Interior Releases $6.2 Million in December 2015 Compact Grant Assistance Payments to the Federated States of Micronesia

Support for Programs Promoting Physical Activity in Youth and Raising Diabetes Awareness

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 22, 2016) – In December of 2015, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Department of Finance received Compact grant assistance payments from the United States Government totaling $6.2 million.

Compact grant payments included funding for an After School Sports pilot project being implemented at ten elementary schools across Pohnpei to encourage physical activity and create healthy lifestyle interests in elementary school students.  Other funding was used for a Municipal Sports Project to provide sporting equipment and solar street lighting at key locations in each of the five municipalities across Pohnpei State and Kolonia Town, monthly music competitions to raise awareness about diabetes, and to fund a mobile immunization clinic.

In photo above, municipality mayors from across the State of Pohnpei, including Kolonia Town, receive sports equipment to promote physical activity in youth in their respective jurisdictions. (December 2015).

The total Compact Sector Grants and Supplementary Education Grants in December 2015 for the

FSM were distributed among the sectors as follow:

The above total is distributed to each the States of the FSM as follows:

The Compact provides approximately 90% of the FSM’s annual budget for health, education, and infrastructure development and maintenance.  The close relationship between the U.S. Government and the Federated States of Micronesia is enshrined in the Compact of Free Association, under which the United States also provides guaranteed financial assistance over a

20-year period in exchange for full international defense authority and responsibilities.  U.S. assistance through direct annual Compact grants will be replaced in 2023 by distributions from the Trust Fund for the People of the Federated States of Micronesia, as established under the amended Compact of Free Association.

The Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas carries out the administrative responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior in coordinating federal policy for the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance to the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association. The Assistant Secretary executes these responsibilities through the Office of Insular Affairs.

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