Bill Overview
Title: Compact of Free Association Host Communities Support Act
Description: This bill authorizes various financial waivers for certain U.S. jurisdictions (i.e., states, territories, or possessions) that host citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, or Palau as residents. (Under current law, citizens of these countries, known as the Freely Associated States, have the right to reside and work in the United States as nonimmigrants or habitual residents.) Specifically, this bill authorizes a federal agency to, for the purposes of a federal grant, waive any matching funds requirements for a jurisdiction that hosts citizens of the Freely Associated States as residents. Furthermore, the President may reduce, release, or waive amounts that such a hosting jurisdiction owes to a federal agency, at the request of the hosting jurisdiction. As a condition of receiving such a reduction, release, or waiver, a hosting jurisdiction must report to the Department of the Interior an accounting of the jurisdiction's unreimbursed economic impacts associated with receiving citizens of the Freely Associated States from 2004 through 2021.
Sponsors: Del. San Nicolas, Michael F. Q. [D-GU-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: People residing in the U.S. from the Freely Associated States (Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau) and their host communities
Estimated Size: 61000
- The Freely Associated States (FAS) include the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau.
- Citizens of these FAS have the right to reside and work in the United States.
- The bill impacts U.S. jurisdictions that host residents from these FAS countries by providing financial relief through waivers.
- The number of FAS citizens in the U.S. provides a proxy for estimating the affected population, which would include their families and communities.
- Previous reports suggest thousands of citizens from the FAS reside in the U.S.
Reasoning
- The Compact of Free Association Host Communities Support Act targets jurisdictions hosting citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. This means the policy primarily impacts states like Hawaii, Arkansas, and territories like Guam, where there are significant populations from the Freely Associated States (FAS).
- The cost and size limits of the policy mean that not every potential impact can be addressed equally, but significant benefits may accrue to jurisdictions dealing with substantial FAS populations, potentially improving public infrastructure and services.
- Many U.S. residents who aren't directly from the FAS may express changes due to redistributed financial resources and adjustments in public service availability, depending on how local governments utilize these funds. However, direct impact would be more felt among FAS citizens and service providers.
Simulated Interviews
Healthcare Worker (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could help by providing more resources to our health center.
- I hope it means more medical supplies and better care for everyone.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Construction Worker (Fayetteville, Arkansas)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I send money home every month, and anything that improves opportunities here is good.
- If the local government invests in job training with these funds, that'd be great.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Hotel Manager (Guam)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Support from the policy might help with local infrastructure like roads and utilities, which benefits the tourism industry.
- I hope we can hire more FAS citizens who have the skills needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Public School Teacher (Springdale, Arkansas)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding could be used to improve school facilities, which would benefit all students.
- I'm hopeful we can expand our language and culture programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
College Student (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about my parents' financial stability and whether this policy might help them access more services.
- More community support could help them feel less isolated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Social Worker (Brooklyn, New York)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could unlock much-needed federal assistance refunds that we can utilize.
- There is potential to create significant positive changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although I don't have direct ties to the FAS communities, policies aiding underrepresented groups often lead to a healthier social fabric.
- Let's see if there's any technological engagements for better community outreach.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Local community initiatives funded through the policy could drive more business opportunities.
- Engagement with FAS communities opens new markets.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Environmental Scientist (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If policy implementation assists with sustainable development projects, that's a plus.
- Improvement in public resources management could arise from redirected funds.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retail Associate (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hope this makes college more affordable for me and my siblings through better financial aid access.
- Programs expanding educational resources would be crucial for people like us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $150000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $200000000)
Year 2: $160000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $210000000)
Year 3: $170000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $220000000)
Year 5: $190000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $240000000)
Year 10: $220000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $270000000)
Year 100: $400000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $450000000)
Key Considerations
- Current financial obligations and abilities of U.S. jurisdictions hosting FAS citizens.
- Potential impact on future federal budget allocations if grant matching requirements are waived.
- Legal and economic context from 2004 to 2021 for U.S. states and territories hosting FAS populations.
- Presidential decisions on waiving debts to increase local compliance and reporting.