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President Bush earlier this
month signed into law legislation that provides significant
education and health care assistance to the Republic of the
Marshall Islands (RMI).
The US Congress’ final funding
bill for Fiscal Year 2005 — known as the Consolidated
Appropriations Act and signed by the President on December 8
— provides $6.1 million in FY 2005 for a Supplemental
Education Grants program in the RMI, which replaces funds
received in the past through formula grants distributed by
the US Department of Education and other agencies.
Approval of these funds fulfills a commitment made by
Congress last year when it established the Supplemental
Education Grants (SEG) program, as part of the bill
implementing the renewed provisions of the Compact of Free
Association.
“We are very pleased that
President Bush has given final approval to funding for this
new SEG program,” said Banny deBrum, the RMI’s ambassador to
the United States. “This assistance will permit our
government to further President Note’s strong commitment to
enhancing educational opportunities for all Marshallese
citizens.” The legislation also permits the RMI to use up to
five percent of the funds for technical assistance as it
assumes authority for administering these programs.
The Consolidated
Appropriations Act also contains $1 million in FY 2005 for
the Section 177 Health Care Program in the RMI, which
services those who continue to be affected by the U.S.
nuclear testing program. Financing for this program for the
past two years been provided at a very reduced level by the
RMI’s Nuclear Claims Tribunal, whose US-provided funds are
nearly gone.
The $1 million is restricted to be first used for people
living on Mejatto, Enewetak, Kili and Utrik, and then
secondarily for those four atoll islanders living on other
islands.
DeBrum said “funding for
the Section 177 program comes at a critical time for the RMI,
since the Nuclear Claims Tribunal can no longer support the
doctors and other personnel who have provided essential
services in both Majuro and on the atolls. Recognition by
the US Congress and President Bush of the continuing need
for this program is also important as we prepare for a
review on Capitol Hill of our changed circumstances
petition.”
In addition to the
education and 177 funding, the bill approved by the
President includes an increase of $2 million over the $4.3
million requested by the Bush Administration for FY 2005
Department of Energy programs in the RMI. In the
legislation, Congress specifically noted its intent that
these RMI programs to be fully funded at the traditional
amount of $6.3 million. |
