OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)
Interior Awards $1,033,100 to Mitigate COVID-19 Among Pacific Islanders in Hawai’i
The Honolulu Civil Beat reported last November that Pacific Islanders in Hawai’i are more than twice as likely to die from or be hospitalized by the coronavirus than other racial and ethnic groups, after adjusting for age and gender, according to data from the Hawai’i State Health Department. The report indicated that Chuukese, Marshallese, and Samoans are among the most impacted.
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OIA Highlights Accomplishments for Insular Areas; Applauds Recent Legislative and Administrative Actions
Medicaid Eligibility Restored for Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Simultaneously Provides Compact Impact Relief to Affected Jurisdictions; CARES Act Benefits Extended to CW-1 Workers in the CNMI; Philippines Now Deemed an H-2B Eligible Country for Workers; WHIAAPI Report Calls for Action to Improve Economic Livelihood of Pacific Islanders; U.S. Strategic Framework for Indo-Pacific De-Classified for Transparency with Allies and Partners in Region.
Accomplishments 2017 - 2021
“Attached find our major Accomplishments from 2017-2021. It touches on many of the things we have done to improve the lives of people and the environment in island communities and countries around the world. I hope this list makes you proud – it should. We could not have done this without the support of the Administration, the Secretary, and Congress,” Assistant Secretary Douglas W. Domenech.
President Trump Signs Three Important Oceans-Related Bills Passed by Congress
“These three pieces of legislation are the latest actions by President Trump to support ocean health and technology, all of which are critical to and complement the work that we do at the Department of the Interior with other federal partners in support of ocean, coastal, and marine resources health for the benefit of all Americans,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech.
Interior Applauds Inclusion of Insular Areas through Operation Warp Speed to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines
Interior applauds President Trump’s strong leadership and strategy for Operation Warp Speed in coordinating the development of a vaccine to be delivered rapidly while adhering to standards for safety and efficacy. Interior further applauds the White House team and federal partners for their ongoing support to the U.S. territories and the freely associated states during this pandemic. The U.S. distribution schedule will include the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Trump Administration Announces Agreement Between National Marine Sanctuaries in American Samoa and Palau
A Sister Sanctuary arrangement between Puipuiga lautele o le Gataifale o Amerika Samoa, the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, and the Euotelel a Klingil a Debel Belau, the Palau National Marine Sanctuary will advance marine protected areas that are critical to island cultures and people’s livelihood, and exemplifies the Trump Administration’s ongoing support for the Pacific Islands and further strengthens the relationship between the United States and Palau.”
Trump Administration Applauds Eco-Heritage Tourism Efforts in Kosrae, Micronesia
Kosrae Mahkontowe Conservation Area supported through funds provided under the Compact of Free Association and a grant from the National Park Service.
Trump Administration Approves $1.5 Million in Compact and CARES Act Funding for COVID-19 Quarantine Facilities in Kosrae, Micronesia
$1,530,000 in Compact of Free Association and CARES Act funding has been approved to help build several quarantine buildings in the State of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia to be used for quarantine and isolation purposes during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This important support provided by the Compact and the CARES Act will help Kosrae isolate and address potential COVID-19 cases, thereby reducing the potential for community transmission of the disease as repatriations and the relaxing of travel restrictions are considered.
Trump Administration Transfers $16.7 Million in Supplemental Education Grant Assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands
$16.7 million in fiscal year 2020 SEG assistance has been awarded to the FSM and the RMI governments. The SEG assistance is provided for under the implementing legislation of the Compact of Free Association through the U.S. Department of Education and is made available to support the education sectors in both countries during fiscal year 2021.