Federal Assistance to the U.S. Territories and Freely Associated States during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

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This page is a partial compilation of federal assistance and resources provided to the U.S. Territories and freely associated states to prepare for and combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is provided as a courtesy. Content will be updated as information is received. The Office of Insular Affairs is not responsible for the accuracy and/or timeliness of information on this page from other sources. Please reach out to Tanya_Joshua@ios.doi.gov with any questions.

The Administration and the U.S. Congress are supporting the American people during the global pandemic. The U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), and the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Republic of Palau will receive important Federal assistance during this time. This webpage does not include Federal COVID-19 assistance made available to Puerto Rico, as it does not fall under the purview of the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.

Contents
I. Guidelines for America
II. White House Updates, Fact Sheets, and Emergency Disaster Declarations
III. Legislation
IV. Office of Insular Affairs
V. Federal Partners

I. GUIDELINES FOR AMERICA

II. WHITE HOUSE UPDATES, FACT SHEETS, AND EMERGENCY DISASTER DECLARATIONS

III. LEGISLATION

Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 – Public Law 116-123 (March 6, 2020)

  • Provides $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.​
  • Full summary of PL 116-123 on congress.gov

Families First Coronavirus Response Act – Public Law 116-127 (March 18, 2020)

  • Provides paid sick leave, tax credits, and free COVID-19 testing; expands food assistance and unemployment benefits; and increases Medicaid funding.​
  • Full summary of PL 116-127 on congress.gov

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) – Public Law 116-136 (March 26, 2020)

  • Responds to impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses.
  • Full summary of PL 116-136 on congress.gov

Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act – Public Law 116-139 (April 24, 2020)

  • Provides additional funding for small business loans, health care providers, and COVID-19 testing.
  • Full summary of PL 116-139 on congress.gov

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 – Public Law 116-260 (December 27, 2020)

  • Includes $600 direct-payment checks
  • Reinstated Medicaid eligibility for individuals from the freely associated states residing in the U.S. and territories (optional).
  • Extends Eligibility for CARES Act funds to Commonwealth-Only Transitional Workers in the CNMI

Important Contact Information for Members of U.S. Congress from Insular Areas

IV. OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS

CARES Act funding in the total amount of $55 million as provided for under Public Law 116-136 through the OIA Technical Assistance Program for all the Insular Areas was fully obligated and awarded.

OIA Announces Full and Final Allocation (November 1, 2021)
OIA CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) Grant Awards Itemized (November 8, 2021)

Compact of Free Association Funding for COVID-19 Reviewed through Joint Economic Management Committee (JEMCO) for the FSM and the Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee (JEMFAC) for the RMI

  • The JEMCO has authorized $7 million prior-year unexpended Compact funds for the Federated States of Micronesia for COVID-19 use. Announced on April 8, 2020.
  • For more information contact Office of Insular Affairs Honolulu Office at (808) 525-5088 or Compact Grants Lead Stephen_Savage@ios.doi.gov

OIA press on COVID-19 assistance

V. FEDERAL PARTNERS

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Department of Education

COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel

  • Office of Post-Secondary Education
    Higher Education Relief Fund - Insular Areas
      18004(a)(1)
    School    		 18004(a)(1)
    Student    		 AANAPISI HBCU Area Totals
    American Samoa Community College  $         808,942  $        808,943  $      6,421    $   1,624,306
    University of Guam  $      2,282,349  $     2,282,349  $    18,299    $   4,582,997
    Guam Community College  $         574,675  $        574,675  $      4,582    $   1,153,932
    Northern Marianas College  $         919,665  $        919,666  $      7,283    $   1,846,614
    University of the Virgin Islands  $         856,868  $        856,869    $  1,875,124  $   3,588,861
        U.S. Territories Subtotal  $      5,442,499  $     5,442,502  $    36,585  $  1,875,124  $  12,796,710
               
    College of Micronesia  $      1,820,156  $     1,820,157  $    14,376    $   3,654,689
    College of the Marshall Islands  $         978,336  $        978,337  $      7,723    $   1,964,396
    Palau Community College  $         379,745  $        379,745  $      3,007    $      762,497
        FAS Subtotal  $      3,178,237  $     3,178,239  $    25,106    $   6,381,582
               
    Insular Areas Total  $      8,620,736  $     8,620,741  $    61,691  $  1,875,124  $  19,178,292
    Source: 18004(a)(1) - https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/allocationsforsection18004a1ofcaresact.pdf and https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/allocationstableinstitutionalportion.pdf
    Source: 18004(a)(2) AANAPISI and HBCU - https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/caresact.html
    Updated 5/14/2020
  • Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)
    Education Stabilization Fund Outlying Areas (0.5 of 1%)
      ESF-SEA ESF-GOV
    American Samoa Dept. of Education  $       38,321,932  
    Guam Dept. of Education  $       41,521,997  
    CNMI Public School System  $       23,163,734  
    VI Dept. of Education   $       19,992,337  
    American Samoa Governor    $      7,272,191
    Guam Governor    $    12,499,963
    CNMI Governor    $      4,777,211
    USVI Governor    $      6,200,635
    U.S. Territories Total  $     123,000,000  $    30,750,000
    Source: https://oese.ed.gov/files/2020/05/OA-Allocations-Table.pdf

Department of Health and Human Services

CDC COVID-19 - Public Health Emergency Program
U.S. Territories CompB 3/16/2020 Supp 4/1/2020 Total FY2020
Guam $479,432 $958,864 $1,438,296
USVI $419,100 $838,201 $1,257,301
American Samoa $370,247 $740,493 $1,110,740
CNMI $369,766 $739,532 $1,109,298
    U.S. Territories Subtotal $1,638,545 $3,277,090 $4,915,635
       
Freely Associated States      
FSM $420,403 $840,805 $1,261,208
RMI $367,754 $735,509 $1,103,263
Palau $336,794 $673,587 $1,010,381
    FAS Subtotal $1,124,951 $2,249,901 $3,374,852
       
Total all areas $2,763,496 $5,526,991 $8,290,487
Source: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2020/04/06/updated-cdc-funding-information.html
HRSA COVID-19 Funds for Insular Areas
U.S. Territories PL 116-123 PL 116-136 Area Totals
American Samoa $58,550 $745,580 $804,130
Guam $61,026 $736,610 $797,636
CNMI Kagman $52,557 $542,780 $595,337
Frederiksted, USVI $64,395 $770,570 $834,965
St. Thomas, USVI $58,924 $662,960 $721,884
    U.S. Territories Subtotal $295,452 $3,458,500 $3,753,952
       
Freely Associated States      
Chuuk, FSM $60,183 $654,095 $714,278
Kosrae, FSM   $514,993 $514,993
Pohnpei, FSM $82,420 $1,027,535 $1,109,955
Yap, FSM $63,623 $707,780 $771,403
Ebeye, RMI $73,802 $853,055 $926,857
Palau $93,763 $1,155,140 $1,248,903
    FAS Subtotal $373,791 $4,912,598 $5,286,389
       
Total for all Insular Areas $669,243 $8,371,098 $9,040,341
Source PL 116-123: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/emergency-response/coronavirus-covid19-FY2020-awards
Source PL 116-136: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/emergency-response/coronavirus-cares-FY2020-awards

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Coronavirus CARES Act Supplemental Funding FY2020
Territory CDBG20-CARES ESG20-CARES Totals by Area
American Samoa $532,457 $269,228 $801,685
Guam $1,785,801 $888,696 $2,674,497
CNMI $549,270 $275,414 $824,684
USVI $1,132,472 $566,662 $1,699,134
Total $4,000,000 $2,000,000 $6,000,000
Source: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/budget/fy20/
  
HUD Assistance to Public Housing Authorities under the CARES Act
Territory  Amount 
Guam Housing & Urban Renewal Authority  $            745,204
Virgin Islands Housing Authority   $         3,236,293
Total to Territories  $         3,981,497
Source: https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/Main/documents/CARESACT685M.pdf

Internal Revenue Service

Department of Justice

 Department of Justice FY20 CARES Act
CESF Funding
Territory Amount
American Samoa $2,231,620
Guam $2,932,867
CNMI $1,509,123
USVI $2,932,867
Total $9,606,477
Source: https://bja.ojp.gov/program/cesf/state-and-local-allocations

Department of Labor

Coronavirus Resources through the Department of Labor (Complete List) 

Under the Cares Act, the U.S. Territories including the freely associated states are eligible for the PUA and the FPUC.

Additional Resources and Information 

Small Business Administration

State Department

For important information and ongoing updates about COVID-19 resources in the freely associated states, visit the U.S. Embassy Facebook pages:

Department of Transportation

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

FAA CARES Act Funds for U.S. Territories
Territory Amount
American Samoa $1,381,262
Guam $20,693,369
CNMI $22,759,818
USVI $41,145,247
Total $85,979,696
Source: https://www.faa.gov/airports/cares_act/

Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FY20 CARES Act
S.5307, S.5311, S.5340 Urban; Rural Area Apportionments
Territory Amount
American Samoa $1,105,059
Guam $2,704,154
CNMI $1,047,695
USVI $4,100,960
     Total $8,957,868
Source: https://cms7.fta.dot.gov/funding/apportionments/table-3-fy-2020-cares-act-section-5311-rural-area-apportionments
USVI: https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/apportionments/table-2-fy-2020-cares-act-section-5307-urbanized-area-apportionments

Department of the Treasury

Assistance for Workers and Families – Direct Cash Assistance

Assistance for Small Businesses
     See also Small Business Administration for Paycheck Protection Program and EIDL Loans. 

Assistance for State, Local, and Territorial Governments

$3b for U.S. Territories and District of Columbia
Jurisdiction Allocation
American Samoa  $           35,173,619
Guam  $         117,968,258
CNMI  $           36,284,218
USVI  $           74,809,978
Sub-total  $         264,236,073
Puerto Rico  $      2,240,625,864
District of Columbia  $         495,138,063
Total  $      3,000,000,000
Source: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/state-and-local-governments

Preserving Jobs for American Industry

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

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