[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E35-E36]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     A BILL TO COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS COMPACT IMPACT IN AFFECTED 
                             JURISDICTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 12, 2016

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation that will 
help address the impact of the Compacts of Free Association on affected 
jurisdictions like Guam and Hawaii. I continue to support the intent of 
the Compacts, and I understand the benefits these

[[Page E36]]

agreements have for our nation and our security. However, the costs 
borne by our local governments for providing social services to Compact 
migrants are unsustainable, and Congress must act to provide relief for 
affected jurisdictions who have spent millions of local funds to 
support the Compacts and migrants. COFA migrants make positive 
contributions to our communities, but insufficient support from the 
federal government causes a significant socioeconomic strain on our 
island communities.
  This strain only increases, especially in the face of uncertain 
economic conditions in the Freely Associated States as well as the 
impact climate change is having on Pacific island nations. The bill I 
am introducing, as well as proposals that I have made in the past, will 
provide relief and empower local jurisdictions with solutions to reduce 
the burden of Compacts.
  The best solution to Compact impact would be an increase in annual 
mandatory funding from the current $30 million, divided among each of 
the affected jurisdictions, to the $185 million recommended by the GAO. 
However, the current budget environment makes appropriating this 
difficult. Nonetheless I am proud to be a cosponsor of a bill 
introduced by Congressman Takai of Hawaii that would increase this 
annual appropriation, and I hope that we can at least have a debate on 
this measure.
  However, as we work to find long-term solutions to Compact-impact, I 
believe that there are important fixes we can make that will provide 
much needed relief to our local governments without significant costs 
to taxpayers. The ideas that I incorporate into this bill are based on 
ways to reduce the burden with the in-kind contributions that our local 
governments have provided to support COFA migrants. This approach is a 
more budget-friendly way to address this daunting policy challenge. The 
bill's provisions address four areas where we can reduce the burden.
  Firstly, my bill would permit the affected jurisdictions to use the 
cumulative amount that they have spent to provide social services to 
COFA migrants, towards the non-federal portion of providing Medicaid to 
their local residents. The bill proposes a new formula that would 
increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage for each of the 
affected jurisdictions. This would go a long way towards alleviating 
the burden on affected jurisdictions by increasing the percentage 
assistance provided by the federal government for Medicaid.
  Secondly, the bill would categorize elementary and secondary 
education-aged COFA students as federally connected students and make 
them eligible for Impact Aid. I understand the fiscal challenges that 
the Impact Aid community faces, and I am committed to working with them 
to address the effect this bill may have on them. The bill attempts to 
offset this effect by increasing funding authorization and ensures that 
we are not taking from one group to pay for another.
  Thirdly, this legislation would clarify Congress's intent when we 
extended eligibility for housing assistance programs to COFA migrants. 
This bill ensures that U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent 
residents are not displaced when applying for housing benefits and that 
they are given priority when applying for these benefits.
  Lastly, this bill would commission independent research on the 
viability of the current Compacts, and make recommendations on policy 
alternatives moving forward. I hope this research will provide 
strategic guidance as we move towards renewal of the Compacts in 2023 
and ensure that we are administering these agreements in the best way 
moving forward.
  I am pleased to count my colleague Mr. Takai from Hawaii as an 
original cosponsor. As this Congress discusses solutions for the crisis 
in Puerto Rico, it is important that we also discuss challenges that 
the other territories face, especially the challenge of supporting the 
Compacts of Free Association. While the challenges facing affected 
jurisdictions are nowhere near as serious as Puerto Rico, doing nothing 
would only welcome economic and security challenges down the road. I 
look forward to this bill becoming law and being a tremendous help to 
jurisdictions affected by Compact impact.

                          ____________________