OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

Guam Flag

Secretary Haaland Highlights Typhoon Recovery, Habitat Investments in Visit to Guam

07/24/2023

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited the U.S. territory of Guam this weekend as part of a weeklong visit to the Pacific Islands. She affirmed the Biden-Harris administration’s ongoing support for Guam, an important U.S. commercial and economic hub in the Western Pacific, especially as the island continues to recover from the impacts of Typhoon Mawar.  She also announced $2,499,896 in Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grant funds for the territory.

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Secretary Haaland Visits Northern Mariana Islands, Highlights Investments to Protect Cultural and Natural Resources

07/21/2023

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland kicked off a week-long visit to the Pacific Islands today in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), where she highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s ongoing commitment to protecting and investing in the natural and cultural resources of the U.S. territory. She also announced $1,146,133 in Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grant funds for the territory.

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OIA Extends EIC Open Season to July 17

06/14/2023

In light of the recovery efforts following Typhoon Mawar, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor today announced that the Office of Insular Affairs has extended the open season for grant proposal submissions under the Energizing Insular Communities (EIC) grant program for fiscal year (FY) 2023 to July 17.

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FY 2023 Grants totaling $1,608,516 from Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs to Support Financial Management in the Northern Mariana Islands

06/02/2023

“Governor Palacios has indicated the urgent need for the CNMI government to address financial management issues in the territory and I am pleased that we can provide some relevant and urgently needed support in the areas of financial records management, financial management system implementation, and public auditor training.” -Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor

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OIA Seal

OIA Announces $4,279,808 Cross-Cutting Grants for Insular Areas

05/22/2023

$4,279,808 in FY2023 TAP grant funding will support healthcare for populations from the nuclear-affected atolls in the Marshall Islands, youth education and outreach, judicial training, natural resource conservation, and weather forecasting for climate change resilience in the Pacific Insular Areas. 

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Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs Announces $2,528,951 in FY2023 Grants Benefitting the U.S. Virgin Islands

05/18/2023

“The funding this year will support many important needs for the U.S. Virgin Islands, such as emergency response, improving government processes, utilities training, sustainable water resources, and youth mentoring on climate change and natural resources protection. We are especially pleased to be able to support the U.S. Virgin Islands in preparations for the commemoration of 175 years of emancipation.” - Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor 

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Biden-Harris Administration Awards $12 Million through Investing in America Agenda to Combat Climate Change in the U.S. Territories

05/11/2023

The Territorial Climate and Infrastructure Workshop convened local, federal and territorial representatives Workshop in Hawaii today, where $12 million in key investments from the Inflation Reduction Act was announced for climate change planning, mitigation, adaptation and resilience for the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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U.S. Department of the Interior Supports Solution for Compact Impact

05/05/2023

The legal authorization underlying mandatory and discretionary Compact Impact appropriations expires after 2023. 

Ultimately, any extension of Compact impact funding or extension of Federal benefits to Compact migrants residing in the United States and its territories requires congressional action. The Department of the Interior will continue working with Congress on these matters, including the proposed Compact Impact Fairness Act.  

 

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