OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

Operation Warp Speed logo

Interior Applauds Inclusion of Insular Areas through Operation Warp Speed to Receive COVID-19 Vaccines

12/16/2020

Interior applauds President Trump’s strong leadership and strategy for Operation Warp Speed in coordinating the development of a vaccine to be delivered rapidly while adhering to standards for safety and efficacy. Interior further applauds the White House team and federal partners for their ongoing support to the U.S. territories and the freely associated states during this pandemic. The U.S. distribution schedule will include the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the freely associated states of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

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National Marine Sanctuaries in American Samoa and Palau

Trump Administration Announces Agreement Between National Marine Sanctuaries in American Samoa and Palau

12/15/2020

A Sister Sanctuary arrangement between Puipuiga lautele o le Gataifale o Amerika Samoa, the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, and the Euotelel a Klingil a Debel Belau, the Palau National Marine Sanctuary will advance marine protected areas that are critical to island cultures and people’s livelihood, and exemplifies the Trump Administration’s ongoing support for the Pacific Islands and further strengthens the relationship between the United States and Palau.”

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Construction in progress of COVID-19 quarantine facilities in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia

Trump Administration Approves $1.5 Million in Compact and CARES Act Funding for COVID-19 Quarantine Facilities in Kosrae, Micronesia

11/25/2020

$1,530,000 in Compact of Free Association and CARES Act funding has been approved to help build several quarantine buildings in the State of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia to be used for quarantine and isolation purposes during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This important support provided by the Compact and the CARES Act will help Kosrae isolate and address potential COVID-19 cases, thereby reducing the potential for community transmission of the disease as repatriations and the relaxing of travel restrictions are considered.

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US Education logo

Trump Administration Transfers $16.7 Million in Supplemental Education Grant Assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands

11/23/2020

$16.7 million in fiscal year 2020 SEG assistance has been awarded to the FSM and the RMI governments. The SEG assistance is provided for under the implementing legislation of the Compact of Free Association through the U.S. Department of Education and is made available to support the education sectors in both countries during fiscal year 2021.

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Office of Insular Affairs seal

U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Conducts Virtual Meeting

11/12/2020

The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) held its first meeting of 2020 via video teleconference on October 15, where they were joined by Guam Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, as well as federal, state, and territorial partners to discuss Stony Loss Coral Disease in the Caribbean and provide resources for coral reef management. They heard from the U.S. All Islands Coral Reef Committee (AIC) on their priorities and reviewed the Framework for Action for 2021 to 2025.

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Office of Insular Affairs seal

Interior’s Economic Impact on Insular Areas Estimated at $1 billion

11/02/2020

Interior has released its fiscal year (FY) 2019 economic report highlighting that Interior activities in the insular areas resulted in $1 billion in economic output and supported 25,334 jobs during FY 2019. “Under the leadership of the Secretary and the President, the overall impact of funding that was provided through the Office of Insular Affairs to the U.S. territories and the freely associated states was significant,” said Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, Douglas W. Domenech. “The Trump Administration has been very supportive of the insular areas, and it is extremely helpful to see the specific data and reporting in order to better realize the impact of the funding and support from Congress through OIA on the lives of individuals in the islands.”

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Executive Leadership Development Program Launches 2021 Cohort with 40 Public Servants from the Pacific and U.S. Virgin Islands

Executive Leadership Development Program Launches 2021 Cohort with 40 Public Servants from the Pacific and U.S. Virgin Islands

10/16/2020

The ELDP is an Interior-funded program that builds leadership capacity in U.S. territories and freely associated states. The new 2021 Cohort is comprised of mid-level management public servants from American Samoa (4), Guam (4), the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (6), the U.S. Virgin Islands (9), the Federated States of Micronesia (7), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (4), the Republic of Palau (6).

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