- § 1921. Approval of U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association and the U.S.-RMI Compact of Free Association; references to subsidiary agreements or separate agreements
- § 1921a. Agreements with Federated States of Micronesia
- § 1921b. Agreements with and other provisions related to the Republic of the Marshall Islands
- § 1921c. Interpretation of and United States policy regarding U.S.-FSM Compact and U.S.-RMI Compact
- § 1921d. Supplemental provisions
- § 1921e. Construction contract assistance
- § 1921f. Prohibition
- § 1921g. Compensatory adjustments
- § 1921h. Authorization and continuing appropriation
The Compact of Free Association, as amended with respect to the Federated States of Micronesia and signed by the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and set forth in Title II (section 201(a)) of this joint resolution, is hereby approved, and Congress hereby consents to the subsidiary agreements and amended subsidiary agreements listed in section 462 of the U.S.-FSM Compact, including Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, as amended under the Agreement to Amend Article X that was signed by those two Governments on June 30, 2004, which shall serve as the authority to implement the provisions thereof. Subject to the provisions of this joint resolution, the President is authorized to agree, in accordance with section 411 of the U.S.-FSM Compact, to an effective date for and thereafter to implement such U.S.-FSM Compact.
The Compact of Free Association, as amended with respect to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and signed by the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and set forth in Title II (section 201(b)) of this joint resolution, is hereby approved, and Congress hereby consents to the subsidiary agreements and amended subsidiary agreements listed in section 462 of the U.S.-RMI Compact, including Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as amended under the Agreement to Amend Article X that was signed by those two Governments on June 18, 2004, which shall serve as the authority to implement the provisions thereof. Subject to the provisions of this joint resolution, the President is authorized to agree, in accordance with section 411 of the U.S.-RMI Compact, to an effective date for and thereafter to implement such U.S.-RMI Compact.
For purposes of implementation of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact and this joint resolution, the Agreement Concluded Pursuant to Section 234 of the Compact of Free Association and referred to in section 462(a)(1) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 462(a)(4) of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall be deemed to be a bilateral agreement between the United States and each other party to such subsidiary agreement. The consent or concurrence of any other party shall not be required for the effectiveness of any actions taken by the United States in conjunction with either the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands which are intended to affect the implementation, modification, suspension, or termination of such subsidiary agreement (or any provision thereof) as regards the mutual responsibilities of the United States and the party in conjunction with whom the actions are taken.
No agreement between the United States and the government of either the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands which would amend, change, or terminate any subsidiary agreement or portion thereof, other than those set forth in subsection (d) of this section shall enter into force until 90 days after the President has transmitted such agreement to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives together with an explanation of the agreement and the reasons therefor. In the case of the agreement referred to in section 462(b)(3) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, such transmittal shall include a specific statement by the Secretary of Labor as to the necessity of such amendment, change, or termination, and the impact thereof.
Pursuant to sections 222 and 224 of the U.S.-FSM Compact, the United States shall provide non-reimbursable technical and training assistance as appropriate, including training and equipment for postal inspection of illicit drugs and other contraband, to enable the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia to develop and adequately enforce laws of the Federated States of Micronesia and to cooperate with the United States in the enforcement of criminal laws of the United States. Funds appropriated pursuant to section 1921d(j) of this title may be used to reimburse State or local agencies providing such assistance.
The Comptroller General and his duly authorized representatives shall be immune from civil and criminal process relating to words spoken or written and all acts performed by them in their official capacity and falling within their functions, except insofar as such immunity may be expressly waived by the Government of the United States. The Comptroller General and his duly authorized representatives shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by a competent judicial authority, and such persons shall enjoy immunity from seizure of personal property, immigration restrictions, and laws relating to alien registration, fingerprinting, and the registration of foreign agents. Such persons shall enjoy the same taxation exemptions as are set forth in Article 34 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The privileges, exemptions and immunities accorded under this paragraph are not for the personal benefit of the individuals concerned but are to safeguard the independent exercise of their official functions. Without prejudice to those pr
The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia will cooperate fully with the Comptroller General of the United States in the conduct of such audits as the Comptroller General determines necessary to enable the Comptroller General to fully discharge his responsibilities under this joint resolution.
Pursuant to sections 222 and 224 of the U.S.-RMI Compact, the United States shall provide non-reimbursable technical and training assistance as appropriate, including training and equipment for postal inspection of illicit drugs and other contraband, to enable the Government of the Marshall Islands to develop and adequately enforce laws of the Marshall Islands and to cooperate with the United States in the enforcement of criminal laws of the United States. Funds appropriated pursuant to section 1921d(j) of this title may be used to reimburse State or local agencies providing such assistance.
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) Congress provided that in approving the Compact, the Congress understands and intends that the peoples of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utrik, who were affected by the United States nuclear weapons testing program in the Marshall Islands, will receive the amounts of $75,000,000 (Bikini); $48,750,000 (Enewetak); $37,500,000 (Rongelap); and $22,500,000 (Utrik), respectively, which amounts shall be paid out of proceeds from the fund established under Article I, section 1 of the subsidiary agreement for the implementation of section 177 of the Compact. The amounts specified in this subsection shall be in addition to any amounts which may be awarded to claimants pursuant to Article IV of the subsidiary agreement for the implementation of Section 177 of the Compact.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon the request of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the President (either through an appropriate department or agency of the United States or by contract with a United States firm) shall continue to provide special medical care and logistical support thereto for the remaining members of the population of Rongelap and Utrik who were exposed to radiation resulting from the 1954 United States thermo-nuclear “Bravo” test, pursuant to Public Laws 95–134 and 96–205.
The Secretary of the Interior shall make available to the Department of Energy, Marshall Islands Program, from funds available for the Technical Assistance Program of the Office of Insular Affairs, the amounts necessary to conduct the radiochemical analysis of groundwater under clause(i)(II).
The President shall ensure the assistance provided under these programs reflects the changes in the population since the inception of such programs.
The planting and agricultural maintenance program on Enewetak shall be funded at a level of not less than $1,300,000 per year, as adjusted for inflation under section 218 of the U.S.-RMI Compact.
There is hereby authorized and appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to remain available until expended, for each fiscal year from 2004 through 2023, $1,300,000, as adjusted for inflation under section 218 of the U.S.-RMI Compact, for grants to carry out the planting and agricultural maintenance program.
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) Congress provided that payments under this subsection shall be provided to such extent or in such amounts as are necessary for services and other assistance provided pursuant to this subsection. It is the sense of Congress that after the periods of time specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, consideration will be given to such additional funding for these programs as may be necessary.
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) Congress provided that the Government of the Marshall Islands and the Enewetak Local Government Council, in consultation with the people of Enjebi, shall provide for the creation of the Enjebi Community Trust Fund and the employment of the manager of the Enewetak Fund established pursuant to the Section 177 Agreement as trustee and manager of the Enjebi Community Trust Fund, or, should the manager of the Enewetak Fund not be acceptable to the people of Enjebi, another United States investment manager with substantial experience in the administration of trusts and with funds under management in excess of $250,000,000.
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) Congress provided that upon the request of the Government of the Marshall Islands, the United States shall monitor the radiation and other conditions on Enjebi and within one year of receiving such a request shall report to the Government of the Marshall Islands when the people of Enjebi may resettle Enjebi under circumstances where the radioactive contamination at Enjebi, including contamination derived from consumption of locally grown food products, can be reduced or otherwise controlled to meet whole body Federal radiation protection standards for the general population, including mean annual dose and mean 30-year cumulative dose standards.
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) Congress provided that in the event that the United States determines that within 25 years of January 14, 1986, the people of Enjebi cannot resettle Enjebi without exceeding the radiation standards set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection, then the fund manager shall be directed by the trust instrument to distribute the Fund to the people of Enjebi for their resettlement at some other location in accordance with a plan, developed by the Enewetak Local Government Council and the people of Enjebi and concurred with by the Government of the Marshall Islands, to assure consistency with the government’s overall economic development plan.
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) Congress provided that prior to and during the distribution of the corpus of the Fund pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, the people of Enjebi may, if they so request, receive the interest earned by the Fund on no less frequent a basis than quarterly.
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) Congress provided that neither under the laws of the Marshall Islands nor under the laws of the United States, shall the Government of the United States be liable for any loss or damage to person or property in respect to the resettlement of Enjebi by the people of Enjebi, pursuant to the provision of this subsection or otherwise.
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239), the Congress determined and declared that it is the policy of the United States, to be supported by the full faith and credit of the United States, that because the United States, through its nuclear testing and other activities, rendered Bikini Atoll unsafe for habitation by the people of Bikini, the United States will fulfill its responsibility for restoring Bikini Atoll to habitability, as set forth in paragraph (2) and (3) of this subsection.
The joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) authorized to be appropriated such sums as necessary to implement the settlement agreement of March 15, 1985, in The People of Bikini, et al. against United States of America, et al., Civ. No. 84–0425 (D. Ha.).
In the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99–239) the Congress provided that the funds referred to in paragraph (2) were to be made available pursuant to Article VI, Section 1 of the Compact Section 177 Agreement upon completion of the events set forth in the settlement agreement referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
The Comptroller General and his duly authorized representatives shall be immune from civil and criminal process relating to words spoken or written and all acts performed by them in their official capacity and falling within their functions, except insofar as such immunity may be expressly waived by the Government of the United States. The Comptroller General and his duly authorized representatives shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by a competent judicial authority, and such persons shall enjoy immunity from seizure of personal property, immigration restrictions, and laws relating to alien registration, fingerprinting, and the registration of foreign agents. Such persons shall enjoy the same taxation exemptions as are set forth in Article 34 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The privileges, exemptions and immunities accorded under this paragraph are not for the personal benefit of the individuals concerned but are to safeguard the independent exercise of their official functions. Without prejudice to those privileges, exemptions and immunities, it is the duty of all such persons to respect the laws and regulations of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands will cooperate fully with the Comptroller General of the United States in the conduct of such audits as the Comptroller General determines necessary to enable the Comptroller General to fully discharge his responsibilities under this joint resolution.
It is the policy of the United States that payment of funds by the Government of the Marshall Islands to the landowners of Kwajalein Atoll in accordance with the land use agreement dated October 19, 1982, or as amended or superseded, and any related allocation agreements, is required in order to ensure that the Government of the United States will be able to fulfill its obligation and responsibilities under Title Three of the U.S.-RMI Compact and the subsidiary agreements concluded pursuant to the U.S.-RMI Compact.
If the Government of the Marshall Islands fails to make payments in accordance with paragraph (1), the Government of the United States shall initiate procedures under section 313 of the U.S.-RMI Compact and consult with the Government of the Marshall Islands with respect to the basis for the nonpayment of funds.
The United States shall expeditiously resolve the matter of any nonpayment of funds required under paragraph (1) pursuant to section 313 of the U.S.-RMI Compact and the authority and responsibility of the Government of the United States for security and defense matters in or relating to the Marshall Islands. This paragraph shall be enforced, as may be necessary, in accordance with section 1921d(e) of this title.
Until such time as the Government of the Marshall Islands and the landowners of Kwajalein Atoll have concluded an agreement amending or superseding the land use agreement reflecting the terms of and consistent with the Military Use Operating Rights Agreement dated October 19, 1982, any amounts paid by the United States to the Government of the Marshall Islands in excess of the amounts required to be paid pursuant to the land use agreement dated October 19, 1982, shall be paid into, and held in, an interest bearing escrow account in a United States financial institution by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. At such time, the funds and interest held in escrow shall be paid to the landowners of Kwajalein in accordance with the new land use agreement. If no such agreement is concluded by the date which is five years after December 17, 2003, then such funds and interest shall, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, be returned to the U.S. Treasury.
The President is authorized to make loans and grants to the Government of the Marshall Islands to address the special needs of the community at Ebeye, Kwajalein Atoll, and other Marshallese communities within the Kwajalein Atoll, pursuant to development plans adopted in accordance with applicable laws of the Marshall Islands. The loans and grants shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the President, in the discretion of the President, may determine are appropriate.
In approving the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, Congress notes the conclusion in the Statement of Intent of the Report of The Future Political Status Commission of the Congress of Micronesia in July, 1969, that “our recommendation of a free associated state is indissolubly linked to our desire for such a democratic, representative, constitutional government” and notes that such desire and intention are reaffirmed and embodied in the Constitutions of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Congress also notes and specifically endorses the preamble to the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, which affirms that the governments of the parties to the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact are founded upon respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all. The Secretary of State shall include in the annual reports on the status of internationally recognized human rights in foreign countries, which are submitted to Congress pursuant to sections 2151n and 2304 of title 22, a full and complete report regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The rights of a bona fide naturalized citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands to enter the United States, to lawfully engage therein in occupations, and to establish residence therein as a nonimmigrant, to the extent such rights are provided under section 141 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, shall not be deemed to extend to any such naturalized citizen with respect to whom circumstances associated with the acquisition of the status of a naturalized citizen are such as to allow a reasonable inference, on the part of appropriate officials of the United States and subject to United States procedural requirements, that such naturalized status was acquired primarily in order to obtain such rights.
It is the sense of Congress that up to $250,000 of the grant assistance provided to the Federated States of Micronesia pursuant to section 211(a)(4) of the U.S.-FSM Compact, and up to $250,000 of the grant assistance provided to the Republic of the Marshall Islands pursuant to section 211(a)(4) of the U.S.-RMI Compact (or a greater amount of the section 211(a)(4) grant, if m
It is the sense of Congress that the governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands develop, prior to October 1, 2004, the capability to provide reliable and timely information as may reasonably be required by the Government of the United States in enforcing criminal and security-related grounds of inadmissibility and deportability under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.], and shall provide such information to the Government of the United States.
The words “the effective date of this Compact, as amended” in sections 141(a)(3) and 141(a)(4) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact shall be construed to read, “on the day prior to the enactment by the United States Congress of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003.”.
Congress endorses and encourages the maintenance of the policies of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to regulate, in accordance with their Constitutions and laws, the alienation of permanent interests in real property so as to restrict the acquisition of such interests to persons of Federated States of Micronesia citizenship and the Republic of the Marshall Islands citizenship, respectively.
In approving the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, Congress understands that the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands will not permit any other government or any nongovernmental party to conduct, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands or in the Federated States of Micronesia, any of the activities specified in subsection (a) of section 314 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact.
In reauthorizing the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, it is not the intent of Congress to cause any adverse consequences for an affected jurisdiction.
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior such sums as may be necessary to reimburse health care institutions in the affected jurisdictions for costs resulting from the migration of citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau to the affected jurisdictions as a result of the implementation of the Compact of Free Association, approved by Public Law 99–239, or the approval of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact by this resolution.
The Secretary of Defense shall make available, on a space available and reimbursable basis, the medical facilities of the Department of Defense for use by citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands who are properly referred to the facilities by government authorities responsible for provision of medical services in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau and the affected jurisdictions.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall continue to make the services of the National Health Service Corps available to the residents of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the same extent and for so long as such services are authorized to be provided to persons residing in any other areas within or outside the United States.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President, to address previously accrued and unreimbursed impact expenses, may, at the request of the Governor of Guam or the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, reduce, release, or waive all or part of any amounts owed by the Government of Guam or the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (or either government’s autonomous agencies or instrumentalities), respectively, to any department, agency, independent agency, office, or instrumentality of the United States.
Not later than 120 days after December 17, 2003, the Governor of Guam and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall each submit to the Secretary of the Interior a report, prepared in consultation with an independent accounting firm, substantiating unreimbursed impact expenses claimed for the period from January 14, 1986, through September 30, 2003. Upon request of the Secretary of the Interior, the Governor of Guam and the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior copies of all documents upon which the report submitted by that Governor under this clause was based.
The President shall notify Congress of his intent to exercise the authority granted in subparagraph (A).
Any reduction, release, or waiver under this Act shall not take effect until 60 days after the President notifies Congress of his intent to approve a request of the Governor of Guam or the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In exercising his authority under this section and in determining whether to give final approval to a request, the President shall take into consideration comments he may receive after Congressional review.
The authority granted in subparagraph (A) shall expire on February 28, 2005.
There are hereby authorized to the Secretary of the Interior for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2023 such sums as may be necessary for grants to the governments of Guam, the State of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa, as a result of increased demands placed on educational, social, or public safety services or infrastructure related to such services due to the presence in Guam, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa of qualified nonimmigrants from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Congress hereby reaffirms the United States position that the United States Government is not responsible for foreign loans or debt obtained by the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
It is the sense of Congress that not less than 30 percent of the United States annual grant assistance provided under section 211 of the Compact of Free Association, as amended, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, and not less than 30 percent of the total amount of section 211 funds allocated to each of the States of the Federated States of Micronesia, shall be invested in infrastructure improvements and maintenance in accordance with section 211(a)(6). It is further the sense of Congress that not less than 30 percent of the United States annual grant assistance provided under section 211 of the Compact of Free Association, as amended, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, shall be invested in infrastructure improvements and maintenance in accordance with section 211(d).
During the year of the fifth, tenth, and fifteenth anniversaries of December 17, 2003, the Government of the United States shall review the terms of the respective Compacts and consider the overall nature and development of the U.S.-FSM and U.S.-RMI relationships including the topics set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of paragraph (1). In conducting the reviews, the Government of the United States shall consider the operating requirements of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and their progress in meeting the development objectives set forth in their respective development plans. The President shall include in the annual reports to Congress for the years following the reviews the comments of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the topics described in this paragraph, the President’s response to the comments, the findings resulting from the reviews, and any recommendations for actions to respond to such findings.
Section 141(f)(2) of the Compact of Free Association, as amended, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and of the Compact of Free Association, as amended, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, shall be construed as though, after “may by regulations prescribe”, there were included the following: “, except that any such regulations that would have a significant effect on the admission, stay and employment privileges provided under this section shall not become effective until 90 days after the date of transmission of the regulations to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on Resources, the Committee on International Relations, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives”.
As of Fiscal Year 2015, if the United States Gross Domestic Product Implicit Price Deflator average for Fiscal Years 2009 through 2013 is greater than United States Gross Domestic Product Implicit Price Deflator average for Fiscal Years 2004 through 2008 (as reported in the Survey of Current Business or subsequent publication and compiled by the Department of the Interior), then section 217 of the U.S.-FSM Compact, paragraph 5 of Article II of the U.S.-FSM Fiscal Procedures Agreement, section 218 of the U.S.-RMI Compact, and paragraph 5 of Article II of the U.S.-RMI Fiscal Procedures Agreement shall be construed as if “the full” appeared in place of “two-thirds of the” each place those words appear. If an inflation adjustment is made under this subsection, the base year for calculating the inflation adjustment shall be fiscal year 2014.
In furtherance of the provisions of Title Three, Article IV, Section 341 of the U.S.-FSM and the U.S.-RMI Compacts, the purpose of which is to establish the privilege to volunteer for service in the U.S. Armed Forces, it is the sense of Congress that, to facilitate eligibility of FSM and RMI secondary school students to qualify for such service, the Department of Defense may extend the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Student Testing Program (STP) and the ASVAB Career Exploration Program to selected secondary Schools in the FSM and the RMI to the extent such programs are available to Department of Defense Dependent Schools located in foreign jurisdictions.
Except as may otherwise be provided in this joint resolution, all United States Federal programs and services extended to or operated in the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands are and shall remain subject to all applicable criteria, standards, reporting requirements, auditing procedures, and other rules and regulations applicable to such programs when operating in the United States (including its territories and commonwealths).
In furtherance of the provisions of Title Four, Article V, sections 452 and 453 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, any provisions of the U.S.-FSM Compact or the U.S.-RMI Compact which remain effective after the termination of the U.S.-FSM Compact or U.S.-RMI Compact by the act of any party thereto and which are affected in any manner by provisions of this part shall remain subject to such provisions.
Congress expresses its understanding that the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands will not act in a manner incompatible with the authority and responsibility of the United States for security and defense matters in or related to the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands pursuant to the U.S.-FSM Compact or the U.S.-RMI Compact, including the agreements referred to in sections 462(a)(2) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and 462(a)(5) of the U.S.-RMI Compact. Congress further expresses its intention that any such act on the part of either such Government will be viewed by the United States as a material breach of the U.S.-FSM Compact or U.S.-RMI Compact. The Government of the United States reserves the right in the event of such a material breach of the U.S.-FSM Compact by the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia or the U.S.-RMI Compact by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to take action, including (but not limited to) the suspension in whole or in part of the obligations of the Government of the United States to that Government.
Subject to clause (ii), section 221(a)(6) of the U.S.–FSM Compact and section 221(a)(5) of the U.S.–RMI Compact shall each be construed and applied in accordance with the two Agreements to Amend Article X of the Federal Programs and Service Agreements signed on June 30, 2004, and on June 18, 2004, respectively, provided that all activities carried out by the United States Agency for International Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency under Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreements may be carried out notwithstanding any other provision of law. In the sections referred to in this clause, the term “United States Agency for International Development, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance” shall be construed to mean “the United States Agency for International Development”.
In the second sentence of paragraph 12 of each of the Agreements described in clause (i), the term “will provide funding” means will provide funding through a transfer of funds using Standard Form 1151 or a similar document or through an interagency, reimbursable agreement.
The United States appointees to the committees established pursuant to section 213 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 214 of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall consult with the Secretary of Education regarding the objectives, use, and monitoring of United States financial, program, and technical assistance made available for educational purposes.
Appropriations made pursuant to clause (iii) shall be used and monitored in accordance with an agreement between the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Interior, and in accordance with the respective Fiscal Procedures Agreements referred to in section 462(b)(4) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 462(b)(4) of the U.S.-RMI Compact. The agreement between the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Interior shall provide for the transfer, not later than 60 days after the appropriations made pursuant to clause (iii) become available to the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, from the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the Secretary of the Interior for disbursement.
For fiscal years 2005 through 2023, except as provided in clause (ii) and the exception provided under clause (iii), the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall not receive any grant under any formula-grant program administered by the Secretary of Education or the Secretary of Labor, nor any grant provided through the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
For fiscal year 2004, the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall continue to be eligible for appropriations and to receive grants under the provisions of law specified in clauses (ii) and (iii).
The Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands may request technical assistance from the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary of Labor the terms of which, including reimbursement, shall be negotiated with the participation of the appropriate cabinet officer for inclusion in the Federal Programs and Services Agreement.
The Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall continue to be eligible for competitive grants administered by the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Labor to the extent that such grants continue to be available to State and local governments in the United States.
The provisions of section 178 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact regarding settlement and payment of tort claims shall apply to employees of any Federal agency of the Government of the United States (and to any other person employed on behalf of any Federal agency of the Government of the United States on the basis of a contractual, cooperative, or similar agreement) which provides any service or carries out any other function pursuant to or in furtherance of any provisions of the U.S.-FSM Compact or the U.S.-RMI Compact or this joint resolution, except for provisions of Title Three of the Compact and of the subsidiary agreements related to such Title, in such area to which such Agreement formerly applied.
The programs and services of the Environmental Protection Agency regarding PCBs shall, to the extent applicable, as appropriate, and in accordance with applicable law, be construed to be made available to such islands for the cleanup of PCBs imported prior to 1987. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Defense shall cooperate and assist in any such cleanup activities.
Until otherwise provided by Act of Congress, or until termination of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, the College of Micronesia shall retain its status as a land-grant institution and its eligibility for all benefits and programs available to such land-grant institutions.
Neither the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia nor the Government of the Marshall Islands shall be required to pay to any department, agency, independent agency, office, or instrumentality of the United States any amounts owed to such department, agency, independent agency, office, or instrumentality by the Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands as of the effective date of the Compact. There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
In addition to amounts provided under section 211(a)(4) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, the Secretary of the Interior shall annually provide $300,000 for the training of judges and officials of the judiciary in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in cooperation with the Pacific Islands Committee of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council and in accordance with and to the extent provided in the Federal Programs and Services Agreement and the Fiscal Procedure Agreement, as appropriate.
There is hereby authorized and appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to remain available until expended, for each fiscal year from 2004 through 2023, $300,000, as adjusted for inflation under section 218 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, to carry out the purposes of this section.
Technical assistance may be provided pursuant to section 224 of the 2023 Amended U.S.-FSM Compact, section 224 of the 2023 Amended U.S.-RMI Compact, or section 222 of the U.S.-Palau Compact (as those terms are defined in section 1982 of this title) by Federal agencies and institutions of the Government of the United States to the extent the assistance shall be provided to States, territories, or units of local government.
Any technical assistance authorized under paragraph (1) that is provided by the Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the United States Coast Guard, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Department of the Interior, or any other Federal agency providing assistance under division A of subtitle III of title 54 may be provided on a nonreimbursable basis.
During the period in which the 2023 Amended U.S.-FSM Compact (as so defined) and the 2023 Amended U.S.-RMI Compact (as so defined) are in force, the grant programs under division A of subtitle III of title 54 shall continue to apply to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the same manner and to the same extent as those programs applied prior to the approval of the U.S.-FSM Compact and U.S.-RMI Compact.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, persons who on January 1, 1985, were eligible to receive payment under the Prior Service Benefits Program established within the Social Security System of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands because of their services performed for the United States Navy or the Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands prior to July 1, 1968, shall continue to receive such payments on and after the effective date of the Compact.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to complete repayment by the United States of any debts owed for the use of various lands in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands prior to January 1, 1985.
There are authorized to be appropriated for grants to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the governments of the affected jurisdictions, such sums as may be necessary for purposes of establishing or continuing programs for the control and prevention of communicable diseases, including (but not limited to) cholera, tuberculosis, and Hansen’s Disease. The Secretary of the Interior shall assist the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the governments of the affected jurisdictions in designing and implementing such a program.
Any person in the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be liable for user fees, if any, for services provided in the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands by the Government of the United States to the same extent as any person in the United States would be liable for fees, if any, for such services in the United States.
No judgment, whenever issued, of a court of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau, against the United States, its departments and agencies, or officials of the United States or any other individuals acting on behalf of the United States within the scope of their official duty, shall be honored by the United States, or be subject to recognition or enforcement in a court in the United States, unless the judgment is consistent with the interpretation by the United States of international agreements relevant to the judgment. In determining the consistency of a judgment with an international agreement, due regard shall be given to assurances made by the Executive Branch to Congress of the United States regarding the proper interpretation of the international agreement.
The Trust Fund Agreement executed pursuant to the U.S.-FSM Compact and the Trust Fund Agreement executed pursuant to the U.S.-RMI Compact each provides for the establishment of a trust fund.
For the purpose of expediting the commencement of operations of a trust fund under either Trust Fund Agreement, the trust fund may, but shall not be obligated to, assume any obligations of an existing legal entity and take assignment of any contract or other agreement to which the existing legal entity is party.
Without limiting the authority that the United States Government may otherwise have under applicable law, the United States Government may, but shall not be obligated to, provide financial, technical, or other assistance directly or indirectly to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia or the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the purpose of establishing and operating a trust fund or other legal entity that will solicit bids from, and enter into contracts with, parties willing to serve in such capacities as trustee, depositary, money manager, or investment advisor, with the intention that the contracts will ultimately be assumed by and assigned to a trust fund established pursuant to a Trust Fund Agreement.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to cover any additional costs incurred by the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands if such Governments, pursuant to an agreement entered into with the United States, apply a preference on the award of contracts to United States firms, provided that the amount of such preference does not exceed 10 percent of the amount of the lowest qualified bid from a non-United States firm for such contract.
All laws governing conflicts of interest and post-employment of Federal employees shall apply to the implementation of this Act.
In addition to the programs and services set forth in section 221 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, and pursuant to section 222 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, the services and programs of the following United States agencies shall be made available to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands: the Small Business Administration, Economic Development Administration, the Rural Utilities Services (formerly Rural Electrification Administration); the programs and services of the Department of Labor under subtitle C of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [29 U.S.C. 3191 et seq.] (relating to Job Corps); and the programs and services of the Department of Commerce relating to tourism and to marine resource development.