hawaii), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Northern Marianas), and Vic Snyder, John Boozman and Mike Ross (Arkansas) in their letter to the GAO.
The $30 million annually is now divided among Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Marianas based on population counts done by the Interior Department. American Samoa is also eligible for this funding.
Seven years after the U.S. Congress approved Compact legislation with the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, “we believe a meaningful evaluation of the administration and expenditure of these federal funds is feasible and warranted,” the U.S. lawmakers said.
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