[House Document 119-10]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




119th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 119-10

 
 2024 FEDERAL PROGRAMS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 AND THE REPUBLIC OF PALAU AND 2024 FEDERAL PROGRAMS AGREEMENT BETWEEN 
         THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  THE 2024 FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED 
  STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF PALAU AND THE 2024 FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND 
SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, 
 PURSUANT TO PUBLIC LAW 118-42, TITLE II, SEC. 204(e); (138 STAT. 423) 
AND 48 U.S.C. 1931(d)(2); PUBLIC LAW 99-658, SEC. 101(d)(2); (100 STAT. 
                                 3673)




   January 14, 2025.--Referred jointly to the Committees on Natural 
        Resources and Foreign Affairs, and ordered to be printed
        
        
                      _______

             U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 
 59-011             WASHINGTON : 2025 
        
        
        
        
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, January 14, 2025.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker:  Consistent with Section 204(e) of the 
Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2024 (Div. G, 
title II, P.L. 118-42) and section 101(d)(2) of the Joint 
Resolution to approve the ``Compact of Free Association'' 
between the United States and the Government of Palau, and for 
other purposes (P.L. 99-658), I transmit here the 2024 Federal 
Programs and Services Agreement between the Government of the 
United States and the Government of the Republic of Palau (2024 
Palau FPSA).
    Consistent with section 101(f) of title I of the Compact of 
Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-188) and 
Section 204(e) of the Compact of Free Association Amendments 
Act of 2024 (Div. G, title II, P.L. 118-42) I transmit here the 
2024 Federal Programs and Services Agreement between the 
Government of the United States and the Government of the 
Republic of the Marshall Islands with Annexes (2024 Marshall 
Islands FPSA).
    The reasons for these agreements with Palau and the 
Marshall Islands are to assist in their development and 
maintain our close relationship with each country. The 2024 
FPSA agreements with Palau and the Marshall Islands would 
continue most of the services specified in those agreements as 
they have been provided to each country under previous 
agreements, with some technical updates. The 2024 FPSAs include 
significant changes to the provision of postal services for 
both Palau and the Marshall Islands, including more detailed 
specifications on the minimum level of services provided, 
allowing the United States Postal Service (USPS) to reduce the 
individual services within certain categories. The 2024 FPSA 
with Palau would also make FDIC insurance available to Palau-
chartered banks for the first time, such that existing and 
future Palau-chartered depository institutions would be 
eligible to apply for FDIC insurance. A new component of the 
2024 FPSA with the Marshall Islands would make FDIC insurance 
available to existing Marshall Islands-chartered institutions, 
such that they could apply for FDIC insurance. In addition, the 
2024 FPSAs' general provisions that apply to all U.S. Federal 
agencies providing programs and services in Palau and the 
Marshall Islands--not just those providing programs and 
services under the FPSAs--would last in perpetuity unless 
terminated by mutual agreement. This ensures that benefits for 
U.S. Federal agencies, personnel, and contractors, including 
certain privileges and immunities, tax exemptions, and claims 
and dispute settlement procedures, will continue beyond 2043. 
With regard to the 2024 FPSA with the Marshall Islands, 
significant changes relating to disaster assistance include a 
revision to the process for declaring disasters, increased 
contributions to the Disaster Assistance Emergency Fund, and 
changes to promote disaster preparedness.
    I commend to the Congress the 2024 Palau FPSA between the 
United States of America and the Republic of Palau and the 2024 
Marshall Islands FPSA between the United States of America and 
the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
            Sincerely,

                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.