Interior Assistant Secretary Domenech Meets with Palau President Remengesau

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Interior Assistant Secretary Doug Domenech yesterday met with Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. in the Republic of Palau where they broke ground for capital infrastructure road and dock improvements worth $9,207,000 in grants as provided under the recently renewed Palau Compact Review Agreement. Assistant Secretary Domenech also presented $300,000 to the President in support of the 7^th Our Ocean Conference that Palau will host in 2020.

“It was an honor to participate in the ground-breaking ceremony with President Remengesau for these important road and dock improvement projects. The United States-Palau relationship under the Compact of Free Association continues to provide positive impacts for the people of Palau,” said Assistant Secretary Domenech. “The United States is also pleased to support Palau as it prepares to host a large gathering of nation states, civil society/non-government organizations, youth, and private sector stakeholders in Palau for the 7^th Our Oceans Conference. This high-profile international assembly has great potential to bolster future opportunities for Palau and I wish them great success.”

Assistant Secretary Domenech is also in the Republic of Palau this week to co-chair the 42^nd annual U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meeting with Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They are accompanied by U.S.Geological Survey Director Jim Reilly who will be a featured speaker at the Coral Reef Task Force meetings. More information on this meeting is available at https://www.coralreef.gov/.

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The Assistant Secretary, Insular and International Affairs, and the Office of Insular Affairs carry out the Secretary of the Interior’s responsibilities for the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Additionally, OIA administers and oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

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