Hawai'i to get $30 million under Micronesia pact
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawai'i would receive $30 million a year from the federal government to help pay for services provided to Micronesians who move here, under legislation moving through Congress.
The long-awaited legislation, which would also extend U.S. help to Micronesian states and offer more aid to America's Pacific territories, passed the House of Representatives Tuesday, with no sign of organized opposition evident in the Senate.
The measure, House Joint Resolution 63, extends until 2023 the Compact of Free Association between the United States and two Micronesian countries, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The compact gives aid to the countries and enables their citizens to enter U.S. states and territories. The migrant population is heavily tilted toward Hawai'i and the Pacific territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Last year, Hawai'i spent more than $32 million for health, education and social services for Micronesian migrants and since 1997 has spent more than $140 million. For the state, the most crucial element in the legislation is the inclusion of an annual $30 million allotment to offset the cost of these services.
That money is intended to cover continuing costs as well as to partially reimburse past expenses incurred by social service agencies.
For their part, Micronesian government officials here are keeping a close eye on the proposed renewal of the compact, which expired last month. Kasio Mida, consul general of the Federated States of Micronesia, said his government has accepted the new pact, albeit with reservations.
For example, Mida said, his country would receive an annual $92 million grant in U.S. aid, but officials do not believe the adjustment for inflation is adequate. And in the House version, Micronesians would no longer receive FEMA matching aid in the event of disasters.
"The U.S. wants us to improve infrastructure," Mida said. "One typhoon could wipe out the infrastructure, and how do we rebuild?"
But Mida said he is happy with the help of the congressional delegation in narrowing the gap between Micronesian and U.S. proposals and is hopeful that, after Senate review, the differences would be reduced further.
In a prepared statement, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawai'i) said the legislation establishes a "steady funding stream" to the state.
Mike Slackman, Abercrombie's spokesman, said it's impossible to predict the course of the proposal through the Senate, where rules enable individual senators to wield more influence over the progress of legislation.
It could be held up in political bargaining, he said, but so far there's no sign of organized opposition.
"It passed unanimously on a voice vote," Slackman said. "Hopefully that might be reflected in the way it's handled in the Senate.
"It's generally recognized that it's in the interest of the U.S. and freely associated states that this be handled expeditiously."
Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.
