U.S. Provides $133 Million to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech today announced that the Department of the Interior has provided $133,114,602 in fiscal year (FY) 2020 grant payments to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) as provided for under the Compact of Free Association, or Public Law 108-188.

“This $133 million in funding provided for under the Compact of Free Association agreements is critical to basic government operations and in providing stability for individuals and families in both the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Payments also bolster disaster emergency funds for unforeseen events and their respective Compact Trust Funds for the future,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “Secretary Bernhardt and I are proud of Interior’s role as part of the larger U.S. Government relationship with these freely associated states.”

According to Ambassador Carmen Cantor, U.S. Ambassador to Micronesia, “The funding provided under the Compact of Free Association between our two countries shows our enduring commitment to the people of the Federated States of Micronesia. These funds not only support Micronesia's current response to the coronavirus pandemic, but also help build a more stable and prosperous future for all Micronesian citizens.”

In the Marshall Islands, U.S. Ambassador Roxanne Cabral announced, “We stand together to strengthen the prosperity of the Marshall Islands and to continue to improve the livelihoods of all Marshallese citizens. Our support for priority areas such as education, health, and infrastructure creates a strong foundation for continued growth in the Marshall Islands.”

Thus far, payments made to the Federated States of Micronesia in FY 2020 consist of Compact Sector Grant assistance, Supplemental Education Grant assistance, and a deposit into the FSM Compact Trust Fund, altogether totaling $79,320,663, as detailed below.

In addition, payments made to the Republic of the Marshall Island in FY 2020 thus far consist of Compact Sector Grant assistance, Supplemental Education Grant assistance, support of the Kwajalein Land Use Agreement, and a deposit into the RMI Compact Trust Fund, altogether totaling $53,793,939, as detailed below.

Compact Sector allocations for the FSM and the RMI are approved each year by bilateral Joint Economic Management Committees. Compact assistance provided to-date for FY 2020 include deposits to the FSM Compact Trust Fund, the RMI Compact Trust Fund, Disaster Emergency Assistance Funds, and Single Audits.

For more information about the work of the Office of Insular Affairs, visit http://www.doi.gov/oia or follow @ASIIADomenech on Twitter.

For more information about U.S.-FSM relations, follow Ambassador Cantor on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/usembassykolonia/ and for more on U.S.-RMI relations, follow Ambassador Cabral on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/usembassymajuro/.

The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

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