[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 199]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A BILL EXTENDING ELIGIBILITY FOR NATIONAL COMMUNITY 
      SERVICE PROGRAMS TO CITIZENS OF THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES

                                  _____
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 7, 2016

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill that would 
enable citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of 
Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, collectively referred 
to as the Freely Associated States (FAS), who reside in the United 
States to participate in National Community Service (CNS) programs, 
including AmeriCorps. This bill provides parity for citizens of the FAS 
who are able to join our military, receive federal student aid to 
further their education, and eligible to participate in other federal 
social programs.
  The inability for FAS citizens to participate in CNS programs has had 
a direct impact on individuals residing in my home district of Guam. 
Last year, several FAS citizens who are studying at the University of 
Guam and enrolled in the AmeriCorps program were removed from the 
program because they were found to be ineligible under the citizenship 
guidelines. Despite having already begun working with their assigned 
service organizations, these individuals were forced to find alternate 
accommodations through the local Guam Legislature, which appropriated 
local funds to cover expenses that would have otherwise been provided 
through the Centers for National and Community Service. I believe that 
this was a great injustice to these individuals, who wanted to help the 
people of Guam and who serve as role models for others in our 
community.
  I believe that FAS citizens who reside in the U.S. should be allowed 
to participate in national service programs, just as they are able to 
serve our nation in military service or obtain federal student aid to 
further their education. My bill would specifically amend the National 
and Community Service Act of 1990 to include citizens of the FAS who 
are residing in the U.S. in the list of qualified individuals, in 
addition to U.S. citizens or nationals, or lawful permanent residents 
of the United States. The bill will ensure that any FAS citizen in the 
U.S. who wants to participate is not denied the opportunity to make our 
community better. If we can allow FAS citizens to serve in our military 
and protect our way of life it is only fair that we allow them to serve 
our local communities through community service. As we work to make the 
Compacts more sustainable for the affected jurisdiction, I believe that 
this is a good way to continue our commitment to improving our 
relationships with these nations.
  I thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Congressman 
Kilili Sablan for their support of this bill. I look forward to working 
with them to move this bill through the legislative process and having 
it enacted into law.

                          ____________________