SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 3--RECOGNIZING THE RICH HISTORY, HERITAGE, AND STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND THE MARSHALLESE POPULATION RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 28
(Senate - February 13, 2019)
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From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 3--RECOGNIZING THE RICH HISTORY, HERITAGE,
AND STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AND
THE MARSHALLESE POPULATION RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES
Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. Cotton) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources:
S. Con. Res. 3
Whereas the Republic of the Marshall Islands--
(1) is a sovereign country in free association with the
United States under the Compact of Free Association between
the Government of the United States and the Government of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands (referred to in this
preamble as the ``Compact''), approved in the Compact of Free
Association Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-239; 99 Stat. 1770)
and amended by the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act
of 2003 (Public Law 108-188; 117 Stat. 2720), which
authorizes economic assistance, through Federal grants and
programs, to persons in the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
and
(2) has full authority and responsibility over security and
defense matters relating to the Republic of the Marshall
Islands;
Whereas, under the Compact, eligible citizens of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands may reside, work, and study
in the United States without a visa and may serve in the
Armed Forces of the United States;
Whereas an estimated \1/3\ of the population of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands has relocated to the United
States; and
Whereas Marshallese individuals who live in the United
States--
(1) offer positive economic and cultural benefits to the
communities in which those individuals live;
(2) pay Federal and State taxes but are not eligible for
benefits under--
(A) the Medicare program established under title XVIII
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); or
(B) the Medicaid program established under title XIX of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.); and
(3) were undercounted in the 2010 census and, as a result,
areas where those individuals live are underserved by the
Federal Government: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That Congress--
(1) commends--
(A) the rich history and heritage of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands; and
(B) citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands who
live in the United States for the contributions of those
individuals to--
(i) the communities in which those individuals live; and
(ii) the national defense of the United States through
their service in the Armed Forces of the United States;
(2) recognizes the strategic importance of the Republic of
the Marshall Islands; and
(3) encourages a continued commitment to improve census
data to better serve citizens of the Republic of the Marshall
Islands who live in the United States.
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