OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

Interior and National Park Service Announce $3.2 Million in Historic Preservation Grants to U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States

05/31/2018

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service this week announced $3,241,210 million in historic preservation grants specifically for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and  the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republics of Palau and the Marshall Islands.

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Interior Provides Complete FY2018 Funding for Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utrok Healthcare Programs

05/31/2018

WASHINGTON – Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, this week provided a $713,359 grant for the Four Atoll Healthcare program in the Marshall Islands, which serves the people of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utrok.  The current funding supplements the $721,320 provided in December of 2017 and fulfills the FY 2018 request of $1.4 million.

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Interior Support Will Help Virgin Islands to Be “Audit Ready”

05/25/2018

WASHINGTON – Doug Domenech, U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs, this week provided a $567,500 grant to U.S. Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp and the USVI Department of Finance to help the territory be prepared for financial audits in relation to capital assets and federal accounts receivable beginning in FY 2017 audits.  The government had been working to address these concerns when Hurricanes Maria and Irma effectively necessitated a shift in governmental priorities to restore and rebuild and further heightened the need for improved readiness in light of increased federal assistance.

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Interior Supports Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program for the U.S. Territories with FY2018 Funding

05/23/2018

WASHINGTON – Doug Domenech, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs, this week announced $200,000 to fund the second half of the 2018-2020 National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Program in four U.S. territories.  This highly selective graduate-level program has already placed fellows in American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

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Statement from Doug Domenech Assistant Secretary Insular and International Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior on the passing of Pedro “Teno” Pangelinan Tenorio

05/21/2018

On behalf of U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, myself, and and my staff in the Office of Insular Affairs, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and the people of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on the passing of Pedro “Teno” Pangelinan Tenorio. He passed away on Monday, May 21, 2018 in the Northern Mariana Islands.

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Interior Announces $247,405 in Funding Support for Power Utilities and Lineman Training in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands

05/18/2018

WASHINGTON (May 18, 2018) – Doug Domenech, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs has announced $230,000 to support the 2018 Pacific Lineman Training program for linesmen from American Samoa, Guam, Ebeye, Majuro, Palau, Pohnpei, and Yap.  An additional $17,405 will support participation in workshops and meetings sponsored by the Pacific Power Association for the three U.S. Pacific territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

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Assistant Secretary Domenech Visits CNMI Governor Torres On Saipan

04/25/2018

U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech and Office of Insular Affairs Director Nik Pula met with Governor Ralph Deleon Guerrero Torres of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Saipan this week and signed over $5,649,042 in funding support for the territory.

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