OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

Interior Provides $250,314 in FY 2018 Funding for Micronesian Resource Center One-Stop Shop on Guam

07/05/2018

WASHINGTON – Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, this week announced $250,314 in FY 2018 funding support for the Micronesian Resource Center (MRC) One-Stop Shop on Guam.  The MRC One-Stop Shop provides orientation services, family support initiatives, and workforce development to migrants from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (Palau), also known as the freely associated states (FAS), who may travel to the United States to live and work under the Compact of Free Association agreements.

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Interior Announces $827,812 in FY 2018 Grant Allocations to U.S. Virgin Islands

07/03/2018

WASHINGTON – Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, announced $827,812 in fiscal year 2018 grant funding to the U.S. Virgin Islands.  The funds will serve to provide emergency power back-up for critical facilities, strengthen water and wastewater management, and help protect and preserve historical artifacts.

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Interior Provides $2.5 Million in FY 2018 Grant Allocations to Guam

07/03/2018

WASHINGTON – Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, this week announced $2,452,082 in fiscal year 2018 grant funding to the U.S. Territory of Guam.  This year’s funding will support a wide variety of needs across the island from scholarships for training in trades, statistics and data, capacity building, utilities maintenance, network security and monitoring.

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Interior Helps Launch Pilot Robotics Program in Palau

07/03/2018

WASHINGTON –  Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, this week announced $5,913.00 in fiscal year 2018 grant funding to the Coral Reef Research Foundation to support a three week “robotics” program for high school and community college students in Palau this summer.  The program will be led by Kevin Bowen, founder of “Porpoise Robotics”.

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Interior Assistant Secretary Domenech Visits Pohnpei, Micronesia

06/24/2018

POHNPEI, MICRONESIA - U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech today concluded his official visit to Pohnpei, the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), where he conferred with President Peter M. Christian on the continuation and strengthening of the U.S.-FSM relationship under the Compact of Free Association. While at the national government capital complex in Palikir, Domenech also met with Speaker of the FSM Congress Wesley Simina, Vice Speaker Esmond Moses, other senators and staff. Accompanying the assistant secretary were Nikolao Pula Director of the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) also Chair of the Joint Economic Management Committee (JEMCO) and OIA staff.

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Interior Announces Funds to Extend Yap Robotics League Program to Pohnpei, Chuuk and Lauds Strength in Partnerships

06/22/2018

POHNPEI – While on an official visit to Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Doug Domenech, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs announced a $241,675 technical assistance grant for continuation of the Yap Robo League and expansion to include students from the islands of Weno (Chuuk) and Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia for academic year 2018-2019.  Part of today’s ceremony celebrated the success of Robo Day held in Yap this year and the extension of the program to Chuuk and Pohnpei next year. 

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Interior Assistant Secretary Domenech Makes Official Visit to Palau

06/19/2018

PALAU – U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech concluded his first official visit to the Republic of Palau where he conferred with President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. on the Compact of Free Association relationship and met with other government and non-government officials.  Accompanying the Assistant Secretary on his trip to Palau were OIA Director Nikolao Pula and staff. 

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Interior Assistant Secretary Domenech Visits Palau’s President Remengesau

06/18/2018

PALAU – Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech joined by U.S. Ambassador to Palau Amy Hyatt, and Office of Insular Affairs Director Nik Pula today met with Palau President Tommy E. Remengesau, launching his official visit to Palau.  During their meeting the Assistant Secretary signed over a technical assistance grant for $323,333, an amount requested by the Government of Palau to upgrade record-keeping and management systems for treasury, customs, personnel, and budget operations in the Palau Government.

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Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.

Interior Provides FY2018 Funding for We are Oceania Hālau Ola One Stop Center in Hawai’i

06/05/2018

WASHINGTON – Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, this week announced FY 2018 funding support for the We are Oceania (WAO) Hālau Ola One Stop Center in Hawai’i. The One Stop Center provides information and services to migrants from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (Palau), also known as the freely associated states (FAS).

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