OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

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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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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