Congress renews pact with Pacific island nations
Belated approval extends three agreements until ’43
WASHINGTON — After missing last fall’s initial deadline to renew the United States’ compact with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the U.S. Congress has agreed to extend the relationship with the Pacific island nation as well as separate partnerships with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.
Federal lawmakers approved renewing the Compacts of Free Association with the three Freely Associated States through September 2043 as part of the recent federal spending package averting a partial government shutdown.
Leaders with the United States and the Pacific island nations reached terms last year on extending the relationships, which allow residents of these nations to live in the United States as lawful non-immigrants, with all sides waiting for congressional action in approving the deals.
Federal lawmakers further emphasized the importance of renewing the relationships in the context of international affairs; the United States is allowed to maintain a military presence in these Pacific island nations in exchange for providing economic and security assistance.
“It’s a really great investment for both people and both governments,” Michelle Pedro, policy director and communications specialist for the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
The United States entered individual compacts with the Marshall Islands and Micronesia in 1985, with these deals taking effect in 1986. The United States’ compact with Palau entered into force in 1994.
The agreements with the Marshall Islands and Micronesia were supposed to expire Sept. 30, but Congress extended the agreements amid appropriations battles on Capitol Hill. The U.S.-Palau compact was set to expire this September.
U.S. officials signed agreements with Palau and Micronesia in May and September, respectively, with American and Marshallese leaders agreeing on terms in October. Without Congress’ approval, the agreements could not take effect.
The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee overwhelmingly supported bipartisan legislation in November renewing
the three agreements through September 2043. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., serves as the House Natural Resources Committee chairman.
The slow-paced approach in addressing the Compacts of Free Association fostered uncertainty among Marshallese and other Pacific island citizens, especially people living in the United States. More than 94,000 Freely Associated States citizens live in the United States through the compacts. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates around 8,300 Marshallese reside in Arkansas, with most living in Northwest Arkansas.
Pedro acknowledged a “nervous” feeling within the Arkansas Marshallese community, elevated further by China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The United States has been able to curb China’s reach through its presence related to the compacts.
“Very anxious that it wouldn’t happen and we would have to switch gears if our president [Hilda Heine] were to turn to China of all places,” she added.
Lawmakers urged action on the compacts in anticipation of passing sweeping appropriations measures in March. Reps. Steve Womack, R-Ark., and Ed Case, D-Hawaii, led a Feb 21 letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., urging the chamber to consider Westerman’s legislation “in the next available legislative vehicle.”
Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., signed a Feb. 29 letter with Senate colleagues backing a renewal of the compacts.
“We scared the hell out of some people,” Womack, of Rogers, told the Democrat-Gazette. “There were a lot of rumors going around. It kind of spooked a little bit of the Marshallese community whether they were going to be targeted and deported, and you just can’t have that.”
Congressional appropriators inserted the House Natural Resources Committee’s bill in
the recent $460 billion spending package
preventing a partial government shutdown at the end of last week. The Senate and House approved the measure; all six members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation supported passage.
“This was a good inclusion in the bill that will be very important to our national security and our relations in the Indo-Pacific going forward,” Westerman said.
The Hot Springs congressman and a bipartisan House delegation traveled to the Pacific island nations during the congressional August recess. The group’s trip involved meeting with leaders of the Freely Associated States and American military members stationed in these nations.
“This whole region is very strategic to the U.S., and it has been since World War II,” Westerman said. “If you study what Japan did down there before World War II, you can see China making a lot of the same moves. We can’t allow China to create footholds in these island countries.”
As part of the compacts, the three Pacific islands will receive contributions totaling more than $6.5 billion during the agreements’ duration. Another $634 million will be directed toward postal services. The U.S.-Marshall Islands agreement involves $2.3 billion.
One issue in finalizing terms in renewing the U.S.-Marshall Islands compact concerned compensation for American nuclear weapons tests. The U.S. military conducted 67 atmospheric tests over the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958, leading to environmental damage and sickness from radioactive contamination.
“Back then, we didn’t realize what radiation did,” said Boozman, of Rogers. “We do realize that now, so it’s important that we keep the promises that we actually made to those people many decades ago.”
The U.S. government has provided the Marshall Islands with around $600 million for damages. As part of the renewed compact, the United States will place $700 million in a trust fund addressing the needs of people affected by nuclear weapons tests.
Marshall Islands leaders have claimed roughly $3 billion in uncompensated damages.
“It still impacts us today,” Pedro said.
The spending package additionally includes language affecting access to some government services. As part of the 1996 welfare overhaul effort, citizens of the Pacific island nations living in the United States lost eligibility for federal programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Boozman and Womack were part of a bicameral effort pushing to restore the Marshallese’s access. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Case joined the Arkansans on the legislative endeavor. The House Natural Resources Committee inserted this language in its compacts bill.
“When people talk about economic justice or economic equity, part of that is how food insecurity has really impacted people here in Arkansas,” Pedro said.
“A lot of people here have felt that the government has seen there is a need for food sovereignty,” she added. “It’s just crazy that they were waiting for this package to be approved so that we could have people apply for the little things like SNAP, even though we are taxpayers.”
The Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese is preparing to field calls to help Marshallese living in Arkansas with accessing federal benefits in the ensuing weeks. Amid the growing interest, Pedro said, is a sense of relief regarding the United States’ renewed relationship with the Marshall Islands.
“People are realizing that the U.S. does recognize us as partners in this relationship,” she said. “What will it look like? Well, we’ll see in the next couple of weeks.”