[Senate Hearing 108-128]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 108-128
COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY REGARDING THE COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION WITH THE
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA AND THE
REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
__________
JULY 15, 2003
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
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COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico, Chairman
DON NICKLES, Oklahoma JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii
BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming BOB GRAHAM, Florida
LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee RON WYDEN, Oregon
LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska TIM JOHNSON, South Dakota
JAMES M. TALENT, Missouri MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana
CONRAD BURNS, Montana EVAN BAYH, Indiana
GORDON SMITH, Oregon DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California
JIM BUNNING, Kentucky CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York
JON KYL, Arizona MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
Alex Flint, Staff Director
Judith K. Pensabene, Chief Counsel
Robert M. Simon, Democratic Staff Director
Sam E. Fowler, Democratic Chief Counsel
Kellie Donnelly, Counsel
Al Stayman, Professional Staff Member
C O N T E N T S
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STATEMENTS
Page
Akaka, Hon. Daniel K., U.S. Senator from Hawaii.................. 4
Anefal, Sebastian, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs,
Federated States of Micronesia................................. 39
Bingaman, Hon. Jeff, U.S. Senator from New Mexico................ 3
Cohen, David B., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs,
Department of the Interior..................................... 16
Craig, Hon. Larry E., U.S. Senator from Idaho.................... 4
Domenici, Hon. Pete V., U.S. Senator from New Mexico............. 1
Short, Albert V., Director, Office of Compact Negotiations,
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State.. 6
Westin, Susan S., Managing Director, International Affairs and
Trade, General Accounting Office............................... 21
Zackios, Gerald M., Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of
the Republic of the Marshall Islands........................... 45
APPENDIXES
Appendix I
Responses to additional questions................................ 61
Appendix II
Additional material submitted for the record..................... 85
COMPACT OF FREE ASSOCIATION
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TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2003
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:38 p.m. in room
SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
chairman, presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. PETE V. DOMENICI,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO
The Chairman. The hearing will please come to order.
The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony
regarding the Compact of Free Association with the Federated
States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
I appreciate the attendance of my fellow committee members.
Thank you all for coming, and I particularly thank you, Senator
Bingaman, as ranking member of the committee.
We have two panels today. We will start with panel number
one. As I call you, would you please take your seat at the
table?
I would like to welcome our witnesses from the first panel.
First, Mr. Albert Short is the Director of the Office of
Compact Negotiations, Bureau of Eastern and Asian Public
Affairs, the U.S. Department of State. Next, Mr. David B.
Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs, U.S.
Department of the Interior. Then Ms. Susan B. Westin, Managing
Director, International Affairs and Trade Office, the General
Accounting Office. Thank you for being here.
I had an opportunity, Senators, to speak with Mr. Short in
the presence of Mr. Cohen today, and informed them that their
statements will be made part of the record. Then they can
proceed with their testimony.
Let me first say to Mr. Short, I have had occasion prior to
this hearing to be briefed on the matter before us. I
compliment you and the others in the Federal Government for the
work that was done, and also those witnesses on the second
panel who represent the Freely Associated States.
I'd like to begin with a brief opening statement. We are
going to examine the administration's proposed amendments to
the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of the
Marshall Islands--the RMI--and the Federated States of
Micronesia--the FSM.
S.J. Res. 16, the legislation introduced yesterday by
myself and Senators Bingaman, Craig, and Akaka on behalf of the
administration would extend the Nation's unique relationship
with our Pacific allies for the next 20 years. With the
Compact's September 30 deadline rapidly approaching, both
chambers will need to move as expeditiously as possible to
complete action.
I would like to extend a special welcome to our friends on
the second panel from the Freely Associated States, the
Honorable Gerald Zackios from the Marshall Islands; and the
Honorable Sebastian Anefal from Micronesia.
I know that you have traveled a long way to come before us.
I look forward to hearing your testimony.
The amended compact continues what I think is a remarkable
relationship first forged after World War II. As U.N. trustee,
the United States aided the islands' transition into self-
governing nations. With the 1986 compact, the citizens of RMI
and FSM elected to maintain the bond enjoyed between our
countries. Indeed, for the past 17 years, the compact has
governed our mutual defense interests and has sought to achieve
political and economic stability for the islands' citizens.
Overall, most would agree that the compact has been a
success. At the same time, areas in need of improvement have
been identified. The legislation now before us continues U.S.
economic assistance, and by establishing trust funds,
encourages economic self-reliance. In addition, each nation,
including the United States, has increased oversight and
accountability responsibilities.
Annual funding is provided to address the migration impacts
to neighboring Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
In the wake of 9/11, the compact's immigration provisions have
been tightened. Finally, the amended compact maintains our
defense rights and seeks to continue access to the military
facilities at Kwajalein Island for the next 50 to 70 years.
As we begin this hearing today, I am interested to learn
more about the status of the negotiations regarding landowners
who have yet to sign the Land Use Agreement extension, as well
as the administration's plans if such an agreement is not
secured. I also have questions regarding the continuation of
FEMA eligibility, and access to vital Federal educational
programs for FAS citizens.
With the compact set to expire in a matter of weeks, the
committee will not examine the nuclear claims issues at this
time. However, we will likely conduct an oversight hearing, and
I understand the distinguished Senator, Senator Craig, is
interested in conducting those, time permitting.
At this time, I would like to submit statements for the
record that have been submitted by the Defense Department; from
Senator Christopher Loeak, chairman of the Kwajalein
Negotiation Commission; and the Representatives from American
Samoa.
I would also like to submit the administration's June 3,
2003 response to my request for information on education
funding.
Again, thank you all for being here. Let us proceed.
Senator Bingaman.
STATEMENT OF HON. JEFF BINGAMAN, U.S. SENATOR
FROM NEW MEXICO
Senator Bingaman. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for
having the hearing. I think this is a subject that our
committee has had a long tradition of dealing with in a very
bipartisan way. I think that is very healthy.
There is a very special relationship between these states
and our own country. They are the only foreign nations with
U.S. ZIP codes, the only foreign nations whose citizens have
the status of being able to live in the United States as
nonimmigrants, and the only foreign nations whose financial
assistance flows through our Department of the Interior. So we
have a special relationship that we value very much. I am
confident that if we can get this Compact of Free Association
renewed, it will continue for a very long time.
I do note that a lot of experts have participated in
getting this together. The General Accounting Office in
particular has completed over half-a-dozen reports to help us
get to this stage. I very much appreciate that. There is a
deadline, as you pointed out, at the end of September, about 11
weeks away, for us to get this done, so we need to move ahead
quickly.
[The prepared statement of Senator Bingaman follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Jeff Bingaman, U.S. Senator
From New Mexico
Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this important hearing on
legislation to amend the Compact of Free Association with the Federated
States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
(RMI), and welcome to our witnesses.
First, I'd like to associate myself with the Chairman's remarks and
to point out the Committee's tradition of bi-partisanship in this area
of public policy. Chairman James McClure and Ranking Member Bennett
Johnston worked closely during consideration of the Compact in 1986,
and Chairman Murkowski and Senator Akaka travelled extensively in the
islands examining many of the issues we will be considering today.
Second, I'd like to recognize the special nature of the
relationship that exists between the United States and the people of
the former United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. These
are, after all, the only foreign nations with U.S. ZIP codes, the only
foreign nations whose citizens have status to live in the U.S. as non-
immigrants, and the only foreign nations whose financial assistance
flows through the U.S. Department of the Interior.
This special relationship began in 1944 when Marshall Islands'
scouts assisted U.S. forces in ending Japan's occupation of the
islands. It continues today with the hundreds of Micronesians and,
Marshallese who serve in the U.S. military, including those who put
their lives on the line every day as a part of United States forces in
Iraq.
During 40 years of U.S. Administration under the Trusteeship, the
islands also played a crucial role in the development of the United
States' nuclear weapons and strategic missile capabilities--
cornerstones of our nation's military strength.
As Administrator, the U.S. had responsibility to advance the
political, social, and economic development of the inhabitants, but
after the United States discharged its responsibilities to the United
Nations, we have continued for 17 years to work together, under the
Compact, as partners to maintain mutual security and to advance
economic self-sufficiency.
As our nation debates the topic of nation-building, we should
recall our 60-year experience in Micronesia. We have achieved our
mutual political and security objectives, but economic development has
taken more time and resources than anticipated. Assuring continued
economic growth and stability will take the continued commitment not
only of our three nations, but also that of others with an interest in
the region, such as the Asian Development Bank, which has provided
valuable technical expertise and financial resources.
I'd like to commend everyone who has worked on these agreements
over the past four years, including the experts at the General
Accounting Office who have completed over half-a-dozen reports in
support of this effort. This legislation appears to be a thorough job
on a tremendously difficult and complex task. Congress now has the
challenge of considering all of these documents, and not a lot of time
in which to complete action. The deadline for assistance under the
Compact is just 11 weeks away.
Mr. Chairman, I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, and to
working closely with you to meet this ambitious schedule.
Thank you again for having the hearing.
The Chairman. Thank you.
How about the other two Senators? Senator Craig?
STATEMENT OF HON. LARRY E. CRAIG, U.S. SENATOR
FROM IDAHO
Senator Craig. Mr. Chairman, I will be very brief. You have
clearly spelled it out, as has our ranking member, the
importance of the Compact of Free Association between the
United States and Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall
Islands.
I think it is important to again say that security and
self-governance for these nations has been dealt with. The
security, certainly as it relates to our national security
rights, has been dealt with effectively through the agreements,
the relationships and the treaty. What is at hand is assistance
in the island's efforts to advance economic self-sufficiency.
That is critical.
This committee probably has more authority over the lives
of the people on these island nations, and of these citizens
than almost any other citizen in our country. Certainly,
holding these hearings is critical as we move towards
reinstating this important treaty and relationship with these
nations.
I call them nations, and I mean that. I respect them in
that regard, and their relationship with us is critical. Thank
you.
The Chairman. Thank you very much, Senator.
Senator Akaka.
STATEMENT OF HON. DANIEL K. AKAKA, U.S. SENATOR
FROM HAWAII
Senator Akaka. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It is
with great pleasure and maybe even celebration that we are here
at this moment to have a hearing on the compact, which has been
difficult at times.
But I want to welcome our witnesses on the first panel:
Colonel Al Short, Director of the Office of Compact
Negotiations with the Department of State; Mr. David Cohen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs for the
Department of the Interior; and Ms. Susan Westin, from the
Government Accounting Office.
I also want to take time to welcome the witnesses who
traveled from the Federated States of Micronesia in the second
panel: the Honorable Sebastian Anefal, Secretary, Department of
Economic Affairs; and Honorable Gerald Zackios, Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
The last hearing held on this issue by this committee was
in December 2001. I remember it clearly because I was forced to
leave my office due to anthrax contamination in the Hart Office
Building. Given the circumstances, it seemed difficult to hold
a hearing; but Chairman Bingaman at that time agreed that a
hearing was necessary, given the importance of the issue.
At that time, I stressed the importance of Congress
receiving in a timely manner the proposed legislation codifying
the negotiated agreements pertaining to the Compact of Free
Association between the United States and the Republic of the
Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.
For the past 3 years, we have been focused on the September
30, 2003 date of expiration of title II of the compact. While I
am disappointed that it took until July 2003, for us to receive
the legislative proposal, I am glad that it is finally here,
and I congratulate Minister Zackios, Secretary Anefal, and
Colonel Short for the completion of what has been a challenging
negotiation process.
As many of you know, the Pacific islands hold a special
place in my heart, not only because I come from Hawaii, but
because I spent time in what is now the RMI and FSM during
World War II and after the war. I have long-standing
relationships with the people of these nations, and care deeply
about U.S. policies affecting the RMI and FSM.
While the compact has been successful in guiding transition
of the RMI and FSM from U.N. trust territories to independent
nations, and in preserving the national security interests of
the United States, RMI, and FSM, it has not been as successful
in the area of economic development and economic self-
sufficiency.
As I'm sure we will hear from our witnesses this afternoon,
provisions have been included in this legislative proposal to
address some of the shortcomings of the first compact with
respect to granting procedures and accountability, both on the
part of the United States as well as RMI and FSM.
I must emphasize, Mr. Chairman, the importance of improving
the health and education infrastructure in RMI and FSM. We must
support local efforts to improve the medical facilities and
schools in these nations. I believe it is imperative to
continue eligibility for citizens of the Freely Associated
States in Federal programs, including Head Start, Pell grants,
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the No Child
Left Behind Act, bilingual education, and adult and vocational
education.
We also must examine eligibility for medical programs to
address the prevalence of diabetes and cancer in FAS. I cannot
stress the importance of these programs to the U.S. investment
in these islands and to our commitment to helping these nations
to be economically self-sufficient.
As my colleagues may be aware, the compact has had a
significant impact on the State of Hawaii since 1986. The
original compact authorized funds to offset the costs of FAS
citizens in the State of Hawaii. We did not, however, begin
receiving compact impact reimbursements until fiscal year 2002,
and even then it was minimal compared to the amount the State
expended over the past 15 years.
During a briefing in March 2003, the Bush administration
was unable to tell me how it reached the $15 million figure,
which is the amount of funding to be distributed among the
State of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands,
American Samoa, and Guam for compact impact costs.
I have been working on this issue for the past 2 years to
find a way to more appropriately reimburse the jurisdictions
who have absorbed costs associated with FAS citizens in their
jurisdiction. I have been working with Hawaii's Governor, our
Attorney General, and the State agencies who are bearing the
majority of the costs, including the Hawaii departments of
education, health, and human services.
We also must address medical debt owed to Hawaii's
hospitals and medical providers. The compact authorizes funding
for the payment of medical referral debt prior to 1985. Given
the significant amount of debt owed to Hawaii's hospitals and
medical providers, I plan to propose a similar provision which
will authorize funding to be provided to the FSM and RMI to
repay the medical referral debts incurred prior to 2003.
I look forward to starting to review this proposal in the
next 8 weeks, and our first obligation is to ensure that this
legislation is consistent with the intent of the Compact of
Free Association. We must ensure that it contains sufficient
funding and support to meet the goal of assisting the RMI and
FSM to achieve economic self-sufficiency in 20 years. We must
also ensure, however, that the jurisdictions impacted by the
compact are appropriately reimbursed.
I look forward to working with all of my colleagues, and to
the testimony of today's witnesses.
The Chairman. Let's proceed.
Mr. Short, your testimony has been made part of the record.
Would you abbreviate it for us, please?
STATEMENT OF ALBERT V. SHORT, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF COMPACT
NEGOTIATIONS, BUREAU OF EAST ASIAN AND
PACIFIC AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Mr. Short. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, thank
you for this opportunity to testify on the Compact of Free
Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the
Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The original compact, the Compact of Free Association with
the FSM and RMI, established a political relationship that is
open-ended. The original 15-year compact funding authorization,
however, ended in fiscal year 2001, with a 2-year extension
through 30 September of this year.
The original compact successfully met its main goal of
providing for a stable transition from United Nations
trusteeship to sovereign self-government for the FSM and the
RMI. At the same time, the compact protected U.S. security
interests in the Pacific by our assumption of defense
responsibilities for this vast sea and airspace, and ensured
access to important Department of Defense sites at Kwajalein
Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
The original compact was successful in transforming the
relationship between these islands and the United States to one
of our closest bilateral relationships.
The current compact assistance.
The United States currently provides assistance in three
ways: financial assistance under the compact, Federal programs
and services under the compact, and Federal programs apart from
the compact.
The United States provides about $160 million annually in
financial assistance, 80 percent from the compact and 20
percent from other Federal agencies such as the Departments of
Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, and Agriculture.
Reasons to continue the compact assistance. The United
States has strong interests in these countries that justify
continued economic assistance, and these include: advancing
economic self-reliance; improving health, education, and social
conditions; sustaining political stability and close ties; and
assuring that our strategic interests continue to be secured,
including access to important defense sites at Kwajalein Atoll.
Our economic assistance. The administration recognizes that
too sharp a reduction in U.S. assistance at this stage of
development could result in economic instability and other
disruptions, and could encourage an increase in the level of
migration under the compact to the United States. The compact,
as amended, will continue economic assistance from fiscal year
2004 through fiscal year 2023.
Furthermore, the economic package includes annual
contributions to trust funds that will provide an ongoing
source of revenue when the grant assistance ends in fiscal year
2023. Federal services and program assistance also continues
unless otherwise provided by the Congress. Compact funding will
ensure economic and social stability, and a smooth transition
in fiscal year 2024 when the trust fund becomes a source of
revenue. These amounts are partially adjusted for inflation at
the rates of the original compact.
The President's fiscal year 2004 budget includes the
funding, $165.4 million, for the first year of the amended
compact; but we also need the authorization for these funds,
which is the Compact Act that you are now considering. As
pointed out, it needs to be enacted by October 1, 2003.
The administration is putting in place an effective
accountability mechanism with respect to future U.S. economic
assistance, the details of which will be addressed by Mr. Cohen
for the Department of the Interior.
As part of the amended compact, the United States and the
Republic of the Marshall Islands agrees to a long-term
extension of the military use and operating rights agreement
for the ballistic missile test site at Kwajalein Atoll. This
extension could run until 2066 and beyond. Mr. Lawless from the
Department of Defense has submitted written testimony on our
use of Kwajalein and the security and defense aspects of the
compact.
Immigration. Based on our experience to date, as well as in
the wake of the September 11 attack, we re-examined the
immigration provisions of the existing compact. These
provisions provide that RMI and FSM citizens ``may enter into,
lawfully engage in occupations, and establish residence as non-
immigrants in the United States.''
The amended compact will require FAS citizens to use
machine-readable passports, institute child adoption visa
procedures, implement visa entry provisions for naturalized
citizens, precludes passport sales, and makes explicit our
inherent U.S. authority to regulate the terms and conditions of
FSM and RMI citizens' stay in the United States.
Lastly, it removes the annual requirement to obtain an
employment authorization document and substitutes a multi-year
authorization.
In conclusion, thank you for this opportunity to present
the administration's views on the compacts we have signed with
the FSM and the RMI. Let me assure you that we welcome any and
every opportunity to keep the committee informed as you
deliberate and proceed on S.J. Res. 16.
[The prepared statements of Mr. Short and Mr. Lawless
follow:]
Prepared Statement of Albert V. Short, Director, Office of Compact
Negotiations, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of
State
Mr. Chairmen and Members of the Committees: Thank you for this
opportunity to testify on the recently submitted Compact Act of Free
Association with the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and with the
Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).
the original compact
The original 15 years of Compact funding authorization for the FSM
and RMI ended in Fiscal Year 2001. The Compact provisions provided an
extension for up to two years through September 30, 2003, as long as
Compact negotiations progressed. The original Compact successfully met
its main goal of providing for a stable transition from United Nations
Trusteeship to sovereign self-government for the FSM and RMI. At the
same time, the Compact protected U.S. security, maritime, and
commercial interests in the Pacific by assuming defense
responsibilities for the vast sea and air space of the Freely
Associated States (FAS) including Palau--and by ensuring access to
important defense sites operated by the Department of Defense on
Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
The original Compact was also successful in transforming the
relationship between these islands and the United States into one of
our closest bilateral relationships. We now number the FSM and RMI
among our staunchest friends in the United Nations. These achievements
are solid and lasting, and the American and FAS peoples can be justly
proud of them.
current compact assistance
The U.S. currently provides assistance to the FSM and RMI in three
ways: through financial assistance under the Compact; through programs
and services that are included in the Compact, such as the services and
related programs of the U.S. Weather Service, the Postal Service, and
the Federal Aviation Administration; and through programs apart from
the Compact that are funded, as Congress sees fit, by other federal
agencies. The U.S. currently provides about $160 million annually in
financial assistance to the FSM and RMI, 80 percent from the Compact
and 20 percent from other federal agencies outside of the Compact, such
as the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Labor, and
Agriculture.
The past seventeen years have witnessed recurring problems stemming
from the lack of accountability and the sometimes ineffective use of
Compact Funds. Therefore, a principal task of the recently signed
agreements to amend the Compact is to improve the effectiveness and
accountability of these funds. Moreover, we have agreed to put an
increasing percentage of the annual U.S. Compact assistance into a
trust fund that will provide an ongoing source of revenue to the two
countries when annual payments by the United States end in 2023.
reasons to continue compact assistance
The United States has strong interests in these countries that
justify continued economic assistance under the Compact through FY 2023
and the contributions to the trust fund, provided this assistance is
structured and managed as proposed. These interests include:
f Advancing economic self-reliance. (In this regard, the United
States will continue its commitment to the economic strategies
that the RMI and FSM have developed with the support of the
United States, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the
International Monetary Fund, and our partners in the ADB
Consultative Group, including Japan and Australia);
f Improving the health, education, and social conditions of the
people of the RMI and FSM;
f Sustaining the political stability and close ties which we have
developed with these two emerging democracies;
f Ensuring that our strategic interests continue to be secured,
including access to our important defense sites on the
Kwajalein Atoll;
f Putting in place and contributing to a trust fund that will provide
an ongoing source of revenue when annual payments by the United
States end in 2023;
f Strengthening immigration provisions in the wake of the September
11th attacks and addressing various problems that have arisen
since the Compact was first approved by the U.S. Congress; and
f Mitigating the impact of immigration under the Compact on Hawaii,
Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and
American Samoa.
economic assistance
The Administration recognizes that too sharp a reduction in U.S.
assistance at this stage of economic development of the RMI and the FSM
could result in economic instability and other disruptions, and could
encourage an increase in the level of immigration under the Compact to
the United States by citizens of those countries. We continue to
believe that providing substantial financial and other assistance under
the Compact will help to ensure economic stability while the RMI and
FSM continue to implement economic development and reform strategies.
The Compact, as amended, provides for continued economic assistance
from Fiscal Year 2004 through Fiscal Year 2023. Furthermore, the
economic package provides for annual contributions to a trust fund that
will provide an ongoing source of revenue, to be used for the same
purposes as the previous grant assistance when the annual grant
assistance ends in Fiscal Year 2023. Federal services and program
assistance also continues, if provided by Congress.
compact funding
Compact funding will ensure economic and social stability and a
smooth transition to Fiscal Year 2024 when annual payments from the
U.S. will have terminated and the trust fund becomes a source of
revenue.
f Beginning in Fiscal Year 2007, the FSM sector grants decrease by
$800,000 per year through Fiscal Year 2023, with this decrease
added to the trust fund.
f The RMI will receive $30.5 million in sectoral grants, $5.2 million
for Kwajalein impact, and $7 million for its trust fund
annually beginning in Fiscal Year 2004.
f Beginning in Fiscal Year 2005, the RMI sectoral grants decrease by
$500,000 per year through Fiscal Year 2023, with this decrement
added to the trust fund.
f These amounts are partially adjusted for inflation: two-thirds of
the implicit price deflator will be applied as in the original
Compact period.
f Under the Compact, as amended, the U.S. contributions to the trust
funds are conditioned on the FSM contributing at least $30
million to the FSM trust fund prior to September 30, 2004 and
the RMI contributing at least $25 million to the RMI trust fund
on the effective date of the Trust Fund Agreement or October 1,
2003, whichever is later, and $2.5 million prior to October 1,
2004 and another $2.5 million prior to October 1, 2005.
f Under the Compact, grant assistance will be used for six sectors,
with priorities in the education and health sectors and tied to
specific outcomes and purposes and monitored by the Department
of the Interior.
f Misuse of Compact funds can lead to withholding of funds until the
problem is resolved. The FSM and the RMI have agreed to
cooperate with the United States on criminal investigations
regarding misuse of funds, if necessary.
The Administration is putting in place an effective accountability
mechanism with respect to future U.S. economic assistance to the FSM
and the RMI under the Compact. Economic assistance will no longer be
made available through transfers that co-mingle U.S. funds with local
funds, thereby rendering it difficult to track and monitor their use.
Instead, future funds under the Compact will be provided through
targeted, sectoral assistance, each with a clearly defined scope and
objectives.
In the amended Compacts, the FSM, RMI, and U.S. have agreed that
any future grant assistance will be used in six sectors:
f health;
f education;
f infrastructure;
f private sector development;
f public sector capacity building; and
f the environment.
Built into each sectoral grant will be regular planning,
monitoring, and reporting requirements. The amended Compacts also
provide the necessary authority and resources to ensure effective
oversight and reasonable progress toward the agreed objectives.
trust fund
A major element of the new Compact provisions is the termination of
annual mandatory payments to the FSM and the RMI at the end of Fiscal
Year 2023--and the establishment of a trust fund to provide an ongoing
source of revenue starting in Fiscal Year 2024. In its earlier
proposals to the U.S., both the FSM and RMI anticipated the U.S.
interest in the termination of mandatory annual financial assistance by
proposing that the U.S. capitalize a trust fund over the next term of
Compact assistance. Under the amended Compact, the Administration has
agreed that annual U.S. financial assistance will terminate at the end
of Fiscal Year 2024, and thereafter the trust fund will provide an
ongoing source of revenue. Congress has previously authorized and
funded the use of similar trust funds, including one established under
the Compact with the Republic of Palau, and several established in the
Marshall Islands as compensation for the U.S. nuclear weapons testing
program.
federal services and program assistance
With a few notable exceptions, Federal program coordination and
oversight of Compact Funds has been ineffective. We are committed to
putting in place a more effective system of coordinating and monitoring
that assistance during the amended Compact period.
kwajalein muora extension
As part of the amended Compact, the United States and the Republic
of the Marshall Islands have agreed to a long-term extension of the
Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement (MUORA) for the Ronald
Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll. The
Reagan Test Site (RTS) serves a key role in research, development, test
and evaluation for the Administration's high-priority missile defense
and space programs.
Although the current Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement
covering U.S. use of these defense sites runs through 2016, in November
2001, RMI President Note reaffirmed the RMI's willingness to consider a
long-term extension of U.S. use of Kwajalein Atoll for our defense
needs. Subsequently, the RMI Government proposed that the ongoing
negotiations to amend the Compact of Free Association provided a
convenient forum to consider amendments extending the Military Use and
Operating Rights Agreement. Following consultations with the Department
of Defense, the Administration decided to pursue such an extension, if
agreement could be concluded on acceptable terms, and negotiations on
this issue would not delay our efforts to obtain agreement on
amendments to the Compact.
Sections 211 and 212 of Title Two of the Compact, as amended, and
the MUORA, as amended, provide for the following:
f The parties agree to extend the MUORA for a period of fifty years
from 2016 (the current expiration date) to 2066, with a U.S.
option to extend it for an additional twenty years to Fiscal
Year 2086.
f To achieve the flexibility necessary to permit the long-term
extension of the agreement, the two sides agreed to a schedule
of early termination payments if the United States chooses to
leave Kwajalein before the end of the agreement. This outcome
could be exercised anytime after 2023, on advance notice of at
least seven years.
f As Compensation.
f These agreements establish a new series of Kwajalein payments
beginning in Fiscal Year 2004 (October 1, 2003) at a level of
$15 million per year (increased from the current $11.3 million)
with a further increase to a new base of $18 million in 2014.
The United States Government is obligated in any case to make
payments through Fiscal Year 2023, and thereafter, depending on
whether it chooses to continue its use of Kwajalein Atoll. The
RMI has assured us that it will endeavor to ensure that
payments to landowners are distributed more equitably than they
have been in the past in a manner consistent with Marshallese
custom and tradition.
f The U.S. will continue paying the $1.9 million per year in
Kwajalein impact money established in the current agreement.
However, beginning in Fiscal Year 2004, this payment, which has
not previously been adjusted for inflation, will be subject to
the provisions of the new Compact Fiscal Procedures Agreement,
will be indexed for inflation based on the formula established
in the amended Compact, and emphasis will be on addressing the
special needs of the Kwajalein landowners most affected by the
United States presence on Kwajalein.
f Pursuant to the Compact, U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) has
developed, in cooperation with the RMI Environmental Protection
Authority, a strong set of environmental standards and a formal
process to review these standards annually and report to both
governments. To promote a greater RMI capability for
independent analysis of the Survey's findings and conclusions,
the U.S. will provide an annual grant of $200,000 to support
increased participation of the GRMI EPA in the Survey.
For some years now, overcrowding on the Kwajalein island of Ebeye,
where most of the Marshallese work force supporting the defense sites
lives, has created an unmet series of special infrastructure needs for
the Marshallese Communities on Ebeye and some other islands of the
Kwajalein Atoll. This agreement will address these needs in the
following way:
f First, the U.S. and the RMI have agreed that $3.1 million per year
of the RMI grant funding will go towards meeting the special
infrastructure and development needs of the Marshallese
communities on Kwajalein Atoll. In 2014, this funding will
increase to $5.1 million per year. These funds are indexed
according to the Compact Title Two formula.
f Second, considering the $1.9 million impact funding mentioned
above, which is specified by the Compact to offset the impact
of U.S. defense activities on Kwajalein Atoll, together with
the Ebeye special needs funding, $5 million per year
(increasing to $7 million in 2014), all of which will be
focused on improving the quality of life of the Marshallese
communities on Kwajalein, starting October 1, 2004.
In sum, the Administration feels that extending the MUORA, in
concert with the provisions of the amended Compact, will promote the
economic stability and opportunity of the RMI for the indefinite
future.
immigration
Based on our mixed experience since the Compact took effect, as
well as in the wake of the September 11th attack, we have reexamined
the immigration provisions of the existing Compact. Section 141(a)
provides that citizens of the RMI and FSM ``may enter into, lawfully
engage in occupations, and establish residence as a non-immigrant in
the United States'' without regard to certain grounds of
inadmissibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Our
examination and the subsequent negotiations concluded that the
immigration provisions should be amended to:
f Require FAS citizens seeking admission under the Compact to use
passports.
f Clarify that immigrant visa procedures, rather than Compact non-
immigrant admission, are necessary and appropriate for child
adoption cases.
f Limit Compact entry privileges of naturalized FAS citizens to a
greater degree.
f Preclude use of passport sales and similar programs from serving as
a means for persons from countries other than the FSM and the
RMI to obtain visa-free admission privileges under the Compact.
f Make more explicit the authority of the Government of the United
States to regulate the terms and conditions of FSM or RMI
citizens' admission and stay in the United States, including
its territories and possessions.
f Make explicit that the INA applies in full to persons seeking
admission to, or the right to remain in, the United States
pursuant to the Compact.
f Provide Compact admission privileges to the immediate relatives of
FAS citizens in U.S. military service, whether or not the
relatives are FAS citizens.
f Streamline the documentation that FAS citizens may use as evidence
of work authorization in the United States.
Under the Compact, as amended, the United States will now require
passports for FSM and RMI citizens seeking admission as non-immigrants
to the United States. Further, naturalized citizens of the FSM and RMI
will, with certain limited exceptions, now be ineligible for visa-free
admission to the United States. In addition, the Compact, as amended,
provides other safeguards to prevent the admission under the Compact of
persons from other countries who might seek to exploit the visa-free
immigration privileges intended for the citizen population of the FAS.
It addresses explicitly the problem of passport sales and other
naturalization schemes designed to provide visa-free admission
privileges to persons from countries other than the FSM and the RMI
under the Compact. The Compact, as amended, also provides express
safeguards for FSM and RMI children who are coming to the United States
permanently pursuant to an adoption, or for the purpose of adoption, by
requiring that those children possess an immigrant visa. This clarifies
the existing U.S. interpretation of the Compact, and brings the
provisions relating to the Freely Associated States into harmony with
that pertaining to children from other countries concerning child
adoptions and protections available to adopted children.
impact
Section 104(e)(2) of the existing and amended Compact statutes
requires the President to report annually to Congress on the impact of
the Compact. A recent GAO study documents the substantial impact of FAS
migration to the State of Hawaii, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The amended Compact and other proposed
amendments to the Compact Act address the migratory impact issue in
three ways:
f First, we will provide $15 million per year of direct compensation
to Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the CNMI for the negative
impacts of migration.
f Second, the amended Compacts strengthen immigration provisions to
improve our ability to regulate RMI and FSM migrants who are
eligible for admission.
f Third, the amended Compacts focus on areas such as improving the
health and education of, and private sector jobs for, potential
migrants, thereby reducing the impact of migration under the
Compact.
The annual impact funding of $15 million will be:
f a mandatory appropriation for twenty years.
f allocated based on a pro rata formula reflecting a periodic census
of Micronesians living in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the
CNMI.
palau
The Compact of Free Association between the United States and Palau
is not up for review at this time. We believe, however, that it makes
sense for us to bring the immigration, labor and trade provisions of
the Palau Compact into line with those agreed with the RMI and FSM. In
addition, Palau has sought a change to the communications provision to
make its telecommunications carrier eligible to participate in the
National Exchange Carriers Association and the Universal Services
Support Fund. Negotiations are underway on these issues. If we reach
agreement, the Administration will submit these amendments to the
Congress.
conclusion
Thank you for this opportunity to present the Administration's
views on the Compact Act with the FSM and RMI. Let me assure you that
we welcome any and every opportunity to keep the Committee informed as
your deliberations proceed on the Compact Act.
______
Prepared Statement of Richard Lawless, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs
Mr. Chairman, the Freely Associated States (FAS)--the Republic of
the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau--
enjoy a special relationship with the United States and with the
Department of Defense in particular. With roots in World War II, this
relationship grew throughout the Cold War (the FAS played a critical
role in the development of U.S. defense programs in the 1950s and
1960s) and continues to this day as FAS islands and citizens contribute
to the development of U.S. missile defenses which will guard the U.S.
and its friends and allies in the decades to come. Moreover, FAS
citizens are also involved in the war on terrorism and in the
liberation of Iraq, serving alongside American servicemen and women in
the U.S. armed forces.
defense relationship with the fas
Our relationship with the FAS is uniquely defined by our
responsibility to defend these sovereign nations under the terms of the
Compact of Free Association. More clearly, the United States is
obligated by the Compact and its subsidiary agreements to provide for
the defense of the Freely Associated States in perpetuity, unless there
is mutual agreement to terminate the arrangement. We are committed to
defending and providing for the security of these nations and their
peoples ``as the United States and its citizens are defended.'' This is
an obligation greater than the United States has assumed under any of
its mutual defense treaties. In return, the United States has the right
for certain military uses and access, as well as the right to deny
access to third countries.
In the absence of the Compact or, more specifically, the Security
and Defense Relations Title of the Compact, the Mutual Security
Agreement (MSA) still provides for the U.S. defense obligations, U.S.
military access, and the denial of military access by third countries.
The MSA is indefinite in duration and remains in force until terminated
or amended by mutual agreement. The so-called ``defense veto'' and
provisions regarding future base rights, however, are scheduled to
terminate with the expiration of the Security and Defense Relations
Title of the Compact no later than 30 September 2003 unless this Title
is extended. It is in the best interests of the United States to
maintain the full range of military access and security engagement
options that the Compact provides.
In addition, U.S. rights for access and operations on Kwajalein
Atoll were negotiated under the Military Use and Operating Rights
Agreement (MUORA) pursuant to, but separate from, the Compact. The
MUORA had an original term of 15 years that was due to expire in 2001.
Given the importance of the agreement, the U.S. opted in 1999 to extend
the MUORA for an additional term of 15 years to 2016.
When it became clear in 2002 that the Government of the Marshall
Islands was interested in concluding a long-term extension to the
MUORA, the U.S. decided to take the opportunity to secure needed access
beyond 2016. The U.S. and the Marshall Islands have since negotiated an
extended MUORA which will provide us with continued access to the
Kwajalein Atoll defense sites until at least 2066, and possibly to 2086
at the U.S.' option. It is important to note that, because the
Department of Defense was unable to project our specific requirements
for Kwajalein Atoll beyond the mid-2020's, this long-term extension to
the MUORA was negotiated with a flexible early termination clause.
Under this clause, the DoD can terminate the MUORA as early as 2024
with seven years advance notice. The DoD believes that this clause is a
prudent measure that provides us with the necessary flexibility to
enter into a 70-year extended term agreement when the specific longer-
term uses are not clearly known.
This amended agreement governing U.S. access to the defense sites
on Kwajalein Atoll has been negotiated and signed. The RMI Government
assures us that they intend to fulfill the terms of this agreement. The
Administration is confident that the RMI Parliament will approve this
MUORA extension along with the amended Compact. We anticipate that
following national elections in the RMI in November, the RMI Government
will work out an arrangement with the senior landowners to amend the
Land Use Agreement (LUA).
Second, it is important to note that the landowners owning title to
land relevant to the Kwajalein defense sites are not a homogeneous
group. The RMI Government tells us that there is in fact significant
support among many of the landowners for the agreements we have
negotiated with the RMI Government.
Under the current MUORA, we have access to these defense sites
until 2016 at an already agreed rate of compensation. According to the
MUORA, we are obligated to give at least two years notice to the RMI
Government if we do not intend to renegotiate the agreement or extend
the agreement. In the unlikely event we are not able to agree with the
RMI Government now to extend the agreement as we have negotiated, there
are ten years between now and when we would need to give the notice to
the GRMI of our intent not to renew the agreement. During this time
period, we would want to assess the advances in technologies that might
give us new options as well as progress in the primary defense programs
that are being tested at Kwajalein. Consequently, without the benefit
of these insights, which will only be available over the next ten
years, it is not possible now to discuss specific alternatives to the
missions we currently operate at Kwajalein.
While the Kwajalein lease could have been extended under the MUORA
separate from Compact negotiations, the two are nevertheless
inextricably linked. The daily routine at the Kwajalein Missile Range
and the facilities on Kwajalein Atoll depends upon a favorable working
relationship with the people of the Marshall Islands. Provisions of the
Compact help provide the basis for U.S. support to the Marshallese
people who also provide much of the labor force at Kwajalein. The
Compact therefore contributes to a positive local attitude towards
Kwajalein.
The primary goal of the Compact and the assistance provided under
it is to maintain a unique relationship with the Freely Associated
States while helping them to become economically self-sufficient.
Continued Compact assistance will nevertheless help to preserve key
defense interests while denying access to potentially hostile forces.
Continuing the Compact is in the best interest of the United States and
the Freely Associated States. It will help the Freely Associated States
continue to work toward their national goals, while serving our
national security interests.
study of defense interests in the fas
In 1999, in preparation for the Compact of Free Association
renewal, the Department of Defense conducted a study to determine our
defense interests in the Freely Associated States for the post-2001
era. The study looked at issues such as the need for continued access,
current and future threats, and roles that the Freely Associated States
might play in future scenarios. The study found an important defense
interest in continuing the use of the Kwajalein Missile Range and the
facilities on Kwajalein Atoll. The requirements of our missile defense
and space surveillance programs, combined with the uniqueness of
Kwajalein's location, and infrastructure investment make renewal of the
Compact in the best interest of the Department of Defense.
The strategic environment that surrounded the study has changed
greatly over the past four years, but these changes only reinforce the
importance of U.S. access to and use of the Kwajalein Missile Range.
quadrennial defense review
The 2001 Department of Defense Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR)
recognized that the world has changed and that America must prepare for
a wide array of threats to our security at home and abroad. As
witnessed by the terrorist attacks of September 11, the future security
environment will be marked by uncertainty. The QDR's assessment of the
global security environment acknowledges a great deal of uncertainty
about the potential sources of military threats, the conduct of war in
the future, and the form that the threats and attacks against the U.S.
will take. While contending with such uncertainty is a key challenge
for U.S. defense planning, certain features and trends of the security
environment define not only today's geopolitical and military-technical
challenges but also highlight critical operational challenges that the
nation's armed forces will need to master in the future. Maintaining
the Compact will support our efforts to confront these future
challenges by providing us with the right for military use and access
and with the right of strategic denial.
The QDR identifies Asia as a region that is gradually emerging as
an area susceptible to large-scale military competition. It also
identifies an ``arc of instability'' stretching from the Middle East to
Northeast Asia containing a volatile mix of rising and declining
regional powers where the governments may be vulnerable to overthrow by
radical or extremist internal forces or movements. Many of these states
also field large militaries and possess the potential to develop or
acquire weapons of mass destruction. The QDR sees a possibility that a
military competitor to the U.S. with a formidable resource base may
emerge in the region.
Distances in the Asian theater are vast, and the density of U.S.
basing and en route infrastructure is lower than in other critical
regions. The U.S. has less assurance of access to facilities in the
Asia-Pacific region than in other critical regions of the world. The
QDR therefore identifies the necessity of securing additional access
and infrastructure agreements and developing military systems capable
of sustained operations at great distances with minimal theater-based
support.
When Secretary Rumsfeld came into office, the President charged him
with evaluating U.S. military posture in the world, and the QDR calls
for a reorientation of our posture in Asia. The U.S. will continue to
meet its commitments around the world, including in Southwest and
Northeast Asia, by maintaining the ability to defeat aggression in two
critical areas in overlapping timeframes. As this strategy and force
planning approach is implemented, the U.S. will strengthen its forward
deterrent posture. Over time, U.S. forces will be tailored to maintain
favorable regional balances in concert with U.S. allies and friends
with the aim of swiftly defeating attacks with only modest
reinforcement. A key objective of U.S. transformation efforts will be
to increase the capability of its forward forces, thereby improving
their deterrent effect and possibly allowing for reallocation of forces
now dedicated to reinforcement of other missions.
Inevitably, our ability and flexibility with regard to deploying
forces forward will depend on access, which the Compact provides. While
it is too soon to say whether the FAS will be considered as candidates
for increased U.S. access or basing in the region that the QDR calls
for, the fact remains that our rights under the Compact provides for
this possibility. In this region of instability and potential conflict,
the U.S. right of strategic denial under the Compact, whereby the U.S.
can deny third countries access to the FAS, is also significant.
Strategic denial effectively creates a stable and secure zone across a
broad swath of the Western Pacific. It is reassuring to the Department
of Defense in this period of uncertainty to have this stable region in
the mid-Pacific in which we can deny access rights to any potentially
hostile third country.
missile defense
Another important change since the 1999 study was the December 2001
announcement by President Bush that the United States would withdraw
from the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty. The President took this
step as part of a broader change in our defense policy to reflect new
threats that we face. As a result of the withdrawal we are now free to
develop, test, and deploy effective defenses against missile attacks
from rogue states like North Korea and Iran--states that are investing
a large percentage of their resources to develop weapons of mass
destruction and offensive ballistic missiles at the expense of the
basic needs of their people. The scope of this growing threat to the
U.S. and our allies and friends is compounded by the fact that the
states that are developing these terror weapons have close links to a
variety of terrorist organizations. States or even non-state actors
could use container ships to launch shorter-range missiles against our
territory. As the President said in his State of the Union Address, we
must not allow the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with
the world's most dangerous weapons.
The missile defense program is now executing an aggressive
research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) program focusing on
a single integrated ballistic missile defense system designed to defend
the territories and deployed forces of the U.S., allies and friends
against ballistic missiles of all ranges and in all phases of flight.
As previously noted, the Kwajalein Atoll, home to the Ronald Reagan
Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, provides a unique venue for live
testing of missiles of all ranges because of its location and
specialized, state-of-the art data-gathering devices. Access to the
Kwajalein Atoll is currently set to expire in 2016. However, our
missile defense and space programs, and including those on Kwajalein,
are programs with a long-lead time, we forecasted that we would need
Kwajalein well beyond the 2016 date. As we continue to test and develop
our missile defense system and capabilities, the Kwajalein Atoll will
remain a significant test resource for future missile defense testing.
After considering these changes in the strategic environment since
the 1999 study, DoD's reassessment in 2002 determined that the study
was still valid. I would argue that the results of the reassessment are
somewhat understated. If it is at all possible, I believe that the
changes in the strategic environment have only made our defense
interests in the FAS even more important.
conclusion
While the end of the Cold War brought about significant changes, it
did not alter the strategic importance of the FAS to U.S. national
security interests. So long as uncertainty, further unrest, and points
of potential military conflict continue to dot the Asia-Pacific
landscape, the FAS shall remain strategically important. North Korea's
current hostile posture is an unfortunate illustration of the dangerous
uncertainty in the region, particularly since North Korea retains the
offensive capability of inflicting massive damage on the South in short
order. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea and Northeast Asia
remain unresolved and provide potential flashpoints. Indonesia's road
toward democracy faces challenges as calls for separatism have led to
fierce fighting in Aceh and other provinces, and communal violence
continues throughout the archipelago. In recent years, we have seen the
violent abandonment of the constitutional process in Fiji and in the
Solomon Islands, which may soon spiral into a failed state if it does
not receive much-needed external assistance. Terrorist forces are
present in many countries in Southeast Asia: the Philippines,
Indonesia, and even in Singapore.
We must strive to move this region toward peace and stability. Our
task is to dampen the sources of instability by maintaining a policy of
robust forward deterrence and military presence, while searching for
new opportunities to increase confidence and a spirit of common
security. In time of peace, our responsibility also extends to taking
actions that develop a strategic environment that will sustain this
peace and prevent conflict over time. But to sustain this peace and to
prevent conflict, we need to continue our defense rights in the FAS.
The Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Short.
Secretary Cohen.
STATEMENT OF DAVID B. COHEN, DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
INSULAR AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE
INTERIOR
Secretary Cohen. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee,
I am pleased to appear before you to discuss the proposed
legislation to amend the Compact of Free Association with the
RMI and the FSM.
Over the 17-year life of the compact, the United States
will have paid a total of $1.04 billion in direct financial
assistance to the RMI, and $1.54 billion to the FSM. There have
been few restrictions on this aid. The GAO has issued a number
of reports that have raised concerns about the effectiveness of
compact assistance.
We at Interior have had similar concerns for quite some
time. Our desire for better accountability has been frustrated
by the fact that the current compact provides for large,
loosely defined grants with no express enforcement mechanisms.
The United States, the RMI, and the FSM have now designed a
completely new system to ensure that compact funds are used
productively. This system, which features targeted funding,
performance measurement, increased oversight, and remedies as a
last resort, is explained in greater detail in my written
statement.
In order to implement this new program, we are assembling a
compact oversight team based in the Pacific. I would also like
to address the impact that migration from the Freely Associated
States has had on Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana
Islands.
We are requesting $300 million in mandatory funding to
these jurisdictions over 20 years to mitigate the impact of
migration. This comes out to $15 million per year, which is
substantially more than what has ever been appropriated in any
one year by Congress or requested by any other administration.
This is the first time that any administration has proposed
mandatory annual funding for compact impact.
The first line of defense against compact impact is the
financial assistance that we will provide to the Freely
Associated States under the amended compact. The amended
compact is designed to address the problems that, according to
a GAO report, drive people to migrate: inadequate health care,
education, and economic opportunity.
We don't pretend that the amended compact will bring
migration to a halt, but we sincerely hope that the people of
the Freely Associated States, including those who choose to
migrate, will, as a result of our new targeted assistance
program be healthier and better educated; and hence, more
likely to be net contributors to whatever community in which
they choose to live.
I offer a few observations. First, when we talk about
accountability, we are not talking about making sovereign
states accountable to the United States. Accountability refers
to the collective accountability that all three governments
share, both to the people of the islands and to the American
taxpayer. All three governments have a collective
responsibility to ensure that the American taxpayer's money
will not be wasted; and, just as importantly, a collective
responsibility to deliver on our promise to help the people of
the islands to improve their quality of life.
Some might interpret our new accountability program as an
admission that the original compact has been a failure. Nothing
could be further from the truth. The compact has been a
tremendous success. America's former trust territory wards have
emerged as free, vibrant, sovereign democracies. These nations
have become America's most loyal allies in the world.
Cynics say this loyalty has been purchased with compact
aid; but no amount of money could buy the type of loyalty that
leads so many of these islands' finest sons and daughters to
serve proudly and honorably in the U.S. military, risking their
lives to protect the freedom of all Americans.
Mr. Chairman, at this moment 82nd Airborne Army Specialist
Hilario Bermanis from Pohnpei lies in Walter Reed Army Medical
Center after being gravely wounded in a grenade attack in
Baghdad. He has lost both legs and an arm. We all pray for
Hilario's recovery, and we thank him so much for the tremendous
courage that he has shown in the service of our country.
I visited Hilario yesterday, and I am pleased to report
that he has made tremendous progress in the last week alone. He
only opened his eyes for the first time after the attack last
week, and began to speak about 2 days later. Yesterday, I was
able to have a normal conversation with him. Both of his
kidneys are now functioning. He is quite an impressive young
man, and his fighting spirit is helping him to beat the odds.
As illustrated by the inspiring valor of Hilario Bermanis
and other men and women from the Freely Associated States,
there is clearly a heartfelt bond between Americans and the
peoples of these islands. The compact has only made it
stronger.
We Americans value this bond. As for criticism of the
original compact, it is important to remember that that
document invented a comprehensive new kind of relationship that
was completely untested at the time. It should surprise no one,
and shame no one, that with the wisdom of 17 years of
experience, parties can find opportunities to improve the
compact.
The United States and the Freely Associated States are
committed to embracing those opportunities, working together as
partners to ensure that the promise of these compacts is fully
realized for all the people of the islands. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Cohen follows:]
Prepared Statement of David B. Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman and members of the Senate Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources, I am David B. Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
the Interior for Insular Affairs. I am pleased to appear before you
today to discuss the Administration's proposal for legislation that
would approve amendments to the Compact of Free Association with the
Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM), which I will collectively refer to as the freely
associated states or FAS. These amendments will, among other things,
split the current Compact, which is a single, tri-lateral agreement
among the United States, the RMI and the FSM, into two bi-lateral
Compacts between the United States and the RMI and between the United
States and the FSM, respectively.
I will focus my comments on the fiscal and economic provisions of
the Compacts and the Fiscal Procedures Agreements, which are subsidiary
agreements to the respective Compacts. In particular, I will discuss
how proposed amendments to these provisions are designed to address the
very legitimate concerns that the General Accounting Office (GAO), the
Department of the Interior and others have raised with respect to the
lack of accountability for Federal funds provided under the current
Compact.
background
Over the 17-year life of Compact financial assistance, it is
expected that the United States will ultimately have paid a total of
$1.04 billion in directs grants to the RMI and $1.54 billion to the
FSM. There have been few restrictions on these grants.
Over the last several years, the GAO has issued a number of reports
that have raised concerns about the effectiveness of Federal assistance
that has been provided under the Compact. We at the department of the
Interior have had similar concerns for quite some time; particularly
officials in the Office of Insular Affairs, who have been greatly
frustrated with the lack of tools properly to administer or track
Federal assistance in a manner that could reasonably ensure that such
assistance is having its intended effect. Most importantly, we have
been hampered by the fact that the current Compact provides for large,
loosely defined grants with no express enforcement mechanisms to ensure
the efficient and effective expenditure of funds.
I am pleased that, in negotiating the provisions of the amended
Compacts, the United States and its negotiating partners, the RMI and
FSM, have sought to address the concerns raised by the GAO, the
Department of the Interior and others.
accountability provisions
We have designed a completely new system to ensure that Compact
funds are used productively. First, we will target our funding. Compact
funds will be available for the following six high-priority sectors
only:
f Health
f Education
f Public Infrastructure
f Environmental Protection
f Private Sector Development
f Public Sector Capacity Building
Special emphasis will be given to health and education. The
respective Compacts and the related Fiscal Procedures Agreements
describe the types of activities that are eligible for funding under
each of these sectors. This will enable us to ensure that Compact funds
are used exclusively for what the U.S. and our FAS partners have
jointly identified as high-priority activities.
Second, the U.S. and its FAS partners will work together to control
Compact budgets, including the allocation of funds among the six
sectors, to ensure that the objectives of the Compact are being
properly pursued. The process will work as follows: Each year, the RMI
and FSM will propose their respective Compact budgets. Those proposals
must be approved by bilateral joint committees--a U.S.-RMI joint
committee for the RMI Compact and a U.S.-FSM joint committee for the
FSM Compact. Each joint committee will include three members from the
U.S. and two from the applicable freely associated state. The joint
committees will ensure that the Compact budgets conform to the letter
and spirit of the respective Compacts.
Third, we will require planning to ensure that Compact budgets
further medium- and long-term goals and objectives. Each FAS will be
required to prepare and periodically update various plans, which will
be subject to the approval of the applicable joint committee. The
Compact budgets will be expected to be consistent with these plans.
Fourth, we will give oversight personnel at the Department of the
Interior the tools to protect against waste, fraud and abuse. The
sector grants will be subject to terms and conditions similar to those
applicable to Federal grants provided to state and local governments in
the United States. The provisions designed to protect Compact funds
include:
f The right of the U.S. to unilaterally impose certain special
conditions, including additional reports, monitoring and prior
approvals, in the event that a grantee has a history of
unsatisfactory performance or is not financially stable.
f The right of the U.S. to withhold payments or suspend or terminate
grants under certain conditions.
f The requirement that the FAS be subject to annual audits, and the
right of the U.S. to conduct specific audits as it deems
necessary.
f The right of the U.S. to have full access to all relevant FAS
records.
f The requirement that the FAS follow procurement provisions designed
to ensure competition, transparency and the avoidance of
conflicts.
f The obligation of the FAS to fully cooperate with any U.S.
investigation into the misuse of Compact funds.
We do not intend to make these tools the focus of our
accountability program. We understand that the key to a successful
accountability program is a continued strong relationship with our FAS
partners, so that we can work together to ensure that the Compact funds
benefit the people that they are intended to benefit. We also
understand, however, that it is difficult to predict what will happen
over a 20-year period, and it would be imprudent for us to not have the
tools necessary to protect the American taxpayers' investment to
improve life in the FAS.
The provisions described above will help us to ensure that the
Compact funds reach their intended destination. But it will be of
little good if the Compact funds reach their intended destination but
do not have the intended effect. That is why, as the fifth prong of our
new accountability program, we will apply performance standards and
measures to each Compact grant. The joint committees will be
responsible for applying appropriate performance standards and measures
and evaluating performance on the basis thereof.
Sixth, we will provide for strong minimum standards for each FAS's
financial management systems, and we will help them to meet these
standards with technical assistance provided by my office and with the
public sector capacity development grant.
Seventh, we will provide for detailed reporting, so that the U.S.
and its FAS partners can track progress and identify any areas of
concern.
Finally, the Department of the Interior is in the process of
assembling a Compact oversight team based in the Pacific. We are hiring
eight additional full-time employees who will focus exclusively on
monitoring and oversight of Compact financial assistance and
coordination with other Federal agencies providing program assistance
to the FAS.
Additionally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to address the very
important question of the impact that migration from the RMI, FSM and
Palau, as authorized by the current Compacts, has had on Hawaii, Guam,
the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. Migrants have made
important contributions to Hawaii and the territories, but have placed
additional burdens on the local governments because of their
utilization of services. The GAO reported significant outlays by these
United States jurisdictions in aid of migrants and their families. With
this history in mind, the legislation before you today includes $15
million in annual mandatory funding as a contribution to these United
States jurisdictions to mitigate the impact of migration.
While this $15 million will be applied directly to address the
impact of migration on United States jurisdictions, the financial
assistance that we will provide to the FAS under the amended Compact is
really the first line of defense against this impact. The GAO found
that migration from the FAS is motivated mainly by the lack of proper
education, health care and economic opportunity. The amended Compact is
designed to address the problems that drive people to migrate: The
targeted funding gives priority to health and education and also
supports activities that are designed to promote economic development.
We do not pretend that the amended Compact will bring migration to a
halt, but we sincerely hope that the people of the FAS, including those
who choose to migrate, will, as a result of our new targeted assistance
program, be healthier and better educated and hence more likely to be
net contributors to whatever community in which they choose to live.
Thus, the legislation seeks to improve the conditions that lead to
migration from the FAS and ameliorate the effects of migration to the
United States when it occurs.
observations
Now that I have described our new program, Mr. Chairman, I would
appreciate the opportunity to offer a few observations.
My first point is that when we talk about accountability, we are
not talking about making the sovereign freely associated states
accountable to the U.S. ``Accountability'' refers to the collective
accountability that all three governments share both to the people of
the islands and to the American taxpayer. All three governments have a
collective responsibility to ensure that the American taxpayer's money
will not be wasted, and, just as importantly, a collective
responsibility to ensure that we deliver on our promise to help the
people of the islands to improve their quality of life.
Although there will always be some who are initially resistant to
change, there is widespread support in all three governments for the
new accountability provisions. In fact, some of the most enthusiastic
supporters are government ``line managers'' in the RMI and the FSM--
those with the day-to-day responsibility for delivering public services
to the people. These managers have endured years of frustration,
struggling to keep essential programs going while knowing that a more
productive allocation of Compact funds could have made their jobs
easier.
A few have expressed concern that the new accountability provisions
are harsh, and that the FAS are not equipped to comply with them. We
disagree. The new provisions include standard remedies for waste, fraud
and abuse. These remedies are the same ones to which state and local
governments in the United States are subject when they receive grants
from the Federal government. The RMI and FSM have had considerable
experience with numerous United States Federal programs and these same
remedies. I stress again, however, that the key to our accountability
program is not the remedies that could conceivably be exercised in the
worst case scenario, but the strong, cooperative relationship that we
have with our partners in the islands.
In order to strengthen their ability to comply with the new
requirements, the FAS may use Compact funds for appropriate training,
software, equipment and guidance. For example, Compact funds could be
used to purchase financial management systems, to provide training and
hands-on guidance for local personnel or to supplement local personnel
with outside experts.
The bottom line, Mr. Chairman, is that all three governments want
to ensure that the people of the RMI and FSM receive the full benefit
of the Compact assistance program. We can only achieve this with a
strong accountability program. The U.S. cannot do it alone: We could
not place sufficient personnel on the ground to properly do this job
all by ourselves without seriously interfering with the sovereign
governmental operations of our FAS partners, conjuring unfortunate
images of a return to the old Trust Territory days. The FAS cannot do
it alone: They are still in the process of developing the capacity to
fully protect against the possibility of waste, fraud and abuse, and to
properly measure the effectiveness of Compact-funded activities. All
parties recognize that we need to work together to achieve the
objectives that we all share.
building on success
Some might interpret our new accountability program as an admission
that the original Compact has been a failure. Nothing could be further
from the truth. The Compact has been a tremendous success. America's
former Trust Territory wards have emerged as free, vibrant, sovereign
democracies. The United States has achieved its strategic objective of
denying other powers control over vast areas of the Pacific. The freely
associated states have benefited from the United States defense
umbrella, and their people enjoy the right to live, work and study in
the United States. Significantly, these nations have become America's
most loyal allies in the world.
Cynics say that this loyalty has been purchased with Compact aid.
No amount of money, however, could purchase the type of loyalty that
leads so many of these islands' finest sons and daughters to serve
proudly and honorably in the United States military, risking their
lives to protect the freedom of all Americans. Mr. Chairman, at this
moment, 82nd Airborne Army Specialist Hilario Bermanis from Pohnpei
lies in Walter Reed Army Hospital after being gravely wounded in a
grenade attack in South Baghdad. He has lost both legs and an arm. We
all pray for Hilario's recovery, and we thank him so much for the
tremendous courage that he has shown in the service of our country. As
illustrated by the inspiring valor of Hilario Bermanis and other men
and women from the freely associated states, there is clearly a
heartfelt bond between Americans and the people of these islands. The
Compact has only made it stronger. We Americans value this bond.
As for criticism of the original Compact, it is important to
remember that that document invented a comprehensive new kind of
international relationship that was completely untested at the time. It
should surprise no one, and shame no one, that with the wisdom of 17
years of experience, the parties can think of ways to improve the
Compact. The financial assistance and accountability provisions of the
original Compact provide some opportunities for improvement. The United
States and the freely associated states are committed to embracing
those opportunities--working together, as partners, to ensure that the
promise of these Compacts is fully realized for all of the people of
the islands.
The Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Cohen.
Ms. Westin, would you please give us your testimony.
STATEMENT OF SUSAN S. WESTIN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS AND TRADE, GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
Ms. Westin. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am
pleased to be here today to testify on the Compacts of Free
Association that the United States recently signed with the
Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall
Islands.
Specifically, I will discuss three main topics: one, the
potential cost to the U.S. Government; two, changes to both the
structure and levels of future assistance; and three, changes
in accountability addressed in the amended compacts and related
agreements.
Turning to the first topic, the potential cost of the
amended compacts.
The amended compacts of free association with the FSM and
the RMI to renew expiring assistance would require about $3.5
billion in funding over the next 20 years, with a total
possible authorization through 2086 of $6.6 billion from the
U.S. Congress. These dollar amounts include estimated
inflation.
I direct your attention to the chart that we have over
here. The share of new authorizations to the FSM would be about
$2.3 billion and would end after fiscal year 2023. The share of
new authorizations to the RMI would be about $1.2 billion for
the next 20 years. Further funding of $3.1 billion for the
remainder of the period corresponds to extended grants to
Kwajalein and payments related to U.S. military use of land at
Kwajalein.
This new authorized funding would be provided to each
country in the form of annual grant funds targeted to priority
areas, contributions to a trust fund for each country such that
trust fund earnings would replace annual grants beginning in
fiscal year 2024, payments the U.S. Government makes through
the RMI government to Kwajalein landowners to compensate them
for the U.S. use of their lands for defense sites, and an
extension of Federal services that have been provided under the
original compact but are due to expire at the end of 2023.
Further, the administration is proposing to provide $15
million annually for Hawaii, Guam, and the Northern Mariana
Islands for the costs associated with FSM and RMI citizens who
migrate to those areas. This would cost an additional $300
million over the 20-year period.
I will turn to the second topic, changes in the structure
and levels of funding.
Under the U.S. proposal, annual grant amounts to each
country would be reduced each year in order to encourage
budgetary self-reliance and transition the countries from
receiving annual U.S. grant funding to receiving annual trust
fund earnings begin in 2024.
This decrease in grant funding, combined with FSM and RMI
population growth, would result in falling per capita grant
assistance over the funding period, particularly for the RMI.
The reduction in real per capita funding over the next 20 years
is a continuation of the decreasing amount of available grant
funds that the FSM and the RMI had during the 17 years of prior
compact assistance.
The amended compacts were designed to build trust funds
that, beginning in fiscal year 2024, yield annual earnings to
replace grant assistance that expires in 2023. Our analysis
shows that the trust funds may be insufficient to replace
existing grants, depending on assumptions about the rate of
return on the trust funds.
Finally, I will discuss provisions in the amended compacts
designed to provide improved accountability over U.S.
assistance. This is an area where we have offered several
recommendations in past years. Most of our recommendations
regarding future compact assistance have been addressed with
the introduction of strengthened accountability measures in the
signed amended compacts and related agreements.
Let me give four examples.
One, the amended compacts would require that grants be
targeted to priority areas such as health, education, the
environment, and public infrastructure, including funding for
maintenance.
Two, grant conditions normally applicable to U.S. State and
local governments would apply to each grant.
Three, the United States could withhold payments if either
country fails to comply with grant terms and conditions.
Four, joint economic management committees with each
country would be established.
I must emphasize, however, that the successful
implementation of the many new accountability provisions will
require a sustained commitment, including resources, by the
three governments to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.
Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee, this completes my
prepared statement. I would be happy to respond to any
questions.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Westin follows:]
Prepared Statement of Susan S. Westin, Managing Director,
International Affairs and Trade, General Accounting Office
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: I am pleased to be here
today to testify on the Compact of Free Association between the United
States and the Pacific Island nations of the Federated States of
Micronesia, or the FSM, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or
the RMI.\1\ In 1986, the United States entered into this Compact with
the two countries after almost 40 years of administering the islands
under the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The
Compact has provided U.S. assistance to the FSM and the RMI in the form
of direct funding as well as federal services and programs for almost
17 years. Further, the Compact establishes U.S. defense rights and
obligations in the region and allows for migration from both countries
to the United States. Provisions of the Compact that address economic
assistance were scheduled to expire in 2001; however, they can remain
and have remained in effect while the United States and each nation
renegotiated the affected provisions.\2\
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\1\ The FSM had a population of about 107,000 in 2000, while the
RMI had a population of 50,840 in 1999, according to each country's
most recent census.
\2\ Other Compact provisions are also due to expire in late 2003 if
not renewed. These include (1) certain defense provisions, such as the
requirement that the FSM and the RMI refrain from actions that the
United States determines are incompatible with U.S. defense obligations
(the defense veto) and (2) federal services listed in the Compact.
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Today, I will discuss our review of the amended Compacts and
related agreements that the United States signed with the FSM and the
RMI in May and April of 2003, respectively. (According to a Department
of State official, while the original Compact was one document that
applied to both the FSM and the RMI, the Compact that has been amended
is now a separate Compact with each nation.) Specifically, I will
discuss changes to levels and structure of future assistance, including
the potential cost to the U.S. government. Further, I will comment on
changes in accountability and other key issues addressed in the amended
Compacts and related agreements.
Summary
The amended Compacts of Free Association with the FSM and the RMI
to renew expiring assistance would require about $3.5 billion in
funding over the next 20 years with a total possible authorization
through 2086 of $6.6 billion from the U.S. Congress.\3\ The amended
Compacts would provide decreasing levels of annual assistance over a
20-year term (2004-2023) in order to encourage budgetary self-reliance.
Simultaneously, the Compacts would require building up a trust fund
(with contributions that would increase annually) for each country to
generate annual earnings that would replace the grants that end in
2023. Per capita grant assistance would fall over the 20-year period,
particularly for the RMI. At an assumed trust fund rate of return of 6
percent, in 2024 the RMI trust fund would cover expiring grant
assistance, while the FSM trust fund would be insufficient to replace
grants. By the year 2040, however, RMI trust fund returns also would be
unable to replace grant funding.
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\3\ Although the amended Compacts have been signed by the U.S.,
FSM, and RMI governments, they have not been approved by the
legislature of any country. Therefore, in our testimony we describe the
amended Compacts' requirements and potential impact in a conditional
manner in recognition that the Compacts have not yet been enacted. The
total possible cost to renew expiring assistance in fiscal year 2004
U.S. dollars would be $3.8 billion on the basis of the Congressional
Budget Office's forecasted inflation rate.
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The amended Compacts include many strengthened reporting and
monitoring measures that could improve accountability if diligently
implemented. The amended Compacts and related agreements have addressed
most of the recommendations that we have made in past reports regarding
assistance accountability. For example, assistance would be provided
through grants targeted to priority areas, such as health and
education, and with specific terms and conditions attached. Annual
reporting and consultation requirements would be expanded, and funds
could be withheld for noncompliance with Compact terms and conditions.
However, the successful implementation of the many new accountability
provisions will require a sustained commitment and appropriate
resources from the United States, the FSM, and the RMI.
The amended Compacts address other key issues. One key change to
Compact defense provisions would occur U.S. military access to
Kwajalein Atoll in the RMI could be extended from 2016 to 2086. This
extension would cost $3.4 billion of the total possible authorization
of $6.6 billion. Further, amended Compact provisions on immigration
have been strengthened. FSM and RMI citizens entering the United States
would need to carry a passport, and regulations could be promulgated
that would impose time limits and other conditions on admission to the
United States for these citizens.
Background
The 1986 Compact of Free Association between the United States, the
FSM, and the RMI provided a framework for the United States to work
toward achieving its three main goals: (1) to secure self-government
for the FSM and the RMI, (2) to assist the FSM and the RMI in their
efforts to advance economic development and self-sufficiency, and (3)
to ensure certain national security rights for all of the parties. The
first goal has been met. The FSM and the RMI are independent nations
and are members of international organizations such as the United
Nations.
The second goal of the Compact advancing economic development and
self-sufficiency for both countries was to be accomplished primarily
through U.S. direct financial payments (to be disbursed and monitored
by the U.S. Department of the Interior) to the FSM and the RMI. For
1987 through 2003, U.S. assistance to the FSM and the RMI to support
economic development is estimated, on the basis of Interior data, to be
about $2.1 billion.\4\ Economic self-sufficiency has not been achieved.
Although total U.S. assistance (Compact direct funding as well as U.S.
programs and services) as a percentage of total government revenue has
fallen in both countries (particularly in the FSM), the two nations
remain highly dependent on U.S. funds. U.S. direct assistance has
maintained standards of living that are higher than could be achieved
in the absence of U.S. support. Further, the U.S., FSM, and RMI
governments provided little accountability over Compact expenditures.
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\4\ The cost of prior assistance in fiscal year 2004 U.S. dollars
was $2.6 billion. This estimate does not include payments for Compact-
authorized federal services or U.S. military use of Kwajalein Atoll
land, nor does it include investment development funds provided under
section 111 of Public Law 99-239. Additionally, the Compact served as
the vehicle to reach a full settlement of all compensation claims
related to U.S. nuclear tests conducted on Marshallese atolls between
1946 and 1958. In a Compact-related agreement, the U.S. government
agreed to provide $150 million to create a trust fund. While the
Compact and its related agreements represented the full settlement of
all nuclear claims, it provided the RMI with the right to submit a
petition of ``changed circumstance'' to the U.S. Congress requesting
additional compensation. The RMI government submitted such a petition
in September 2000, which the U.S. executive branch is still reviewing.
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The third goal of the Compact securing national security rights for
all parties has been achieved. The Compact obligates the United States
to defend the FSM and the RMI against an attack or the threat of attack
in the same way it would defend its own citizens. The Compact also
provides the United States with the right of ``strategic denial,'' the
ability to prevent access to the islands and their territorial waters
by the military personnel of other countries or the use of the islands
for military purposes. In addition, the Compact grants the United
States a ``defense veto.'' Finally, through a Compact-related
agreement, the United States secured continued access to military
facilities on Kwajalein Atoll in the RMI through 2016.\5\ In a previous
report, we identified Kwajalein Atoll as the key U.S. defense interest
in the two countries.\6\ Of these rights, only the defense veto is due
to expire in 2003 if not renewed.
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\5\ U.S. access to Kwajalein Atoll is established through the U.S.-
RMI Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement (MUORA). Funding
provided for U.S. military access to Kwajalein for the years 1987 to
2003 is estimated, on the basis of Interior data, to be $64 million for
development assistance and $144 million for the RMI government to
compensate landowners for U.S. use of their lands.
\6\ See U.S. General Accounting Office, Foreign Relations:
Kwajalein Atoll Is the Key U.S. Defense Interest in Two Micronesian
Nations, GAO-02-119 (Washington, D.C.: Jan. 22, 2002).
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Another aspect of the special relationship between the FSM and the
RMI and the United States involves the unique immigration rights that
the Compact grants. Through the original Compact, citizens of both
nations are allowed to live and work in the United States as
``nonimmigrants'' and can stay for long periods of time, with few
restrictions.\7\ Further, the Compact exempted FSM and RMI citizens
from meeting U.S. passport, visa, and labor certification requirements
when entering the United States. In recognition of the potential
adverse impacts that Hawaii and nearby U.S. commonwealths and
territories could face as a result of an influx of FSM and RMI
citizens, the Congress authorized Compact impact payments to address
the financial impact of these nonimmigrants on Guam, Hawaii, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).\8\ By 1998, more
than 13,000 FSM and RMI citizens had made use of the Compact
immigration provisions and were living in the three areas. The
governments of the three locations have provided the U.S. government
with annual Compact nonimmigrant impact estimates; for example, in 2000
the total estimated impact for the three areas was $58.2 million. In
that year, Guam received $7.58 million in impact funding, while the
other two areas received no funding.\9\
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\7\ Typically, nonimmigrants include those individuals who are in
the United States temporarily as visitors, students, or workers.
\8\ Payments were also authorized for American Samoa, but impact
compensation has not been sought.
\9\ See U.S. General Accounting Office, Foreign Relations:
Migration From Micronesian Nations Has Had Significant Impact on Guam,
Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, GAO-02-40
(Washington, D.C.: Oct. 5, 2001).
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In the fall of 1999, the United States and the two Pacific Island
nations began negotiating economic assistance and defense provisions of
the Compact that were due to expire. Immigration issues were also
addressed. According to the Department of State, the aims of the
amended Compacts are to (1) continue economic assistance to advance
self-reliance, while improving accountability and effectiveness; (2)
continue the defense relationship, including a 50-year lease extension
(beyond 2016) of U.S. military access to Kwajalein Atoll in the RMI;
(3) strengthen immigration provisions; and (4) provide assistance to
lessen the impact of Micronesian migration on Hawaii, Guam, and the
CNMI.
Amended Compacts Would Alter Assistance Levels and Structure
Under the amended Compacts with the FSM and the RMI, new
congressional authorizations of approximately $3.5 billion in funding
would be required over the next 20 years, with a total possible
authorization through 2086 of $6.6 billion. Economic assistance would
be provided to the two countries for 20 years--from 2004 through 2023--
with all subsequent funding directed to the RMI for continued U.S.
access to military facilities in that country. Under the U.S.
proposals, annual grant amounts to each country would be reduced each
year in order to encourage budgetary self-reliance and transition the
countries from receiving annual U.S. grant funding to receiving annual
trust fund earnings. This decrease in grant funding, combined with FSM
and RMI population growth, would also result in falling per capita
grant assistance over the funding period particularly for the RMI. If
the trust funds established in the amended Compacts earn a 6 percent
rate of return, the FSM trust fund would be insufficient to replace
expiring annual grants. The RMI trust fund would replace grants in
fiscal year 2024 but would become insufficient for this purpose by
fiscal year 2040.
Table 1--ESTIMATED NEW U.S. AUTHORIZATIONS FOR THE FSM AND THE RMI,
FISCAL YEARS 2004-2086
(U.S. dollars in millions)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FSM RMI Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal years 2004-2023:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grants for priority areas.......... $1,612 \1\ $70 $2,313
1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trust fund contributions........... 517 276 793
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payments for U.S. military use of Not applicable 191 191
Kwajalein Atoll land \2\..........
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact-authorized federal services 167 37 204
\3\...............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
New U.S. authorization for 2004-2023. 2,296 1,204 3,500
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal years 2024-2086:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grants to Kwajalein................ Not applicable \1\ 948 948
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payments for U.S. military use of Not applicable 2,133 2,133
Kwajalein Atoll land..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
New U.S. authorization for 2024-2086. Not applicable 3,081 3,081
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal years 2004-2086, total new $2,296 $4,285 $6,581
U.S. authorizations for the FSM and
the RMI.............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: GAO estimate based on information in the amended Compacts. Under
the amended Compacts, U.S. payments are adjusted for inflation at two-
thirds of the percentage change in the U.S. gross domestic product
implicit price deflator.
Note: Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
\1\ The 1986 U.S.-RMI Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement
(MUORA) grants the United States access to certain portions of
Kwajalein Atoll and provides $24.7 million of funding for development
and impact on Kwajalein from 2004 to 2016. Approximately $112 million
of the new proposed U.S. grant assistance of $701 million is for
increasing this funding to Kwajalein from 2004 to 2016 and for
continuation of the increased level of funding through 2066 and
possibly to 2086 if the agreement is extended.
\2\ As part of the 1986 MUORA, the RMI government has also allocated
$162 million of U.S. funding from 2004 to 2016 under this agreement to
landowners via a traditional distribution system to compensate them
for the U.S. use of their lands for defense sites. The amended Compact
increases these payments from 2004 to 2016 and continues the increased
level of payments through 2066 and possibly to 2086 if the agreement
is extended.
\3\ Federal services authorized in the Compact include weather,
aviation, and postal services. Services associated with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency have been excluded. An estimate of
assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office
of Disaster Assistance has not been included.
Amended Compacts Could Cost the U.S. Government $6.6 Billion
Under the amended Compacts with the FSM and the RMI, new
congressional authorizations of approximately $6.6 billion could be
required for U.S. payments from fiscal years 2004 to 2086, of which
$3.5 billion would be required for the first 20 years of the Compacts
(see table 1). The share of new authorizations to the FSM would be
about $2.3 billion and would end after fiscal year 2023. The share of
new authorizations to the RMI would be about $1.2 billion for the first
20 years, with about $300 million related to extending U.S. military
access to Kwajalein Atoll through 2023. Further funding of $3.1 billion
for the remainder of the period corresponds to extended grants to
Kwajalein and payments related to U.S. military use of land at
Kwajalein Atoll.\10\ The cost of this $6.6 billion new authorization,
expressed in fiscal year 2004 U.S. dollars, would be $3.8 billion.
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\10\ U.S. access to Kwajalein Atoll in the RMI has already been
secured through 2016 through a Compact-related agreement. The amended
Compact with the RMI extends this funding to 2066, with an additional
20-year optional lease extension at that point.
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This new authorized funding would be provided to each country in
the form of (1) annual grant funds targeted to priority areas (such as
health, education, and infrastructure); (2) contributions to a trust
fund for each country such that trust fund earnings would become
available to the FSM and the RMI in fiscal year 2024 to replace
expiring annual grants; (3) payments the U.S. government makes to the
RMI government that the RMI transfers to Kwajalein landowners to
compensate them for the U.S. use of their lands for defense sites; and
(4) an extension of federal services that have been provided under the
original Compact but are due to expire in fiscal year 2003.
Amended Compacts Would Reduce U.S. Grant Support Annually
Under the U.S. proposals, annual grant amounts to each country
would be reduced each year in order to encourage budgetary self-
reliance and transition the countries from receiving annual U.S. grant
funding to receiving annual trust fund earnings. Thus, the amended
Compacts increase annual U.S. contributions to the trust funds each
year by the grant reduction amount. This decrease in grant funding,
combined with FSM and RMI population growth, would also result in
falling per capita grant assistance over the funding period
particularly for the RMI (see fig. 1).* Using published U.S. Census
population growth rate projections for the two countries, the real
value of grants per capita to the FSM would begin at an estimated $687
in fiscal year 2004 and would further decrease over the course of the
Compact to $476 in fiscal year 2023. The real value of grants per
capita to the RMI would begin at an estimated $627 in fiscal year 2004
and would further decrease to an estimated $303 in fiscal year 2023.
The reduction in real per capita funding over the next 20 years is a
continuation of the decreasing amount of available grant funds (in real
terms) that the FSM and the RMI had during the 17 years of prior
Compact assistance.
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* Retained in committee files.
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The decline in annual grant assistance could impact FSM and RMI
government budget and service provision, employment prospects,
migration, and the overall gross domestic product (GDP) outlook, though
the immediate effect is likely to differ between the two countries. For
example, the FSM is likely to experience fiscal pressures in 2004, when
the value of Compact grant assistance drops in real terms by 8 percent
relative to the 2001 level (a reduction equal to 3 percent of GDP).\11\
For the RMI, however, the proposed level of Compact grant assistance in
2004 would actually be 8 percent higher in real terms than the 2001
level (an increase equal to 3 percent of GDP). According to the RMI,
this increase would likely be allocated largely to the infrastructure
investment budget and would provide a substantial stimulus to the
economy in the first years of the new Compact.
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\11\ The level of grant assistance in 2001 was converted into
fiscal year 2004 dollars for comparison purposes.
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Trust Funds May Be Insufficient to Replace Expiring Grants
The amended Compacts were designed to build trust funds that,
beginning in fiscal year 2024, yield annual earnings to replace grant
assistance that ends in 2023. Both the FSM and the RMI are required to
provide an initial contribution to their respective trust funds of $30
million. In designing the trust funds, the Department of State assumed
that the trust fund would earn a 6 percent rate of return.\12\ The
amended Compacts do not address whether trust fund earnings should be
sufficient to cover expiring federal services, but they do create a
structure that sets aside earnings above 6 percent, should they occur,
that could act as a buffer against years with low or negative trust
fund returns. Importantly, whether the estimated value of the proposed
trust funds would be sufficient to replace grants or create a buffer
account would depend on the rate of return that is realized.\13\
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\12\ The State Department chose a 6 percent return in order to
reflect a conservative investment strategy. This rate of return can be
compared with the current average forecasted return for long-term U.S.
government bonds of 5.8 percent by the Congressional Budget Office.
\13\ This analysis does not take into account volatile or negative
returns. The sufficiency of either the FSM or the RMI trust fund to
replace grants has not been tested under conditions of market
volatility.
f If the trust funds earn a 6 percent rate of return, then the FSM
trust fund would yield a return of $57 million in fiscal year
2023, an amount insufficient to replace expiring grants by an
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estimated value of $27 million.
The RMI trust fund would yield a return of $33 million in fiscal
year 2023, an estimated $5 million above the amount required to replace
grants in fiscal year 2024. Nevertheless, the RMI trust fund would
become insufficient for replacing grant funding by fiscal year 2040.
f If the trust funds are comprised of both stocks (60 percent of the
portfolio) and long-term government bonds (40 percent of the
portfolio) such that the forecasted average return is around
7.9 percent, then both trust funds would yield returns
sufficient to replace expiring grants and to create a buffer
account. However, while the RMI trust fund should continue to
grow in perpetuity, the FSM trust fund would eventually deplete
the buffer account and fail to replace grant funding by fiscal
year 2048.
amended compacts have strengthened accountability over u.s. assistance
I will now discuss provisions in the amended Compacts designed to
provide improved accountability over, and effectiveness of, U.S.
assistance. This is an area where we have offered several
recommendations in past years, as we have found accountability over
past assistance to be lacking.\14\ In sum, most of our recommendations
regarding future Compact assistance have been addressed with the
introduction of strengthened accountability measures in the signed
amended Compacts and related agreements. I must emphasize, however,
that the extent to which these provisions will ultimately provide
increased accountability over, and effectiveness of, future U.S.
assistance will depend upon how diligently the provisions are
implemented and monitored by all governments.
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\14\ See U.S. General Accounting Office, Foreign Assistance: U.S.
Funds to Two Micronesian Nations Had Little Impact on Economic
Development, GAO/NSIAD-00-216 (Washington, D.C. Sept. 22, 2000) for a
review of the first 12 years of direct Compact assistance.
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The following summary describes key accountability measures
included in the amended Compacts and related agreements:
f The amended Compacts would require that grants be targeted to
priority areas such as health, education, the environment, and
public infrastructure. In both countries, 5 percent of the
amount dedicated to infrastructure, combined with a matching
amount from the island governments, would be placed in an
infrastructure maintenance fund.
f Compact-related agreements with both countries (the so-called
``fiscal procedures agreements'') would establish a joint
economic management committee for the FSM and the RMI that
would meet at least once annually. The duties of the committees
would include (1) reviewing planning documents and evaluating
island government progress to foster economic advancement and
budgetary self-reliance; (2) consulting with program and
service providers and other bilateral and multilateral partners
to coordinate or monitor the use of development assistance; (3)
reviewing audits; (4) reviewing performance outcomes in
relation to the previous year's grant funding level, terms, and
conditions; and (5) reviewing and approving grant allocations
(which would be binding) and performance objectives for the
upcoming year. Further, the fiscal procedures agreements would
give the United States control over the annual review process:
The United States would appoint three government members to
each committee, including the chairman, while the FSM or the
RMI would appoint two government members.
f Grant conditions normally applicable to U.S. state and local
governments would apply to each grant. General terms and
conditions for the grants would include conformance to plans,
strategies, budgets, project specifications, architectural and
engineering specifications, and performance standards. Other
special conditions or restrictions could be attached to grants
as necessary.
f The United States could withhold payments if either country fails
to comply with grant terms and conditions. In addition, funds
could be withheld if the FSM or RMI governments do not
cooperate in U.S. investigations regarding whether Compact
funds have been used for purposes other than those set forth in
the amended Compacts.
f The fiscal procedures agreements would require numerous reporting
requirements for the two countries. For example, each country
must prepare strategic planning documents that are updated
regularly, annual budgets that propose sector expenditures and
performance measures, annual reports to the U.S. President
regarding the use of assistance, quarterly and annual financial
reports, and quarterly grant performance reports.
f The amended Compacts' trust fund management agreements would grant
the U.S. government control over trust fund management: The
United States would appoint three members, including the
chairman, to a committee to administer the trust funds, while
the FSM or the RMI would appoint two members. After the initial
20 years, the trust fund committee would remain the same,
unless otherwise agreed by the original parties.
The fiscal procedures agreements would require the joint economic
management committees to consult with program providers in order to
coordinate future U.S. assistance. However, we have seen no evidence
demonstrating that an overall assessment of the appropriateness,
effectiveness, and oversight of U.S. programs has been conducted, as we
recommended.\15\
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\15\ This recommendation was included in U.S. General Accounting
Office, Foreign Assistance: Effectiveness and Accountability Problems
Common in U.S. Programs to Assist Two Micronesian Nations, GAO-02-70
(Washington, D.C.: Jan. 22, 2002).
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The successful implementation of the many new accountability
provisions will require a sustained commitment by the three governments
to fulfill their new roles and responsibilities. Appropriate resources
from the United States, the FSM, and the RMI represent one form of this
commitment. While the amended Compacts do not address staffing issues,
officials from Interior's Office of Insular Affairs have informed us
that their office intends to post six staff in a new Honolulu office.
Further, an Interior official noted that his office has brought one new
staff on board in Washington, D.C., and intends to post one person to
work in the RMI (one staff is already resident in the FSM). We have not
conducted an assessment of Interior's staffing plan and rationale and
cannot comment on the adequacy of the plan or whether it represents
sufficient resources in the right location.
amended compacts address other key areas
U.S. Military Access to Kwajalein Atoll Could Be Extended Until 2086
The most significant defense-related change in the amended Compacts
is the extension of U.S. military access to Kwajalein Atoll in the
RMI.\16\ While the U.S. government had already secured access to
Kwajalein until 2016 through the 1986 MUORA, the newly revised MUORA
would grant the United States access until 2066, with an option to
extend for an additional 20 years to 2086. According to a Department of
Defense (DOD) official, recent DOD assessments have envisioned that
access to Kwajalein would be needed well beyond 2016. He stated that
DOD has not undertaken any further review of the topic, and none is
currently planned. This official also stated that, given the high
priority accorded to missile defense programs and to enhancing space
operations and capabilities by the current administration, and the
inability to project the likely improvement in key technologies beyond
2023, the need to extend the MUORA beyond 2016 is persuasive. He also
emphasized that the U.S. government has flexibility in that it can end
its use of Kwajalein Atoll any time after 2023 by giving advance notice
of 7 years and making a termination payment.
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\16\ A few expiring provisions would be extended indefinitely in
the amended Compacts. The ``defense veto'' has been extended. In
addition, the ability of FSM and RMI citizens to volunteer to serve in
the U.S. military would be extended.
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We have estimated that the total cost of this extension would be
$3.4 billion (to cover years 2017 through 2086).\17\ The majority of
this funding ($2.3 billion) would be provided by the RMI government to
Kwajalein Atoll landowners, while the remainder ($1.1 billion) would be
used for development and impact on Kwajalein Atoll. According to a
State Department official, there are approximately 80 landowners. Four
landowners receive one-third of the annual payment, which is based on
acreage owned. This landowner funding (along with all other Kwajalein-
related funds) through 2023 would not be provided by DOD but would
instead continue as an Interior appropriation. Departmental
responsibility for authorization and appropriation for Kwajalein-
related funding beyond 2023 has not been determined according to the
Department of State. Of note, the Kwajalein Atoll landowners have not
yet agreed to sign an amended land-use agreement with the RMI
government to extend U.S. access to Kwajalein beyond 2016 at the
funding levels established in the amended Compact.
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\17\ Our figure of $3.4 billion is adjusted for inflation.
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Amended Compacts Would Strengthen Immigration Provisions
While the original Compact's immigration provisions are not
expiring, the Department of State targeted them as requiring changes.
The amended Compacts would strengthen the immigration provisions of the
Compact by adding new restrictions and expressly applying the
provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended
(P.L. 82-414) to Compact nonimmigrants.\18\ There are several new
immigration provisions in the amended Compacts that differ from those
contained in the original Compact. For example, Compact nonimmigrants
would now be required to carry a valid passport in order to be admitted
into the United States. Further, children coming to the United States
for the purpose of adoption would not be admissible under the amended
Compacts. Instead, these children would have to apply for admission to
the United States under the general immigration requirements for
adopted children. In addition, the Attorney General would have the
authority to issue regulations that specify the time and conditions of
a Compact nonimmigrant's admission into the United States (under the
original Compact, regulations could be promulgated to establish
limitations on Compact nonimmigrants in U.S. territories or
possessions).
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\18\ As noted in the background section, FSM and RMI citizens who
enter the United States are legally classified as ``nonimmigrants''--
that is, individuals who are in the United States temporarily as
visitors, students, or workers.
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In addition, the implementing legislation for the amended Compacts
would provide $15 million annually for U.S. locations that experience
costs associated with Compact nonimmigrants. This amount would not be
adjusted for inflation, would be in effect for fiscal years 2004
through 2023, and would total $300 million. Allocation of these funds
between locations such as Hawaii, Guam, and the CNMI would be based on
the number of qualified nonimmigrants in each location.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, this completes my
prepared statement. I would be happy to respond to any questions you or
other Members of the Committee may have at this time.
The Chairman. Thanks very much. I noticed in putting up the
chart you hid a very important person here attending: the
former chairman, Senator Bennett Johnson.
Ms. Westin. That was certainly not my intention.
The Chairman. We wanted to tell him we told her to do that.
We thought you had been receiving too much visibility.
I gather you have an interest, a client interest, Mr.
Chairman. We welcome you. We welcome your attendance.
Senator Bingaman, do you have any questions of any of the
witnesses, in any order you would like?
Senator Bingaman. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Let me
ask a couple of questions.
First, the decline in the assistance level that is
anticipated over the next 20 years--I guess I am just concerned
that that anticipated decline may not leave these nations with
sufficient funds to carry on their essential government
operations.
I gather you have analyzed that and decided that is
adequate funding. Is that your position, Mr. Short?
Mr. Short. Yes, sir, it is. If you look back at the
original compact, there was a series of reductions in the
compact, but they were in 5-year increments. The Government has
found difficulty in accommodating especially the last of these
so-called stepdowns.
The declines or the decrements that we have installed in
this compact are on an annual basis so that they are smaller
over time and easier to adjust to.
If you would go back to the original 1987 compact, at that
time we were providing about $1,500 per capita per year. It is
now down to about $690 to $620 in the two venues. It will
probably drop to somewhere in the range of $300 to $400 per
capita in another 20 years, which should reflect the increased
development of the islands, basically increasing their revenue
base.
Senator Bingaman. Do either of the other witnesses have a
comment on the adequacy of these projected payments?
Secretary Cohen. I would concur with Mr. Short that these
payments should be adequate. It is our hope over a 20-year
program if our targeted assistance succeeds in developing the
economic infrastructure of the Freely Associated States and
increasing economic development opportunities, increasing basic
health and education levels, that the Freely Associated States
should have a higher degree of self-sufficiency at the end of
20 years.
Senator Bingaman. Ms. Westin.
Ms. Westin. We have looked at the trend in per capita
income for both countries. Frankly, over the life of the former
compact, the FSM showed a greater ability to sustain the loss
of grant assistance and the stepdowns. You see less of a
decline in their per capita income.
I think that the new accountability provisions in the
compact will have quite an impact, because as we recorded in
one of our first reports, the economic assistance that had been
provided under the first compact in the first 15 years that we
looked at had not provided the type of economic growth and
stimulus you would like to see.
I think it is really important that the grants are now
sector grants, targeted to health, education, public
infrastructure. I think that the existence of the joint
economic management committees will also provide a venue for
greater assistance and oversight in the spending of these
funds, and we hope lead to greater economic development.
Senator Bingaman. Let me ask about programs that FEMA has
been operating. As I understand it, the proposal here is to
shift those over to the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.
I am also informed that the Office of Foreign Disaster
Assistance does not replace destroyed or damaged
infrastructure. How does this change affect the prospects for
economic development? If there is in fact some kind of disaster
that destroys infrastructure, how do we propose to assist in
the reconstruction of that in such circumstance?
Mr. Short. Sir, you are correct in that the
administration's proposal you have before you would substitute
the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance for FEMA, that has
been operating out there during the trusteeship period and
during the last 17 years.
I would note that OFDA, the Office of Foreign Disaster
Assistance, has been operative in Palau the entire period their
compact has been in effect, and it is a program that the U.S.
Government uses everywhere else around the world in foreign
disaster assistance and recovery.
This particular program does not have one element that FEMA
includes; that is, capital replacement on a matching basis.
Senator Bingaman. Do you think that is okay?
Mr. Short. We have provided a fund. We have provided
$200,000 a year that we matched by the respective state to
accrue a fund that can respond to whatever--whether it is
public or private--loss of property.
Senator Bingaman. It sounds like a fairly modest amount of
money, if there were really any kind of disaster.
Let me also ask about some of the outside-the-compact
programs, the Pell Grants and the Head Start. Do we assume that
those will be continued in other legislation? There is no
dealing with them in this compact. Do we assume they will be
continued by the Congress in the future? If so, if they were
not continued, what would be the effect?
Mr. Short. Sir, the compact recognizes--and I noted in my
opening statement that there are a number of Federal programs
that operate in the two Micronesian states outside the context
of the compact provisions, but are recognized in the compact.
The document you have before you would continue those, but
subject to the congressional action. So we are not taking a
position on those Federal programs. They exist to the degree
that Congress continues to apply them to the FAS, Federated
States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.
I would note that the chairman incorporated in the record a
policy statement that we provided to him recently that laid out
the policy with regard to Federal programs and the relationship
with the compact.
There have been a series of education programs over the
last few years that have been stricken, or Micronesian access
to them has been withdrawn. It has had an impact on their
educational system.
As you correctly point out, the Pell Grant program, which
is scheduled for reauthorization in fiscal year 2004, could
have a severe impact in that the land grant colleges, the
Micronesian junior colleges, receive the bulk of their funding
through the Pell Grant program.
Senator Bingaman. So you are taking no position as to
whether or not we ought to continue with that funding; but you
are just saying if we don't, the ability of that school to
continue as it has would be in great jeopardy?
Mr. Short. Yes, sir.
And further, the title II funding in the compact was not
structured to replace expiring Federal programs, or take the
place of any program that is eliminated now or could be
eliminated in the future.
Senator Bingaman. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Senator Akaka, do you have some questions?
Senator Akaka. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Senator, I will leave for a few minutes, but
I will be right back. I have a couple questions also.
Senator Akaka [presiding]. Mr. Short, congratulations on
completing negotiations. I want you to know that I appreciate
your continued willingness to discuss the compact with me and
my staff over time and during the negotiating process also. I
look forward to continuing to work with you on the compact.
As a follow-up to Senator Bingaman's question, I remain
concerned about the fact that the proposal of FEMA does not
include continuing program support from FEMA. I notice instead
that relief is provided through the USAID program, as Senator
Bingaman mentioned.
My only question now is, could you please explain why
FEMA's role has been discontinued?
Mr. Short. FEMA has had difficulties--first of all, this is
a foreign area. FEMA is basically a domestic program. FEMA has
encountered a number of problems simply operating in these two
states because it is not the United States, where they are
really set up to operate. That is the principal reason.
Senator Akaka. Do you have any comments about the ability
of either trust funds to substantively sustain economic self-
sufficiency for FSM and RMI after 20 years, particularly in the
light of GAO's testimony that the FSM trust fund would be
insufficient to replace expiring annual grants; and that the
RMI trust fund would replace grants in fiscal year 2024, but
would become insufficient for this purpose by fiscal year 2040?
Do you have any comments on that?
Mr. Short. I think, as was pointed out in Ms. Westin's
testimony, the sufficiency or insufficiency is largely a factor
of one's assumptions on rate of return to the point where, at 6
percent rate of return, the numbers may be on the low side; at
7 percent, they are adequate. We feel that the trust funds will
provide an ongoing source of revenue that will commence in
2004.
It is important to note that the provisions of the trust
fund are set up in such a way that there can be no changed
circumstances or no early withdrawals; so all of the resources,
both United States and Micronesian, that are contributing to
the trust funds will be there and will have earned interest
until 2024. The mechanism thereafter is that the corpus will
not be touched. Only the proceeds, the annual proceeds will be
distributed.
We cannot guarantee a one-for-one replacement, but we feel
this trust fund gives them a high degree of assurance of
continued economic assistance almost in perpetuity.
Senator Akaka. In your written testimony, you stated that
improving the infrastructure in RMI and FSM will improve the
adverse impact of migrations. Can you give your best estimate
on how many years it will be before such a benefit becomes
viable?
Mr. Short. Mr. Cohen might be best to answer that.
Secretary Cohen. Yes, Senator. To be honest with you, I
can't give an actual estimate as to how long the process will
take. We hope that over time, gradually, we will be improving
the conditions, especially health, education, and lack of
economic opportunity--which the GAO identified as the primary
causes of migration--to an extent where people will be less
motivated to migrate.
But it will be very difficult to estimate how long it would
take, nor do we even pretend that migration will stop because
of our program.
Senator Akaka. Mr. Short, in your written testimony you
list the modified immigration provisions, which improve the
United States' ability to regulate RMI and FSM migrants who are
eligible for admission as a factor to alleviate the adverse
impacts of migration.
I would like to make it clear that the State of Hawaii did
not ask for modifications to the immigration provisions to
alleviate adverse impacts caused by the migration of FAS
citizens to Hawaii. While our criminal system has borne some
costs, the majority of our costs are in education and health.
Can you clarify how you believe the immigration provisions
address adverse consequences of migration?
Mr. Short. Sir, let me just give you one example. That is
basically reporting of felons between our government and the
respective Micronesian governments. We have what we call a
watch list, where information is provided by the FAS
government. That information, for example, is in Hawaii. If a
Micronesian citizen shows up in Honolulu and he or she is on
that watch list or has been previously removed, that person
would not be admitted.
So there are some safeguards, first of all, with regard to
Micronesian citizens entering the United States. A greater
concern is that a third country national somehow could obtain a
Micronesian passport of some type, whether through purchase,
marriage, or some other device, and then use that to enter the
United States.
Senator Akaka. Mr. Chairman, my time has expired.
The Chairman. Senator, did you have any more questions?
Senator Akaka. I do have.
The Chairman. Go ahead.
Senator Akaka. Colonel Short, I remain very concerned about
efforts made by those who misunderstand the intent of the
Compact of Free Association who have sought to eliminate the
eligibility of FAS citizens for Federal programs. It seems that
we must keep a vigilant watch over any legislation
reauthorizing Federal programs to ensure that the eligibility
of FAS citizens is not eliminated.
For the record, can you clarify whether or not the
provisions intended to improve the educational and medical
infrastructure in the legislative proposal were intended to
replace the current Federal programs provided to FAS citizens?
Mr. Short. I would be happy to respond to that, sir.
Title II support, the economic assistance and the compact,
was not structured to substitute for or replace any existing
Federal programs. We do not take any position on continuation
or reauthorization of those programs. That language is also
restated in the policy statement the chairman already entered
into the record.
Senator Akaka. Secretary Cohen, I was pleased to review
your comments about increased accountability provisions in the
proposed legislation. I think we can all agree that the United
States, as well as the RMI and FSM, share the blame for any
accountability issues.
I am pleased to see that we have provisions and proposals
that improve accountability. I believe a big part of the
problem with the grants during the first 17 years of the
compact is that policy implementation did not take into account
cultural differences. For example, some of the economic
development challenges are based on the land tenure system
utilized in the FAS. Without taking these issues into
consideration, economic development policies will not work.
As you were developing these accountability provisions,
what steps did you take to consider implementation of these
policies in a culturally sensitive manner? What kinds of
provisions are included in the compact to allow for adjustments
to the implementation of policies if such modifications are
necessary?
Secretary Cohen. Thank you for the question, Senator. The
process is structured to give due deference to the priorities
that are set by the Freely Associated States themselves, which
of course will presumably take into account the cultural
context in which the policies will have to exist in.
All of the allocations of the grants are going to be
approved by joint committees, so there will be FSM
representation on the U.S.-FSM joint committees and there will
be RMI representation on the U.S.-RMI joint committee. The
United States has three votes and the Freely Associated States
has two votes, but we will be acting together to consider the
proposals to allocate compact funds.
But as I noted, the initial proposal to allocate the funds
will come from the Freely Associated States themselves. It will
not be the job of the joint committee to substitute its
judgment for the judgment of the RMI or the FSM. The job of the
joint committee will be to make sure that the letter and spirit
of the compact is being protected so that the allocations, for
example, don't fail to give proper emphasis to health and
education, as the compact requires.
By giving due deference to the priorities set by the Freely
Associated States, we think we are ensuring that all of the
policies will properly account for the cultural context that
you are so right to point out.
Senator Akaka. Mr. Cohen, we have worked closely with your
office and the Department of the Interior over the past 17
years to address costs borne by the State of Hawaii, Guam,
CNMI, and American Samoa which we refer to as ``compact
impact.''
As you know, Hawaii only started receiving funds 2 years
ago, at minimal rates. I am pleased that the legislative
proposal includes $15 million in mandatory funding for compact
impact to be distributed annually between Hawaii, Guam, CNMI
and American Samoa. This figure doesn't even begin to address
the costs borne by these jurisdictions.
I have two questions. One is, how did you determine that
the $15 million would be appropriate for the costs of compact
impact aid? Is there any provision in the legislative proposal
that would reimburse Hawaii, Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa for
the costs incurred over the past 17 years due to the migration
of FAS citizens?
Secretary Cohen. Your first question, Senator, how we came
up with $15 million--we don't pretend that the $15 million is
some sort of mathematical estimate that is designed to fully
indemnify the State of Hawaii or any of the territories for any
costs that may occur on an annually basis.
We basically looked at levels of compact impact funds that
had been appropriated by Congress in the past and significantly
increased the average amount, and significantly increased even
the amount that had been appropriated previously, and felt that
was a level we were comfortable with in this fiscal climate.
We are looking more with this $15 million, or $300 million
over 20 years, to the future. We are looking for a level that
we are comfortable committing to on a mandatory basis every
year for the next 20 years. We don't know what is going to
happen in the future, but this is an amount that will be there
no matter what if this legislation is passed.
It doesn't mean that it will necessarily fully compensate
the State of Hawaii or any of the other territories for the
costs they incur over the next 20 years. But if our program is
successful, the next impact of the compact should be much, much
less.
As I noted before, hopefully we will dissuade some people
from migrating by making conditions better from the Freely
Associated States. But also, if the people that do migrate are
better educated and are in better health, the impact of
migration will be less. There will be more established
communities in the State of Hawaii and the territories that
will more likely be net contributors rather than net users of
social services.
We have seen when you have strong, established communities
with a high rate of employment, that they are clearly net
contributors. We are very confident that this is going to
happen over the course of this program in the State of Hawaii,
as well.
The program is our best effort to help address the impact
of migration, but we thought it would be impossible to come up
with a mathematical formula to fully indemnify the states and
the territories for the impact that they suffer, nor do we
think that that would necessarily be appropriate.
Senator Akaka. Mr. Chairman, I have one last question. But
before I ask the question to Ms. Westin, I just recently
received a copy of the State of Hawaii's compact impact report
for fiscal year 2002, and ask that it be included in the
record.
The Chairman. Without objection.
Senator Akaka. Ms. Westin, you have testified that the
trust funds for RMI and FSM which are proposed in this
legislation are inadequate to replace the expiring grant system
in 20 years for the FSM. RMI would likely face the same problem
in 2040.
How would you recommend we address this issue?
Ms. Westin. As Mr. Short has testified, there is nothing in
the compact that says that the annual earnings from the trust
funds starting in the year 2024 will necessarily completely
replace the grant assistance.
Our analysis was just to take a couple of different rates
of return to try to get an idea of how close the replacement
would be, and then we looked to see that for the FSM, there is
not going to be enough money even in 2024 at the 6 percent rate
of return, which we understood the State Department to be using
as its best assumption of the rate of return.
Furthermore, for the RMI, it would last maybe about 16
years and then run out. But again, there is nothing in the
compact that says that full replacement is the objective of the
trust fund.
I would point out that we looked at other small island
nations that have been helped by other countries. In several of
them, a trust fund does seem to be something that has been very
useful for them.
Senator Akaka. Thank you very much.
Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the panel for their
responses. That concludes my questioning.
The Chairman. Panel, I know we are running out of time, and
we want to hear the others, some of whom have come from long
distances.
First, I have 10 or 15 questions. I will submit them to
you. We will try to commit to get this legislation out of this
committee in a timely manner and to the floor. Even though we
are on a short fuse, we will try very hard. I will ask the
leader to make time for it on the floor so we can get it done.
Let me ask a couple of questions that bother me. First, we
have all for a long time talked of trust funds. As some of you
know, I know a little bit about budgeting, so I know that the
Federal Government has 356 trust funds. Most of them are on
budget. Every now and then Congress gets a wild idea and takes
them off-budget, and thinks they have done some great act of
integrity by taking it off-budget.
But here, this is a most intriguing thing to me that we are
talking about a trust fund. I am not suggesting by using the
word ``intriguing'' that I am opposed. It is just that what we
are saying is we want to find a way to get around, at a point
in time, payments and want to have some money ready to take its
place.
We are the same entity that would have made the payments
had there not been a trust fund. The United States is going to
put money in the trust fund. Had we not had a trust fund, we
would be paying money to the island. The United States would be
the same source.
Mr. Short. Sir, I would like to make a comment on that.
The Chairman. It is after the $30 million.
Mr. Short. The point I was going to make is that both
governments are committed to contribute $30 million on the
front end. That is not a limit on future contributions.
Further, the trust fund has a built-in mechanism whereby it can
accommodate subsequent contributors, whether that be another
government, the Asian Development Bank, or some other outside
organization.
The Chairman. Well, I think I understand. There is not
going to be any benevolence around. Nobody is going to be
benevolent and contribute.
First of all, the islands cannot contribute more. They are
too poor. The U.S. Government is not going to contribute more.
If we were going to contribute more, we wouldn't be worried
about doing this. If you have read about it today, we only have
a deficit of $452 billion.
Now, I didn't read all this in detail, but most of the
trust funds that we have spoken of before, we set them up
hoping that they would make more money than by leaving them in
the Federal Treasury, where they generally make nothing, just
like Social Security.
Do you know how many times we have heard, let's take all
their money and put it in the trust fund? And the Social
Security answers, we always thought it was in the trust fund.
It is not, you understand; it is in the Federal Treasury.
Where is this money going to go?
Secretary Cohen. The money will be invested in actually a
fairly limited list of----
The Chairman. Who is going to be in charge of it?
Secretary Cohen. There is going to be a board. It will
likely mirror the joint committees that are responsible for
allocation of the compact grants.
The Chairman. Do we expect this to be a good investment so
that it yields good return, or extremely safe and yields little
or no return?
Secretary Cohen. Hopefully, somewhere in the middle. The
list of permitted investments--which I don't have with me--
conceptually I can tell you it is your standard list of fairly
safe permitted investments. We are not going to allow
speculation in hedge funds or things of that sort.
The Chairman. Corporate stock?
Secretary Cohen. I am not sure if the stock of private
companies is a permissible investment. We can find that
information out for you.
The Chairman. I think you should find out for me.
I think it is pretty obvious to me that the safest fund or
the safest place, aside from Treasury bills--which is
interesting, because then we set up the trust fund in order not
to have the money so we won't have to pay the money later. Then
we invest it in ourselves in U.S. Treasury bills. So it would
seem to me that would be foolish, other than pretty good
paperwork. It should yield more revenue than that.
I think you would probably find that anybody telling you
would say that it ought to be invested in common stocks of the
U.S. corporations, if you've got a long term.
But you take a look. I can assure you that I will be
interested. That is one thing I will be interested in knowing,
whether we are going to invest it in such a way that it is most
apt to yield the best return. If it is a 1- or 5-year
investment, I wouldn't say that; but if it is a 25- or 30-year
investment, it has kind of been proven that the best investment
going is the corporate stock of the United States.
Now, what are we trying to do? The population of these
islands is getting younger all the time, which means the adults
leave. Children are born, and of course they don't leave
quickly; they stay there. One of the things we must do is
educate them better, right?
Secretary Cohen. Yes.
The Chairman. What are we educating them better for? I am
all for that--but what for? Is it so they can leave sooner and
get a good job, a better job somewhere, or what?
Secretary Cohen. Mr. Chairman, sir, it is our belief that
to the extent that conditions in one's own country are
acceptable, economically acceptable, and the quality of life is
acceptable, people would rather stay at home than to go to a
foreign land. So it is our hope that by improving education and
health and economic opportunity----
The Chairman. Don't put all those in the same boat.
Economic opportunity may not follow if there is nothing for
economic development to build on. What would the economic
development that might occur there be?
Secretary Cohen. We are going to have to explore that over
20 years. Certain things that have been looked at in the past
have included, of course, tuna, tuna processing. There have
been some attempts----
The Chairman. Little tiny job numbers, very few; right?
Secretary Cohen. Well, the efforts so far have been modest,
but of course we are talking about modest-sized populations.
The Chairman. I understand. I am most interested in
whatever we can do to improve the educational standards,
because it does seems to me that if there is one thing we are
vulnerable to as a Nation with reference to relationships like
this, it would be if we were to continue a relationship knowing
that the educational standards are not as good as they ought to
be.
Now, as good as they ought to be for what? As good as they
ought to be for any adult to attain a good standard of living
in this world; not on these islands only, because there is no
work on these islands.
So we wouldn't be concerned if it was just that. It is when
they leave there and go wherever they go, to Hawaii, we are
hoping that they are educated better so they can get good jobs.
Is that correct?
Secretary Cohen. That is our hope. We are hoping to educate
people generally.
The Chairman. Now, let's see. One thing that impresses me,
and I wonder if you could tell me how it works, all of the
people there have a card that says, ``My name is. I am a''--and
it says what they are. And they are not American citizens,
right?
Secretary Cohen. That is correct, they are not American
citizens.
The Chairman. They go back and forth and show the card.
They can have a savings account in America or on the islands,
if they like, but they move back and forth with ease. Is that
correct?
Secretary Cohen. Yes, sir. They are given the right of
migration.
The Chairman. Do they have to have passports?
Mr. Short. Sir, I will address that. The present compact as
it now stands does not require a passport to enter the United
States. It simply requires some sort of identification. The
amended compact that you are considering would require a
machine-readable passport to be carried and presented by every
Micronesian citizen as they enter the United States.
The Chairman. Why?
Mr. Short. Primarily for security.
The Chairman. What is dangerous about this situation?
Mr. Short. The danger is that these people enter the United
States without resort to any sort of quota or visas. They
simply show up at a U.S. port of entry and present themselves
for entry into the United States. If you were coming----
The Chairman. Does it have a picture on the card?
Mr. Short. They may or may not on these cards.
The Chairman. Why don't you do that?
Mr. Short. The passport----
The Chairman. Why don't you do that, instead of having a
passport?
Mr. Short. A passport also is the international indicia of
sovereignty, and it is simply the way that countries interact
when a citizen from one country travels to another sovereign
nation.
The Chairman. I am telling you, I'm going to be for it if I
am convinced that we are not going to have some horsing around.
We either have free passage like we have, or we don't. If we
don't, we are going to clutter it all up with something, and we
ought to make sure that everybody knows that.
Normally, passports clutter up things. That is okay. We
have got to have them, but they are not the normal thing that
these islanders have had. They have just had these certificates
of whatever you call them. They are certificates of non-
citizenship, but of residency of their country, right?
Mr. Short. In many cases, yes. Many do carry a passport
because no other Nation in the world will admit them without a
passport.
The Chairman. The reason that I am so intrigued, I am
wondering why we don't do something like this with Mexico, even
though they are not in the same relationship. Why can't a
Mexican worker just carry a card, and when he is finished
working go home, and when he wants to come back, come back?
As a matter of fact, could I ask, do any of you know
whether the current system is working? I'm going to ask if
passports would do it; but is it working?
Mr. Short. It is working reasonably well. As I indicated in
addressing the Senator from Hawaii's questions concerning some
of the reasons we have put some of the controls in, it is to
control access to the United States by people with criminal
convictions, people who have been removed, and that sort of
thing.
So it has worked adequately in the past, but it simply does
not fit the situation post-9/11 when we simply need to have
reasonably stringent controls on our borders. The real concern
is that a third-party person, not a Micronesian citizen, could
show up at a U.S. port of entry and claim to be a Micronesian
and enter the United States.
The Chairman. Since I don't know, where would most migrant
Micronesians enter the United States?
Mr. Short. Sir, through two points, either through Guam or
Hawaii.
The Chairman. And do we know, Senator Akaka, is the entry
at Hawaii difficult? Is this work? Do you know of serious
problems regarding this, or not?
Senator Akaka. Apparently they have been able to come in
rather freely.
The Chairman. You haven't heard of any exceptional problems
regarding this network? They show something and they come in,
and when they want to leave, they show something and they
leave?
Senator Akaka. That's correct.
The Chairman. You are not familiar with Guam, so you don't
know.
Senator Akaka. No.
The Chairman. I think that is it. I want to thank you.
Hard, hard work goes into this. Nobody thanks you all for it.
We thank you all for it.
We hope you have the investment provisions right. I would
assume you wouldn't have put them in there without talking to
the Treasury Department and other people that know about trust
funds. Is that correct, Mr. Cohen?
Secretary Cohen. That's correct.
The Chairman. Thank you very much.
Let's take the next witnesses, The Honorable Secretary of
Economic Affairs For Federated States, Sebastian Anafal; and
the Honorable Gerald Zackios, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Thank you very much, both of you, and we welcome you.
Mr. Secretary, it is a pleasure having you here. It is good
to meet you. Would you please proceed.
STATEMENT OF SEBASTIAN ANEFAL, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, FEDERATED STATES OF
MICRONESIA
Secretary Anefal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman and members, I have the honor to appear before
you today on behalf of the Federated States of Micronesia, and
wish to thank you and members of your committee for holding
this important and timely hearing on a matter of utmost
importance to my nation.
Mr. Chairman, we joined the United States in signing the
compact agreements now before you in May of this year, and look
forward to working with members and staff to address concerns
we have regarding the proposed legislation.
The sectoral approach to grant assistance in the new
agreement is a marked change from past practice. So, too, are
the new accountability and oversight requirements which we have
welcomed and are committed to.
Along these lines, the FSM proposed the notion of a joint
committee to oversee implementation of the compact. The Joint
Economic Management Committee, as it is envisioned now,
provides a mechanism for constructive and consistent dialogue.
While the U.S. offer of assistance under the compact
amendments is generous, the level proposed falls short of the
annual basis we have identified as the absolute minimum
required to sustain programs.
First and foremost, we are concerned about the level of
grant and trust fund assistance. The rationale for the economic
package is to establish economic stability throughout the 20-
year period and beyond.
We presented our detailed economic analysis to the U.S.
negotiator, and the administration has never disputed our
analysis. Instead, we were told that the administration
proposal is simply the maximum that the United States would
offer; in a sense, a political decision, rather than being
based on sound economic analysis.
Given the administration's best and final offer and time
constraints, we had little choice but to accept the submittal
to Congress. However, the sum of annual grant and trust fund
contributions falls $7 million short--on an annual basis--of
what we find is the absolute minimum needed to sustain our
economy.
While the overall assistance level in the proposed
agreement, $92 million, would seem to represent an increase
over the grant level at the end of the previous arrangements,
this is misleading. Twenty million dollars of this amount
annually is not available in the initial 20 years, as it will
be put aside for the trust fund. In addition, beginning in the
fourth year, the grant amount available to the FSM will be
decreased by $800,000 annually.
The adequacy of the trust fund is also a profoundly
important aspect of our long-term development strategy as it
gives our people and potential investors a sense of hope and
confidence in a sustainable future. We hope that expressed
misgivings along this line will not be ignored.
Our second main concern is the inadequacy of inflation
adjustment. FSM seeks the assistance of the Congress in
providing full inflation adjustment, and in adjusting the base
year to 2001, the last year of the original compact funding.
Another area of concern is the loss of FEMA disaster
assistance. Without reinstatement of this important benefit by
the Congress, the substantial investment made to this point by
the United States and those to be made over the next 20 years
could be lost.
Our fourth concern is the possible loss of eligibility for
Federal programs such as the No Child Left Behind, Pell grants,
Head Start, and IDEA, among others, which continue to provide
critical support to the education and well-being of our people.
Continuation of these successful Federal programs is vital. For
example, without Pell grants, our college would collapse.
The administration has clarified that its proposal for this
amended compact was based on the assumption that Federal
programs would continue at their current levels. We hope that
Congress in its wisdom will take note of this important policy
statement and act to ensure the continuation of these
invaluable programs.
Mr. Chairman, during our negotiations we also sought to
address nonfinancial methods by which the United States could
enhance the FSM's growth prospects for the future. We seek to
maintain and modernize tax and trade provisions in the compact
that will enhance the economic linkages between our two nations
by stimulating private investment.
Finally, the proposal before you includes changes to the
non-expiring immigration provisions of the compact. These
changes have been made at the insistence of the administration.
The FSM fully understands the U.S. concerns over security, and
supports the United States in all its positions against
terrorism and transnational crime. The FSM wants to do its part
to assist the United States in its important task of securing
peace and securing its borders.
Mr. Chairman, allow me to turn to elements of the
legislation that are not part of the proposed compact
amendment.
I want you to know that the FSM was not consulted by the
administration in drafting proposed changes to the Compact Act.
When we finally were given an opportunity to review the
administration's proposed changes, we identified at least three
major problems for which we seek adjustments by the Congress.
First, there is the issue of transition to a machine-
readable passport scheme. This is a concept to which the FSM
has repeatedly pledged its support. However, we find it quite
alarming that the administration has seen fit, unilaterally and
without prior notice, to set aside $250,000 from the compacts'
capacity-building assistance for this purpose.
Second is that the administration insists on mandating the
FSM's development of a more effective immigrant screening
system. We are given just 1 year to do this or risk funding
loss. Again, the FSM has repeatedly agreed to undertake steps
to implement such systems. However--and by all reasonable
estimates--it is an extremely complex and expensive undertaking
that could not reasonably be completed by FSM in 1 year.
Third, the unilateral changes in the language concern
provisions of compensatory Federal programs. In 1986, Congress
initiated and passed this language as partial compensation for
loss of tax and trade benefits agreed to by the administration.
Unexpectedly, the United States has now proposed to alter
the language of the compensatory provisions to make them
optional for U.S. agencies. These changes undermine the good
faith in which we have negotiated, and are not indicative of
the long-standing good efforts and mutual understanding that we
have shared with the United States throughout our history.
Mr. Chairman, I have highlighted a number of problems posed
by the compact amendments and the Compact Act proposals. We
would like to propose the Congress include in its legislation a
provision for a 3-year comprehensive congressional review of
the health of the FSM economy to examine whether a need then
exists for further adjustments.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the compact was a success.
Both the United States and the FSM can be rightly proud of the
unique bonds we have forged in the compact period. We hope to
be equally proud of the course that will be set for the next 20
years and beyond. We urge Congress to act favorably on the
compact legislation, and make the adjustments necessary to
ensure a solid foundation for the future.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Anefal follows:]
Prepared Statement of Sebastian Anefal, Secretary, Department of
Economic Affairs, Federated States of Micronesia
Mr. Chairman: I have the honor to appear before you today on behalf
of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and wish to thank you and
the Members of your Committee for holding this important and timely
hearing on a matter of utmost importance to my nation.
Mr. Chairman, the FSM has now concluded negotiations with the
Administration on a package of Compact amendments. We joined the U.S.
in signing these agreements in May of this year, and look forward to
working with Members and staff to address concerns we have regarding
the proposed legislation now before you so that Congress may pass this
important legislation on a timely basis.
We stand at an important juncture in the special relationship
between our nations. The Compact as it is to be amended, intends to
further our mutual commitment to preserve the peace and stability of
the central Pacific, and to promote the continued development of the
FSM on a sustainable basis. Mr. Chairman, these documents will
profoundly affect the fate of the Micronesian people and the security
and stability of the region for the next twenty years and beyond.
The sectoral approach to grant assistance in the new agreement is a
marked change from past practice. As such it will require
implementation adjustments by both sides. Nonetheless, it provides the
best mechanism for reaching our mutual goals and will direct assistance
to where it is needed most.
Similarly, we welcome and are committed to implementing new
accountability and oversight requirements. It is no secret that there
have been mistakes on both sides under the original Compact. While we
were not always in agreement with the tone and findings of the GAO's
reports during the past several years, we are thankful to the Congress
for undertaking this important initiative and shedding light on
deficiencies. Their work assisted both the U.S. and FSM negotiators in
addressing these issues in the amendment documents.
At the outset of the talks, the FSM proposed the notion of a joint
committee to oversee implementation of the Compact. This proposal was
welcomed by the U.S., and ultimately took the form of the proposed
Joint Economic Management Committee (JEMCO). The JEMCO will consist of
representatives from the U.S. and FSM, with a U.S. majority, and will
meet regularly to identify any problems in Compact implementation and
develop prompt and cooperative responses. This approach certainly adds
to the measures available to make proportional and selective
interventions to ensure effective implementation of the amended
Compact; however, and most importantly, the JEMCO provides a mechanism
for constructive, consultative and consistent dialogue that was missing
in the past.
We appreciate the generous nature of the U.S. proposal. However,
there remain certain provisions of the Administration's proposal that
cause the FSM serious concern. Unless addressed by the U.S. Congress
during the approval process, these problems hold the potential to
unravel the carefully-woven fabric of the Compact package. And that
package, Mr. Chairman, was designed in close consultation with
professional economists and adopted by the FSM leadership to achieve
our mutual goal of ultimate self-reliance.
First and foremost, our concerns center on the level of economic
assistance over the next twenty years. Beginning in 1997, the FSM began
work on constructing a comprehensive economic analysis of its needs
over the next twenty years. This analysis was at the core of our
original economic proposal made in 1999, which called for economic
assistance at the level of $84 million annually over the next twenty
years. Six months later, the U.S. responded with an initial offer of
$61 million annually that fell far short of our annual needs and
disastrously short of creating a Trust Fund sufficient to secure
stability at the end of the period. After further analysis of ongoing
macroeconomic trends, the FSM was able to lower its minimum required
figure by $5 million annually. Still, the U.S. proposal as reflected in
the legislation before you falls $7 million annually short of that
level.
The FSM demonstrated that such a marked reduction in current levels
of assistance would threaten the viability of the nation from the
outset. The rationale for the economic package was to provide economic
stability throughout the twenty year period, while allowing for a
gradual reduction in the level of the FSM's reliance on annual
assistance as the economy grows. On numerous occasions we presented our
economic reasoning to the U.S. negotiator, and at no time were they met
with countering arguments. Neither has there ever been any dispute with
the analysis or the anticipated outcomes based on economic modeling.
Instead, we were told that the U.S. assistance proposal was simply the
maximum that the U.S. could offer--in essence, the result of a
political decision rather than being based on sound and responsible
economic analysis.
Fortunately, and through the hard work of negotiators on both
sides, we were able to bridge the gap to the point where we could agree
on submitting the document for Congressional consideration. However the
sum of the annual grant and Trust Fund contributions still falls $7
million short on an annual basis of what we identified as the absolute
minimum required for the FSM economy to achieve our mutual goals. Those
being, among others, to gradually improve economic vitality and living
standards during the next twenty years and to have a sufficiently
funded Trust Fund to achieve self-reliance.
In addition to the effects of the initial proposed reduction in
grant funding in 2004, the FSM is facing significant pressures placed
on the economy by the need to raise the necessary $30 million trust
fund contribution and by the reduction in government capacity due to
new restrictions on the funds. Quite frankly, the potential for
economic instability exists. The $7 million in additional annual
funding requested by the FSM may not seem like much in the overall
scheme of the Compact or relative to the U.S. budget, but it is
critical to the health of the FSM's economy, the well-being of our
people, and to the future of our nation.
The adequacy of the Trust Fund is also a profoundly important
aspect of our long-term development strategy as it gives our people and
potential investors a sense of hope and confidence in a sustainable
future. In considering the legislative package as submitted, the U.S.
Congress should take note of the stated Compact goals and determine
whether the funding levels and mechanisms can produce the desired
result, making such adjustments as it may deem necessary.
There are several other aspects of the Compact proposals that are
troublesome from our point of view. First, there is the inadequacy of
the inflation adjustment. This involves two separate issues--the
formula to calculate the annual adjustment and the base year for
adjustment. The FSM seeks the assistance of the Congress in restoring
full inflation adjustment and adjusting the base year to 2001, the last
year of original Compact funding.
Another area of great concern to the FSM is the loss of FEMA
disaster relief assistance. Without reinstatement of this important
benefit by the U.S. Congress, the substantial investment made by the
U.S., and pledged for the next twenty years, is placed in jeopardy. As
the proposed amendments now stand, storms or other natural disasters--a
statistical certainty--hold the potential to irreparably damage the
social and economic infrastructure upon which our nation's growth
prospects rely.
Similar to the FEMA issue, we are very concerned by threats to the
continuation of important and successful federal programs under the
Compact as amended. Throughout the negotiations, the Administration has
stated that it was not their desire to preempt the Congress on these
important issues. At the same time, Congress has at times (such as in
the ``No Child Left Behind Act'') called upon the negotiators to decide
the matter. In many areas this has resulted in essential federal
programs extended to the FSM possibly falling through the cracks and no
longer being made available to support our development efforts. Again,
loss of complementary programs presents a further threat to near-term
stability and reduces the chances to achieve even our modest economic
growth projections.
The U.S. negotiator has since clarified the Administration's
position on the matter, stating that calculations of the U.S.
assistance offer were made based upon the assumption that federal
programs would continue at their current levels. We hope that Congress,
in its wisdom, will take note of this important statement and act to
ensure the continuation of invaluable programs to the FSM, such as
those under NCLBA, IDEA, Head Start, Pell Grants, and others.
Mr. Chairman, during our lengthy negotiations we sought to address
non-financial methods in which the U.S. could enhance the FSM's growth
prospects for the future. We seek to maintain and modernize tax and
trade provisions that will enhance the economic linkages between our
two nations. Specifically we wish to work with Members to redress the
elimination of reference to certain tax provisions in the legislation
before you by ensuring that the original intent of those tax provisions
will be maintained. In order to support private sector development and
to foster private investment, we would like the U.S. Congress to
consider enhancing the trade provisions available to the FSM. The scope
for trade preferences has narrowed and the prevailing conditions have
changed since the Compact was first drafted; however, we believe both
our special relationship of Free Association and the clear intent of
the proposed twenty year package provide sufficient justification for
the FSM to gain access to modernized trade privileges.
The proposal before you includes changes to the non-expiring
immigration provisions of the Compact. These changes have been made at
the insistence of the Administration. While the FSM agreed to discuss,
and did discuss, in good faith and on a bilateral basis, specific
issues of concern as to our citizen's entry and residence in the United
States, we would not have amended the Compact to accomplish the result
of our discussions. The FSM fully understands the U.S. concerns over
security, and we support the U.S. in all its positions against
terrorism and transnational crime. But the FSM and our citizens are not
a threat to the United States. We have never sold passports to foreign
nationals. We have not naturalized a foreign national in many years,
and the requirements are almost impossible to meet. We do not
facilitate the adoption of our children to ``baby brokers.'' We do
agree with the U.S. that passports should be required of our citizens,
and we are willing to accommodate the expressed interest in the FSM's
use of the latest technology to reduce the risk of passport fraud. The
FSM wants to do its part to assist the U.S. in its important task of
securing the peace and in securing its borders.
Mr. Chairman, allow me to turn to elements of the legislation that
are not part of the proposed Compact amendments. We wish the Committee
to be aware that the FSM was not consulted in the drafting of these
Compact Act proposals by the Administration. We were assured that any
changes from the existing language in PL 99-239, would be solely to
update existing language. When we finally had the opportunity to review
the proposal transmitted by the Administration, we found that the
changes went far beyond a simple ``updating.'' We identified at least
three major problems for which we seek adjustments by the Congress.
First, there is the issue of transition to a machine-readable
passport scheme. This is a concept to which the FSM has repeatedly
pledged its support. However, we find it quite alarming that the
Administration has seen fit, unilaterally, without prior notice, to set
aside $250,000 or more from the Compact's capacity-building assistance
for this purpose. It is alarming for many reasons--the fact that
budgets are in the process of being developed on the negotiated
package, the fact that the sector is currently under-funded even before
these changes, and for the precedent it sets for future Administration
action without consultation.
Second, and similar to the first, is that the Administration
insists on mandating the FSM's development of a more effective
immigrant screening system. We are given just one year to do this.
Again, the FSM has repeatedly agreed to undertake steps to implement
such systems. However, and by all reasonable estimates, it is an
extremely complex and expensive undertaking. With multiple court
systems, four states, and a decentralized judicial system, it is
unlikely this effort could be concluded in just one year. Under the
Administration's unilateral proposal, FSM failure to meet this
arbitrary deadline would result in withholding of Compact assistance.
Such a punitive provision is unnecessary and unjustified considering
our mutual interest in pursuing this objective.
Third, there is the matter of changes to the language concerning
provision of compensatory federal programs. In 1986, Congress initiated
and passed this language in order to mandate these programs, and
funding, to the FSM as partial compensation for loss of tax and trade
benefits agreed to by the Administration but eliminated by Congress
prior to passage. Unexpectedly, the Administration now has proposed to
alter the language of the compensatory provisions to make them optional
for the U.S. agencies. The FSM requests that the Congress restore the
original language consistent with the original Congressional intent.
Mr. Chairman, I have highlighted a number of problems and
uncertainties posed by the Compact amendments and the Compact Act
proposals. We would like to propose the Congress include in its
legislation a provision for a three-year comprehensive Congressional
review of the health of the FSM economy, to examine whether, in light
of experience, a need then exists for further adjustments beyond those
that now may be made.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, the U.S. and the FSM, acting together,
have drawn upon the lessons of the original Compact in an attempt to
develop a document that will further the mutual interests of both
nations. With the help of the U.S. Congress in addressing our concerns
about the legislation before you, we can arrive at an agreement that
ensures the continued viability of a nation and the well-being of its
people, and that maintains the peace and security of this critical
region of the world.
Both the U.S. and the FSM can be rightly proud of the unique bonds
we have forged in the Compact period. We hope to be equally proud of
the course that will be set for the next 20 years and beyond. We urge
Congress to act favorably on the Compact legislation, and to make the
adjustments necessary to ensure a solid foundation for the future.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you very much.
Mr. Zackios, please proceed.
STATEMENT OF GERALD M. ZACKIOS, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
Mr. Zackios. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I proceed with
my submission this afternoon, may I respectfully request of
this honorable committee that the record remain open for
submission of a statement by the four atolls affected by the
nuclear testing programs?
The Chairman. That will be done.
Mr. Zackios. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the people and the government of
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, RMI, I want to express my
gratitude to you and this committee for its oversight and the
review of the proposed legislation to sustain the success of
free association between our governments.
The RMI government respectfully requests that Congress
approve the negotiated agreements. While we fully support our
agreements, several outstanding issues remain. Before
summarizing these issues, Mr. Chairman, I ask that the
committee first hear our basis for how we see the compact and
funding obligations.
As a first principle, the compact is not a grant handout or
a foreign aid program; it is an alliance closer than NATO's, in
which RMI continues to support U.S. leadership in the
preservation of international peace and security. It is a two-
way relationship, a real partnership.
We are not just asking for more; we are asking Congress to
fine-tune the amended compact so it does endure for the benefit
of both areas. The RMI has not and in the future is obligated
not to erode its unique security and defense commitments that
include: the defense veto, third-country denial, continuing use
of key defense sites, and the eligibility of Marshallese to
join and be drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces.
On the other side of the equation, we hope that the United
States does not allow its commitments to the RMI on economic
assistance, immigration, and Federal programs to erode.
The unresolved issues include: first, a full inflation
adjustment for compact funds so that the grant assistance and
compensation provided by the compact does not lose real value
and fully supports the compact's mutual commitments. We do not
know why a partial adjustment is mandated, unless the United
States has the intention of deflating the grant assistance and
compensation, and thus, our budget and economy.
For Kwajalein landowner compensation under the Military Use
and Operating Rights Agreement, MUORA, with only a partial
inflation adjustment, the landowners are giving the U.S.
Government a rebate, and that will only multiply the longer the
MUORA is in effect.
Finally, we learned there is serious discussion of having a
5-year period to review if full inflation or other grant
assistance is necessary. While we appreciate the concerns
regarding the adequacy of the Title II package negotiated, my
government believes we should fix the package now instead of
waiting for 5 years.
The effect and impact of a flawed inflation adjustment on
compact economic assistance can be predicted with certainty
now. We still strongly believe that full inflation adjustment
should be provided, since this change would help us achieve
fiscal stability in the long term and provide the real funding
we have negotiated.
Second, we seek the continuation of Federal education
programs and services that are an integral part of the RMI's
education system. If these programs and services were removed,
it would severely impact education in the RMI, as well as limit
education opportunities for Marshallese youth. As it stands
now, we are losing eligibility under the No Child Left Behind
Act as well as other programs, including Pell grants in 2004.
Mr. Chairman, both our governments have made education a
deep priority sector for compact grant assistance. However, if
Federal programs and services are eliminated, the added
investments we plan to make will not have an impact. More
specifically, if the Pell grant program is not continued, the
College of the Marshall Islands would be in a critical
position, and post-secondary education would be unattainable
for almost all Marshallese.
Third, we ask for congressional support to assist the
repaving of the Majura International Airport so U.S. commercial
air service and military access is maintained for the sole
international air link for the RMI, and a crucial link for the
Micronesian region.
Fourth, we urgently seek continuing eligibility for FEMA
disaster and rehabilitation assistance, especially since most
of our infrastructure has and will continue to be built using
compact funds, and since our low-lying atoll environment is
highly susceptible to natural disasters. This assistance has
been seldom used, but it has been proven critical in times of
need.
Fifth, in order to fully realize the long-term objective
and goals of the RMI government, as well as the Kwajalein
landowners, it is imperative that the early termination
provisions of the MUORA be modified to ensure that the United
States does not vacate Kwajalein earlier than 2030.
Such an extension, which is only 7 years past the current
earliest termination date, would help the landowners build up
their own trust fund, and it would provide incentives to make
viable the RMI and U.S. investments for the medium and long
term.
Sixth, the RMI government petitioned the Congress under the
compact ``changed circumstances'' provisions in September 2000
and updated it in November 2001. Congress has yet not responded
to the RMI's petition for additional compensation contemplated
by the settlement agreement. To move forward, we ask that this
committee schedule a hearing focused on the nuclear claims
issues as soon as possible.
Also, Congress requested that the administration review the
RMI's petition over 1 year ago, and we understand that there
still is no definite date for its completion and release.
Meanwhile, Marshallese who were directly exposed to nuclear
tests continue to die from cancers and leukemia without ever
receiving full compensation for their injuries.
Moreover, entire communities continue to live in exile from
their homelands to this day. Confronting and resolving these
issues should not be put off any longer. We believe solutions
are possible.
The final issue, Mr. Chairman, concerns the Compact Act. We
were not provided the opportunity to address our concerns
resulting from the administration's unilateral changes. While
our main issues are in our submitted testimony, we were taken
aback by the changes that were made without consultation and
not in the spirit of the compact agreement which was
painstakingly negotiated. I hope we can resolve several of the
key issues changed in the act.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to working with you
and your staff so our common interests are achieved and we can
conclude the amended compact in both our legislatures. Thank
you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Zackios follows:]
Prepared Statement of Gerald M. Zackios, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
On behalf of the people and the Government of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands (RMI), I want to express our gratitude to this
Committee for its oversight and review on behalf of the United States
Senate of agreements and proposed legislation to sustain the success of
free association between our governments. The agreements that have been
signed by our governments to renew expiring provisions of the Compact,
and to adapt some of its provisions to our evolving alliance amid new
realities, were negotiated in a spirit of friendship and respect.
Consistent with the special and unique history and features of our
bilateral alliance, both the RMI and U.S. negotiators have consulted
regularly with the Members and staff of this and other Committees of
the U.S. Congress regarding the progress of our negotiation process.
This special and unique history between our two countries extends
from World War II when Marshallese scouts assisted U.S. soldiers as
they advanced across the Pacific through to the testing of 67 atomic
and thermonuclear warheads from 1946-1958, to the continuous provision
of land and sea at Kwajalein Atoll since the 1960s and the continued
cutting edge advancements made there for U.S. missile defense. Today,
Marshallese citizens are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, with many
having participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We are proud that our
citizens are serving not only because it is a Compact provision but
also because we share the same ideals as the United States: the pursuit
of life, liberty and happiness and our real experience in democratic
governance and freedom.
The RMI Government fully supports and respectfully requests that
Congress approve the negotiated agreements. My government is also
seeking early approval of the agreements by the Nitijela, our national
parliament. President Note and his Cabinet believe the agreements will
provide the continuity and stability that is imperative in our
bilateral relationship with the United States, thereby also enabling
the RMI to continue, domestically and internationally, to support the
political, social and economic development of our people.
As we can now see how free association has evolved over the last 17
years of the Compact, we have come to realize that the bilateral
relationship that was constructed during the late 1970s and to the mid-
1980s has more than survived the test of time. The agreement and
relationship has evolved to changing circumstances--circumstances
within the global and regional context; circumstances and priorities
within the United States; and circumstances and challenges within the
RMI. Some will concentrate on the weaknesses of the past years,
however, the strengths and accomplishments of our relationship, and the
Compact that embodies this relationship, far outweigh the weaknesses.
If not, we would not be here today discussing the acceptance of
amendments to the Compact.
Mr. Chairman, as you and the Committee members know, we have
negotiated an agreement that adjusts the Compact to today's world and
today's needs and tries to set a realistic framework for the future.
The main components of this agreement are the renewal of the Compact's
economic provisions that contain several new or revised elements. Most
notable is the introduction of a trust fund and a more practical and
transparent accountability framework; a renewal of our mutual security
and defense relations which set forth obligations that remain
unprecedented in U.S. bilateral relations with any other country;
revised immigration policies and procedures that address U.S. security
and other concerns but maintain the right for Marshallese to live, work
and learn in the United States; and, while not expiring, an amended
Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement that continues the use of
Kwajalein Atoll for the U.S. Army beyond 2016 with the potential to
remain until 2086.
Mr. Chairman, we have painstakingly negotiated these elements with
the U.S. Administration over the last 2 years. We thank U.S. Compact
Negotiator Al Short and the Administration for their constant pursuit
of an agreement and we thank them for their patience in working with us
to address our concerns, our hopes, and our belief in the future of our
relationship.
While we stand by what was negotiated, there remain several
outstanding issues that the Administration could not respond to or
changes that were made without consultation. My government hopes and
expects that all pending issues between our nations can and will be
addressed in the same spirit of trust, justice, and partnership that
produced the amendments to the Compact agreements. We believe
outstanding issues can be resolved positively in a way that preserves
and further improves our relationship.
We do not see the Compact as a grant hand-out or a foreign aid
program as the underpinning of our relationship. To the contrary, we
strongly believe that we have provided and continue to provide the
United States with our very limited land, our vast air space and sea
area, and even our people--past, present, and future--through the
historical and present security and defense relationship, including the
sacrifices we have and continue to endure because of these commitments.
In our view, it is a two-way relationship, a real partnership. Thus,
when the Congress addresses our remaining issues, we hope that you view
them in this context.
We are not asking for ``more'' just to supplement what we
negotiated with the Administration. We are asking Congress to fine tune
the Compact, as amended, so that it does endure for the benefit of both
parties. The RMI has not and in the future is obligated not to erode
its unique security and defense commitments that include: the defense
veto; third-country denial; use of air, land and sea space; and the
eligibility of Marshallese to join the U.S. Armed Forces. On the other
side of the equation, we hope that the U.S. commitments to the RMI on
the economic, immigration and certain eligibility for Federal programs
do not erode.
The unresolved pending issues include: 1) a full inflation
adjustment for Compact funds so that the grant assistance and
compensation provided by the Compact does not lose real value and fully
compensates the RMI and its citizens for its continued support and
commitments of the Compact's provisions; 2) the continuation of Federal
education programs and services that are an integral part of the RMI's
education system and, if removed, would severely injure the delivery of
education in the RMI as well as limit education opportunities for
Marshallese youth; 3) Congressional support to assist the repaving of
the Majuro international airport so U.S. commercial air service and
military access is maintained for the sole international air link for
the RMI and a crucial link for the Micronesian region; 4) continued
eligibility for FEMA disaster and rehabilitation assistance especially
since most of our infrastructure has been and will continue to be built
using Compact funding and since our low-lying atoll environment is
highly susceptible to natural disasters; 5) Congressional support for a
Kwajalein landowner trust fund; and 6) Congressional consideration of
nuclear claims issues arising from the U.S. nuclear weapons testing
program.
In reference to these issues, I am submitting with this statement
several issue papers that summarize where continued agreement is
required. If I may, Mr. Chairman, the following is a summary of our
views on the crucial elements of these issues.
full inflation adjustment
Most of the current Compact agreement's economic assistance has a
partial inflation adjustment (2/3 of the Gross National Product
Implicit Price Deflator). Since the grant assistance was only partially
inflation adjusted and there were substantial step-downs (by $4 million
in 1992 and $3 million in 1997), our economy suffered severe economic
shocks during these step-downs. The economic growth and budget cuts
that were expected materialized to some degree but not at the expected
levels.
For the Compact, as amended, we have agreed with the Administration
to have the annual grant assistance decremented by $500,000 annually
with the decremented amount being added annually to the trust fund's
annual contribution. While this decremented amount is a large
percentage of our annual grant, and grows as a proportion of the grant
annually, we agreed to such a large decrement because without it, our
trust fund would not be viable for the post 2023 era. In addition, we
are committed to contribute $30 million between now and FY05--this
amounts to about 30 percent of our current annual budget. We
consciously made a medium term sacrifice to save for future
generations.
While we fully believe in the decremented approach and the
reduction of our grant assistance because of this conscious sacrifice,
we cannot understand why the grant assistance must lose value to
inflation. Since most of our goods for our import-reliant economy are
from the United States, and the U.S. dollar is the official currency of
the RMI, we not only import U.S. inflation but also the added
inflation-affected costs of shipping and handling.
The only answer we can come up with for the U.S. inflation policy
is that the United States wishes to deflate our economy by having the
funding lose its real value. The U.S. Government has not provided a
reason--past or present--of why only a partial inflation adjustment is
applied. We have suffered in the past for this error and we hope not to
suffer again. It is, to us, ironic that the Administration has agreed
to allow the distributions from the Compact trust fund (post 2023 when
annual grant assistance is to end) to equal the annual grant assistance
plus full inflation.
There are many statements within the U.S. government and my
government about achieving ``economic advancement and budgetary self-
reliance'' via the Compact grant assistance. Rather than deal with a
generic objective, we have concentrated on budgetary self-reliance as
meaning long term fiscal stability as our goal for the Compact's
economic assistance and post grant assistance era. Why? During the
current Compact we have put in place the components of democratic
governance and a free society. Even given our belt tightening and some
economic growth, we realize that to have properly funded government
functions and the related trained human resources, our fiscal situation
requires an input from an outside source. We see the main source as
being the Compact's grant assistance until 2023 and the trust fund
distribution thereafter.
The problem is that with the annual decrement and the loss of the
grant funding to inflation, we can fill this growing funding gap in the
short term but we cannot do it continuously. The gap just grows at too
rapid a pace and we cannot fill it by such large increases in revenue
generation or budget cuts. Thus, our request to apply the full
inflation adjustment. With this minimal added amount to the grant
funding and trust fund contributions we believe we can maintain fiscal
stability as well as have a strengthened Compact trust fund that will
insure that fiscal and economic stability will occur.
For the funding provided under the Military Use and Operating
Rights Agreement (MUORA), the same argument applies with a twist: the
Kwajalein landowners are providing their very limited land for use of
the Ronald Reagan Missile Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll. Why should the
payments under the MUORA only be partially inflation adjusted? With
only a partial adjustment, the landowners are really giving the U.S.
Government a rebate on their access to Kwajalein. This rebate will
multiply as the new MUORA is extended to 2023 and can go as long as
2086. In effect, the longer the MUORA is extended, the more money
landowners will lose in terms of the real value of the funding provided
and the larger the bargain to the U.S. for access
As I have said above, the RMI commitments do not erode under the
Compact and, thus, the U.S. commitments should not erode.
Finally, we learned that there is serious discussion of having a 5-
year period to review if full inflation or other grant assistance is
necessary. While we appreciate the concern regarding the adequacy of
the Title Two package negotiated, my government believes we should fix
the package now instead of waiting for 5-years. The effect and impact
of a flawed inflation adjustment on Compact economic assistance can be
predicted with certainty now. We still strongly believe that the full
inflation adjustment should be provided since this change would help us
achieve fiscal stability in the long term and provide the real funding
we have negotiated. In addition, we have had experience with review
periods (annual JEC) and showing impacts (Section 111b tax and trade
compensation) for in the current Compact. These provisions have proven
hard for us to make any changes in the current agreement though they
were mandated by Congress. We don't want a review period that we will
have to stir up a constituency for 5 years from now.
the importance of federal education programs and services
Federal education programs and services have proven to be critical
in educating young Marshallese and opening doors to those who go on to
post-secondary education. Our country has significantly benefited from
these programs and services and, I believe, the United States has
benefited also. Just as an example, most of our Compact and Embassy
team, as well as most of the people in my Ministry, have benefited in
an extraordinary way from a U.S. Federal education program, with the
most critical being the Pell Grant program. If these doors are shut,
our mutual objectives for economic advancement and budget self-reliance
will be severely impacted.
The importance of these programs is not only in terms of financing,
but even more critically in terms of technical expertise, methods and
approaches as well as access to educational institutions.
The RMI Government has made a firm and conscious decision to apply
the largest portion of Compact grant assistance to the education
sector. For Fiscal Years 2004-2006 about $10 million will be aimed at
the education sector annually, in addition to domestic resources and in
addition to targeted infrastructure spending on education facilities.
The Federal programs are identified to provide critical programs and
services for which the RMI does not have the funding or capabilities,
on its own, to provide. Thus, if the RMI loses its eligibility for the
education program funding, the Compact funding will merely replace
funding and programs once provided by the Federal education programs.
These programs are in crucial areas, such as Elementary and Secondary
Education, Head Start, Special Education, Bilingual Education, and
Vocational Education. The elimination of the Pell Grant program would
have more catastrophic impacts such as critically destabilizing the
College of the Marshall Islands (a U.S. land grant institution) as well
as closing higher education opportunities in the United States.
Mr. Chairman, we have sought support from the U.S. Compact
Negotiator on this issue. He has kindly informed us, through a letter
to the Senate Energy Committee of the Administration's position: the
Compact's Title Two grant assistance was not negotiated on the basis of
replacing funding for U.S. Federal programs and services.
I kindly request that we work with your committee and other related
committees to continue RMI eligibility for these crucial education
programs and services. If we do not have the U.S. Government's support
on this issue, I believe that the Compact's emphasis placed on
education by the Administration during negotiations will be lost during
the new term of the Compact, as amended. We simply cannot replace what
would be lost from these programs and services.
federal emergency management assistance (fema) eligibility
The current Compact provides for RMI eligibility for FEMA's
disaster rehabilitation and hazard mitigation assistance as well as a
disaster preparedness annual grant. Under the Compact, as amended, FEMA
will provide the disaster preparedness annual grant but the U.S. Agency
for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
will provide the disaster relief assistance. No hazard mitigation or
rehabilitation services will be available. The U.S. will provide
$200,000 annually for a disaster relief fund under the Compact, which
will assist our capacity to deal with small-scale disasters, but will
certainly not help in the case of a catastrophic disaster.
FEMA program eligibility is critical for the RMI given the
vulnerability of the RMI to high impact natural disasters, such as
typhoons, tropical storms, wave action and drought. The RMI's natural
environment is characterized by low lying atolls scattered throughout
the Western Pacific ocean with an average of 6 feet above sea level, a
total land area of 71 square miles, limited fresh water supplies, and
remoteness from major metropolitan centers with the closest being
Hawaii at 2,500 miles away.
FEMA has provided significant disaster rehabilitation and hazard
mitigation assistance during the Compact's current term. Without FEMA,
the RMI would be in a precarious position financially and more
susceptible to natural disasters. The OFDA program is provided to all
foreign countries but does not have FEMA's disaster relief and hazard
mitigation programs.
Finally, we note that most of the RMI's essential infrastructure
has been built with the use of U.S. grant assistance and this will
continue to be the case under the new Title Two Compact provisions for
public infrastructure. Given the large U.S. investment in the public
infrastructure of the RMI, it follows that measures should be taken to
protect these investments.
Mr. Chairman, we ask that the RMI continue to be eligible for
FEMA's disaster rehabilitation and hazard mitigation assistance. There
is no question that these programs have proven most critical for our
country.
majuro international airport repaving
The RMI has an urgent infrastructure need to repave the Majuro
international airport. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
identified this urgent need in early 2002. Since that time, the RMI has
performed an engineering feasibility study and attempted to find
project funding sources. The cost is estimated at $10-12 million.
My government did look at using Compact ``bump-up'' funds in FY2002
and FY2003 to fund the project. However, given our commitment for the
Compact trust fund's start-up amount of $30 million, we had to set
aside most Compact FY2002 and FY2003 infrastructure and ``bump-up''
funding for this Trust Fund contribution. Finding an extra $10-12
million in a total budget of about $100 million was not possible.
We have run out of financing options and the airport is now in
danger of being shut down. Two U.S. carriers service the airport:
Continental and Aloha airlines. It is also the home for Air Marshall
Islands- the only airline that provides intra-RMI services. If
Continental and Aloha must stop services, the RMI will be physically
cut off from Hawaii and Guam and will disrupt service throughout
Micronesia as well as prevent commercial flights to the Ronald Reagan
Missile Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll. In addition to commercial
flights, U.S. military flights land, transit and refuel in Majuro for
flights to/from Kwajalein as well as for trans-Pacific flights.
Mr. Chairman, we would like to work with you and the Committee to
address this immediate need. If we are not successful in finding a
funding source, we will have to dip into our trust fund set-aside and,
thus, we will not meet our obligation under the Compact. We do want to
meet this obligation since without the RMI initial contribution, the
Compact trust fund will be inadequate.
extension of the military use and operating rights agreement
for kwjalein atoll
The RMI Government and the Kwajalein landowners will be negotiating
an amended Land Use Agreement to reflect the negotiated terms and
conditions of the extended MUORA, which allows the U.S. access to
Kwajalein to at least 2023 with the potential to remain until 2086. The
U.S. can terminate use at any time after 2023 as long as it provides a
7-year notice. The Kwajalein landowner trust fund was a proposal by the
landowners to help insure an income stream once the U.S. does terminate
use, especially if termination occurs between the years 2023-2030.
The trust fund initiative for the Kwajalein landowners is
consistent with the MUORA and is well supported by precedent and other
aspects of the RMI-U.S. relationship. Trust funds for the atolls of
Rongelap, Bikini, Enewatak, Utrik and the Nuclear Claims Trust Fund,
under Section 177 of the Compact, have been established by the United
States to provide for the long-term economic and social benefit of RMI
citizens impacted by U.S. nuclear testing.
The requested funding for the initial capitalization of the
Kwajalein landowner trust fund is $20 million. The landowners have
committed to additional self-financing of the trust fund on an annual
basis if this one-time appropriation is provided. If early U.S.
termination were to occur, projections indicate that with a $20 million
initial capitalization, plus the landowners' contributions in addition
to early termination payments by the U.S. as agreed to in the
negotiated MUORA, the Kwajalein landowner trust fund corpus would reach
above $150 million in 2023, the earliest the U.S. can vacate Kwajalein.
With such a corpus, the landowners will be able to replace the annual
rent payments for about 10 years, which would allow a reasonable
timeframe for the landowners to transition into an alternative use and/
or resettlement of their lands on Kwajalein.
If, however, such a request cannot be met by the U. S. Government
at this time, the RMI Government requests that Congress, at the very
least, allow for the extension of the MUORA early termination clause to
2030, thereby giving assurance that the U.S. will use Kwajalein for a
sufficient length of time to achieve the long-term objectives of the
RMI and the Kwajalein landowners.
Such an early termination clause will not only help Kwajalein
landowners but also RMI and U.S. Army long-term initiatives. For
instance, the RMI and the U.S. Army, with the Federated States of
Micronesia (FSM), are currently preparing a project to extend a fiber
optic cable from Guam to Pohnpei, Majuro and Kwajalein (to the Ronald
Reagan Missile Test Site). The benefits for the U.S. Army's operations
are obvious as well as the commercial opportunities for the RMI and
FSM. Such a project will surely enhance and illustrate the cooperation
between the U.S., RMI and FSM. The extension of the U.S. Army's
definite presence until 2030 will make this project more commercially
viable.
nuclear claims issues arising from the u.s. nuclear weapons
testing program
One major issue of commitment in the Compact that was not addressed
during our negotiations regarding amendments to the Compact is the U.S.
nuclear testing legacy and those categories of claims that remain
unresolved under the terms of Section 177 of the Compact, as amended,
and the Section 177 Agreement. Although Section 177 of the Compact as
amended and the Section 177 Agreement remain in full force and effect,
we were informed early in our negotiations that the U.S. Compact
negotiator lacked authority to deal with unresolved issues related to
the effects of the U.S. nuclear testing program in the Northern
Marshall Islands.
The reason given to us for this lack of authority was that the
nuclear issues were under the jurisdiction of Congress by virtue of the
``Changed Circumstances'' provisions of Article IX of the Section 177
Agreement. The RMI Government filed a petition under this provision
with the U.S. Congress in September 2000, and updated it in November,
2001. The problem that has arisen, as the attached issue paper
regarding the nuclear test legacy explains, is that the U.S. Congress
has not responded to the RMI's petition for additional compensation to
be provided through the political process contemplated by the
settlement agreement.
Unfortunately, the issues involved are many and complex. They
include government taking of private property without just
compensation; important new information regarding the effects of
radiation on human health; and the clean up and restoration of
radiologically contaminated lands.
The RMI understands that responding to the RMI's petition for
additional compensation in the political process may be difficult,
which is why the RMI is proposing that the awards of the RMI Nuclear
Clams Tribunal (NCT) be returned to the legal process on the basis of a
limited grant of jurisdiction to review, and reject or certify the
awards of the NCT, based on U.S. standards of adequate compensation.
In order to move forward, we would ask that this Committee schedule
a hearing focusing on the nuclear claims issues as soon as possible.
Congress had requested that the Administration review the RMI's
petition over one year ago and we understand that there still is no
definite date for its completion and release. Meanwhile, Marshallese
who were directly exposed to the nuclear tests continue to die from
serious cancers and leukemias without ever receiving full compensation
for their injuries. Moreover, entire communities continue to live in
exile from their homelands to this day. Confronting and resolving these
issues should not be put off any longer.
other issues
The Administration provided my government with a copy of the
amended Compact Act on June 20, just before the amended Compact was
sent to Congress. We were not provided the opportunity to address any
of our concerns resulting from the Administration's unilateral changes.
In some instances, such as Section 104(b), these changes
unilaterally amend the economic assistance and immigration provisions
that we just concluded with the Administration. These issues have been
difficult and contentious at times during our negotiations and to see
the Administration making substantive changes to the Compact in this
manner is wrong .
Moreover, in other instances, these changes affect the substance
and intent of provisions inserted by Congress, in its wisdom, during
the first Compact approval process. Below are several items we wish
Congress to address by re-inserting its original Compact language.
Section 103(e)(3) makes reference to Articles X and XI of the
Section 177 Agreement regarding claims, yet fails to point out actions
taken by the RMI Government under Article IX of the same agreement to
seek additional compensation, based on the U.S. commitment to provide
adequate compensation under the terms of the claims settlement
implemented pursuant to Section 177 of the Compact, as amended. Given
that U.S. negotiators claimed a lack of authority to address unresolved
nuclear-related concerns in Compact negotiations, the RMI Government
believes it would be only fair to return to Congress's original
language in this section. If the Administration wishes to advance a
legal interpretation of Section 177 or provisions of the agreement
implementing U.S. commitments to settle nuclear claims, the time and
place to do that would be in a hearing and in legislation on the
nuclear claims issue. The attempt to introduce this disputed legal
interpretation into legislation approving agreements that do not
address the nuclear claims issue, because the Administration refused to
discuss the issues, is not a proper way to proceed.
Section 103(f)(2) should be clarified to provide that essential
agricultural and food programs shall be continued to the affected atoll
communities. While additional food supplement programs will be needed
to support resettlement of contaminated islands once radiological clean
up has progressed and safety standards have been satisfied, these
nutritional programs are a moral obligation of the U.S. to ensure a
minimum level of food assistance to both dislocated and resettling
populations for the foreseeable future. We doubt that anyone familiar
with the hardships and living conditions of the nuclear affected
peoples would dispute the need for these programs to be extended as an
on-going U.S. responsibility. This legislation presents the best
opportunity that may arise before the current authorization for these
programs expires for Congress to extend the USDA food program for at
least another five years.
Under the current Compact and its Compact Act, Congress included
Compensatory Adjustments (Section 108) that were provided for
Congress's revision of the tax and trade provisions of Title Two,
Economic Assistance. The Congress provided, under Section 108(a) that
certain commercial U.S. programs ``shall be made available.'' The
Administration has now changed the RMI's eligibility for these programs
to ``are authorized to be made available.'' The programs include: the
Small Business Administration, Economic Development Administration,
Rural Utilities Service (formerly the Rural Electrification
Administration); the programs and services of the Department of Labor
under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; the FDIC, and the programs
and services of the Department of Commerce relating to tourism and to
marine resources development.
The RMI sees this as a significant downgrade of eligibility and
application of these programs. Your Committee should note that the
trade provisions of the amended Compact are the same, restricting RMI
exports in certain products. Congress should restore its original
language in the new Section 108(a) (formerly Section 111(a)) to include
all of the programs listed in Section 111(a) or their successors and to
require that these programs ``shall be made available'' as provided by
Congress in the original Compact Act.
This comment also relates to the amended Compact's Section 108(b).
In the current Compact Act, the Congress allowed up to $20 million to
be authorized for compensation for any adverse impact of the Compact's
tax and trade provisions. The RMI did apply for this compensation but
the request did not pass the Administration's review. As you can
imagine by reading the section, it is extremely difficult to prove such
a negative impact. The result is that no funds have been disbursed to
the RMI or FSM under this Compact provision.
The amended Compact Act sets a time limit to submit such an impact
report or request by September 30, 2004 and for impacts only suffered
from 1987-2003. We do not think this just. If the trade provisions were
improved, we would understand, but, they are not.
Mr. Chairman, we ask that your committee review this provision so
that: 1) impact can be claimed for the new Compact term, if
appropriate; 2) that the deadline for submission for any such claim be
submitted by September 30, 2023, the end of the amended Compact's Title
Two; and 3) transparent guidelines and an evaluation process and
requirements are defined so that it is something practical, not a
nebulous, subjective process.
conclusion
Last, Mr. Chairman, I would like to comment on the accountability
mechanisms negotiated for the amended Compact's term, and thereafter in
regard to the Compact trust fund. We stand by and fully support the
Fiscal Procedures and the Trust Fund Agreements. We firmly believe just
as the U.S. government must be accountable to its taxpayers for Compact
funds, my government must be accountable to its citizens for spending
Compact funds and our own resources.
In fact, Mr. Chairman, we initiated steps on our own last year
during our budget process and have begun allocating Compact assistance
in the key sectors. The priorities are clear in our Medium Term Budget
and Investment Framework. These are education, infrastructure
development and maintenance, health and environment. We are currently
working closely with the U.S. Department of Interior in applying the
Fiscal Procedures Agreement and we welcome their support and
cooperation.
My only word of caution is that what we are developing is a new
budget and fiscal management system that resounds throughout our public
service. As in the United States, applying performance-based budgeting
and other requirements at a federal, state or local level does not
occur overnight. We are instituting a step-by-step process. I hope both
sides have patience as well as perseverance. We need assistance and
support to help us apply these new requirements, not people looking
over our shoulder and pointing fingers. With the cooperation we have
received so far, my government is encouraged, progress is being made,
and we feel we are doing it right.
Mr. Chairman, I realize our issues, together, may sound
overwhelming to you and other Committee members. I believe that,
together, we can address these issues in a timely manner. As I have
said early on in my statement, we have come a long way in our
relationship. The issues identified are to move our relationship
forward so we both step into the future together and that we have an
enduring Compact that serves both our needs while giving us both the
tools to meet our obligations.
Mr. Chairman, after departing Washington, I will return to Majuro
where I look forward to presenting the Compact, as amended, to our
legislature, the Nitijela. The sooner we can come to agreement on the
above issues, the faster we can have the amended Compact passed through
our legislative process.
I look forward to working with you and your staff so our common
interests are achieved.
Kommol Tata.
The Chairman. Thank you very much.
Might I ask my colleague a question? Senator, I have a very
urgent meeting. If I were to ask a few questions, would you
mind terribly closing the meeting for me; continuing it, and
subsequently closing it?
Senator Akaka. I would be happy to.
The Chairman. First of all, I would ask on our side if
staff would please research for me this whole issue of
passports. I don't quite understand. I guess it is sort of
like, if what you are doing is not broken, we don't have to fix
it.
Is what we have now not working, and therefore we need
passports? I would like to have a breakdown on that before we
have a final wrap-up.
Is it your position, both of you, that you don't think we
need that passport system that is provided in this legislation?
We will start with you, Secretary Anefal. Do you want the
passport system as provided?
Secretary Anefal. As I stated in my statement, Mr.
Chairman, we support the United States in terms of providing
assistance in whatever way possible to fall in line with the
aftermath of 9/11. But there are changes that could be made
without having to really deal with having new passports.
The Chairman. We would be interested in that. You could
submit that to us.
Secretary Anefal. Thank you.
The Chairman. How about you, Mr. Zackios?
Mr. Zackios. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As you know, we have
negotiated the amended immigration provisions. One of our main
concerns was if these provisions were to dilute the right of
FSM citizens to enter, work, and live in the United States and
seek education opportunities.
We have, however, moved into a machine-readable passport
system. This system is soon to be operational in the Marshall
Islands.
The Chairman. So you don't see any problem if we move in
the direction mandated in this legislation?
Mr. Zackios. I think we have negotiated an amendment that
reflects both of our desires and concerns.
The Chairman. Okay. Thank you.
Could I ask, with reference to education, the school
systems must be rather small. Who runs the schools, either of
you?
Mr. Zackios. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In the Marshall Islands, a majority of the schools are run
by the government.
The Chairman. The government of the Marshall Islands?
Mr. Zackios. Yes.
The Chairman. Do you have schools modeled after American
schools, grade one or kindergarten through 12, and then post-
high school, or what?
Mr. Zackios. In most if not all our schools, they are based
on the U.S. education curriculum, yes.
The Chairman. And you must be contending that schools are
not going too well and you would like to improve them, is that
correct?
Mr. Zackios. That is correct, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Does that mean they are not going well as
compared with, say, ours in the United States? Ours aren't
going too well, either. Or are they just inadequate? What is it
that you are telling the committee?
Mr. Zackios. Mr. Chairman, there is a two-fold issue. Of
course, we need to improve our education system; but the
challenges, obviously, are resources that are available to
focus on a better education system. We feel that with better
resources and with better human resource capacity, we will be
able to upgrade the education system in the Marshall Islands.
The Chairman. Many of your citizens now leave and go to
other places to work, that is pretty obvious. They leave and go
to work some other places. Do very many of them return money to
their families in the islands, to your knowledge? Do they send
back money?
The Mexicans are fully aware that the people that work in
the United States send home millions of dollars to Mexico,
which help the Mexican communities, the Mexican government, and
the families. What about yours? Do you have that relationship,
or not?
Secretary Anefal. I would say for the FSM, yes. To a larger
extent it is partly cultural, that you tend to contribute to
your family.
The Chairman. I understand it would not be mandatory, but
you think it is happening in your island?
Secretary Anefal. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Would you say to a large extent? Is a lot of
the resource that families have there coming from their members
who are overseas working elsewhere, or a small amount? How
would you categorize it?
Secretary Anefal. Not to a large extent; but it is taking
place, I'm sure.
The Chairman. How about you? Do you have any observation on
your end?
Mr. Zackios. Mr. Chairman, although there is no mandatory
requirement for repatriation, people do send not only cash but
they send products back to the islands, as we do to the United
States, as well.
The Chairman. So when they leave, it is not a total loss to
the community? They do contribute, in some ways, resources to
the communal life.
What do either of you think the future holds in terms of
economic development? When I speak of economic development, I
don't speak of more government. I understand if we put more
money in, there is more government. If we give you more money
and there is more government, presumably the Government will
write more checks, and you would say there is economic
development. But I'm not talking about that.
Looking at economic development as non-government
development of resources, is there a future of any
significance, or are we going to remain more or less like we
are for the foreseeable future, in your opinion?
Mr. Zackios. Mr. Chairman, as you know, we are a small
island Nation with restricted resources, restricted natural
resources. I think our main challenge is to educate our people.
As you have rightly stated, educating our people does not
necessarily mean we will have a very bright economic future in
terms of our domestic policy; but it also gives us the
opportunity to educate our people to become internationally
competitive, where they may go out and seek opportunities.
The Chairman. So you don't see anything beyond that, that
there would be any business opportunities for the island and
the island people?
Mr. Zackios. We do see some opportunity, but I don't think
it will be that kind of opportunity.
The Chairman. But it won't be much, is that correct?
Mr. Zackios. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. How about you, Secretary Anefal?
Secretary Anefal. That is basically the same story, Mr.
Chairman. But, of course, education means development in all
sectors, so education is a priority. But for the private sector
to thrive, even though the Government has set three sectors in
our case, agriculture, fisheries, tourism--we have over the
years begun to see some growth in the tourism sector.
Unfortunately, because of all these outside occurrences or
happenings, that has impacted upon the tourism sector, as well.
The Chairman. The little tourism that you have, or that
started, what was it? Motels? People coming there to visit?
Hotels?
Secretary Anefal. Hotels.
The Chairman. Resorts?
Secretary Anefal. Yes.
The Chairman. Are the islands resort-positive? Do you have
shorelines that people would enjoy?
Secretary Anefal. In some of the islands, yes, we have some
beaches that would be good for tourism development. But
together with that, of course, would be the infrastructure,
along with transportation.
The Chairman. I close with my last observation. I believe
that the administration is mistaken in the idea of FEMA and
FEMA's successor. It would seem to me that it is very
shortsighted to take FEMA out. I think we have to have FEMA in,
or we have to provide some kind of insurance.
There is a propensity for danger. Why would we put all our
money to help build things, and then take away the only
disaster relief agency that we have? So I would think that,
Senator Akaka, perhaps bipartisan-wise we could consider
putting that back. I don't know what the administration thinks
about that. I take it that we intend to do that, and they will
react to it in due course. If your response is a terribly
serious howl, we might reconsider; but let's hope it wouldn't
be that big a howl. It seems to me it would be rather rational.
I thank the two of you and others who were here for the
testimony and helping us today.
Is the other big issue your inflation issue? Let's just say
we will consider that. A two-thirds inflation, of course, is
full inflation. Again, I am very, very familiar with that. That
doesn't matter for the first 10 years. It is 10, 20, 25, and
then it gets big. I understand it gets very big at the end.
Thank you very much.
Senator Akaka [presiding]. Thank you very much, Mr.
Chairman.
Foreign Minister Zackios and Secretary Anefal, it is always
a pleasure to have you testify before the committee.
I want to say that I agree with the chairman and also with
the FAS position on FEMA. I believe we have to examine very
closely the issue of whether to include FEMA, the FEMA program
eligibility for the FAS in the proposed revisions to the
compact.
As you know, I also support efforts to continue eligibility
for FAS citizens in Federal programs. That we need to consider
also.
I just have a question or two for you, for both of you. We
can all agree that accountability provisions are important
steps for all three countries. Part of the problem with the
first 17 years of the compact was that western ideas were
placed on Pacific communities and cultures without
consideration of the traditions and practices of FAS citizens.
I say that because, as I mentioned in my opening statement,
I have been in that area before, during the war, and after the
war. Therefore, I have seen the changes over the years. I also
feel that this consideration is very important.
In negotiating these provisions, were cultural practices in
terms of policy implementation considered? And this question is
to both of you: If so, do you think these considerations were
appropriate? Will it make a difference in the implementation of
the negotiated provisions of the compact? So these questions go
to both of you.
Foreign minister Zackios?
Mr. Zackios. Thank you, Senator.
Mr. Chairman, I believe we have taken into account in our
discussions the issues and the local circumstances. I think it
is important--in doing this, we also looked back on the 17
years of experience. As I stated in my statement, this is a
partnership; it is not one looking over the other. That is the
premise where we tried to work on this. It will be on a
consensus basis, it is our understanding.
We do believe that we have to be accountable to our
citizens, as the United States has to be accountable to its
taxpayers, and to make sure that in the next 20 years term of
this economic assistance we do realize our investments in the
sectors that we have identified for the long-term economic
advancement of our islands and the fiscal stability of our
people.
Senator Akaka. Secretary Anefal.
Secretary Anefal. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Yes, I do believe that the structure that is being proposed
under the amended compact is really a measurable improvement
over the original compact. It is my firm belief, too, that all
policy considerations were taken into account as far as the FSM
negotiating team was concerned.
Internal to the FSM would be the--in regard to the cultural
aspect of your question--the internal setup of FSM, where we
have, like our sister Republic of the Marshall Islands, we have
four distinct island governments. So that would be an internal
factor for the FSM national government to work with.
But yes; to a large extent, I believe we have taken a lot
of the cultural and policy considerations into account from the
beginning, because this is--like what has been said--a
partnership arrangement; and we foresee that it is going to be
a continuing working relationship where both sides could come
to the table and say, okay, maybe this is the plan that should
be taken, and this is where the money should be put to reflect
the priorities that we have.
Mr. Zackios. Mr. Chairman, if I may add a little, this has
been an area where we had quite elaborate discussions. Although
this is where we are right now on a voting basis, it would have
been more preferable as a partnership if this board had a
consensus mechanism rather than a voting mechanism on the
allocation of the membership.
Senator Akaka. I was surprised to read in your testimony
that there were some unilateral changes that were made to the
legislative proposal after the negotiations were completed. Can
both of you further elaborate on these changes?
Honorable Zackios.
Mr. Zackios. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe I have
addressed some of these issues, as you have rightly pointed
out, in my written testimony. These are in certain areas.
For example, I would say that in section 177 in particular,
which is an area that the administration indicated that it has
no authority to negotiate, changes have been made to this
particular section of that agreement where we did not
negotiate.
Aside from this, there are other sections where we did not
negotiate, but after signing and concluding, changes were made.
These include those sections that have been identified where it
relates to commercial--our eligibility to use commercial
enterprises. There have been language changes there, and these
are, to us, substantive in nature.
In the current instance of section 108(a), the current
language says that certain commercial U.S. programs shall be
made available. Under the changes, the language has been
changed to ``are authorized to be made available.'' I think
that is a substantial change to how we receive these programs.
Senator Akaka. Honorable Anefal.
Secretary Anefal. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think I
briefly touched upon some of the concerns that we have where
the unilateral changes were made. Likewise, we have enumerated
these major concerns in the written statement.
For example, one of the changes that was made--let me back
off. Let me clarify that we were under the impression that the
administration was going to do basically updating and necessary
changes without really making any significant changes.
For example, I guess partly due to the time constraint
between the negotiating and the time for submission of the
package to the Congress, when we eventually got a copy of the
draft legislation we found out that, for example, the $250,000
figure has been inserted in there for the FSM to have this
machine-readable passport program, and to be done within a
period of 1 year. We don't think it is reasonable. We did not
really concur to this. It was just maybe an insertion, and we
object to it, as an example. Thank you.
Senator Akaka. Thank you.
Mr. Zackios.
Mr. Zackios. Mr. Chairman, if I may add, I think that
section in itself where there was that amendment also goes to
question certain mechanisms that we have in place, such as the
establishment of a general pact, because these funds are now
specifically being identified for us in the sectors, such as
allocating $250,000 for passport programs. That is telling us
where our priorities are in the priority sectors that we have
established.
These actions, as I also stated in the section 177
agreement, tend to preempt certain actions that, for the
Marshall Islands, we have already started; for example, the
submission of a changed circumstance petition to Congress.
Thank you.
Senator Akaka. Are there any further comments that you
would like to make? Otherwise, I want to say thank you very
much to all of you, panel one and two, for your testimony and
your responses to the questions.
I declare that the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources in the hearing of the Compact of Free Association is
adjourned. Thank you.
[Whereupon, at 4:30 p.m. the hearing was adjourned.]
APPENDIXES
----------
Appendix I
Responses to Additional Questions
----------
Responses of the Administration to Questions From Senator Domenici
Question 1. The Administration's legislation eliminates FEMA
eligibility for the Freely Associated States and replaces the program
with the U.S. AID'S Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). Will
OFDA fully replace FEMA's disaster and rehabilitation programs and
services?
Answer. This question has been asked of the United States
Negotiator, Office of Compact Negotiations in the Department of State.
He will state the position of the Administration on this question.
Question 2. How will losing FEMA eligibility impact the islands?
Answer. This question has been asked of the United States
Negotiator, Office of Compact Negotiations in the Department of State.
He will state the position of the Administration on this question.
Question 3. Are the levels of economic assistance under the amended
Compacts sufficient to maintain essential government operations and
ensure economic and social stability?
Answer. This question has been asked of the United States
Negotiator, Office of Compact Negotiations in the Department of State.
He will state the position of the Administration on this question.
Question 4. The amended Compacts' trust fund agreements state that
each nation will initially contribute $30 million to the trust funds.
How much has each country contributed to date? What assurance does
Congress have that any remaining FSM or RMI contributions will be made
by the required dates?
Answer. We expect that both the RMI and FSM will comply with the
agreements they have signed, and will contribute the funds at the times
required in the agreements (see section 215(b) of the U.S.-FSM amended
Compact and section 216(b) of the U.S.-RMI amended Compact). We
anticipate that each party to each trust fund will jointly make the
initial contribution to the respective trust fund.
I met in July with the Secretary of Finance and Administration for
the FSM, Mr. John Ehsa, regarding the FSM trust fund. I was told that,
at the present time, the FSM has over $27 million ready to deposit in
the trust fund and that they expect to have the full $30 million in
hand by October 1, 2003. Furthermore, Mr. Ehsa stated that the FSM is
anxious to deposit the FSM funds, along with the United States
contribution as soon as possible after October 1, 2003, in order for
the fund to begin generating income and additional corpus in the
crucial early months of the life of the trust fund.
While I have not spoken directly with officials of the RMI
regarding their trust fund contribution, we have no reason to believe
that they will not live up to the agreement they have signed and
contribute their $30 million in accordance with section 216(b) of the
U.S.-RMI amended Compact.
With regard to the United States, under the amended Compact, the
U.S. contributions are contingent on the FSM and RMI contributions; but
otherwise the only event that would delay a United States contribution
would be the lack of an appropriation by the Congress. Such an event
would occur if the Congress did not pass the authorizing legislation
contained in S.J. Res. 16 or H.J. Res. 63, which includes the necessary
permanent and indefinite appropriations.
Question 5. How will the trust fund be administered?In particular,
please describe the investment strategy for the trust funds.
Answer. The trust fund for the RMI and the trust fund for the FSM
will be held in separate financial institutions (``trustee'') organized
in the United States. Each trustee will hold the trust fund under the
direction of a five-member governing body (Joint Trust Fund Committee),
of which three members shall be officers of the Government of the
United States and two shall represent the RMI or the FSM, respectively.
The U.S., FSM and RMI have signed subsidiary agreements regarding
the respective trust funds. These agreements provide that each trust
fund will have a governing body as described above, a ``trustee''
selected from among trust institutions organized in the U.S. with a net
worth in excess of $100 million, at least ten years experience as a
custodian of financial assets, and experience in managing trust funds
of at least $500 million that will have legal custody of the funds, and
an investment advisor that will advise the governing body on investment
decisions. The trust fund subsidiary agreements contemplate investment
in a full range of investment vehicles, including common stocks.
An investment strategy will be developed, respectively, by each
governing body, with the help of its investment advisor. Until the
governing bodies take on their official duties and consult with their
investment advisors, it would be premature to predict the specifics
with regard to their investment strategy and asset allocation.
Question 6(a). The Department of the Interior has indicated that it
will increase its staff in order to administer and oversee future
compact assistance. Please explain your Department's potential staff
increase, and how the determination was made that this was the
appropriate level of staff.
Answer. The DOI's Compact implementation team will be composed of
nine staff members. A program specialist was hired prior to fiscal year
2003 and is located in the United States Embassy in Pohnpei, FSM; he
will be one of the nine-member team. One position was recently filled
in Washington by a senior grants manager, who will serve as the overall
program coordinator. Five positions are currently being recruited for
an office in Honolulu. These include two financial positions with
accounting/auditing backgrounds and one program specialist with an
economics background. We are also recruiting two program specialists
for the Honolulu office, one with a background in health care and one
with a background in education. We are also currently recruiting a
program specialist to be placed, subject to approval of the Chief of
Mission, in the United States Embassy in Majuro, Republic of the
Marshall Islands. Finally, we expect to fill a sixth position in
Honolulu early next year, which will be for an engineer to help monitor
and oversee infrastructure development. In summary, the DOI's Compact
implementation team will consist of nine permanent employees, of whom
six will be located in Honolulu, one in Pohnpei, one in Majuro, and one
in Washington, D.C. If we need additional help, particularly in the
early stages of Compact implementation, we can obtain it through
temporary positions, reimbursable arrangements with other Federal
agencies, or contractual arrangements.
The determination of the appropriate level of staffing was made
after considerable input from external sources and internal discussion
within the Department, including comparisons of the staff to dollars
ratios in similar financial assistance programs. OIA also evaluated and
sought input regarding the mix of personnel; thus there will be
specialists in the three major sector areas under the Compact: health,
education and infrastructure as well as personnel with strong financial
backgrounds. Feedback from several sources indicated a strong need for
some permanent on-site personnel. This resulted in a decision to place
generalists in each of the embassies, subject to the concurrence of the
Chiefs of Mission, who will constantly receive and evaluate information
on the ground and either take necessary action to correct problems or
pass information to the appropriate specialists. The single DOI
position in Washington will serve an overall coordinating role. A
position in Washington is necessary because (1) the budget process
occurs in Washington, (2) all disbursements are made from Washington,
(3) interagency group coordination takes place in Washington and (4)
day-today liaison with the Department of State is facilitated in
Washington.
OIA's staffing proposal was reviewed and approved by the
Department, by the Office of Management and Budget and by the Congress
in the appropriations process.
Question 6(b). Why won't the additional staff working on Compact
issues be located in the RMI or FSM?
Answer. DOI's Compact implementation team will actually have staff
permanently located in the RMI and FSM, and most of the staff that is
not permanently located in the FAS will nonetheless spend a great deal
of time there. The nine positions will be located as follows: one in
Washington, D.C. (program coordinator), six in Honolulu (two auditor/
accountants, three program specialists and one engineer) and, with the
concurrence of the Chiefs of Mission, one in Majuro (program
specialist) and one in Pohnpei (program specialist).
In order to understand DOI's Compact implementation staffing plan,
it is important to understand how the overall Compact accountability
plan is designed to work and the specific tasks that DOI's Compact
implementation team will be responsible for.
The Compact accountability plan is designed to ensure that Compact
dollars are properly allocated and accounted for and that the results
of Compact spending are properly measured. DOI's Compact team will
therefore be responsible for, among other things: (a) providing
staffing work for the bilateral joint committees that will approve the
allocation of Compact funds and the performance measures and standards
(which will in turn require the team to provide substantive analysis on
the effectiveness of Compact grants in the areas targeted for
spending); (b) reviewing and analyzing the various plans and reports
that will be required under the amended Compact; (c) reviewing and
analyzing the regular and special audits that will be prepared for the
freely associated states or for specific programs; (d) reviewing and
analyzing the documentation submitted by the respective freely
associated states for Compact expenditures; (e) making frequent visits
to project sites and local government offices to verify documentation
that is submitted; (f) remaining in contact with local sources to
determine if any matters warrant investigation, and determining whether
to request investigations by the appropriate Federal entities (which
investigations the RMI and FSM have agreed to permit and cooperate with
under the amended Compact); (g) working with Federal agencies that are
providing services in the freely associated states to promote a
coordinated Federal approach to assistance to the region; and (h)
coordinating with the office of Insular Affairs home office in
Washington, D.C., to ensure that the actions in the field properly
reflect policy and that policy is properly informed by what is learned
from the field.
The Compact accountability plan does not envision that DOI's
Compact implementation team will be a police force which must be able
to arrive on the scene of any waste, fraud or abuse instantly in order
to catch the perpetrators. Rather, the oversight plan provides various
check points at which waste, fraud or abuse can be discovered, whether
through discrepancies between reports and documentation and the reality
discovered on the ground, through on-the-ground intelligence, through
audits, through discovery and disclosure by the local governments (and
the Compact's new public sector capacity development grant is designed
to improve the ability of the RMI and FSM to discover problems) or
through the failure of the Compact budgets to achieve objectively
measured performance standards. The amended Compact expressly permits
the U.S. to withhold funds if it is subsequently discovered that
Compact funds have been spent in an improper manner. Thus, if there are
cases in which we are unable to prevent waste, fraud and abuse even
with the improved procedures of the amended Compact, we will still have
several opportunities to discover it after the fact and exercise
remedies in order to make the program whole.
The staffing plan for DOI's Compact implementation team is designed
to ensure implementation of the Compact accountability program. Most of
the work of the team does not need to be done in the RMI or FSM, as the
case may be. Communicating with local governmental officials and
project managers; reviewing and analyzing plans, reports, audits,
investigations and documentation; staffing the joint committees;
coordinating with Federal partners and the home office; reviewing
intelligence received from the region; and consulting with regional
experts in order to make substantive recommendations to the joint
committees can all be done, and in many cases are better done, from
outside of the RMI and FSM.
Since the team will require substantive expertise, especially in
the primary target areas of health, education and infrastructure, a
staffing program that relied primarily on employees permanently based
in the RMI and FSM would be inefficient and duplicative. An in-country
staffing plan would, for example, require separate health grants
experts for each of the RMI, the FSM national government and all four
states of the FSM (which function with a substantial amount of autonomy
and will be the primary sub-grantees for FSM grants). We think it would
make more sense to leverage our resources by having a single health
grants expert cover both countries and all four states of the FSM. The
same logic would apply to our experts in education and infrastructure.
We were also cognizant of the possibility that employees that are
permanently based in the RMI or FSM could be susceptible to losing some
of their objectivity. This is why the State Department rotates its
overseas personnel frequently.
In light of all of the factors that we had to consider, we came to
the conclusion that, rather than rely primarily on employees based
permanently in the RMI, the FSM and each of the four states of the FSM,
we should have a core team of professionals based in the Pacific that
would: (a) make frequent trips through the RMI and FSM; (b) remain in
constant communication with partners and colleagues in the freely
associated states, Federal agencies, institutions with expertise on the
region and the home office; and (c) be supplemented by a staffer based
in each of the RMI and the FSM that would be an ``eyes and ears'' for
waste, fraud and abuse and other problems, and would have the ability
to call in additional resources (from the rest of the team, the home
office or investigative agencies of the Federal Government) if
necessary. For a variety of reasons, we decided that Honolulu would be
the best place to locate the core team.
The Honolulu location is the one place in the United States with
business day overlap with the freely associated states, Washington,
D.C. and the West Coast with its Region Nine offices. Region Nine plays
a coordination role for Federal programs, and Honolulu is where
programs that serve the freely associated states are based. In-depth
institutional knowledge regarding the freely associated states can be
found in Honolulu at the East West Center, at the University of Hawaii,
with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and in hospitals experienced in
medical referrals. Another very important reason is the ability to
recruit and retain high quality professional staff on a permanent
basis. The Honolulu team will be able to travel frequently to the
freely associated states. While travel costs are high from Honolulu,
additional travel costs are offset by not having to supply permanent
housing, post differential, home leave, and education for dependents
that come with foreign posts.
Needless to say, we will constantly evaluate the effectiveness of
this staffing plan and make changes as necessary. However, we have put
a great deal of thought into devising the best plan and we are
confident that we have come up with a plan that we are capable of
implementing successfully.
Question 6(c). How much will your plans cost?
Answer. We budgeted $800,000, which was appropriated to begin
establishing the offices in fiscal year 2003. An additional $900,000 to
fully fund all positions has been requested for fiscal year 2004. Thus,
we estimate the total cost for full operations of DOI's Compact
implementation team will be approximately $1.7 million annually.
Question 7. Does the Interior Department have information regarding
how future funds might be withheld if problems occur, particularly in
the areas of health and education? For example, if schools in the FSM/
RMI are not meeting grant conditions, how would the U.S. determine the
amount and timing of funds that could be withheld?
Answer. Withholding funds will be a last resort. We believe that
our accountability program will succeed not because of any withholding
of funds, but because we will work together with our partners in the
freely associated states to achieve a better program. We believe that
through cooperation with our partners, we will achieve much better
accountability than either party could achieve acting alone. Under the
amended Compact, U.S. grant assistance may be used for capacity
building in the public sector. Grant assistance to this sector will be
designed to improve the ability of the RMI and the FSM to prevent and
detect waste, fraud and abuse.
While the withholding of funds generally will not be our first
option, our ability to do so will give us more leverage to insist that
specific steps be taken to improve accountability should that be
necessary. We should certainly be willing to withhold funds in cases
where there has been an intentional violation of the terms of the
Compact, such as in cases of theft or corruption. In general, however,
the decision to withhold funds will be made on a case-by-case basis
with reference to all relevant factors and in light of the objectives
that we are trying to achieve.
We view the performance measures and standards primarily as a
planning tool. The failure to achieve objectives generally would not,
absent misconduct, argue in favor of withholding funds. Depending on
the circumstances, though, it might argue in favor of allocating
Compact funds differently. It is not our intention to punish the RMI or
the FSM if our Compact investments do not fully succeed in every
instance. Rather, it is our intention to use the performance measures
and objectives to determine if we are allocating our resources
effectively, and to guide adjustments in course as appropriate to
maximize our chances of eventual success.
Although we intend to allow the RMI and the FSM to establish their
own priorities within the parameters set by the amended Compact, the
applicable joint committee would not be expected to approve an annual
allocation of U.S. grant assistance which, according to the results of
performance measurement, would not be a promising means to achieve
improvements in health, education or the other targeted areas. Under
such a scenario, the joint committee's best course of action would
probably not be to withhold funds, but to insist on appropriate changes
to the proposed allocation of grant assistance.
However, if the performance measures (or any of the other
information available to us) lead us to discover negligence or
intentional misconduct in connection with the use of Compact funds, we
would be much more likely to exercise remedies. Remedies in such case
could be exercised directly by the Department of the Interior, rather
than by the applicable joint committee.
Question 8. How will Compact grants be protected from the long-term
impacts of inflation?
Answer. This question has been asked of the United States
Negotiator, Office of Compact Negotiations in the Department of State.
He will state the position of the Administration on this question.
Question 9. Why was a 2/3 partial inflation adjustment selected and
not a full inflation adjustment?
Answer. This question has been asked of the United States
Negotiator, Office of Compact Negotiations in the Department of State.
He will state the position of the Administration on this question.
______
Responses of the Administration to Questions From Senator Bingaman
Question 1. Your chart illustrates the estimated decline in per
capita assistance over the next 20 years under the proposed
legislation. Have you estimated how this decline would affect the rate
of migration to the U.S.? Would replacing the partial inflation
adjustment (2/3rds) with a full inflation adjustment have a significant
impact on estimated per capita assistance, trust fund performance, and
on estimated migration rates?
Answer. The chart in question was provided by the witness for the
General Accounting Office. She would be in a better position to
respond.
Question 2(a). What progress have the FSM and RMI made in
developing the technical capabilities necessary to meet the new
accountability measures?
Answer. The RMI and FSM have had considerable experience with
numerous United States Federal programs and these same requirements and
remedies, so there is very little that will be new to them at a
professional level. One new element that should help ensure improved
performance is the creation of joint management boards that will make
determinations on the annual allocation of Compact funds among six
sectors and will ensure both program and economic performance goals are
being addressed and closely monitored. One of the six sectors is
capacity building; this will allow the United States and the freely
associated states to identify deficiencies in technical and management
capabilities and direct resources toward specific problems areas. This
funding will be further augmented by technical assistance in a variety
of areas provided by the Department of the Interior, including but not
limited to financial management (including procurement), economic and
statistical collection and analysis, operations and maintenance of
infrastructure, planning and budgeting, and economic development.
Interior has already provided technical assistance funding this past
year that will aid the freely associated states in complying with new
Compact fiscal and reporting requirements.
Question 2(b). Are discussions underway to develop the objectives
and performance standards for each of the proposed sector grants
(education, health, private sector development, capacity building in
the public sector, environment)?
Answer. Discussions have been underway for some time to develop
objectives and performance standards for the proposed sector grants.
The Office of Insular Affairs recently provided technical assistance
funding for the RMI to hire experts to aid it in developing performance
standards for OIA to review. The FSM has already proposed performance
standards that OIA is reviewing. OIA staff traveled to the FSM in the
spring, and attended a July 31, 2003 meeting in Pohnpei on performance
standards to make sure they are appropriate. Additionally, the OIA has
approved major technical assistance funding for both the RMI and FSM to
upgrade their financial management systems.
Question 3(a). The proposed accountability mechanisms include
establishment of two joint economic management committees. There are to
be three U.S. members on each of these two committees. Have you decided
who those three officials will be?
Answer. For this year, the three United States officials will be:
(1) David B. Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the
Interior for Insular Affairs;
(2) Matthew Daley, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asia and the Pacific;
(3) William Steiger, Special Assistant to the Secretary of
Health and Human Services for International Affairs.
The Department of State and the Department of the Interior have the
greatest roles in implementing the amended Compact and the Department
of Health and Human Services provides many of the important programs in
this area (and under the terms of the Compact health is one of the two
priority sectors for U.S. grant assistance). It is important to note,
however, that regardless of which U.S. officials serve on the joint
committees, the U.S. delegation will be able to avail itself of the
expertise of an interagency committee that includes all of the relevant
departments from the Federal Government. In addition, the ambassadors
to the RMI and the FSM, respectively, and the staffs of the Department
of the Interior and the Department of State will be able to provide
advice and guidance to the U.S. delegation.
Question 3(b). Given the expertise of the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) in regional economic development, and their involvement in the
FSM and RMI over the past 10 years, doesn't it make sense to have a
U.S. official from the ADB as one of the members?
Answer. The joint committees will benefit from the advice emanating
from several quarters. The interagency committee will help.
Representatives from the Department of Treasury will be involved. We
are actively engaged with the ADB on a number of projects.
I visited the ADB in Manila earlier this year to discuss how the
United States and the ADB can coordinate assistance in light of the new
financial assistance provisions of the Compact. In return, I have been
visited in Washington by ADB officials, including Joseph Eichenberger,
the U.S. Treasury official who is a Vice-President of the ADB. With
this thorough interaction between United States officials and the ADB,
we do not believe that membership on the joint committees by a U.S.
official from the ADB is necessary.
Question 4. The additional staff to be hired by the Department of
the Interior to assure that financial assistance will be used more
effectively will not be stationed in the FSM and RMI. Are you confident
that the Department will be able to exercise necessary diligence with
staff stationed in-country?
Answer. DOI's Compact implementation team will actually have staff
permanently located in the RMI and FSM, and most of the staff that is
not permanently located in the FAS will nonetheless spend a great deal
of time there. The nine positions will be located as follows: one in
Washington, D.C. (program coordinator), six in Honolulu (two auditor/
accountants, three program specialists and one engineer) and, with the
concurrence of the Chiefs of Mission, one in Majuro (program
specialist) and one in Pohnpei (program specialist).
In order to understand DOI's Compact implementation staffing plan,
it is important to understand how the overall Compact accountability
plan is designed to work and the specific tasks that DOI's Compact
implementation team will be responsible for.
The Compact accountability plan is designed to ensure that Compact
dollars are properly allocated and accounted for and that the results
of Compact spending are properly measured. DOI's Compact team will
therefore be responsible for, among other things, (a) providing
staffing work for the bilateral joint committees that will approve the
allocation of Compact funds and the performance measures and standards
(which will in turn require the team to provide` substantive analysis
on the effectiveness of Compact grants in the areas targeted for
spending); (b) reviewing and analyzing the various plans and reports
that will be required under the amended Compact; (c) reviewing and
analyzing the regular and special audits that will be prepared for the
freely associated states or for specific programs; (d) reviewing and
analyzing the documentation submitted by the respective freely
associated states for Compact expenditures; (e) making frequent visits
to project sites and local government offices to verify documentation
that is submitted; (f) remaining in contact with local sources to
determine if any matters warrant investigation, and determining whether
to request investigations by the appropriate Federal entities (which
investigations the RMI and FSM have agreed to permit and cooperate with
under the amended Compact); (g) working with Federal agencies that are
providing services in the freely associated states to promote a
coordinated Federal approach to assistance to the region; and (h)
coordinating with the Office of Insular Affairs home office in
Washington, D.C., to ensure that the actions in the field properly
reflect policy and that policy is properly informed by what is learned
from the field.
The Compact accountability plan does not envision that DOI's
Compact implementation team will be a police force which must be able
to arrive on the scene of any waste, fraud or abuse instantly in order
to catch the perpetrators. Rather, the oversight plan provides various
check points at which waste, fraud or abuse can be discovered, whether
through discrepancies between reports and documentation and the reality
discovered on the ground, through on-the-ground intelligence, through
audits, through discovery and disclosure by the local governments (and
the Compact's new public sector capacity development grant is designed
to improve the ability of the RMI and FSM to discover problems) or
through the failure of the Compact budgets to achieve objectively
measured performance standards.
The amended Compact expressly permits the U.S. to withhold funds if
it is subsequently discovered that Compact funds have been spent in an
improper manner. Thus, if there are cases in which we are unable to
prevent waste, fraud and abuse even with the improved procedures of the
amended Compact, we will still have several opportunities to discover
it after the fact and exercise remedies in order to make the program
whole.
The staffing plan for DOI's Compact implementation team is designed
to ensure implementation of the Compact accountability program. Most of
the work of the team does not need to be done in the RMI or FSM, as the
case may be. Communicating with local governmental officials and
project managers; reviewing and analyzing plans, reports, audits,
investigations and documentation; staffing the joint committees;
coordinating with Federal partners and the home office; reviewing
intelligence received from the region; and consulting with regional
experts in order to make substantive recommendations to the joint
committees can all be done, and in many cases are better done, from
outside of the RMI and FSM.
Since the team will require substantive expertise, especially in
the primary target areas of health, education and infrastructure, a
staffing program that relied primarily on employees permanently based
in the RMI and FSM would be inefficient and duplicative. An in-country
staffing plan would, for example, require separate health grants
experts for each of the RMI, the FSM national government and all four
states of the FSM (which function with a substantial amount of autonomy
and will be the primary sub-grantees for FSM grants). We think it would
make more sense to leverage our resources by having a single health
grants expert cover both countries and all four states of the FSM. The
same logic would apply to our experts in education and infrastructure.
We were also cognizant of the possibility that employees that are
permanently based in the RMI or FSM could be susceptible to losing some
of their objectivity. This is why the State Department rotates its
overseas personnel frequently.
In light of all of the factors that we had to consider, we came to
the conclusion that, rather than rely primarily on employees based
permanently in the RMI, the FSM and each of the four states of the FSM,
we should have a core team of ``professionals based in the Pacific that
would (a) make frequent trips through the RMI and FSM; (b) remain in
constant communication with partners and colleagues in the freely
associated states, Federal agencies, institutions with expertise on the
region and the home office; and (c) be supplemented by a staffer based
in each of the RMI and the FSM that would be an ``eyes and ears'' for
waste, fraud and abuse and other problems, and would have the ability
to call in additional resources (from the rest of the team, the home
office or investigative agencies of the Federal Government) if
necessary. For a variety of reasons, we decided that Honolulu would be
the best place to locate the core team.
The Honolulu location is the one place in the United States with
business day overlap with the freely associated states, Washington,
D.C. and the West Coast with its Region Nine offices. Region Nine plays
a coordination role for Federal programs, and Honolulu is where
programs that serve the freely associated states are based. In-depth
institutional knowledge regarding the freely associated states can be
found in Honolulu at the East West Center, at the University of Hawaii,
with the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and in hospitals experienced in
medical referrals. Another very important reason is the ability to
recruit and retain high quality professional staff on a permanent
basis. The Honolulu team will be able to travel frequently to the
freely associated states. While travel costs are high from Honolulu,
additional travel costs are offset by not having to supply permanent
housing, post differential, home leave, and education for dependents
that come with foreign posts.
Needless to say, we will constantly evaluate the effectiveness of
this staffing plan and make changes as necessary. However, we have put
a great deal of thought into devising the best plan and we are
confident that we have come up with a plan that we are capable of
implementing successfully.
Question 5. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has played an
important role in economic development under the compact by providing
grants for construction and technical assistance, and by chairing the
``Consultative Group'' for each of these two nations. This Group is the
forum which coordinates assistance and activities among the various
donors. Do you object if the new accountability provisions specifically
provide for the continued ADB involvement?
Answer. We have a bilateral relationship with each of the freely
associated states. We do not believe it prudent to compromise the
sovereignty of the United States by giving a formal role in these
relationships to a non-United States entity. We appreciate the
cooperative relationship we have with the ADB as it pursues its work on
programs that help the FAS and will continue to work very closely with
the ADB to ensure that our programs are well coordinated to maximize
our chances of success.
Question 6. This legislative package provides for an extension,
beyond 2016, for U.S. access to the missile test site at Kwajalein
Atoll. However, several landowners find the terms unacceptable. Is
there a deadline by which time an agreement will need to be reached
between the Marshall Islands Government and the Kwajalein Landowners in
order to avoid issues with U.S. access in 2016? Given that the current
agreement is good until 2016, could this issue be deferred from
consideration under this legislation to allow negotiations to continue?
Is there a contingency plan to deal with the possibility that the RMI
government may be unable to reach an agreement with the landowners soon
enough to avoid a disruption in U.S. access to Kwajalein? (There are
practical problems with the exercise of eminent domain in the RMI
because of traditional land rights.)
Answer. This question has been asked of the United States
Negotiator, Office of Compact Negotiations in the Department of State.
He will state the position of the Administration on this question.
Question 7. In addition to including the agreements with the FSM
and RMI, this new legislation has several ``updates'' to the Compact
Act, within which the two new agreements are nested. The testimony of
the FSM and RMI states that these ``updates'' are, in several cases,
substantive and were revealed to the islanders just days before the
legislation was transmitted to Congress. Are you prepared to review
these changes with them and the Committee staff to determine whether
their concerns can be resolved?
Answer. This question has been asked of the United States
Negotiator, Office of Compact Negotiations in the Department of State.
He will state the position of the Administration on this question.
Question 8. The Administration is in the process of reviewing a
report which the Republic of the Marshall Islands submitted to Congress
seeking additional compensation pursuant to the so-called ``changed
circumstances'' provisions of the Compact. When can we expect the
Administration to submit its views to Congress?
Answer. This question has been asked of the United States
Negotiator, Office of Compact Negotiations in the Department of State.
He will state the position of the Administration on this question.
______
U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC, June 3, 2003.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of June 2 regarding
the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of the Marshall
Islands (RMI) and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
I am writing in reply to your specific question concerning the
implications for expiring Federal programs of the U.S. Compact funding
agreed upon with the FSM and RMI under the Compact of Free Association,
to the extent that such programs and services continue to be available
to State and local governments of the United States.
The State Department's Office of Compact Negotiations recently
renegotiated the economic assistance terms of the Compact of Free
Association with the FSM and RMI, and agreed to extend such assistance
for 20 years (through 2023), subject to Congressional approval. The
Administration is presently preparing legislation, to be transmitted to
Congress, incorporating the agreement reached with the FSM and RMI.
Under our agreement, U.S. assistance would be devoted to key
economic sectors, with the highest priority accorded to the education
and health sectors. While assistance to the FSM and the RMI under
existing Federal programs was considered in the formulation of the
assistance package, the amount of the assistance package was not
specifically structured to substitute for or replace existing Federal
programs.
We recognize that it is the prerogative of the Congress to
determine whether to extend or continue the eligibility of the FSM and
RMI for any particular Federal program. A more complete statement of
the Administration's policy on the relationship between certain Federal
programs and the amended Compact is attached.
This letter has been coordinated with the Office of Management and
Budget.
We would be pleased to meet with you or your staff, along with
representatives from the appropriate agencies on this matter.
Sincerely,
Paul V. Kelly,
Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs.
Policy Regarding the Relationship Between Certain U.S. Federal Programs
and the Compact of Free Association, as Amended, With the Federated
States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
(RMI)
Under section 221(b) of Title Two of the amended Compact we have
recently signed with the FSM and RMI, to the extent authorized by the
Congress oftheUnited States, the Government of the United States would
make available to the FSM/RMI the services and programs that were
available on the effective date of the compact, as amended.
This provision keeps the door open for the continuing eligibility
of the FSM/RMI for U.S. federal programs, to the extent provided by the
Congress. It does not assume that particular federal programs are to be
continued nor does it operate to reinstate any programs that terminated
prior to the effective date of the Compact, as amended. It does
acknowledge the role of Congress in determining the appropriateness,
continuing applicability, and funding for such programs in the future.
The amended Compact, to be submitted by the Administration to
Congress for passage, would provide continued economic support to the
FSM/RMI. While the Administration was aware of the level, type, and
status of existing federal programs when formulating the Title Two
assistance, the amount of the assistance was not specifically
structured to substitute for or replace existing programs, nor intended
to express a view with respect to continuation or reauthorization of
any federal program.
The Administration, including agencies administering federal
program funds to the FSM/RMI, will continue to update Congress on the
appropriateness and effectiveness of federal programs and U.S. funding
to the FSM/RMI.
______
Department of Economic Affairs,
Federated States of Micronesia,
Palikir, Pohnpei, FM, July 25, 2003.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici: I have the honor to refer to your letter of
July 18, 2003 in which you transmitted additional written questions
from the Committee in connection with its July 15 hearing on the
Compact of Free Association. I am pleased to enclose the response to
the relevant questions.
I wish to thank you, and through you the Members of the Committee,
for holding the hearing and for your continued attention to this matter
of utmost importance to my nation.
With best regards, I am
Sincerely,
Sebastian L. Anefal,
Secretary.
Responses of Sebastian Anefal to Questions From Senator Domenici
Question 1. Are the levels of economic assistance under the Amended
Compacts sufficient to maintain essential government operations and
ensure economic and social stability?
Answer. There is no established way to determine the right level of
government operations or economic assistance. It can be said, however,
that the FSM has managed, at current levels of Compact assistance, to
provide and maintain a minimum level of acceptable Government services,
to achieve social stability and to make some economic progress. In
developing its positions for the negotiations on Compact amendments the
FSM was assisted by experts funded by the Asian Development Bank, who
spent several years analyzing the FSM experience under the Compact.
They recommended, and the FSM negotiators proposed to the United
States, that assistance should remain at current levels to ensure both
the provision of a minimal level of government services and to maintain
economic and social stability. Without making any analysis of its own,
and citing no disagreement with the FSM's economic analysis, the U.S.
negotiators put forward offers based only on arbitrary numbers
assigned, presumably, by OMB. It is the judgment of the FSM's experts
and other objective advisors that the OMB's self described, ``last and
best offer'' falls seven million dollars annually short of the level
most likely to be required to avoid a ``crash and bum'' economic
scenario, beginning in the very first year of the new arrangement. We
cannot help but wonder why, if the United States Administration is
serious about the goals of the Compact, the FSM has been presented with
an arbitrary stone wall on the level of giant funding with no
refutation or even consideration of our economic analysis, while the
levels of grant assistance requested by the RMI have been met, even
irrespective of their separate requests for Kwajelein.
Question 2. What will be the impact on the standard of living in
your nation under the amended Compacts?
Answer. The impact will be severe, negative and immediate. The FSM
National Government has already budgeted for a fifteen percent
reduction in the first year of the amended Compact. Things will get
worse, not better, as time goes on. With such a negative shock in the
beginning followed by annual regular decrements and lack of full
indexation for inflation, our experts project an annual decline of GDP
by 0.6 percent. It is simply a fantasy to expect the attraction of
foreign investment and other aspects of economic growth that the U.S.
would like to expect of us. We cannot blame the original Compact
negotiators for having had unrealistic economic expectations for a new,
small-island undeveloped country, but at this stage we should all know
better. The FSM welcomes improved efficiency as a byproduct of improved
accountability, and that would show results over time on an otherwise
level field. The problem here is going to be the negative initial
shock, further complicated by annual decrements and lack of full
indexation. Why, some ask, did we sign such a deal? The answer is
simple. We had no choice. The Administration has refused further
negotiation, and the U.S. Congress is our last hope.
Question 3. How will sector grants be distributed in your nation?
Answer. Pursuant to the terms of the amended Compact and of its
associated Fiscal Procedures Agreement, the distribution of sector
grant funding will be driven by: (a) the FSM's comprehensive Strategic
Development Plan as it evolves during the assistance period; and (b)
the FSM National and State annual budgets--all as subjected to
continuous scrutiny by the Joint Economic Management Committee (JEMCO).
The equities involved in the proportionate internal distribution of
grant benefits is also a matter for continuing review and discussion by
the FSM State and National leadership.
Question 4. The amended Compact requires your nation to initially
contribute $30 million to a trust fund. How much has your country
contributed to date? What are your plans for providing the remaining
contributions?
Answer. The FSM as of now has appropriated 26.76 million of the
required 30 million dollars that must be contributed by September 30,
2004, and is anxious to see it placed in the Trust Fund as soon as
possible. No actual contribution can yet be made, because the Trust
Fund instrument only becomes effective upon implementation of the
amended Compact. We are examining other possible sources for the
remaining contribution, with the incentive that the sooner it is placed
in the Fund, the sooner it begins earning income.
Question 5. It is my understanding that the RMI and FSM seek full
inflation adjustment as opposed to the 2/3 partial inflation
adjustment. Please explain.
Answer. The 2/3 formula in the original Compact, while arbitrary in
amount, was conceived by the U.S. Administration to encourage a gradual
reduction of the FSM's dependence on external assistance. It was part
of the original package that at the time, like now, we had no choice
but to agree to. During the recently-concluded negotiations of the
Compact amendments the U.S. unilaterally decided to introduce a second
``weaning'' factor in the form of the decrements. Both of these
features, lack of full indexation and the decrements, are reductions in
the real level of transfers, and will adversely affect the FSM economy.
Each produces an annual 0.3 percent reduction in GDP. While the FSM had
no choice but to cope with the annual impediment to its economy due to
the lack of full indexation during the first Compact period, we feel
that the imposition of double-weaning is unfair and unwise. It will
place an even more severe impediment on economic growth than before,
further burdening the FSM's efforts to develop its fledgling private
sector. In order to avoid that outcome, the FSM has requested the U.S.
Congress to remove one of the weaning factors by providing for full
indexation, calculated monthly as monthly grant payments are made, and
capped at the original 7 percent. Provision for full indexation will
maintain the real value of annual grants to ensure continuity of
essential Government services and improved prospects for economic
growth. It will also allow for increased transfers to the Trust Fund.
Question 6. Does your government have the technical capabilities
necessary to meet the terms of future assistance by this fall?
Answer. Yes, and this has been demonstrated by our preparations so
far to meet the extensive new pre-award reporting requirements.
However, many challenges are involved in our successful compliance with
extensive new post-award requirements involving more complex fiscal
procedures and new financial management systems nationwide. We have
been heartened by the Department of the Interior's understanding of
these challenges, and its willingness to work with us in overcoming
them, particularly in the early years of the new arrangement.
Both internally and in repeated and ongoing meetings with officials
of the Department of the Interior, the FSM Government has been making
the necessary preparations. Most recently, we beat by several weeks the
assigned deadline to provide a budget for FY 2004 to the United States
for review. Our President has established the FSM's JEMCO membership on
a provisional basis, so that the necessary preparatory discussions with
the U.S. counterparts can proceed. At the time these answers are
provided, a ten-day conference of finance and budget officers from
throughout the FSM is convened in Pohnpei to meet with officials of the
Department of the Interior to continue discussions on the
implementation process. Similarly, with regard to the Trust Fund, our
designated officials are engaged in discussions with the Department of
the Interior on manning the positions necessary to get the Fund up and
running as soon as possible.
Question 7. How will information in the decisions, reports, and
audits of the joint economic management committee be shared with the
public in your nation? Will your government maintain a web site that
contains this information?
Answer. It is a little too early to provide specifics in answer to
this question, but, yes, there is a Government website that undoubtedly
will be utilized in ways that the Government deems appropriate. Up to
now, the website has been used, among other purposes, to convey
information regarding the negotiations. This use, adapted to meet the
new circumstances, will continue. I might add that the FSM, with strong
traditions of consensus decision-making, will continue a variety of
consultative processes such as broadly-participative economic summits
and leadership conferences that overlay and provide guidance to the
regular, Constitutional Legislative and Executive functions.
Question 8. What will be the impact on your nation of losing
eligibility for FEMA?
Answer. Much has already been said on this subject, and it must be
understood that the FSM has no parachute to offset the loss of FEMA.
The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) at the Department of
State is simply no substitute for FEMA, a fact that has been openly
admitted by the U.S. Negotiator, Al Short, in recent testimony. The
U.S. interest in protecting its long-term investment in FSM public
infrastructure is an obvious consideration, but the less direct U.S.
investment in private infrastructure also should not be discounted. Al
Short recently testified that the Administration's intention is to
treat the FSM and RMI ``like Palau,'' which does not enjoy FEMA
coverage. This situation for Palau, however, was the outcome of a deal
made years ago, whereby Palau accepted a U.S. contribution of $20
million into a trust fund in lieu of FEMA coverage. We wonder whether
they would make the same bargain today, when some years ago they
suffered a bridge collapse costing many millions and with loss of life,
and the total contribution of the U.S. OFDA was fifty thousand dollars.
Question 9. What would be the impact on your nations if programs
that are outside the scope of the Compact--such as federal education
programs--are not continued?
Answer. The impact would be a collapse of the very sector--
education--that everyone seems to agree lies at the heart of the
amended Compact's objectives. Don't forget, the Administration confirms
that in arriving at its grant level figures it assumed the continuation
of federal programs. In the recent hearings, there has been some focus
on the vulnerability of the College of Micronesia-FSM to the threat of
loss of Pell Grants, and that is very Teal. But more, the same threat
is posed to all other levels of the education system in the FSM if U.S.
Federal programs are withdrawn, at the very time when the U.S.
Government negotiators have spent the last four years telling FSM
negotiators that the number one, top U.S. priority in future U.S.
assistance to the FSM is--EDUCATION! Certain people on the Hill would
prefer to throw money at the problem rather than continue program
eligibility, but there are two problems with that approach: first,
after the jawboning is over the money in the amounts required will
almost certainly not be there; and second, in this critical field and
at this time this far down the road money alone cannot substitute for
the programmatic and social connectivity that has been built up over so
many years with the concealed U.S. Departments. If this battle is lost,
then the U.S. Government might as well confess that it really does not
care about social advancement and political stability in this
increasingly strategic region of the Pacific.
Question 10. How will the Compact's immigration provisions impact
your nation?
Answer. The FSM, after many months of bilateral, not Compact,
negotiation on this highly sensitive subject was able to agree to the
negotiated amendments in this area, on the understanding with the U.S.
Agency negotiators that with the single exception of now requiring FSM
citizens to carry passports when exercising their Compact privileges to
travel to and from the U.S., the new provisions do not expand authority
previously possessed by the United States under the U.S. Immigration
and Naturalization Act. In other words, FSM citizens will not notice
any difference in their status coming to, residing in or leaving the
United States. We have also agreed with U.S. officials to cooperate in
implementing new measures to increase passport information and security
features, and to provide a system for sharing with the U.S. criminal
conviction information that would be relevant to decisions on
admissibility and deportability of FSM or U.S. citizens, as the case
may be. We invite attention to the FSM's proposed alternative approach
to the U.S., iron-negotiated and unilateral insertions in its
legislative proposal, as representing an effective alternative to a
curiously uncalled-for and threatening sledgehammer demand.
In light of the above answers, and not knowing now what response
the U.S. Congress may provide, we also urge that the Committee
seriously consider the last of the FSM's amendment proposals. This is
to add a section mandating a Congressional review no later than three
years into the amended Compact experience, to determine what
adjustments may need to be made.
______
Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
Washington, DC, July 30, 2003.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici: On behalf of the Government of the Republic
of the Marshall Islands, I am pleased to forward to you the attached
responses from Minister Gerald Zackios to questions that were submitted
for the record following the hearing on the Compact, as amended.
Thank you for your engagement and consideration of these issues.
Sincerely,
Banny deBrum,
Ambassador to the United States.
Responses of Gerald Zackios to Questions From Senator Domenici
Question 1. Are the levels of economic assistance under the amended
Compacts sufficient to maintain essential government operations and
ensure economic and social stability?
Answer. Compact funding, in the past, has been a declining yet
essential component of the Republic of the Marshall Islands' (RMI's)
government's budget. For FY 2001-2003 period for example, Compact
funding, including U.S. Federal programs, have provided 35-40 percent
of our budget revenue.
Under the amended Compact, the economic grant assistance and U.S.
Federal programs will continue to play an essential role. The amended
Compact does provide a transition in the economic grant assistance from
the current Compact. While this amount is sufficient for economic and
social stability initially, as based on our Medium Term Budget and
Investment Framework, our concern is in the medium term since the grant
assistance declines at a too rapid pace. This rapid decline is caused
by: 1) the $500,000 annual decrement of the economic grant assistance
with the decremented amount going into the Compact Trust Fund; and 2)
the loss to inflation since Compact funds are only partially adjusted
(2/3 of the GDP Implicit Price Deflator).
While we strongly believe we can increase local revenues, cutting
costs and attaining other public sector efficiencies, we cannot do it
at such a rapid pace. This can result in fiscal instability, with
evident negative repercussions on the economy and social welfare, in
the medium term. This is why my Government has been stressing the need
to maintain at least the real value of the Compact financial assistance
by applying a full instead of only a partial inflation adjustment. Even
given the full inflation adjustment, the RMI's reliance on Compact
funds will significantly decrease over the term of the 20-year period.
Question 2. What will be the impact on the standard of living in
your nation under the amended Compacts?
Answer. In the short term, the amended Compact will have a positive
impact on the RMI's standard of living. The RMI Government has already
planned on placing a majority of grant assistance funding in the
education sector to improve education standards at all levels. The
second priority is investments in the health sector and the third in
infrastructure development and maintenance.
However, there are two caveats. First, if some or all of the U.S.
Federal education programs are discontinued in FY 2004, the increased
investments we have targeted for education will merely, and maybe only
partially, cover the continuance of these programs on our own. Thus,
instead of education being a priority of the RMI government and the
Compact, we will have a difficult time providing the range of education
programs and services and will severely detract from any added emphasis
and investment in education. This will injure our standard of living in
the short, medium and long term.
Second, as we have stated in our testimony, the RMI is vulnerable
to natural disasters. FEMA has played a crucial role for rehabilitation
and mitigation during these intermittent crises. Since the U.S. AID's
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance does not replace FEMA's
rehabilitation and mitigation programs then the RMI would be confronted
with these costs if a major disaster occurred. Such an event would
severely injure the RMI's standard of living by either not adequately
responding to after effects of such disasters or causing us to take
away resources from other areas to fill the rehabilitation or
mitigation needs. We simply do not have the financial resource base to
respond to such cost-prohibitive rehabilitation and mitigation.
In the medium term, however, as per the response to Question 1, the
provision of government programs and services will decline if no other
funding sources are generated. This will also impact the private sector
since much of the private sector services are related to the fiscal
stability of the government. While this is changing, it will take time
to orient the private sector more towards our productive sectors:
fisheries and aquaculture and tourism. Thus, in the medium term, as of
2010 and thereafter, living standard improvements will probably
stagnate or the improvements will slow.
Question 3. How will grants in the areas of education and health be
distributed within your nation?
Answer. The education and health sector grants are identified in
our Medium Term Budget and Investment Framework (MTBIF). We adopted
this medium term performance budgeting approach in the planning of our
FY 2003 budget. Our current MTBIF, which was just approved, indicates
the specific amounts of Compact funding that will go toward these two
priority sectors. For example, in FY 2004, the first year of the
amended Compact, we have identified $10.2 million for the education
sector and $6 million to go to the health sector.
These amounts are further broken down in the sector programs. For
instance, for the education sector, these amounts will mainly go to
primary and secondary education to include standard development,
teacher training and retention, curriculum development and program
delivery. In addition, we will invest part of the Compact's
infrastructure funds in the building and maintenance of much neglected
education facilities. The education program will be monitored using a
set of indicators and other measurements to see if the Compact and
other investments are having a real impact. The agency responsible as
well as our Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office will review
these measurements. The measurements will also be reviewed by the U.S.-
RMI Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee to
ensure the Compact funds are being used effectively and have real
results.
The health program is currently being formulated and will have the
same approach of the education program.
We realize that installing such a performance-oriented financial
management and accountability system will take time. This is why we are
first concentrating on the education, health and infrastructure
sectors. We hope to apply the system government-wide in 2-3 years time.
Question 4. The amended Compact requires your nation to initially
contribute $30 million to a trust fund. How much has your country
contributed to date? What are your plans for providing the remaining
contributions?
Answer. The RMI has set aside a portion of the Compact ``bump-up''
funds and part of the Compact's capital investment funds in FY 2002 and
FY 2003 to be used as the RAM's initial contribution for the Compact
Trust Fund. This set-aside now amounts to $25 million. Thus, the RMI
can meet its Compact Trust Fund commitment that is to be $25 million
once the Compact Trust Fund becomes operational (after the amended
Compact becomes U.S. and RMI law) with a further $2.5 million to be
contributed in FY 2005 and $2.5 million in FY 2006.
I should note that while the PAR does have the funds set aside, we
did make the conscious sacrifice of not investing in our infrastructure
for the past two years. While this decision has injured our
infrastructure in the short term, it has provided us the funds to
invest in future generations of Marshallese and make the Compact Trust
Fund a more viable source of funding post 2023.
An example of this delay in infrastructure investment and an urgent
need that must be met is the paving of the Majuro International
Airport. Since the government set-aside most capital investment funds
for the Compact Trust Fund, it could not finance this project though
the FAA identified the urgency of the repaving in 2002. Since that time
we have sought various sources of funding but failed to find an
appropriate source. We have been working to include the $10 million
needed for repaving in the FAA reauthorization bill. Tickets to/from
the RMI are surcharged with the amounts contributing to the Airport
Trust Fund,, and Continental and Aloha Airlines, the two main airport
users, have supported our approach. Unfortunately, we have not been
successful. As a result, we will have to take the funding from our
Compact Trust Fund set-aside to address this urgent project. The
closing of the airport, which is an immediate possibility, will have
disastrous ramifications on the RMI economy as well as for travel
within the region and to/from the Ronald Reagan Missile Test Site at
Kwajalein Atoll.
Question 5. It is my understanding that the RMI and FSM seek full
inflation adjustment as opposed to the 2/3 partial inflation
adjustments. Please explain.
Answer. The partial inflation adjustment (2/3 of the U.S. GDP
Implicit Price Deflator) effects the Title Two sector grant funding,
Compact Trust Fund contribution and Kwajalein landowner compensation
for the U.S. use of Kwajalein Atoll. Our main argument is that the
RNA's defense, security and other commitments and obligations under the
Compact do not erode yet the U.S. economic and finance commitments do
erode simply because of the loss of the value of the funds due to only
a partial inflation adjustment.
Secondly, from an economic and finance perspective, as we have
shown in our issue paper that fully outlines our views, there are
negative impacts.
For the sector grant funding, as stated in response to Question 1,
while the RMI believes it can generate revenue, create efficiencies and
reduce costs, the rapid decline of this funding due to the decrement
and the partial inflation adjustment will create a growing funding gap
that occurs at a rate in which we don't feel we have the capacity to
quickly fill. We believe that if a full inflation adjustment was
provided the fiscal stability that is warranted by the Compact will be
maintained and we will be able to improve and further develop public
services while further facilitating private sector development and,
thus, economic stability.
For the Compact Trust Fund, there are two points. First, our
analysis, which is similar to the GAO's, points out that the
distributions from the trust fund will not be sufficient to supplant
the Compact grant assistance in the medium term. We see the Compact
Trust Fund as integral to our future fiscal stability. As it is
structured now, it will not meet that objective. Second, the U.S.
Administration has allowed, within the Compact Trust Fund Agreement of
the amended Compact, that the distributions from the Trust Fund that
will begin in 2024 to consist of the prior year's Compact's Title Two
sector grant assistance PLUS a full inflation adjustment. Such an
approach is inconsistent. We are confounded that the Administration
does not allow full inflation to apply to the sector grants between
2004-2023 and the U.S. Trust Fund contributions but will allow the
monies drawn from the Trust Fund to be based on a full inflation rate.
Thus, our Trust Fund will have inadequate inputs and a much larger
demand in the post 2023 era.
For the Kwajalein landowner compensation, the landowners are
providing their major resource, their land, for an extended period to
at least 2023 and potentially to 2086. Yet, despite this obligation and
commitment of the landowners, the U.S. is only partially adjusting the
land use payment. In essence, the landowners are giving the United
States Government a rebate annually for this land as the value
increases and the payments don't increase at the same rate. Thus, the
longer the U.S. uses Kwajalein Atoll, the lower cost for the U.S. and
the more loss of value to Kwajalein landowners. This is simply not
right and inconsistent with practices within the United States.
The bottom line is that the RMI is not really asking for more
funding, but asking to be dealt with fairly. We would like the funding
provided under the Compact to maintain its real value so that fiscal
stability and economic progress can continue to be made. We do not want
the fiscal and reverberating economic shocks and value loss that has
occurred during the current Compact. As mentioned, we do not see why
the U.S. obligations and commitments should erode if the RMI does not
erode its security, defense and other obligations and commitments.
Question 6. In your view, does your government have the technical
capabilities necessary to meet the terms of future assistance by this
fall?
Answer. The RMI government, with the assistance of the Asian
Development Bank and the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of
Insular Affairs, is concentrating on building the technical capacity
not only to implement the Compact's Fiscal Procedures Agreement (FPA)
but also to have a government-wide performance budgeting and financial
management system.
We have implemented a step-by-step process by concentrating on
those ministries receiving the largest portion of Compact funds--
education and health. We have also installed a Medium Term Budget and
Investment Framework--a 5-year rolling budget framework that allows us
to review past expenditure, plan the next year's expenditure, and look
at budget trends two years into the future. We initiated this system
for our FY 2003 budget last year and the same system is being used for
FY 2004.
For the sector grants, the Ministry of Education has already
prepared its FY 2004 Education Program Portfolio. The program was
recently submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior for its
review in anticipation of the first Joint Economic Management and
Financial Accountability Committee (JEMFAC) meeting scheduled for the
end of August. The program identifies the source of ministry funding,
including Compact funding, where the funding is targeted, and what
objectives will be served and results achieved. We are currently doing
the same for the Ministry of Health. In addition, we have completed our
first Infrastructure Development and Maintenance Program. This program
identifies our priority capital investment and maintenance needs.
Projects are now being selected for which Compact funds will be
targeted.
As you can ascertain from the above, we are building our
capabilities but it would be misleading to say they are all present and
we can fully comply. Thus, we encourage the continued cooperation,
support and technical assistance from U.S. Department of the Interior
so that we have an ongoing system and capabilities. This support will
not only improve Compact funding accountability but also allow us to
develop a more efficient and result-oriented public sector budgeting
and financial management system that provides quality public services
and a supportive and maintained infrastructure to facilitate private
sector development.
Question 7. How will information in the decisions, reports, and
audits of the joint economic management committees be shared with the
public in your nation?
Answer. The U.S.-RMI JEMFAC will have two members from the RMI
government. The recently established Economic Policy, Planning and
Statistics Office (EPPSO) will support the RMI JEMFAC members. EPPSO
will be responsible for not only organizing the government's inputs to
the JEMFAC but also in monitoring and providing public information. In
addition, the current negotiations of the Compact have occurred fully
in the public eye. The Compact Negotiations Office (which will
transition to become part of EPPSO), have held extensive public
meetings, provided information for the local press (newspaper, radio,
and television) and provided information on the Internet for public
access. This type of public liaison is envisioned to continue. In
addition, the local newspaper follows government activities quite
closely and will most likely continue to provide public information on
the government's activities as well as Compact implementation.
Question 8. What will be the impact on your nation of losing
eligibility for FEMA?
Answer. As you know and as we have attempted to explain in our
issue paper on the subject, FEMA has provided unparalleled assistance
to the RMI during the current term of the Compact. The amended Compact
provides some remedies to replace FEMA eligibility but does not fully
cover what has been provided in the past and leaves our disaster
sensitive islands vulnerable in terms of disaster mitigation and
rehabilitation.
The amended Compact's disaster-related elements are: FEMA provides
a $50,000 grant annually to help formulate a disaster preparedness plan
as well as assist related capacity building; the services of U.S. AID's
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) for disaster emergency
response; and the establishment of a disaster relief ``sinking fund''
with the United States contributing $200,000 annually and the RMI
government matching this contribution. While this assistance is
beneficial in the preparation and immediate response to disasters that
may occur, a gap is evident in terms of FEMA's mitigation and
infrastructure rehabilitation. This is especially important regarding
infrastructure since most of our country's infrastructure was, and will
continue to be, built with Compact funds. In essence, the disaster
rehabilitation is a way of protecting our joint investments.
In the past, FEMA has provided intermittent assistance for disaster
mitigation and rehabilitation. The problem is that if these resources
are no longer available, the RMI will: a) not be capable of rebuilding
destroyed infrastructure; or b) not be able to mitigate specific
disasters, such as a drought in 1998 for which FEMA provided much
needed assistance in 1998. The amount of disaster assistance provided
over the current term of the Compact (17 years) amounts to about $25
million. If the RMI had to provide these funds on its own either there
would have been an inadequate response resulting in loss of human life
and deteriorating living standards or the RMI's fiscal and economic
stability would be in jeopardy. This same caution would apply to the
amended Compact period if disaster rehabilitation for public
infrastructure and mitigation were not provided.
Question 9. What would be the impact on your nation if programs
that are outside the scope of the Compact--such as federal education
programs--are not continued?
Answer. U.S. Federal education programs have proven an integral,
not supplemental, component of the RMI's education system. Besides the
funding, the programs more importantly provide technical expertise,
models, guidelines, etc. that have allowed us to either strengthen our
own efforts or provide educational services that were absent.
If the Federal education programs, such as special education
(SEPPIE), bilingual and CARE under the No Child Left Behind Act, and
Head Start, are discontinued the RMI will be forced to redirect
financial, human and other resources to try to replace these programs
on its own or to eliminate the services these programs provide
altogether. In fact, there is no way the RMI government can fully
replace these programs simply because we would have to find $10-$12
million annually to do so. We simply do not have these financial
resources and this is despite our emphasis on strengthening education.
As indicated above, we are targeting a majority of our Compact grant
funding to education. Even with this significant added emphasis, we
could not replace these programs. As the U.S. Compact Negotiator has
stated, we did not negotiate our Title Two grant assistance package
thinking we had to replace these instrumental Federal education
programs. Thus, our education system would be downgraded and we would
ultimately reduce the quality of our future labor pool as well as
create youth and related downstream societal problems that will
negatively impact our living standards.
The eligibility of Pell grants is an even more significant issue.
Simply put, if Pell grants are not provided to Marshallese students,
the College of the Marshall Islands, a Land Grant institution, will
most likely cease to exist and there would be limited post secondary
opportunities for our students to attend U.S. colleges and
universities. The result would be a severely under-educated population,
no appropriate resources for our labor market, and inadequately
educated Marshallese emigrating to the United States.
Last, Mr. Chairman, while there has been criticism of the RMI in
the application of some of these education programs, no one has ever
looked at the extraordinary benefits that these programs have provided.
For instance, the Pell grant program, under the current Compact, has
educated a generation of Marshallese in the last 17 years--
significantly more of our youth have received post secondary education
in the past 17 than in the entire pre-Compact period. We are more than
willing to place more of a focus on education and measure our
performance to show real results. We should concentrate on building our
capabilities rather than taking away the resources that help us develop
one of our vital and one of our very few resources--our people.
Question 10. How will the Compact's immigration provisions impact
your nation?
Answer. Although changes to the Compact's immigration provisions
have been an issue of great contention and controversy with my
Government, we believe that the negotiated provisions deal with the
needs and concerns of both governments.
My Government has recently acquired new equipment and facilities to
change our current passports to a more secure system in compliance with
the new Compact immigration provisions. Implementation of this new
system will take some time as will implementation of the requirement
that all RMI citizens possess passports for purposes of entry into the
United States under the Compact.
One significant improvement in the current immigration regime under
the Compact is the elimination of the requirement of Employment
Authorization Documents (EAD) in order for Marshallese to work in the
United States. This has previously been a source of great frustration
to our people who have sought and gained employment in the United
States.
Long waiting periods for the issuance or renewal of EADs have
resulted in significant disruptions and economic hardships for
qualified Marshallese seeking or retaining employment in the United
States. We believe that this change will also benefit Marshallese who
choose to migrate to the United States in the future under the amended
Compact with an increased emphasis on education and health. In the long
term, we believe that those of our people who choose to migrate to the
United States will be in a better position to increase their
contributions to both the United States as well as the RMI's economy.
Mr. Chairman, my Government views the immigration provisions in the
Compact as one of the cornerstones of free association itself. These
immigration benefits are priceless. The new immigration provisions will
be successful only if both nations work together in good faith to
ensure fair and open implementation. It is crucial that any measures
promulgated by the United States under the new provisions be consistent
with the overall intent of the immigration provisions contained in
Section 141 of the amended Compact taking into account the ``special
and unique relationship'' between both countries and the right of
Marshallese to establish and maintain ``residence'' in the U.S. For our
part, my Government is prepared to take necessary and appropriate
measures to implement the new provisions in cooperation and
consultation with the U.S. in order to allay legitimate U.S. concerns.
Question 11. Have Kwajalein landowners signed an amended land use
agreement with the RMI government? If not, what steps are being taken
to ensure that the landowners enter into a land use agreement?
Answer. At present, the Kwajalein landowners have not signed an
amended Land Use Agreement (LUA) with the RMI government. The existing
LUA of 1982 is valid through 2016 under the terms of the existing
Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement (MUORA) for the use of
Kwajalein.
The RMI Government has on numerous occasions invited the Kwajalein
Negotiation Commission (KNC), a group that purports to represent all
the landowners of Kwajalein Atoll to discuss a new or amended LUA based
on the proposed MUORA extension. The KNC's response has been that it is
not interested in discussing the terms a new or amended LUA because in
their view, compensation under the extended MUORA is inadequate.
Unfortunately, given that the RMI will have national elections in
November of this year and the political sensitivity of these issues, we
do not anticipate that we will be in a position to have serious
discussions on a new or amended LUA until next year. In the interim, my
Government is prepared to honor the terms of the existing LUA of 1982,
and make payments to the landowners pursuant to that agreement until
such time as a new LUA is negotiated and concluded. Under these
circumstances, we are prepared to hold any additional funds which would
otherwise be payable to the Kwajalein landowners in a separate account
until such time that a new or amended LUA has been concluded.
In my Government's view, there are two aspects of the proposed
MUORA which if addressed would facilitate a timely conclusion to a new
or amended LUA in the future. First, as noted above in my answers to
previous questions, the application of full inflation to the MUORA
payments will allow these funds to maintain their real value and
prevent what over time will in effect be a rebate to the U.S.
Government for its use of Kwajalein. Second, we firmly believe that
extending the date of early termination from the present 2023 to 2030
will achieve the necessary long term commitment desired by both my
Government and the Kwajalein landowners in terms of providing an
adequate guaranteed additional term so we can work with the Kwajalein
landowners in the establishment of a trust fund as well as provide a
secure environment for increased investment at Kwajalein including a
new fiber optic cable with joint RMI government and U.S. Army
participation. The RMI Government remains fully committed to extending
the military use agreement for Kwajalein and will live up to its
obligations under this agreement.
______
U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC., September 25, 2003.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Following the July 15, 2003 hearing, at which
Director Albert V. Short testified, additional questions were submitted
for the record. Please find enclosed the responses to those questions.
If we can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate
to contact us.
Sincerely,
Paul V. Kelly,
Assistant Secretary Legislative Affairs.
[Enclosure.]
Responses of Albert V. Short to Questions From Senator Domenici
Question 1. Was the RMI Government told during the negotiations
process that Section 177 of the Compact and the related nuclear claims
issues were outside of the scope of the negotiations?
Answer. The Agreement Between the Government of the United States
and the Government of the Marshall Islands for the Implementation of
Section 177 of the Compact of Free Association (Section 1-77 Agreement)
came into effect in 1986 at the same time as the Compact and
``constitutes the full settlement of all claims, past, present and
future, of the Government, citizens, and nationals of the Marshall
Islands which are based upon, arise out of, or are in any way related
to the Nuclear Testing Program, and which are against the United
States, its agents, employees, contractors and citizens and nationals,
and of all claims for equitable of any other relief in connection with
such claims.'' Accordingly, there were no nuclear claims issues to be
negotiated and the Section 177 Agreement continues in effect as
reflected in section 462(a) of the U.S.-RMI Compact which lists the
Section 177 Agreement among those ``which shall remain in effect and
shall survive in accordance with their terms.''
Question 2. Did the Special Negotiator have authority to negotiate
changes to the Compact regarding nuclear claims issues?
If not, under what authority was the proposed paragraph 103(e)(3),
regarding section 177, added to the proposed amendments to the Compact?
Answer. As noted above in response to question (1), all nuclear
claims were settled in 1986 in the Section 177 Agreement and section
462(a) of the U.S.-RMI Compact reflects U.S. and RMI agreement that the
Section 177 agreement continues in effect. The Administration's
proposed paragraph 103(e)(3) regarding section 177 does not amend the
U.S.-RMI Compact. It updates P.L. 99-239 by noting that the payment
required under section (1) of 103(e) has been paid, and, at the same
time, to avoid any misunderstanding, makes clear that updating P.L. 99-
239 does not create any rights or obligations beyond those contained in
the original P.L. 99-239 and that the Section 177 Agreement was a full
and final settlement of the nuclear claims.
Question 3. Why were the Congress and the RMI government not
informed of the U.S. intention to modify Section 177?
Answer. As noted above in response to question (2), the U.S. did
not modify Section 177 and nothing in the Administration's proposed
legislation purports to do so or has the effect of doing so.
Question 4. What is the purpose and intent of the proposed new
Paragraph 103(e)(3)?
Answer. As noted above in response to question (2), paragraph
103(e)(3) updates P.L. 99-239 by noting that the payment required under
section (1) of 103(e) has been paid, and, at the same time, to avoid
any misunderstanding, makes clear that updating P.L. 99-739 does not
create any rights or obligations beyond those contained in the original
P.L. 99-239 and that the Section 177 Agreement was a full and final
settlement of the nuclear claims.
Question 5. Why does the proposed Paragraph 103(e)(3) not make
reference to Article IX of the Section 177 Agreement?
Answer. The proposed paragraph 103(e) is an update of P.L. 99-239
paragraph 103(g). As was appropriate, the latter did not make reference
to Article IX of the Section 177 Agreement and there was no reason to
do so in the revision the Administration has proposed.
This paragraph of the legislation mentions specific articles of the
Section 177 Agreement in connection with the full and final settlement
of all claims related to the nuclear testing program. Article IX of the
Section 177 Agreement spells out that the RMI can, under specific
circumstances, submit a request to Congress for provision for specified
injuries without commitment on the part of the United States that
Congress will authorize and appropriate funds for such injuries.
Article IX is not a basis for legally enforceable claims, and thus is
not relevant to the espousal provisions contained in paragraph 103(g)
of P.L. 99-239 or paragraph 103(e) of the Administration's proposal.
Question 6. Section 103(k), as proposed, states that the
Comptroller General shall have the authorities necessary to carry out
his responsibilities including the authority to audit all grants,
program assistance, and other assistance provided under the Compact.
Does this authority include the ability of the Comptroller General (or
the Comptroller's representative) to observe the Joint Economic
Management Committee and other processes that will determine the
allocation, objectives and performance standards affecting the use of
U.S. assistance under the proposed Compact, as amended?
Answer. No. The Comptroller General shall have the authority to
audit all grants, program assistance, and other assistance provided
under the U.S.-FSM and U.S.-RMI Compacts but not to observe the
intergovernmental deliberations or other processes by which the
allocation of the assistance, the objectives of the assistance and
performance standards are determined.
Question 7. Section 104(b)(2), as proposed, requires that up to
$250,000 shall be used by the RMI and FSM for the purpose of increasing
the machine-readability and security of passports. Given the authority
of the Government of the United States to attach grant conditions under
sections 212/213 (Accountability); and majority U.S. membership on the
Committee established pursuant to sections 213/214, is Sec. 104(b)(2)
necessary to assure such use of these funds?
Was this amendment negotiated with the FSM and RMI, or made
unilaterally by the U.S.?
Answer. This amendment, which allocates a sum of up to $250,000 per
country to develop secure travel documentation, is proposed as part of
the implementing U.S. legislation, rather than as an amendment to the
Compacts themselves. This provision is intended to set an appropriate
and necessary earmark on a one-time basis of a very small portion of
the massive U.S. assistance package to the FAS. Wherever possible, the
United States should strive to ensure that all countries issue
passports and travel documents that meet the highest possible standards
of integrity. The compacts allow FAS nationals to enter the United
States without a visa for stays that may be prolonged and involve
residence and employment. It is therefore appropriate and desirable
that the security level of their passports parallel, at a minimum,
those to go into effect for nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries,
who will be required to possess machine-readable passports even though
their visits are limited to 90 days for the sole purpose of tourist or
business visits. This amendment is intended to ensure expeditious
development of passport security infrastructure in the FAS.
Machine-readable passports are more secure, more difficult to
forge, enhance efficient and timely processing at busy ports of entry
such as Honolulu Airport, provide for the possibility of biometric
information to identify travelers more positively (and thereby help
avoid delay and complications to legitimate travelers that may result
from mistaken identity), and in general more thoroughly promote the
protection of the security of the United States and the FAS alike.
Allocation of up to $250,000 of U.S. assistance funds for this purpose
on a one-time basis per FAS nation is an excellent investment in
national security. Further, with respect to the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, a program of passport security funded in this way is
particularly appropriate given that nation's past history of selling
its passports to third country nationals. In other words, it is
important that such capacity be developed as soon as possible.
It has been the understanding of the Administration that the FAS
are not opposed to passport security, a matter that benefits all
involved nations, but have concerns about their ability to pay for more
secure passports themselves. Therefore, this provision provides that
the United States will pay, in the first year the Compacts, as amended,
are in effect, for such secure documents out of the U.S. assistance
funds specifically set aside, under the Compacts, as amended, for the
purposes of public capacity building--a sector which, by its terms (see
Article II of the Fiscal Procedures Agreements), specifically includes
immigration controls, which would include travel documentation
infrastructure. This amendment ensures that our countries' mutual
security needs will be addressed immediately upon entry into effect of
the Compacts, as amended.
Question 8. Given the authority of the Government of the United
States under proposed sections 212/213 (Accountability) and under
proposed sections 213/214 (Joint Economic Management and Financial
Accountability Committee), is paragraph 104(b)(8) [sic] necessary to
assure the development of the required information sharing capability?
Was this amendment negotiated with the FSM and RMI, or made
unilaterally by the U.S.?
Answer. The requirement, in paragraph 104(b)(3) of the proposed
legislation, that the RMI develop the capability to provide reliable
and timely information needed in enforcing criminal and security-
related grounds of admissibility and deportability is a very important
element in maintaining the security of our borders and the safety of
the U.S. public. The financial accountability provisions of the U.S.-
FSM and U.S.-RMI Compacts do not cover this issue.
Question 9. What was the basis for proposing the deletion of the
Statement of Congressional intent in Section 104(e) of P.L. 99-239
regarding adverse consequences of the Compact?
Answer. The Administration's proposed approach to addressing
Compact impact is different from that reflected in Section 104(e)(1).
That provision focuses only on the ``adverse consequences'' on Compact
migration, and does not encourage a balanced analysis in which the
costs incurred by U.S. jurisdictions as a result of Compact migration
are weighed against Compact benefits in such areas as economic
activity, tax revenue, labor supply and opportunities for local
contractors. Under the former process, each affected jurisdiction
attempted to justify its request for assistance by preparing reports
that focused only on the negative impacts of migration. This process
required each jurisdiction to expend a great deal of resources and
effort to produce reports that were not balanced and, ultimately, were
not very useful. The Administration approach would eliminate the need
for this wasteful process, and would instead provide a mandatory
appropriation for Compact impact that would be divided in a manner that
is simple, fair, transparent and practical.
Question 10. What was the basis for proposing to change Section
105(k) of P.L. 99-239 so than the availability of DOD medical
facilities for properly referred FAS citizens is no longer required?
Answer. There is no intent to change the access for citizens of the
Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens to Department of Defense (DOD)
medical facilities. The Compact made citizens of the FAS eligible for
referral to DOD medical facilities on a space available and
reimbursable basis. The same eligibility is continued in the Compact,
as amended.
During a final review of the proposed Administration legislation,
Administration legal advisors recommended a minor change to the
language of the original Compact Act, which, as written, could be read
incorrectly to make the provision of such medical care mandatory,
irrespective of space and cost considerations. Such a reading would be
inconsistent with actual practice and policy, which has been, for
practical reasons, to provide such medical care only on a space
available and cost reimbursable basis for FAS patients properly
referred by their governments. It was therefore necessary to modify
this language accordingly. This change to section 105(k) of P.L. 99-239
(section 105(i) in the Administration's proposal) was not coordinated
with the FSM or the RMI Governments because it accurately reflects the
current Status of Forces Agreements with those two governments as well
as the amended Status of Forces Agreements they just signed.
Question 11. What are the basis for proposing the deletion of the
Congressional requirement in section 105(b)(4) of P.L. 99-239 that the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of State shall serve on the
Interagency Group on Freely Associated States' Affairs?
Do you believe it would be appropriate to have such a Group without
the participation of these two officials or their representatives?
Answer. Under the Policy Coordinating Committee for East Asia
chaired by the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific
Affairs, there is a subgroup on the Compacts of Free Association
chaired by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs responsible for Freely Associated States Affairs. The
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs is also
on that Compact of Free Association subgroup as are representatives of
all other appropriate departments and agencies. All the agencies that
were previously represented under E.O. 12569 are represented. There is
no need for singling out any agencies in the legislation.
Question 12. Why are the last ten lines of section 105(c)(2) not
deleted in the proposal--they only relate to the time period 1986-
1989--What purpose do they now serve?
Answer. The Administration recognizes that section 105(c)(2) no
longer has any effect. The last ten lines of section 105(c)(2) make
this clear. The Administration intentionally did not propose to delete
the last ten lines because to do so would appear to give the section
new effect. The Administration's intentions could also be achieved by
deleting all of section 105(c)(2), but the Administration would not
support deleting only the last ten lines. It updates P.L. 99-239 by
noting that the payment required under section (1) of 103(e) has been
paid and at the same time makes clear that updating P.L. 99-239 does
not create any rights or obligations beyond those contained in the
original P.L. 99-239 and that the Section 177 Agreement was a full and
final settlement of the nuclear claims.
Question 13. Hasn't the United States paid all Indefinite Land Use
Debts as authorized under Section 105(n) of P.L. 99-239?
Answer. The Administration's financial obligations have been met,
including timely payments for land use.
Question 14. Section 105(h)(5) of P.L. 99-239 provided for the
extension of the Peel Grant Program, the Supplemental Educational
Opportunity Grant Program, and the College Work-Study Program. Why is
this paragraph proposed to be deleted?
Was this amendment negotiated with the FSM and RMI, or made
unilaterally by the U.S.?
Answer. Section 105(h)(5) of P.L. 99-239 was deleted because the
eligibility of the residents of the FSM and RMI for the Pell Grant
Program, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program, and
the College Work Study Program was addressed more recently in 1998
under the current provisions of title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965, as amended (P.L. 105-244).
Section 105(h)(5) is contained under Title I of P.L. 99-239, which
is purely domestic legislation, as opposed to the bilateral government-
to-government agreement contained in Title II of that public law.
Therefore, this provision was not negotiated with tine FSM or RMI.
Question 15. Which department of the U.S. Government do you intend
to Chair the Joint Economic Management Committees, State, the Interior,
or some other department?
Answer. For this year, the three U.S. representatives to the JEMCO/
JEMFAC will be Matthew Daley, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asia and the Pacific; David B. Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary
of the Interior for Insular Affairs; and William Steiger, Special
Assistant for International Affairs to the Secretary of Health and
Human Services. Decisions regarding subsequent representatives and
chairmanship will be made once the amended Compacts take effect.
Question 16. Is there a requirement that the three U.S. members on
the Joint Economic Management Committees concur in a U.S. position
before there is a vote of the Committee?
If not, wouldn't this pose a problem by not having a single U.S.
policy on the use of U.S. assistance?
If so, which U.S. department and official will have the authority
to resolve any internal disputes regarding U.S. policy?
Answer. The JEMCO and JEMFAC are decision-making bodies created by
the respective Compacts. Major decisions of the JEMCO and JEMFAC will
reflect judgments, based upon the best available information, regarding
the proper allocation of funds among the various eligible sectors and
the specific conditions that should apply to the grants. We expect much
of the work of the five members to be collegial and collaborative and
that all of the members of each joint committee, including the members
from the freely associated states, will work together to review,
discuss and decide on these issues. Where votes are taken, however, we
would expect a unified U.S. government policy to be followed by the
three members representing the U.S. government. Internal disputes
regarding U.S. policy will be resolved through usual interagency
processes: As with any other internal dispute regarding U.S. policy,
the ultimate authority resides with the President.
Question 17. In 2003, the source of annual financial assistance is
to shift from appropriations to the U.S. Department of the Interior to
proceeds of the Trust Funds. In both cases, the funds are to be used
for the purposes set forth in section 211.
a. Will officials of the Trust Fund negotiate grant terms and
conditions after 2023, or will that be a continuing responsibility of
the three U.S. members of the Joint Economic Management Committees?
Answer. After 2023, proceeds from the trust funds will provide an
annual source of revenue for assistance in the sectors described in
section 211 of the Compacts, as amended, or other sectors as mutually
agreed by the U.S. and the FSM and RMI respectively, with priorities in
education and health care (Article 3 of the Trust Fund agreements). The
U.S. will continue to have the three members on the joint economic
management committees and will have three voting members on the joint
trust fund committees, including the chairman. There is no requirement
that the proceeds from the trust funds be disbursed to the FSM and RMI
through grants; however, before any disbursements may be made to the
FSA and RMI, the joint trust fund committees are to determine the
fiscal procedures, including remedies, to be used in implementing the
trust fund agreements, and the fiscal procedures agreements (which
govern the grants under section 211) are to be the basis for such
fiscal procedures, unless otherwise agreed by the U.S. and the FSM or
RMI, respectively.
Question b.Who will sign the grants on behalf of the United States
after 2023?
Answer. As noted above in answer to 17(a), there is no requirement
that the proceeds from the trust funds be disbursed to the FSM and RMI
through grants.
Question c. How will funds flow from the Trust Fund to the FAS--
will they pass through the Department of the Interior?
Answer. They will not pass through the Department of the Interior.
They will be disbursed to the governments of the FSM and RMI in
accordance with the Trust Fund Agreements.
Question d. How will the funds be invested?
Answer. The U.S., FSM and RMI have signed subsidiary agreements
regarding the respective trust funds. These agreements provide that
each trust fund will have a five-member governing body (three of the
members are to be U.S. officers); a ``trustee'' selected from among
trust institutions organized in the U.S. with a net worth in excess of
$100 million, at least ten years experience as a custodian of financial
assets, and experience in managing trust funds of at least $500 million
that will have legal custody of the funds; and an investment advisor
that will advise the governing body on investment decisions. The trust
fund subsidiary agreements contemplate investment in a full range of
investment vehicles, including all stocks, bonds, and other securities
issued or recognized in any United States stock exchange.
An investment strategy will be developed, respectively, by each
governing body, with the help of its investment advisor. Until the
governing bodies take on their official duties and consult with their
investment advisors, it would be premature to predict the specifics
with regard to their investment strategy and asset allocation.
Question 18. What is the basis for providing an inflation
adjustment based on
2/3 of a percent change in the U.S. GDP Implicit Price Deflator, under
sections 217/218, as opposed to a full percent change?
Answer. The Compact, approved by Congress as the Compact of Free
Association Act of 1985, established the formula for indexing certain
portions of tine Compact annual assistance and compensation based on
the two thirds calculation. Over the past seventeen years of Compact
funding, none of the assistance and compensation has ever been indexed
to the full rate of inflation.
In formulating its policy for providing another twenty years of
such assistance and compensation, the Administration decided to retain
the formula from the original Compact. The purpose of the partial,
rather than full, adjustment is to contribute to the transition of the
FSM and RMI away from dependence on U.S. assistance.
Question 19. What will be the investment strategy for the Trust
Fund--What are the permitted and prohibited types of investment and who
will be making the investment decisions?
Answer. Please see the answer to question 17(d) above.
Question 20. What was the basis for using the United States Gross
Domestic Product Implicit Price Deflator for the inflation adjustment
instead of the Consumer Price Index which is the indicator used for
Social Security?
Answer. The Compact, approved by Congress as the Compact of Free
Association Act of 1985, established the formula for indexing certain
portions of the Compact annual assistance and compensation based on the
two thirds of the United States Gross Domestic Product Implicit Price
Deflator calculation. In formulating its policy for providing another
twenty years of such assistance and compensation, the Administration
decided to retain formula from the original Compact. The purpose of the
partial, rather than full, adjustment is to contribute to the
transition of the FSM and RMI away from dependence on U.S. assistance.
Question 21. Section 232 of the proposal states that the
Comptroller General of the U.S. shall have such powers and authorities
as described in sections 102(c) and 110(c) of P.L. 99-239, but the
proposal deletes these two subsections and replaces them with
102(b)(1). Is a correction needed to clarify Comptroller General
authority?
Answer. As signed, the amended Compacts make reference to P.L. 99-
239. Once P.L. 99-239 is revised, we would expect to reach agreement
with the FSM and RMI to make a technical correction to section 232 of
the amended Compacts.
Question 22. Section 103(d)(1) of P.L. 99-239 states that it is the
policy of the U.S. Congress that the RMI Government is required to pay
landowners of Kwajalein in accordance with the October 19, 1982 land
use agreement. Why does the proposal delete this provision?
Answer. Section 103(d)(1) of P.L. 99-239 is obsolete. The U.S. and
RMI have signed an amended Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement
(MUORA). The October 19, 1982 land use agreement (LUA) does not reflect
the amendments to the MUORA. The Government of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands needs to reach an agreement with the Kwajalein
landowners that reflects the changes to the MUORA. The policy of the
United States is that both the government of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands and the Kwajalein landowners must fulfill their
obligations with respect to U.S. use of Kwajalein under the revised
MUORA.
Question 23. Section 103(d)(2) of P.L. 99-239 presents
Congressional policy guidance to the Government of the United States in
the event that the RMI Government fails to make land use payments. Why
does the proposal delete this policy guidance?
Answer. See answer to question 22, above.
Question 24. The current land use agreement between the RMI and the
landowners has a term that extends until 2016. If Congress were to
approve the proposed Compact amendments and the proposed MUORA changes,
would that not, in effect, alter the terms of this existing land use
agreement and possibly trigger a legal dispute between the parties to
that existing and on-going agreement?
Answer. The U.S. is not a party to the Land Use Agreement (LUA).
The LUA is between the RMI Government and the relevant landowners on
whose land the U.S. defense sites are located. Nobody but the parties
to the existing LUA can make changes to it. It is true, however, that
if the proposed Compact amendments and MUORA changes take effect
without the Government of the Republic of the Marshall islands and
landowners having reached an agreement that reflects the Compact and
MUORA amendments, there will be a shortcoming between, on the one hand,
U.S. and GRMI rights and responsibilities under the amended Compact and
MUORA and, on the other, the GRMI and landowner rights and
responsibilities under the LUA. The RMI Government has pledged to work
out an arrangement with the Kwajalein landowners to revise the LUA to
reflect the U.S.-RMI amended Compact and MUORA.
Question 25. When Congress enacted the Compact in 1986 it
compensated the FSM and RMI for the loss of certain tax and trade
benefits that had been negotiated. This compensation included the
extension of several domestic programs identified in Section 111(a) of
P.L. 99-139.
a. in these proposed amendments, what is the basis for the
availability of these compensatory programs from ``shall'' be made
available to ``are authorized'' to be made available?
b. Were these amendments negotiated with the FSM and RMI, or made
unilaterally by the U.S.?
Answer. The Administration's proposal reflects the view this
provision should authorize, but not mandate, availability of the listed
domestic programs. This also reflects the status of the FSM and RMI as
foreign sovereign states and to further their transition away from
their former treatment as territories covered by U.S. domestic
programs.
Section 111(a) is contained under Title I of P.L. 99-239, which is
purely domestic legislation, as opposed to the bilateral government-to-
government agreement contained in Title II of that public law.
Therefore, this provision was not negotiated with the FSM or RMI.
Question 26. As a further part of this compensation package for the
loss of tax and trade benefits, the Congress authorized, in Sec.
111(d), up to $60 million in further compensation and provided that the
FSM and RMI may submit reports to the Congress concerning the overall
impact of the loss.
a. In these proposed amendments, what is the basis for repealing
this authorization for additional compensation?
b. Were these amendments negotiated with the FSM and RMI, or made
unilaterally by the U.S.?
Answer. The Administration is not proposing to repeal this
authorization. The FSM and RMI have failed to make the case for
compensation under this provision. The Administration proposal extends
the authorization to give the FSM and RMI one final year in which to
make their case.
Section 111(d) is contained under Title I of P.L. 99-239, which is
purely domestic legislation, as opposed to the bilateral government-to-
government agreement contained in Title II of that public law.
Therefore, this provision was not negotiated with the FSM or RMI.
Appendix II
Additional Material Submitted for the Record
----------
State of Hawaii,
Executive Chambers,
Honolulu, HI, July 7, 2003.
Mr. Nikolao Pula,
Director, Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior,
Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Pula: I am sending you our annual report * on the impact
of the Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of
Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of
Palau, for your transmittal to Congress in accordance with section
103(e)(3) of P.L. 99-239, as amended by P.L. 106-504.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Retained in committee files.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hawaii continues to feel a tremendous pressure on our resources as
a result of the Compact. The issues addressed in our previous annual
reports continue to be problematic, and the strain on our limited
resources is growing as migration to Hawaii from the Compact nations
increases.
To put in perspective the impact of the Compact migrants on the
State, it is important to remember that Hawaii has one of the highest
costs of living in the country. According to a recent study
commissioned by the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women,
many families in Hawaii cannot afford housing, food, childcare, or
other basic needs.\1\ As you know, a high percentage of the Compact
migrant population are poorly educated and live in poverty,\2\ and are
thus part of the additional demand on the already strained social
support systems of the State.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Self-Sufficiency Standard Report, dated April 9, 2003, by Diana
Pearce, Ph.D. with Jennifer Brooks; a project of the Wider
Opportunities for Women program; available on-line at
www.sixstrategies.org.
\2\ General Accounting Office, Foreign Relations: Migration From
Micronesian Nations Has Had Significant Impact on Guam, Hawaii, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, October 2001.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please also keep in mind that the data included in this report is
not comprehensive and can really only be considered a portion of the
actual costs to the State. For instance, there is evidence of increased
need for outreach services by the Honolulu Police Department to
identify and respond to gang-related problems within the migrant
communities, and hours expended by social workers to address concerns
of child abuse and neglect and domestic violence among the migrant
populations.\3\ These costs are not included in the data because the
nature of the problem is not easily quantified, or they are incidental
to other costs not the result of direct financial aid to the Compact
migrants. Despite the imprecise and anecdotal nature of the measure of
these costs, they are nevertheless real costs to the State in terms of
time and resources expended toward servicing the Compact migrant
population.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ These and other ``hidden'' costs were discussed in meetings
held on April 21, 2003 with various state and private agencies,
coordinated by the Department of the Attorney General and staff members
for the Congressional delegates from Hawaii .
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For 2002, Hawaii expended over $32 million in assistance to Compact
migrants. Since we began reporting in 1997, Hawaii has identified over
$140 million of cumulative financial impact to the State. While I am
glad to note that we received $4 million in 2001 as a grant to the
Department of Education, clearly that is nowhere near the support
needed in order to continue providing the current level of services to
the migrant population.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The Department of Education alone has reported an accumulated
total of more than $96 million based on data compiled since 1988. (See,
Exhibit A-1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compact migrants continue to have an extraordinary impact on the
education system in Hawaii. The number of Compact migrants in 2002
increased 32% in the primary and secondary school systems. This
resulted in a cost of over $18 million for the academic year 2002-2003.
(Exhibit A-1). That figure is based on an average cost to educate a
child in the public schools, and does not include the additional costs
for special services required for thus population. For instance, a
majority of the migrant students come to the classroom with inadequate
preparation and poor English language skills; 1,721 of the 2,381
Compact migrant students identified in our public schools were enrolled
in the English as a Second Language Program. (Exhibits A-1 to A-2).
The demands on our higher education system increased as well. For
fiscal year 2002, there were 669 students from Compact nations enrolled
in the University of Hawaii system.\5\ These students pay resident
tuition rather than non-resident tuition and, as a result, the
University of Hawaii realized $1,346,514 in foregone revenue for the
academic year. (Exhibits B-1 to B-4). Paying non-resident tuition would
be prohibitive for these students coming from such poor families.
Requiring them to pay non-resident tuition would effectively bar them
from attending college.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ The University of Hawaii system includes UH-Manoa, UH-Hilo, UH-
West Oahu, and the community colleges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
After education, the Department of Human Services (``DHS'') shows
the next highest impact, providing a broad range of social services to
Compact migrants. The largest expenditures reported by DHS include
Financial Assistance ($4,521,240), and Medical Assistance ($6,746,008).
(Exhibit C-1). The number of Compact migrants DHS reports servicing for
2002 increased almost 20% from the previous year. (Exhibit C-2).
The costs to the Department of Health (``DOH'') also continue to
rise as DOH provides health care services to an increasing number of
Compact migrants, many of whom have severe and specialized health care
needs. DOH reports major expenditures for the Communicable Disease
Branch ($490,576), Community Health Services ($298,244); and contracts
to provide medical care to the uninsured ($240,000). (Exhibit D-1).
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (``DLIR'') also
provides social services to a growing number of Compact migrants: DLIR
provides services primarily through two of its state funded programs,
the Employment Core Services for Immigrants (ECSI), and the Youth
Services for Immigrants (YSI). ECSI provides specialized employment
services that address the particular employment needs of immigrants,
including language, acculturation, job preparation, and search
assistance, and family support services to wage earners. The YSI
program provides bi-lingual services for at-risk immigrant youth to
assist low-income immigrant youth in: 1) overcoming cultural and
language barriers in school, at home, and in their community; 2)
improving their understanding and adaptation to American culture; and
3) preparing older youth for employment.
For fiscal year 2001, DLIR estimates it served 127 Compact migrants
at a cost of over $60,000.\6\ For fiscal year 2002, the cost is
estimated at over $96,000, and includes services provided to 101
Compact migrants. (Exhibit E). Current observations from DLIR indicate
that both the number of Compact migrants and the cost of servicing them
are expected to increase for fiscal year 2003.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The reported figure is believed to be lower than what was
actually expended, as some of the contracted service providers were not
able to provide data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The increasing number of migrants continues to impact the State's
criminal justice system. According to figures provided by the Hawaii
Criminal Justice Data Center, 512 adult Compact migrants were arrested
on a total of 759 charges. Those arrests resulted in 160 convictions on
a total of 203 charges.\7\ (Exhibit F).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Specific arrest and conviction information is not available for
Compact migrant juveniles in the Hawaii court system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department of Public Safety has estimated a cost of $300,000
for the 64 incarcerated Compact migrant adults. The Office of Youth
Services reports that three minors from Compact nations were
incarcerated at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility in 2002, at a
cost of over $59,000. (Exhibit C-5). Neither the adult nor juvenile
data takes into account the specialized needs that Compact migrants may
have for support services within the corrections systems. Additional
unreported costs may include counseling, probation, drug treatment, and
court ordered domestic violence education.
The increase in cases involving Compact migrants before the courts
has increased the need for interpreters for those Compact migrants who
tend to come with a background of poor education, and generally have
limited English language skills. The State of Hawaii Judiciary
indicates that identifying qualified interpreters for Compact migrants
is difficult due to the close-knit communities formed by the migrants,
which results in a relatively small pool of neutral interpreters.
Retention of the qualified interpreters is also a problem due to the
transient nature of the migrant population. For 2001, the Judiciary
reported a cost of $5,930 for interpreting services to Compact
migrants. That figure jumped dramatically in 2002, to $14,560. (Exhibit
G).
I understand that the Department of the Interior is proposing an
annual compensation package of $15 million to address the currently
nonexistent reimbursement to the State. I am also aware, however, that
the amount proposed would be a small proportion of the total annual
costs, and would not adequately remediate the previously reported
expenditures. Additionally, I understand the $15 million would be
shared proportionally with Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Marianas Islands, based upon a census of the Compact migrants in each
of our jurisdictions.
Naturally, I would support any measure of relief that the Federal
government would consider. However, I request that the proposed
appropriation be increased to take into consideration the actual cost
to the State, realizing that in many instances they are most likely
underreported due to inherent problems of record-keeping and the fact
that many of the costs are not easily quantifiable or reportable. The
proposal should also consider the increase in the number of migrants to
Hawaii as well as the increased cost to service more of the Compact
migrants which we expect in future. Finally, the proposal should also
include an appropriate amount to address the enormous past expenditures
that have strained our State's limited resources.
In closing, I urge the Congress to honor the terms of the Compacts
intended to alleviate adverse effects on the State, and to act
``sympathetically and expeditiously'' in adopting the proposal once it
is made. I request that Congress assist Hawaii by appropriating enough
money to adequately compensate the State for the costs already incurred
in meeting the needs of the Compact migrants, and for those costs
expected to be incurred in the future, in order that we can continue to
provide services to the Compact migrants, and to all of the people of
Hawaii.
Sincerely,
James R. Aiona Jr.,
Acting Governor.
for
Linda Lingle,
Governor of Hawaii.
______
Statement of the Peoples of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap and Utrik
i. introduction
Mr. Chairman, thank you for giving the peoples of the four atolls
of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap and Utrik the opportunity to testify on
House Joint Resolution (H.J.R.) 63, a bill to reauthorize the Compacts
of Free Association with Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.
The most remarkable aspect of the testimony of Mr. Short, the U.S.
Compact negotiator, is that a Congressman or legislative aide new to
this area can read the entire statement and never realize that the
United States conducted 67 atmospheric nuclear tests in the Marshall
Islands between 1946 and 1958, that some of our people were irradiated
by fallout and others moved from their islands, and that lingering
radiation has forced thousands of us to remain exiles from our atolls
nearly 60 years after the testing program began.
The nuclear legacy in the Marshall Islands remains the proverbial
elephant at the garden party. It's there, everyone knows it, but no one
talks about it. Not one word appears on this topic in the U.S.
Government's statement. Indeed, this opportunity to submit testimony
today before Congress constitutes a greater recognition to the peoples
of the four atolls than that accorded by the executive branch, which,
under both the Clinton and Bush Administrations, has not seen fit to
include issues from the nuclear testing program in the Compact
negotiations. The legacy of these tests, like radiation, still lingers
in the islands after more than half a century and will not go away.
The silence of the Executive Branch on nuclear claims in its
statement before this Committee is consistent with the refusal of the
U.S. negotiators to address nuclear claims issues in the Compact
renewal negotiations. What is not consistent is that after imposing a
blackout on these issues in the negotiations, the U.S. Government is
attempting in its legislative proposal to insert language that is
prejudicial to the orderly implementation of the nuclear claims
settlement still in effect under Section 177 of the Compact. The
failure of the Administration to disclose this to the Committee in its
testimony is surprising, to say the least, and seems to us to do a
disservice both to the Congress and to the Compact renewal approval
process.
ii. background on nuclear testing program in the marshall islands
The saga of the U.S. nuclear testing program in the Marshall
Islands has been recounted in great detail in dozens of government
reports, Congressional hearings, histories and films. A brief summary
is as follows: The people of Bikini were moved off their atoll by the
U.S. Navy in 1946 to facilitate Operation Crossroads, the world's
fourth and fifth atomic bomb explosions. The people of Enewetak were
moved off their islands the next year to prepare for a second series of
atomic tests. In the 12-year period from 1946-1958, when the Marshall
Islands was a United Nations Trust Territory administered by the United
States, the United States conducted 67 atomic and hydrogen atmospheric
bomb tests in islands, with a total yield of 108 megatons, which is 98
times greater than the total yield of all the U.S. tests in Nevada. Put
another way, the total yield of the tests in the Marshall Islands was
equivalent to 7,200 Hiroshima bombs. That works out to an average of
more than 1.6 Hiroshima bombs per day for the 12-year nuclear testing
program in the Marshalls.
Radioactive fallout from one of those tests--the March 1, 1954
Bravo shot at Bikini--drifted in the wrong direction and irradiated the
236 inhabitants of Rongelap and Utrik Atolls as well as the crew of a
Japanese fishing vessel. Bravo, the largest U.S. nuclear test in
history with an explosive force equal to nearly 1,000 Hiroshima-type
atomic bombs, touched off a huge international controversy that
eventually led to the U.S. moratorium on atmospheric nuclear testing
and the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.\1\ President
Eisenhower told a press conference in late March that U.S. scientists
were ``surprised and astonished'' at the test, and a year later the
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) admitted that about 7,000 square miles
downwind of the shot ``was so contaminated that survival might have
depended upon prompt evacuation of the area. . . .'' \2\ Put another
way, if Bravo had been detonated in Washington, DC, and the fallout
pattern had headed in a northeast direction, the entire population from
Washington to New York would have been killed, while near-lethal levels
of fallout would stretch from New England to the Canadian border.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See, e.g., Peter Pringle and James Spigelman, The Nuclear
Barons (Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1981) pp. 243-59.
\2\ New York Times, March 25, 1954, pp. 1, 18.
\3\ Jonathan M. Weisgall, Operation Crossroads: The Atomic Tests at
Bikini Atoll (Naval Institute Press 1994), pp. 304-05.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The statistics 57 years after testing began:
f The Bikinians have been exiled from their homeland since 1946,
except for a brief period after President Johnson announced in
1968 that Bikini was safe and the people could return. Many of
the islanders returned and lived there until 1978, when medical
tests by U.S. doctors revealed that the people had ingested
what may have been the largest amounts of radioactive material
of any known population, and the people were moved off
immediately. What went wrong? An AEC blue-ribbon panel, in
estimating the dose the returning Bikinians would receive,
relied on an erroneous calculation by one of their scientists,
which threw off their calculations by a factor of 100. ``We
just plain goofed,'' the scientist told the press.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ Los Angeles Times, July 23, 1978, p. 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
f The people of Enewetak were exiled from the southern islands of
their atoll for 33 years, and approximately half the population
(the Enjebi people) still cannot return to their home islands
in the northern part of Enewetak Atoll because those islands
remain too radioactive 56 years after they were first moved.
f Today, a nuclear waste site containing over 110,000 cubic yards of
radioactive contaminants, known as the Runit Dome, remains on
Enewetak Atoll.
f At least four islands at Bikini and five at Enewetak were
completely or partially vaporized during the testing program,
and many others were heavily contaminated with radiation.
f Although they were 100 miles from Bikini, the people of Rongelap
received a radiation dose from Bravo equal to that received by
Japanese people less than two miles from ground zero at
Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They displayed all the classic symptoms
of radiation poisoning--hair loss, skin lesions, and lowered
white blood cell counts. All but two of the nineteen
Rongelapese who were under ten years old at the time of Bravo
developed abnormal thyroid nodules, and there has been one
leukemia death.\5\ The people were moved off the islands for
three years after the Bravo shot, and they moved off again in
1985 amid concerns about radiation dangers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Edwin J. Martin and Richard H. Rowland, Castle Series (Defense
Nuclear Agency Report No. 6035F 1954), pp. 3, 235; Robert A. Conard et
al., A Twenty-Year Review of Medical Findings in a Marshallese
Population Accidentally Exposed to Radioactive Fallout (Brookhaven
National Laboratory 1974), pp. 59-76, 81-86).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
f The 236 inhabitants of Rongelap and Utrik have required regular
medical care by U.S. doctors since the time of the Bravo shot.
f The people of Utrik were returned to their home atoll a mere three
months after Bravo and were exposed to extremely high levels of
residual fallout in the ensuing years. This unnecessary
exposure led to many thyroid problems and other cancers.
No inkling of these facts is even suggested by the U.S.
Government's testimony. As far as the U.S. negotiators are concerned,
these events have been previously dealt with and are now relegated to
the trash bin of history.
iii. 1980s court cases and the compact
In the 1980s, the peoples of the four atolls and other island
groups brought lawsuits against the United States for property and
other damages totaling more than $5 billion. In the Bikini case, for
example, in which more than 300 pleadings were filed in seven years,
the trial judge denied the U.S. Government's motion to dismiss the case
and set a trial date before the U.S. and Republic of the Marshall
Islands (RMI) Governments signed the Compact and the subsidiary Section
177 Agreement, which established a $150 Nuclear Fund, income from which
was earmarked for the peoples of the four atolls and for other programs
related to the legacy of the nuclear testing program ``as a means to
address past, present, and future consequences of the Nuclear Testing
Program.'' \6\ In addition, approximately $3 million annually of the
income generated by the Nuclear Fund went to the Nuclear Claims
Tribunal, which was established under the Agreement with ``jurisdiction
to render final determination upon all claims past, present and future,
of the Government, citizens, and nationals of the Marshall Islands
which are based on, arise out of, or are in any way related to the
Nuclear Testing Program.'' \7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Compact Section 177 Agreement, Article I, Section 2.
\7\ Id., Article IV, Section 1(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Section 177 Agreement also provides that it constitutes the
full settlement of all claims, ``past, present and future,'' of
Marshall Islanders and their government against the United States
arising out of the testing program, and another section provides that
all such claims pending in U.S. courts are to be dismissed.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\Id., Articles X and XII.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Faced with these provisions, Judge Harkins of the U.S. Claims Court
dismissed the nuclear cases after the Compact went into effect, but he
emphasized that ``in none of these cases has Congress abolished
plaintiffs' rights. The Compact recognizes the United States
obligations to compensate for damages from the nuclear testing program
and the Section 177 Agreement establishes an alternative tribunal [the
Nuclear Claims Tribunal] to provide such compensation.'' \9\ He
repeated this point several more times: ``Plaintiffs are not deprived
of every forum. An alternative tribunal to provide compensation has
been provided.'' \10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\Juda v. United States, 13 Cl.Ct. 667, 688 (1987).
\10\ Id. at 689.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this regard, Judge Harkins recognized the obvious point that
Congress cannot close the doors of U.S. courts for a constitutional
taking claim. As the noted constitutional scholar Gerald Gunther wrote,
``[A]ll agree that Congress cannot bar all remedies for enforcing
federal constitutional rights.'' \11\ Congress can, however, close the
doors of U.S. courts if it provides for an alternative method of
compensation, but the exercise of this power, as noted by the U.S.
Supreme Court, is subject to the overriding requirement that when
property is taken for public use ``there must be at the time of taking
`reasonable, certain and adequate provision for obtaining
compensation.' '' \12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Gunther, ``Congressional Power to Curtail Federal Court
Jurisdiction: An Opinionated Guide to the Ongoing Debate,'' 36
Stan.L.Rev. 895, 921 n. 113 (1984).
\12\ Blanchette v. Connecticut General Insurance Corp., 419 U.S.
102, 124-25 (1974), quoting Cherokee Nation v. Southern Kansas Railroad
Co., 135 U.S. 641, 659 (1890).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For example, the plaintiff in Dames & Moore v. Reagan contended
that the suspension of its pending claims against Iran under the
agreement for the release of the U.S. hostages was an uncompensated
taking. It also argued that the alternative forum provided by that
agreement, the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal, would not provide
``reasonable, certain and adequate provision for obtaining
compensation,'' because some claims might not be paid in full or not
even be adjudicated. The Supreme Court found that the U.S.-Iran
Tribunal was an adequate alternative forum and therefore upheld the
agreement, noting, however, that the Claims Court remained open under
the Tucker Act ``to the extent petitioner believes it has suffered an
unconstitutional taking by the suspension of the claims.'' \13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ 453 U.S. 654, 689 (1981).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Judge Harkins agreed with this standard, but he found that the
``settlement procedure, as effectuated through the Section 177
Agreement, provides a `reasonable' and `certain' means for obtaining
compensation.'' However, he was not so sure about whether the procedure
would provide adequate funding: ``Whether the compensation in the
alternative procedures . . . is adequate is dependent upon the amount
and type of compensation that ultimately is provided through these
procedures.'' In essence, he imposed an ``exhaustion of remedies'' test
for the claimants: Because the Nuclear Claims Tribunal was not yet in
existence, he held that ``[w]hether the settlement provides `adequate'
compensation cannot be determined at this time. . . . This alternative
procedure for compensation cannot be challenged judicially until it has
run its course.'' \14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ Juda v. United States, supra, 13 Cl.Ct. at 689.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
reached a similar conclusion: ``Congress intended the alternative
procedure [the Nuclear Claims Tribunal] to be utilized, and we are
unpersuaded that judicial intervention is appropriate at this time on
the mere speculation that the alternative remedy may prove to be
inadequate.'' \15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ People of Enewetak, Rongelap and other Marshall Islands Atolls
v. United States, 864 F.2d 134, 136 (Ct. App. Fed. Cir, 1988).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fifteen years have passed since that court's decision, and history
has shown that the peoples of the four atolls were right: The Nuclear
Claims Tribunal has ``run its course'' and is not capable of providing
adequate compensation. After lengthy trials, it awarded $386 million
the people of Enewetak for loss of use, restoration, and hardship, and
$563 million to the people of Bikini, but it has paid out less than
one-half of one percent of these awards. The Tribunal, which has also
paid out nearly $67 million in personal injury awards, has less than
$10 million on hand, and it has yet to issue awards in the just-
concluded cases brought by the peoples of Rongelap and Utrik. These
circumstances are different from those in the Dames & Moore case, where
the alternative system of relief--the U.S.-Iran Claims Tribunal--was
appropriate because it was ``capable of providing meaningful relief.''
\16\ Here, the remedy was simply not adequate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ Dames & Moore, 453 U.S. at 687.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyone involved in the political status talks in the 1970s and
1980s knows that the $150 million payment under Section 177 was just
that--a political payment to help redress the nuclear legacy. No one at
that time knew the full costs of cleanup, much less the extent of
radiological illnesses and damage or the value of past takings of land.
That is precisely why the Nuclear Claims Tribunal was established. Its
role has been to assess the extent of damage and injury from the U.S.
testing program.
iv. bona fides of the nuclear claims tribunal
Before discussing a possible Congressional solution to this
dilemma, it may be useful to address head-on two contentious questions:
First, was the Nuclear Claims Tribunal process valid or did the ``home
field'' advantage result in skewed and inflated awards? Second, how
should Congress deal with what some describe as the ``sticker shock''
of these awards?
As to the first question, an independent investigation of the
Nuclear Claims Tribunal conducted by former U.S. Attorney General Dick
Thornburgh (``Thornburgh Report'') concluded in January 2003 that:
f The Nuclear Claims Tribunal fulfilled the basic functions
contemplated by the U.S. Congress under the Compact.
f Tribunal personnel were qualified to perform their functions and
have had access to the resources they needed.
f The Tribunal has conducted its business in an orderly manner,
following rules and procedures that closely resemble those used
by legal systems in the United States.
f Property damage claims before the Tribunal have been asserted
through class action vehicles similar to those used in the
United States, with litigation ``characterized by the kind of
legal briefing, expert reports, and motion practice that would
be found in many U.S. court proceedings,'' and hearing
procedures and rules of evidence that resemble those used in
administrative proceedings in the United States.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\17\ Dick Thornburgh et al., ``The Nuclear Claims Tribunal of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands: An Independent Examination and
Assessment of its Decision-Making Process'' (Kirkpatrick & Lockhart,
LLP 2003), p. 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
f The Tribunal relied heavily on U.S. legal authorities in reaching
its decisions on damages issues.
f Although the Marshall Islands parliament, the Nitijela,
occasionally sought to influence the Tribunal's work,
particularly in expanding the range of persons eligible to
receive personal injury awards, ``any such interference had not
more than a modest impact on the total dollar amount of the
Tribunal's awards.'' \18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
v. nuclear claims tribunal awards for loss of use and
restoration of lands
As to the amount of the Tribunal's awards, we wish to bring the
following points to the attention of this Committee:
f The people of Bikini presented cleanup options that ranged as high
as $1 billion, involving the scraping of all the radioactive
soil off the atoll and replacing it with non-radioactive soil.
The restoration option selected by the Tribunal--scraping the
soil only in the living area of Bikini Island and treating the
rest with potassium-rich fertilizer to block the uptake of
radioactive material--is exactly the cleanup method recommended
by the U.S. Department of Energy's environmental contractor,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the cost was set at
just over $250 million.
f These cleanup costs must be considered in the context of the cost
of the tests themselves. The Defense Department costs alone
just for the two shots of Operation Crossroads were $1.3
billion in 1996 dollars, and total Defense Department costs for
all shots in the Marshall Islands exceeded $4.3 billion.\19\
(All dollar amounts in this paragraph are in 1996 dollars.)
Civilian costs are harder to calculate, but some numbers are
known. For example, in transferring its materials, facilities
and properties to the new AEC in 1946, the Manhattan Project
spent $3.1 billion to manufacture nine new atomic bombs and
continue research into thermonuclear weapons.\20\ The AEC spent
over $3.5 billion from July 1, 1946 through June 30, 1947,\21\
and from 1948-1958, the AEC spent approximately $106 billion on
production research, development, and testing of nuclear
weapons.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ Stephen I. Schwartz, ed., Atomic Audit: The Costs and
Consequences of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Since 1940 (Brookings Institution
Press 1998), pp. 101-03.
\20\ Id. at 61-62.
\21\ Id. at 63.
\22\ Id. at 65-75.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
f The United States never questioned the cost or value of the nuclear
tests at Bikini and Enewetak, because they assured U.S. nuclear
superiority over the Soviet Union and led to immediate savings
of billions of dollars in the Defense Department budget in the
late 1940s and 1950s. Just the first two tests at Bikini led to
a greater emphasis on atomic warfare than on more expensive
conventional weapons and troops.\23\ As the AEC told Congress:
``Each of the tests involved a major expenditure of money,
manpower, scientific effort and time. Nevertheless, in
accelerating the rate of weapons development, they saved far
more than their cost.'' \24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ See, e.g., Weisgall, Operation Crossroads, supra n. 3 at 279-
87.
\24\ U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Thirteenth Semiannual Report of
the Atomic Energy Commission (1953), p. 18.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
f Congress clearly knew that the $150 million trust fund under the
Section 177 Agreement was a political number arrived at to
settle the Claims Court lawsuits, because it also left the door
open for other funding programs for the four atolls in the
Compact. The Compact Section 177 Agreement limits the Nuclear
Fund to $150 million and states that it constitutes the full
settlement of all claims arising out of the nuclear testing
program, but after passage of this language Congress continued
to fund various programs. For example:
Section 103(h)(2) of the Compact of Free Association Act
(Pub. L. 99-239) (the ``Act'') established the Enewetak Food
and Agriculture Program, which Congress has funded for 17 years
at an annual amount of between $1.1 and $1.7 million because it
recognized the challenge of providing food to the Enewetak
people. That program involves soil rehabilitation and
revegetation of the land with traditional food bearing crops,
importation of food, and the operation of a vessel to bring the
food and agricultural materials to Enewetak.
Section 103 (i) of the Act authorized funding for the
radiological cleanup of Rongelap Island, and Congress
subsequently appropriated $40 million for a Rongelap
resettlement trust fund.
Article VI of the Section 177 Agreement provides that the
United States ``reaffirms its commitment to provide funds for
the resettlement of Bikini Atoll . . . at a time which cannot
now be determined,'' and Section 103 (l) of the Act declares
that ``it is the policy of the United States . . . that because
the United States . . . rendered Bikini Atoll unsafe for
habitation . . . , the United States will fulfill its
responsibility for restoring Bikini Atoll to habitability. . .
.'' After the Compact went into effect, Congress appropriated
an additional $90 million for the radiological cleanup of
Bikini Atoll. See Pub. L. No. 100-446.
f The $150 million trust fund established under the Section 177
Agreement was provided to cover payment of claims for injuries,
damages and losses known in 1986, based on information
available at that time. However, recognizing that additional
compensation might be required, U.S. negotiators and Congress
agreed to an extraordinary statutory right for the RMI to
present additional claims directly to Congress based on
injuries, damages and losses discovered or determined
subsequent to 1986. Article IX of the Agreement, entitled
``Changed Circumstances,'' provides that if property or
personal injury losses resulting from the Nuclear Testing
Program are discovered after the effective date of the
Agreement, ``were not and could not reasonably have been
identified as of the effective date'' of the Agreement, and
``if such injuries render the provisions of this Agreement
manifestly inadequate,'' the RMI Government may submit a
request directly to Congress to provide for such injuries. The
RMI submitted such a petition to Congress in 2000 and again in
2001, and sixteen months ago the top leadership in the Senate
Energy Committee and House Resources Committee asked the Bush
Administration to review and report back on the petition.
f The Department of Energy's Environmental Management Program Budget,
which is earmarked for the cleanup of radioactive, chemical and
other hazardous waste at 53 U.S. nuclear weapons production and
development sites in 23 states, dwarfs the numbers under
consideration here. Five years ago, that cleanup program was
estimated to cost nearly $147 billion.\25\ Congress
appropriated an average of $5.75 billion annually for the
program in the late 1990s, and it is anticipated that this
funding level will continue at this rate indefinitely.\26\
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\25\ Accelerating Cleanup: Paths to Closure (U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Environmental Management) (June 1998) at 2, 5.
\26\ Id. at 8. See also Environmental Management: Program Budget
Totals (FY 1998-FY 2000) and Environmental Management's FY 2000
Congressional Budget Request.
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f Since 1991 the U.S. Government, through DOE's Environmental
Management Program, has spent more than $10 billion at the
Hanford, Washington nuclear weapons site without removing one
teaspoonful of contaminated soil.\27\ That is what DOE has
spent on studying the problem. The Bikini and Enewetak cleanup
numbers sound big, but they look like a bargain compared to
what the United States spends on its own sites--sites that were
exposed to a tiny percentage of the radiation that was
unleashed in the Marshall Islands.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ Environmental Management: Progress & Plans of the
Environmental Management Program (November 1996) (DOE/EM-0317) at 120.
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f The U.S. Government has already approved compensation claims of
more than $562 million under the Downwinders' Act by people
injured as a result of nuclear tests in Nevada that were nearly
100 times smaller in magnitude that the tests conducted in the
Marshall Islands.\28\
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\28\ Thornburgh Report, supra n. 17 at 3
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f As the Thornburgh Report noted, ``[I]t is our judgment that the
$150 million trust fund initially established in 1986 [under
the Compact] is manifestly inadequate to fairly compensate the
inhabitants of the Marshall Islands for the damages they
suffered as a result of the dozens of U.S. nuclear tests that
took place in their homeland.\29\
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\29\ Id.
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vi. proposed legislative solution
The RMI and leaders of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap and Utrik have
requested an amendment to the Compact of Free Association that grants
narrowly defined jurisdiction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Federal Circuit to review the judgments of the Nuclear Claims Tribunal
and to order the United States to pay these judgments (after deducting
the compensation already received by the claimants from the Nuclear
Claims Tribunal) unless it finds, after a hearing, that a particular
judgment ``is manifestly erroneous as to law or fact, or manifestly
excessive.'' The provision also makes the U.S. Government party to the
case, thus giving it standing to oppose partially or entirely the
awards adjudicated by the Nuclear Claims Tribunal.\30\
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\30\ The text of the amendment is as follows:
Section 103(g) of United States Public Law 99-239 (99 Stat. 1775)
is amended by adding a new paragraph (3) as follows:
``Judgments of the Nuclear Claims Tribunal established pursuant to
Article IV of the Section 177 Agreement with respect to claims for loss
or damage to property or person that have not been fully paid or
otherwise satisfied may be presented for review and certification to
the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, or its
successor court, which shall have jurisdiction therefor,
notwithstanding the provisions of Article X, XI, and XII of the Section
177 Agreement or 28 U.S.C. 1502, for the limited purposes set forth in
this paragraph only, and which court's decisions shall be reviewable as
provided by the laws of the United States. The United States Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit shall review such judgments, certify
them and order payment thereof pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1304, unless such
court finds, after a hearing, that any such judgment is manifestly
erroneous as to law or fact, or manifestly excessive. In either of such
cases, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit shall
have jurisdiction to modify such judgment. In ordering payment, the
Court shall take into account any prior compensation made by the
Nuclear Claims Tribunal as a result of such judgment. In any such
certification proceeding the Government of the United States shall
stand in the place of the Defender of the Fund and shall be a party to
and may oppose certification or payment of judgments of the Nuclear
Claims Tribunal.''
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The peoples of the four atolls and the RMI Government urge the
Congress to give careful consideration to this proposal for following
reasons:
1. This proposal would resolve major components of the
``changed circumstances'' petition.
As noted above, the Section 177 Agreement's changed circumstances
provision (Article IX) states that the RMI Government may petition
Congress if it believes developments since the settlement was approved
render the assistance and compensation provided ``manifestly
inadequate.'' There is no precise definition of what exactly
constitutes a ``changed circumstance,'' but by adopting this proposal
the U.S. Congress can make the major part of the changed circumstances
petition end up where it started--in the courts, which, on a daily
basis, deal with factual and legal issues concerning damage claims.
2. This proposal would help to resolve the outstanding legal
flaw in the Compact 177 scheme.
As explained above, the Section 177 Agreement provided the peoples
of the four atolls with a $150 million Nuclear Fund, now nearly
exhausted, which is far less than the value of their claims. The
liability of the U.S. Government for damages resulting from the nuclear
testing program has never been an issue. Indeed, Section 177(a) of the
Compact specifically states that the ``Government of the United States
accepts responsibility for compensation owing to the citizens of the
Marshall Islands . . . for loss or damage to property and person . . .
resulting from the nuclear testing program. . . .'' The only question
was how to resolve those claims and how much compensation to provide.
For the U.S. and Marshall Islands Governments, the Section 177
process served its purpose by establishing a process to resolve the
value of the Marshall Islanders' claims, a process that has now lasted
more than 15 years. The results of that process have demonstrated that
the $150 million provided by the Section 177 Agreement is inadequate to
meet the U.S. Government's ``accept[ance],'' in Section 177, of its
``responsibility for compensation owing to the citizens of the Marshall
Islands . . . .'' In order to implement this pledge and to fulfill the
purpose of Section 177, Congress should restore federal court
jurisdiction to complete the compensation process to determine whether
the Nuclear Claims Tribunal's awards are adequate and, if so, to order
payment.
3. This proposal treats the nuclear legacy claims in the same
manner as other pre-Trusteeship termination claims.
Under Section 174 of the Compact, the United States waives
sovereign immunity for all claims arising from its previous actions as
Administering Authority of the Trust Territory, other than those claims
settled by the Section 177 Agreement. The four-atoll proposal closely
tracks the language of Section 174 (c) and does nothing more than
provide the identical treatment to the nuclear cases filed in the U.S.
Claims Court in the 1980s, which were then singled out for special
treatment (espousal and dismissal of claims) under the Section 177
Agreement. There is no legitimate reason to treat the nuclear cases
differently from other claims arising out of the U.S. Government's role
as Administrator of the Trust Territory, now that the Nuclear Claims
Tribunal process has run its course. Unless Congress itself is prepared
to determine the level of funding that must be provided to resolve the
nuclear legacy claims, restoring to the federal courts the same
jurisdiction they have over other claims from the Trusteeship era is
morally and legally the only solution.
4. This proposal resolves a potentially difficult political
dilemma for both the executive and legislative branches of the
U.S. Government.
The Office of Compact Negotiations has opted to exclude nuclear
legacy issues from the current negotiations. However, these issues will
still be on the table if the current negotiations are concluded without
addressing them; they will not go away. Congress is understandably
reluctant to delve into this type of issue, given the need for a
detailed review of scientific, medical and legal questions that it is
simply ill-equipped to handle. It lacks the expertise and may be
unwilling to tackle the issue, and the executive branch has indicated
that it is unwilling to address the matter at this time. This proposal
solves those problems. The Section 177 Agreement imposed a political
settlement on a legal matter. This proposal returns the resolution of
the nuclear legacy where it belongs--in the courts.
5. This proposal contains an alternative source of funding
for the nuclear legacy issues.
By providing for U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
review, any award upheld by that court would be paid from the Claims
Court Judgment Fund established for awards against the United States
and appropriated under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1304. (``Necessary amounts are
appropriated to pay final judgments, awards, compromise settlements,
and interests and costs specified in the judgments or otherwise
authorized by law . . . .'') Although the funds would still come from
the U.S. Treasury, this proposal creates a separate source of funding
to pay these judgments, rather than looking to a specific Congressional
appropriation, which is difficult to accomplish under any
circumstances.
6. This proposal provides for adequate executive branch
involvement in resolution of the final awards.
Some in the executive branch have questioned the validity of the
Nuclear Claims Tribunal process, suggesting that the Tribunal tilted
its views towards the RMI nuclear victims and acted like a ``kangaroo
court.'' (See above.) By providing that the U.S. Government stands in
the place of the Defender of the Fund in any certification proceeding,
this proposal will protect the role of the U.S. Government by ensuring
that the Justice Department can appear to oppose payment or offer
modifications to any proposed award. In addition, any new awards would
be discounted by amounts already paid under the Compact.
7. This proposal is consistent with certain Compact language.
This proposal is consistent with the view of the executive and
legislative branches at the time the Compact was concluded, which was
that more funding might be needed to resolve issues relating to the
nuclear legacy. See above, for three examples of post-Compact funding
for Rongelap, Enewetak and Bikini. This proposal is consistent with the
spirit of the existing Compact by recognizing that the funds provided
by the Section 177 Agreement were never designed to provide total
compensation owing to the peoples of the four atolls.
vii. unilateral changes to compact act
The peoples of the four atolls are in agreement with the position
of the RMI Government, as stated at pp. 8-9 of Foreign Minister Gerald
M. Zackios' written testimony, concerning the Administration's
unilateral changes to the amended Compact Act, especially with respect
to Section 103(e)(3). As noted above at page 1, if the U.S. negotiators
claimed a lack of authority to negotiate nuclear legacy provisions in
the Compact negotiations, where did they come up with the authority to
propose unilateral changes to existing provisions involving that
nuclear legacy? Congress' original language should continue to govern
on the language of the Section 177 Agreement.
viii. future steps
The peoples of the four atolls have long sought a seat at the table
in the Compact negotiations, but we were never granted one. We also
understand that H.J.R. 63 contains many other important provisions that
govern all aspects of the future political, military, and economic
relationship between the RMI and the United States. Our first choice
would be to amend H.J.R. 63 to insert the provision discussed above. If
that is not politically feasible due to time constraints in
implementing the Compact, we request that this Committee (a) make clear
in its legislative history of H.J.R. 63 that it intends to deal with
the nuclear legacy issues outlined in the testimony and (b) commence
that process by committing to hold a hearing on these matters as soon
as feasible after passage of H.J.R. 63.
Again, we appreciate your willingness to consider our views, and we
and our legal representatives are available at any time to work with
you and your staff.
Thank you.
______
Statement of Christopher J. Loeak, Chairman,
Kwajalein Negotiation Commission (KNC)
My name is Christopher J. Loeak, Chairman of the Kwajalein
Negotiation Commission. I appreciate the opportunity to present the
views of the KNC today.
Recently, I submitted testimony to the House Resources Committee
and House International Relations Committee regarding the views of the
KNC on the proposed agreement between the United States and the RMI
with respect to a new Military Use and Operating Rights Agreement. I
append that statement to the one that I submit to you today.
The position of the KNC on the proposed MUORA can be summarized by
the following points:
f The compensation amounts for landowners of Kwajalein are
insufficient to provide for the long-term benefit of the people
of Kwajalein. The amount of compensation for the people of
Kwajalein must be at least $19.1 million in 2004 fully indexed
for inflation.
f The term of the agreement is insufficient and must be made longer
to adequately plan for the use of Kwajalein for our people.
Although the U.S. portrays this agreement as an agreement of
over 50 years duration, it only guarantees use of Kwajalein for
seven years beyond 2016. Thus, the agreement is only a 7-year
extension with a series of 1-year options to terminate, leaving
the landowners in a state of suspended animation for years to
come. This term is far worse than the present 15-year term in
the present MUORA. The guaranteed term of the MUORA should be
at least through 2030 with mutual termination rights after that
date.
f The RMI should not be made to guarantee to the United States a
``subsidized'' tax rate for the duration of the MUORA. The RMI
should be free to impose the national tax rate of the RMI to
the expatriate workers on the Kwajalein base as it is applied
throughout the country as an exercise of national sovereignty.
f The Landowners will not sign a new Land Use Agreement until and
unless acceptable changes are made to the MUORA to address
these deficiencies. The 7-year extension of the MUORA as
proposed is legally insufficient and cannot be implemented.
In addition to these fundamental points made on behalf of the KNC,
I find it incumbent upon me to also make the following points on behalf
of the nation at-large with respect to the rest of the Compact.
f The unilateral changes that the U.S. Government has made to the
compact documents, including the denial of the Section 177
petition and the immigration changes, are unacceptable.
f The lack of an agreement on the application of education programs
through the duration of the Compact make the agreement
insufficient and may even aggravate problems associated with
immigration.
f FEMA coverage should be extended for the RMI. The islands are
susceptible to typhoons, rising sea levels and residual
pollution from nuclear tests and non-nuclear military
activities. Kwajalein is the target end of a missile shot
several times a year. The possibility of disaster remains for
as long as tests are conducted. Civilian communities ring this
target and the RMI government has neither technical nor
financial capabilities to deal with such an eventuality.
f The application of Full Inflation to the Compact provisions and
payments is an absolute necessity and should be specifically
provided for in the agreement.
It is my opinion that if Congress does not make these changes then
the Nitijela will reject the agreement when it comes up for debate in
August.
Thank you for this opportunity and you can be sure that we will
pursue every opportunity to reach an acceptable agreement through the
constitutional processes of our respective governments.
______
Statement of David Bencivenga, Principle, North Pacific
Trading Company
Separate ``Agreements in Implementation of Section 175(b) of the
Compact of Free Association'' for the Federated States of Micronesia
(FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) were attached to
the Compact of Free Association (CFA) to impose U.S. Department of
Labor (DOL) regulation of recruitment firms in those two countries.
At the outset of negotiations, the U.S. Department of State (DOS)
and the FSM and RMI Governments opposed the regulations.
Accordingly, DOL officials conspired with reporters from the
Orlando Sentinel and Baltimore Sun (OS&BS) to produce a series of
articles entitled ``Indentured in America.'' The DOL officials fed the
reporters restricted documents that did not reflect official Government
policy or investigative results. The reporters misused the documents to
create the appearance of impropriety and criminal conduct when none
existed.
The DOL official's goal was to influence the on-going negotiations
on the CFA. The ``Indentured in America'' series was fabricated to
bring public pressure to bear on the negotiating parties to adopt the
proposed regulations.
The OS&BS claim this was accomplished. The most recent June 6
article states the ``Indentured in America'' story ``prompted some U.S.
officials to push for changes in the compact, which was then being
negotiated. . . .''
The DOL never established a factual basis to justify the
regulations. The DOL never sought industry comments on the regulations.
The regulations contain provisions that are unduly burdensome. The
regulations contain provisions that restrict normal and customary
business practices. The regulations would eliminate recruitment
programs in Micronesia.
Burdensome regulations include:
1. Semi-annual reporting of ``the names, addresses, telephone
numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses'' of all citizens of
the RMI and FSM who are currently employed in the United States
pursuant to employment arranged by the recruiter [Section B].
The recruiter does not normally have access to this information
and has no legal basis to obtain it. The release of the
information may violate the privacy rights of the Micronesians.
2. A list of legal rights must be disclosed to each RMI and
FSM citizen written in both English and the local language
[Section C.2.]. English is the common language in the RMI and
FSM. Business contracts and Government documents are written in
English. There are dozens of separate and distinct local
languages. Any RMI or FSM citizen may speak several languages.
There are no translation services in the RMI and FSM. It is
simply not feasible to provide disclosure information in every
local language.
Restriction of normal and customary business practice include:
1. The regulations prohibit ``debt, liquidated damages, or
similar arrangements'' [Subsection C.2.].
2. Micronesians are provided the most favorable financial
treatment of any alien worker. Recruitment services are
provided to the Micronesian workers free or virtually free of
charge. The airfare from Micronesia to the U.S. is provided
free of charge. Training schools to obtain professional
designation such as Certified Nursing Assistant are provided
free of charge. The financial commitment made on behalf of each
Micronesian exceeds $5,000. In return, the Micronesians agree
to a one-year or two-year period of employment with the
Employing Company. If the Micronesian fails to complete the
contract, then the Micronesian is to reimburse $1,500 to $2,500
(liquidated damages) of the $5,000 commitment. The amount of
liquidated damage is reasonably related to the commitment. The
liquidated damage provision is used to simplify the legal
process if the contract is breached.
3. The regulations make it clear that ``failure to complete
such employment contract may constitute a breach of contract
with certain legal consequences (including an action for
actual, but not liquidated or similar damages), depending on
the circumstances'' [Subsection C.3.(b)(v)].
4. Liquidated damages are simply a tool used to quantify the
amount of damages in a small claims case such as this. It is a
normal and customary business practice. Acknowledging that the
Micronesian may be responsible for actual damages but outlawing
liquidated damages is like saying you can build the house but
you can't use a hammer.
5. Of the approximately 2,000 Micronesians brought to the
U.S. by recruitment firms specifically mentioned in the
``Indentured in America'' series, the greater majority did NOT
complete the one-year or two-year employment contract. Of this
``in excess of 1,000'' Micronesians who failed to complete
their contract, only three are known to actually be making
payments toward liquidated damages.
6. Approximately $10,000,000 was spent by private industry to
make these 2,000 jobs available to Micronesians. The U.S.
Government commitment toward these programs was miniscule (less
than $100,000). If the U.S., RMI and FSM Governments want this
practice to continue, then ways must be found to enhance the
Micronesian's resolve to complete his contract, not weaken it.
No employer will be willing to expend $5,000 on behalf of each
Micronesian unless there is a reasonable expectation that the
Micronesian will complete his contract.
The stated goal of the DOL regulations is to ``safeguard the rights
and welfare'' of the Micronesians. However, with the recruiters gone,
the real result will be that many young Micronesians will lose the only
opportunity they had for employment. The regulations will end up
harming the very Micronesians that the DOL claims they were trying to
protect.
Of course, one has to question whether leaking restricted documents
to the press to create the appearance of impropriety and criminal
conduct when none exists, in order to get what the DOL wanted without
going through the usual and customary channels, is proper conduct for
U.S. Government officials.
It is our request to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources that the ``Agreement(s) in Implementation of Section 175(b)
of the Compact of Free Association'' be tabled or deferred pending a
thorough investigation into this entire matter.