I am pleased to be here today to provide information you requested regarding economic assistance provided by the United States from 1987 through 1998, under the Compact of Free Association, to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In 1986, the U.S. government entered into an international agreement, the Compact of Free Association, with each nation. This Compact represents a continuation of U.S. financial support that had been supplied to these areas for almost 40 years after World War II under the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Specifically, my testimony will address (1) the use of Compact funding by the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, (2) the progress made by both nations in advancing economic self-sufficiency, (3) the role of Compact funds in supporting economic progress, and (4) the amount of accountability over Compact expenditures. My statement will be accompanied by photographs of sites we visited that were funded with Compact money in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. In addition, we will publish a report discussing these issues in more detail in September 2000.

This report responds to your request that we report on (1) the use of Compact of Free Association funding by the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands between fiscal years 1987 and 1998, (2) the progress both nations have made in advancing economic self-sufficiency, (3) the role of Compact funds in supporting economic progress, and (4) the extent of accountability by the two nations and the United States over Compact expenditures. This report includes recommendations to the Secretaries of State and the Interior.

In 1986, the U.S. gov't. entered into an agreement, the Compact of Free Assoc. (CFA), with the Fed. States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Rep. of the Marshall Isl. (RMI). U.S. direct financial assist. under the Compact, which began in 1987, is intended to help the governments of the two countries in their efforts to advance their economic development and self-sufficiency. This report discusses: (1) the use of CFA funding by the FSM and the RMI between FY 1987 and 1998; (2) the progress both nations have made in advancing economic self-sufficiency; (3) the role of Compact funds in supporting economic progress, and (4) the extent of accountability by the 2 nations and the U.S. over Compact expend.