Topic: RMIandUSCompactII

US Panel at Hearing Emphasizes "Close and Special Relationship" with Marshall Islands

A panel of U.S. officials told the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment that the United States and the Marshall Islands have a close and special relationship. According to testimony, the Executive Branch continues in its determination that the 1986 Compact of Free Association "settled all claims, past, present and future, of the government and citizens of the Marshall Islands which are based upon, arise out of or are in any way related to the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program."

Testifying at the May 20, 2010 hearing were representatives of the U.S.Department of State, Department of Interior's Office of Insular Affairs, Department of Energy, and Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

STATEMENTS:

• Frankie Reed, Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. State Department
• Nikolao I. Pula, Director Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior
• Steven Messervy, Ph.D., Deputy to the Commanding General for Research, Development, and Acquisition, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command
• Glenn S. Podonsky, Chief Health, Safety and Security Officer, Office of Health, Safety and Security, U.S. Department of Energy

US Extends Deadline for Kwajalein Land Use Agreement Approval

Within days of a Compact-designated deadline, the U.S. Government has granted the request of Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) President Litokwa Tomeing to extend the time for the finalization of the Kwajalein Land Use Agreement (LUA) before the funds in escrow, of almost $21 million, revert to the U.S. Treasury.

In the U.S. response to the Marshalls' President, Deputy Assistant Secretary of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Glyn Davies said that the December 17, 2008 deadline was established in the anticipation that five years would sufficient the GRMI to conclude the relevant agreement.

"As it appears from your letter that negotiations with the land owners are ongoing but not yet concluded, the United States is willing to agree to an extension to give your government more time to conclude an LUA that reflects the terms of the MUORA," he wrote, on behalf of President Bush.

MORE:

• Kwajalein LUA Deadline Vanishes: Official Letters

Former US Negotiator Slams Marshall Islands' Leaders Stance on Kwajalein

The former U.S. head negotiator for the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), serving 2001 to 2003, jumped back into the political limelight today with an op-ed to the Washington Times about the small Pacific nation.

"The United States needs to understand recent political developments in the RMI, the viability of its base at Kwajalein and the future of our bilateral free-association relationship with RMI could well hang in the balance."

• Opening for Beijing? Basing rights in Marshall Islands - Washington Times Op-Ed by Albert V. Short

House Compact Amendment Bill Passed, Goes to Senate

A bill, which shifts primary responsibility for provision of disaster assistance for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Federated States of Micronsia (FSM) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID, was passed by the U.S. House this week. The legislation, if approved by the full Congress, will clarify legal services to the Freely Associated citizens residing in the United States, restore access to the transmission of videotaped programming, and make technical amendments to the 2003 Compact, Amended.

The "Compacts of Free Association Amendments Act of 2007," approved by voice vote, was received by the Senate on November 14, read twice, and placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. A related bill, S.283, which cleared The Senate Energy Committee last February, has yet to be considered.

U.S. and Marshall Islands Reps Testify before Senate Energy Committee

A full committee hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee today received testimony on S. 1756, a bill to provide supplemental ex gratia compensation to the Republic of the Marshall Islands for impacts of the nuclear testing program of the United States, and other purposes.

WITNESSES FOR THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS:

• Testimony of Republic of the Marshall Islands Minister Witten Philippo Senate Energy Committee Hearing
• Senate Energy Committee Hearing: Testimony of Jonathan M. Weisgall, on behalf of Four Atolls

WITNESSES FOR THE UNITED STATES:

• Testimony of Thomas Bussanich, Acting Director Office Of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior
• Testimony of Mr. David B. Gootnick - Director, International Affairs and Trade, Government Accountability Office

Senator Tony deBrum's Statement on Kwajalein Issues Before House Hearing

Senator Tony A. deBrum, member of Republic of the Marshall Islands Parliament (Nitijela) for Kwajalein, appeared before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment hearing on July 25, 2007. He briefed the Committee on the current situation regarding Kwajalein. His written statement follows:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman for inviting us to this hearing. With me today, representing the people of Kwajalein are Iroij Senator Christopher Loeak, Chairman of the Kwajalein Leadership Group and Senator Jeban Riklon, my fellow Senator from Kwajalein. We bring you greetings and best wishes from Iroijlaplap Imata Kabua, Iroijlaplap Anjua Loeak, Iroij Senator Michael Kabua and the elders and people of Kwajalein.

The importance of Kwajalein to the relationship between our countries is well known to this committee. As allies and good friends of America from the ending years of World War II, the people of Kwajalien have been called upon to support the United States Armed Forces by providing their atoll, first as a naval air station, then as the support base for the testing of nuclear weapons.

GAO Testimony at US-Marshall Islands Compact Hearing

On July 24, David B. Gootnick, Director International Affairs and Trade of the United States Government Accountability Office, gave testimony before a House Sub-committee on the “Implementation of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.”

Gootnick will testify with the same statement, "Implementation Activities Have Progressed, but the Marshall Islands Faces Challenges to Achieving Long-Term Compact Goals," on July 25 before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, The Pacific, and The Global Environment.

Marshall Islands' Gerald Zackios Testifies at U.S. House Hearing

On July 24, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Foreign Minister Gerald Zackios gave testimony before a House Sub-committee on the “Implementation of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.”

DOI's David B. Cohen Testifies on Compact with Republic of Marshall Islands

On July 24, the U.S. Interior's Deputy Assistant Secretary David Cohen gave testimony before a House Sub-committee on the “Implementation of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.”

Trust Funds May Not Provide Sustainable Income for Marshalls, FSM

Last Friday, with the publication of a report on compact trust funds, the United States General Accountability Office (GAO) completed its planned work that marks three years of compact implementation. According to a GAO official, the agency will be next due to report on the status of 2003 amended compact between the U.S. and the two Freely Associated States, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), in 2011.

The new report, "Compacts of Free Association: Trust Funds for Micronesia and the Marshall Islands May Not Provide Sustainable Income," issued June 15, 2007, is the fifth in a series since July of 2005. The GAO has found accountability problems, sustainability challenges, and limited development prospects facing the two Pacific nations. Market volatility, in addition to the investment strategies chosen, may lead to a wide range of trust fund balances at the close of grant funding in 2023, states the GAO.

• Compacts of Free Association: Trust Funds for Micronesia and the Marshall Islands May Not Provide Sustainable Income. GAO-07-513

Energy Committee Recommends Passage of Compact Amendment Act

The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources issued a report last month recommending a bill amending the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 to be passed. The bill, S. 283, was introduced by Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman [D-NM] on January 12, 2007, co-sponsored by Ranking Committee Member Pete Domenici [R-NM]. Bingaman said it was unfortunate that, last year, the Senate passage of an identical bill, was delayed leaving insufficient time for enactment.

The bill's purpose is to approve subsidiary agreements and make conforming, clarifying, and technical amendments relating to disaster assistance and continued eligibility for certain education programs.

Bill Changes to Existing Law (of Compact of Free Association 2003 Act)

The following was considered in the 109th Congress under Bill S. 1830, and is again being considered in current session the 110th Congress under Bill S. 283 which relates to approval of subsidiary agreements and conforming, clarifying, and technical amendments to the 2003 Compacts of Free Association with the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, as well as to agreements with Palau.

SUMMARY

Compacts of Free Association Amendments Act of 2007 - Amends the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 with respect to: (1) the provision of emergency and disaster assistance through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; (2) Palau; and (3) the continuation of legal services to the citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands residing in the United States (including territories and possessions).

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill S. 1830, as ordered reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman):

2005 Revisions to USAKA Environmental Standards Approved

On January 12, 2006, the RMI Cabinet approved the newest revisions to USAKA’s environmental oversight regulations, called the “USAKA Environmental Standards.” The approval followed a briefing to the Cabinet on the revisions, introduced by U.S. Ambassador Morris and presented by the UES Project Team Co-Chairs, Randy Gallien of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and John McCarroll of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

US Ambassador Speaks at Compact-Funded School Dedication in Marshalls

New school buildings were dedicated and christened in Majuro, the capital atoll of the Republic Marshall Islands (RMI), last Tuesday. The construction at Rita Public Elementary School was the the first Capital Improvement Project funded by the Amended Compact of Free Association with the United States. Remarks were given by RMI President Kessai H. Note, Minister of Education Wilfred Kendall, Kenneth Kramer of Pacific International Inc. (PII), the Acting Majuro Mayor, and Father Rich McAuliff, who blessed the facility.

The ceremony also included remarks by the United States Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Greta Morris. "I hope these beautiful facilities will bring out the very best in each of you," she said. The entire text of the Ambassador's statement follows:

Deferred Marshall Islands-US Compact Issues Get Hearing

The US Senate Energy Committee heard testimony Tuesday in support of territories-related issues, including legislation which aims to confirm the US Federal Emergency Management Agency's role in disaster assistance for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Senate Bill 1830 deals with one of several issues that were not addressed when Congress enacted the Compact, as amended, in 2003.

In written testimony submitted to the hearing, RMI Ambassador to the US, Banny deBrum, took the opportunity to raise a few other issues of concern to the Marshall Islands and request that these issues be addressed in the pending legislation.

READ: Written Testimony of Ambassador deBrum to the Senate Hearing