OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs Provides Guam with Recovery Support for Typhoon Mawar Impacts

08/08/2023

“In response to the Governor’s request, we are pleased to provide this additional support for Guam following President Biden’s emergency declaration and thank all of our federal partners for their continued support for supplemental territorial and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Typhoon Mawar,” said Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor. “We anticipate that this grant to Guam will provide stability and continuity of services in this current time of need and in the future.”

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Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs Distributes $3,648,875 to Federal, State and Territorial Partners for Brown Treesnake Control Program on Guam

08/02/2023

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) today announced that $3,648,875 for the Brown Treesnake Control Program in fiscal year 2023 has been distributed among federal, territorial, and state partners in the ongoing fight to control the Brown Treesnake on Guam and to prevent it from spreading throughout the Western Pacific, including Hawai’i.

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Office of Insular Affairs Announces $5,218,185 Million to Support the Republic of the Marshall Islands in Fiscal Year 2023

08/01/2023

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has announced $5,218,185 in fiscal year 2023 Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grant funding that will go towards supporting programs and projects to benefit the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) through local governments, a non-profit organization, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

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Secretary Haaland Wraps Weeklong Pacific Islands Visit, Leads Delegation to Inauguration of the President of the Federated States of Micronesia

07/26/2023

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland wrapped a weeklong trip to the Pacific Islands today, including visits to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, where she led the U.S. delegation for the inauguration of the 10th President of the Federated States of Micronesia, H.E. Wesley W. Simina. 

She also announced $976,918 in Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Program grant funds for Pohnpei and Yap.

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Secretary Haaland Highlights Conservation Investments in the Republic of Palau

07/24/2023

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has completed a visit to the Republic of Palau as part of her weeklong visit to the Pacific Islands, where she highlighted the United States’ historic and long-standing relationship with Palau, one of three freely associated states in the Pacific whose relationship is underpinned by a Compact of Free Association (Compact). She also announced $1,008,000 in Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Program grant funds for Palau.

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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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