Womack pushes for renewal of agreements with Pacific Island nations
WASHINGTON — As members of Congress prepare for another government funding battle, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., is among the lawmakers pushing for action on the standing of the United States’ relationships with three allied Pacific Island nations.
In a letter Wednesday to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., more than 40 lawmakers raised concerns about Congress’ failure to approve new agreements with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau, citing the risks of neighboring China’s influence if Congress does not approve long-term extensions of existing relationships.
The agreements allow the United States to maintain a military presence in these independent nations, also referred to as the Freely Associated States. In return, the three nations receive economic and security assistance, and their citizens can live in the United States as lawful non-immigrants.
More than 94,000 Freely Associated States citizens live in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Arkansas has the largest Marshallese-only population in the country; most of those 8,295 people reside in Northwest Arkansas.
U.S. officials signed new agreements with Palau and Micronesia last May and September, respectively, and Marshall Islands leaders agreed to terms in October.
Yet congressional action is necessary for the final compacts to take effect. The House Natural Resources Committee — led by Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark. — unanimously approved bipartisan legislation in November to extend the three relationships.
Lawmakers have not inserted new compacts into any legislation, including
the recent Senate package addressing security assistance for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific.
“It’s been long overdue. It’s much needed,” Michelle Pedro, policy director and communications specialist for the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, said Wednesday concerning the latest call for action.
“I’m just glad they’re finally making it a priority, if that makes sense,” she added. “The longer we wait, the more we’re feeling like they’re not going to invest in any of our partnerships with the [Compacts of Free Association] governments and the U.S. government.”
Lawmakers who signed the letter — shepherded by Womack, of Rogers, and Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii — urged Johnson to include the House Natural Resources Committee’s measure in the “next available legislative vehicle.” Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., was among the signees.
The Compact of Free Association Amendments Act includes $7.1 billion in grant assistance, trust fund contributions and mail services for the Freely Associated States through September 2043. The Marshall Islands would receive $2.3 billion over the nearly two-decade period.
The United States has agreed to a $700 million trust fund to address the needs of Marshallese affected by nuclear weapons tests. Between 1946 and 1958, the American military conducted atmospheric tests over the Marshall Islands, leading to environmental damage and sickness from radioactive contamination.
The House proposal includes additional language amending the 1996 welfare overhaul effort’s provisions regarding eligibility for federal programs. The current law blocks Freely Associated States citizens living in the United States from accessing some services, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Congress approved in 2020 restoring Medicaid eligibility for these residents.
“Pacific Island nations understandably view these agreements as litmus tests for United States partnership,” the letter states. “Each day that we do not pass this legislation into law is an opportunity missed, and an opening for our enemies to sow doubt about our viability as a partner and our strength as an ally.”
The United States entered the first compacts with the Marshall Islands and Micronesia in 1985, with the agreements taking effect in 1986. The United States’ initial arrangement with Palau took effect in 1993.
The compacts with the Marshall Islands and Micronesia were originally set to expire in September 2023, but Congress has extended related provisions through March 8. The U.S.-Palau agreement will expire in September without legislative action; the House members noted in their letter that current funding is lower than prior levels.
Womack and Case launched their push with lawmakers away from Capitol Hill until next week. When Congress resumes legislative business, they will immediately need to address two deadlines — March 1 and March 8 — regarding when government funding will expire.
Congress has considered major pieces of legislation without language addressing long-term extensions of the three existing arrangements. Pedro compared the compacts to a partnership, saying she was dismayed that no new compacts had taken effect amid growing Chinese influence in the region.
“If our allegiances are shifted over to China, where would that leave the COFA citizens that are living here in the states?” she asked, using the abbreviation for Compacts of Free Association. “Just like any partnership, we want to feel supported and like their promise to our people still stands and that we can still take them at their word.”
When the Senate considered its $95.3 billion package for Ukraine, Israel and other security matters, a bipartisan bloc unsuccessfully pushed an amendment to add the Compacts of Free Association to the legislation.
“These compacts are a critical component of our ability to operate in the Pacific, especially as we work to counter China’s growing influence in this region,” Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said during Feb. 8 remarks on the Senate floor.
“Failure for the U.S. would present China with a golden opportunity to bring the COFA nations close to their sphere of influence, significantly undermining our credibility and ability to operate in this region.”
Hawaii has the second-largest Marshallese population in the United States. Mazie and Case have worked with Womack and Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., to address issues affecting the Marshallese and other Freely Associated States citizens. All four lawmakers proposed legislation last March to restore certain federal benefits to citizens of Freely Associated States.
Members of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese traveled to Capitol Hill this past fall to urge Arkansas’ congressional delegation to act on the compact’s looming expiration and the lack of accessing federal benefits. CEO Melisa Laelan noted a fearfulness among Marshallese in Arkansas at the time concerning the possible outcomes if Congress does not approve new compacts.
During Pedro’s conversation Wednesday with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, she noted some Marshallese remain unsure about the relationship’s future amid the months waiting for final action.
“Their commitment should be taken at their word,” she said regarding the United States. “We just want them to feel like, ‘OK, let’s get this going.’”