[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 105 (Monday, June 26, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H6310-H6311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ON COMPACT-IMPACT AID

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goodlatte). Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from Guam [Mr. Underwood] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of this 
body an issue which combines all of the worst elements of a failed 
Federal policy in which immigration with huge unfunded mandates and 
which stands as an exemplar of how to make and break a promise. Mr. 
Speaker, I am speaking of the Federal Government's failure to 
compensate the people of Guam for expenses incurred as a result of a 
treaty we--as the people of Guam--had no part in shaping.
  Mr. Speaker, do Members of this body or the citizens of this country 
know that there are countries in this world, independent nations which 
have free and unrestricted access to this country?
  Mr. Speaker, do Members of this body or the citizens of this country 
know that there are nationals of other countries who can walk through 
immigration check points with only an identification card; with no 
visa, with no passport, with no restriction on their movement or time 
of stay?
  Mr. Speaker, do Members of this body or the citizens of this country 
know that there are citizens of other countries who can come into the 
United States and work, receive public assistance and other benefits 
available to citizens and permanent residents apparently without 
restrictions?
  It is true that citizens of the newly formed countries of the 
Republic of the Marshalls, the Federated States of Micronesia and the 
Republic of Palau--all in free association with the United States--can 
come and have come to the United States, primarily to the State of 
Hawaii and the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Marianas. And many have come to work and be productive participants in 
the economy.
  But there is the matter of the Federal Government making a commitment 
to free access by foreign nationals via a treaty which falls 
disproportionately on local governments like that of Guam. This is not 
to many areas of the country where a similar situation has resulted in 
what we have labeled ``unfunded mandates.''
  This is a serious enough situation, but in the case of Guam--it is 
far more egregious in its negative impact because of our small size and 
limited population. And in terms of the issue of the unfunded mandates, 
the commitment was not made verbally or through

[[Page H6311]]

exchanges of letters by the Federal Government to help Guam in 
recovering from the costs involved in this migration. It was authorized 
in statute passed by this body in Public Law 99-239.
  Public Law 99-239, section 103(e)(6) reads:

       There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
     years beginning after September 30, 1985, such sums as may be 
     necessary to cover the costs, if any, incurred by the State 
     of Hawaii, the territories of Guam and American Samoa, and 
     the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands resulting 
     from any increased demands placed on educational and social 
     services by immigrants from the Marshall Islands and the 
     Federated States of Micronesia.

  We call this issue compact impact aid--the assistance due local 
governments in consideration of the financial impact of the Compacts of 
Free Association. Guam, due to its proximity, has received the greatest 
share of this immigration. Since the treaties went into effect, we now 
estimate that 6 percent of the total population of Guam is from these 
freely associated states. This entirely legal immigration would 
proportionately number 15 million persons of the entire U.S. 
population. And what is more startling is that is entirely legal; a 
process which only requires an identification card.
  The total cost to the Government of Guam since its inception is in 
excess of $70 million. The Guam Memorial Hospital estimates an impact 
of $750,000 in costs in fiscal year 1994, and $2.55 million since 1986 
to the Medically Indigent Program due to Compact immigrants. Public 
housing assistance cost Guam $2 million in fiscal year 1994 and $7.5 
million since 1986. I have also heard reports from one elementary 
school principal who must devote three classrooms, with teachers and 
aides, just to deal with the overflow of students who show up on our 
doorstep.
  The total reimbursement given to Guam based on the law has been $2.5 
million.
  This is all that has been given to Guam in compensation for this 
dramatic impact on our society and educational system. Mr. Speaker, 
given this legacy of the Federal Government's seeming inability to make 
good on its promises, we should ask the questions what is Guam asking 
for in the Interior appropriations and what is Guam getting in the 
Interior appropriations?
  These are easy questions. Guam is asking only that the Federal 
Government start living up to its commitment by putting in $4.58 
million that the administration requested for fiscal year 1996. Guam is 
not asking for Government assistance, Guam is not asking for special 
projects, Guam is only asking for a down payment of a long overdue 
bill.
  And what is Guam getting? Well, the answer is simple. Currently, the 
Interior budget is giving Guam zero, nothing, nada, taya--no money in 
whatever language you wish to use. It is time to begin resolving the 
finances of this issue.
  But this issue cannot end here. We must take a look at collaborative 
solutions with the Federal Government, the Government of Guam and the 
surrounding nations to clarify the intent of the right to freely 
migrate as it was originally negotiated. No one saw these consequences 
at the time of negotiation. No one asked Guam what would happen if 
unrestricted immigration became Federal policy. And apparently, very 
few Members of Congress seem to remember the commitments made to Guam 
to fund this Federal policy.
  We will have the opportunity to correct this situation. We will have 
the chance to deal with this in a way which does the right thing for a 
patient people, and which fulfills a commitment.

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