OIA Announces Nearly $37 Million in Compact Funding to Help Strengthen Republic of the Marshall Islands Communities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) today announced that Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor has been appointed the new Chair of the Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee (JEMFAC). As Chair, Assistant Secretary Cantor convened the Committee for their annual meeting on August 30, 2022. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee allocated $36,968,240 in Compact of Free Association Section 211 grant assistance for fiscal year (FY) 2023 for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).

“Funding through the Compacts of Free Association has provided important, reliable support for both the health and education sectors in the RMI, just as the Compacts themselves have provided a solid foundation for democratic governance, peace and security in the larger Indo-Pacific region,” said Assistant Secretary Cantor. “I am honored to serve as the JEMFAC Chair, as we continue to move forward the important partnership between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the American people.”
The FY2023 Compact of Free Association Section 211 grant assistance for the Republic of the Marshall Islands was allocated for government operations, infrastructure and disaster assistance as follows:

$   11,090,526 Infrastructure
$     9,121,057 Education
$     6,880,797 Health
$     2,845,850 Ebeye Special Needs - Education
$     2,369,620 Ebeye Special Needs - Health
$     1,590,990 Ebeye Special Needs - Capital
$     2,535,740 Kwajalein Impact Fund
$        266,740 Kwajalein Environmental Fund
$        266,920 Disaster Assistance Emergency Fund
$   36,968,240 Compact of Free Association Section 211 Grant Assistance

The JEMFAC further agreed that a contribution of $500,000 from the Supplemental Education Grant and $214,100 from the Education Sector Grant would be made available for use in conjunction with a contribution of $2,313,796 from the RMI Government General Fund to the RMI Public School System’s School Lunch Program.
On August 29, 2022, Secretary Deb Haaland appointed Assistant Secretary Cantor to serve as Chair of the JEMFAC with the Republic of the Marshall Islands. As provided for under the Compact of Free Association, as amended, (P.L. 108-188), the JEMFAC is a bilateral committee consisting of officials from the Governments of the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands who are responsible for strengthening management and accountability regarding assistance provided under the Compact, as amended, and to promote the effective use of funding provided.
The JEMFAC comprises the following five members: Chair Carmen G. Cantor (U.S. Department of the Interior); Minister Kitlang Kabua (RMI Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade); Minister Brenson Wase (RMI Minister of Finance); Dr. Richard Brostrom (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); and Mr.Taylor Ruggles (U.S. State Department).

Certain provisions of the Compact of Free Association agreement between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the United States are set to expire in 2023. Negotiations between the two governments are ongoing.

 The Assistant Secretary for 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. OIA also administers a discretionary Technical Assistance Program for all the Insular Areas.