Island leaders home in on Congressional delays; additional route possible for Air Nauru

A Feb. 6 letter to U.S. political leaders from the presidents of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau emphasizes the value of the agreement with the three countries, as well as expressing that they are waiting for action.

At the Jan. 22 inauguration of Hilda C. Heine as president of the Marshall Islands were (from left) President Wesley W. Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia, Heine, and President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. of Palau. Journal file photo

President Wesley W. Simina of the FSM released the letter Feb. 9. It was sent to Sen. Charles E. Schumer, majority leader of the Senate, Sen. A. Mitch McConnell, Republican leader of the Senate and Sen. Patty L. Murray, chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

“As you know, the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2023 has been cleared on a bipartisan basis by all U.S. congressional committees of jurisdiction and was proposed to be added to the emergency supplemental appropriations legislation being discussed in the Senate,” the letter said.

Pointing out the strategic value of the islands, the letter said, “Our partnerships also enable the U.S. to base missiles and its earliest warning radars trained on Asia in Palau and a facility that the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff says is the world’s premier range for ICBM testing and military space operations in the Marshall Islands. They also make it possible for the U.S. to conduct military exercises in the Federated States of Micronesia.”

Funding of $3.3 billion to the FSM, $2.3 billion to the Marshalls and $0.9 billion to Palau in trust funding and grants is pending Congressional approval, according to Journal files.

“The agreements that this legislation would approve were to take effect last fall. Although we understand the delay in the legislation’s approval, it has generated uncertainty among our peoples. As much they identify with and appreciate the United States, which formerly governed our islands, this has resulted in undesirable opportunities for economic exploitation by competitive political actors active in the Pacific,” the letter said.

The three leaders said they “cannot overstate the importance to all of our nations of final approval by the U.S. Congress.”

Copies were sent to President Joseph R. Biden, and various other leaders in the Senate.

In other regional news, the Office of the President of Nauru announced the Feb. 1 signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nauru and the Marshall Islands.

The two countries will discuss Air Nauru flying the Majuro-Honolulu route, according to the announcement. Air Nauru flies into Majuro, according to Journal files. mbj

US Federal Motor Carrier ruling on Commercial Driver’s Licenses could affect COFA citizens

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced that “Only those in lawful immigration status (who provide “evidence of lawful immigration status” as defined in 49 CFR § 383.5) in the United States in one of the following employment-based nonimmigrant statuses will be permitted to obtain a non-domiciled Commercial Learner's Permit or a Commercial Driver’s License.

Shared Prosperity: Government officials, businesses talk investment in the Pacific

HONOLULU, Hawaii — More than 170 representatives from Pacific Island nations, the U.S. government, and the private sector convened at the inaugural Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security, and Shared Prosperity Summit held at the Imin International Conference Center at Jefferson Hall in the University of Hawaii Manoa campus from Feb. 23 to Feb. 24.

Island leaders home in on Congressional delays; additional route possible for Air Nauru