Call by Lawmakers for Aid Under Federal Law

Samoa News
Monday, December 14, 2009

Community Briefs

By Samoa News Staff webmaster@samoanews.com

CALL BY LAWMAKERS FOR AID UNDER FEDERAL LAW

Sen. Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Rep. Galu Satele last week joined their colleagues on the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) in supporting an APIL, which strongly urged the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Congress to provide federal aid to American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and the State of Hawai'i for the provision of essential services to migrants from the Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations.

Hawai'i Senator J. Kalani English, who also serves as president of APIL, said the obligations of the federal government under COFA have been a matter of ongoing concern.

"The Compacts of Free Association allow for the free migration of citizens of Micronesia and the Freely Associated States throughout the United States and the Territories and Commonwealths, in recognition of the contributions and sacrifices COFA citizens have made in the past," said English, in a statement after the resolution was approved last week, during the APIL board of directors' meeting in Honolulu.

"Too many people look at it as a handout, when it is actually a legitimate obligation. APIL's' concern is simply to see that these obligations are met, and that the states and territories have the resources to provide vital services."

Original article URL: http://www.samoanews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=11297

Return to Sen. English Home Page - KalaniEnglish.com

Home Bills and Resolutions About Senator English Committees Community Profiles Newsletter Archive News Archive Capitol Web Site Media Photos

Connect with Senator English

OUR DISTRICT