OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

Interior Announces $12.8 Million for Hawaii in 2018 Compact Impact Funding

01/19/2018

WASHINGTON (January 19, 2018) – U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Doug Domenech has announced that $12,762,262 will be Hawaii’s share of 2018 Compact Impact funding provided under U.S. Public Law 108-188.  The funding will be provided to the Department of Human Services to help defray costs associated with providing education, public health, and public safety-related services to migrants from the freely associated states of Micronesia, Marshalls, and Palau who have migrated to Hawaii. 

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Interior Moves to Protect Continuity of Healthcare for Four Atoll Communities in Marshall Islands

12/21/2017

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has directed the Office of Insular Affairs to authorize a partial funding amount of $721,320, to the Ministry of Health in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) for the Four Atoll Health Care Program for the people of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utrok.  The Secretary is concerned about the threat to the continuity of services under this program.

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Guam’s $14.9 Million Share of 2018 Compact Impact Funding to Support Government Operations and School Building Lease Payments

12/05/2017

WASHINGTON (December 5, 2017) –  Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Doug Domenech has announced that Guam’s 2018 share of Compact Impact funding, $14.9 million, is being provided to the Government of Guam for costs associated with providing education, public health, and public safety-related services for the residents of the territory.  

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Interior Authorizes Full Decision-Making Power to Bikini Leaders over Annual Budget of the Bikini Resettlement Trust Fund

11/28/2017

WASHINGTON (November 28, 2017) – U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Doug Domenech has authorized full decision-making powers for the Mayor and Council of the Kili-Bikini-Ejit (KBE) Local Government in the Republic of the Marshall Islands over the annual budget of the Bikini Resettlement Trust Fund for and on behalf of the people of Kili, Bikini and Ejit Atolls.

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Interior Provides $181,048 to Support CNMI Efforts in Preventing Spread of Recently Discovered Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

10/31/2017

WASHINGTON (October 31, 2017) – Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Doug Domenech has made available $181,048 to support a request from Governor Ralph Torres and his administration in efforts to contain the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros), which was recently discovered on Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). 

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Trust Fund Chairman Assures that Illegally Withdrawn Funds are Fully Restored

10/26/2017

WASHINGTON (October 26, 2017) – Chairman Nik Pula of the Trust Fund for the People of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the Trust Fund) confirmed this week that funds compromised by cyber-attacks at State Street Financial Services Company (State Street) have been fully restored and diligence stepped up after the discovery of fraudulent withdrawals of more than $600,000. 

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