COMPACTS OF FREE ASSOCIATION
Issues Associated with Implementation in Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands
From General Accounting Office, April 5, 2016
…GAO has previously reported on the growth of migrant populations from Palau, the FSM, and RMI in U.S. areas as well as the reported impacts of these compact migrants. In Guam, Hawaii, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands—areas Congress has deemed affected jurisdictions—compact migrants increased from about 21,000 in 2003 to about 35,000 in 2013. In fiscal years 2004 through 2016, the Department of the Interior provided approximately $409 million to affected jurisdictions to aid in defraying costs, such as for education and health services, attributable to compact migrants. In contrast, affected jurisdictions estimated costs of $2.1 billion for these services in 2003 through 2014. However, GAO has noted that these estimates have limitations related to accuracy, documentation, and comprehensiveness….
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REFERENCES:
GAO, Compacts of Free Association: Micronesia and the Marshall Islands Continue to Face Challenges Measuring Progress and Ensuring Accountability, GAO-13-675 (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 20, 2013);
Compacts of Free Association: Improvements Needed to Assess and Address Growing Migration, GAO-12-64 (Washington, D.C.: Nov. 14, 2011);
Compact of Free Association: Palau’s Use of and Accountability for U.S. Assistance and Prospects for Economic Self Sufficiency, GAO-08-732 (Washington, D.C.: June 10, 2008);
Compacts of Free Association: Trust Funds for Micronesia and the Marshall Islands May Not Provide Sustainable Income, GAO-07-513 (Washington, D.C.: June 15, 2007);
Compacts of Free Association: Micronesia and the Marshall Islands Face Challenges in Planning for Sustainability, Measuring Progress, and Ensuring Accountability, GAO-07-163 (Washington, D.C.: Dec. 15, 2006);
Compacts of Free Association: Development Prospects Remain Limited for Micronesia and Marshall Islands, GAO-06-590 (Washington, D.C.: June 27, 2006).
GPDN: GAO: Guam's migrant cost math inaccurate
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