Sec. 6241. Sense of Congress on the renewal of the Compacts of Free Association with the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
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Congress finds that— in 1947, the United Nations entrusted the United States with the defense and security of the region that now comprises— the Republic of Palau; the Federated States of Micronesia; and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; in 1983, the United States signed Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; in 1985, the United States signed a Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau; in 1986, Congress— enacted the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 ( 48 U.S.C. 1901 note;
Public Law 99–239 ), which approved the Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and enacted Public Law 99–658 ( 48 U.S.C. 1931 note), which approved the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau; in 2003, Congress enacted the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 ( 48 U.S.C. 1921 note; Public Law 108–188 ), which approved and renewed the Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; in 2010, the United States and the Republic of Palau agreed to terms for renewing the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau in the Palau Compact Review Agreement, which was approved by Congress in section 1259C of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 ( 48 U.S.C. 1931 note;
Public Law 115–91 ); on January 11, 2023, the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of the Marshall Islands on funding priorities for the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of the Marshall Islands; on May 22, 2023, the United States signed the U.S.-Palau 2023 Agreement, following the Compact of Free Association Section 432 Review; on May 23, 2023, the United States signed 3 agreements relating to the U.S.–FSM Compact of Free Association, which included— an Agreement to Amend the Compact, as amended; a new fiscal procedures agreement; and a new trust fund agreement; and the United States is undergoing negotiations relating to the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
It is the sense of Congress that— the close and strategic partnerships of the United States with the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are vital to international peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; the Compacts of Free Association with the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands form the political, economic, and security architecture that bolsters and sustains security and drives regional development and the prosperity of the larger Indo-Pacific community of nations; certain provisions of the current Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands expire on September 30, 2023; certain provisions of the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau expire on September 30, 2024; it is in the national interest of the United States to successfully renegotiate and renew the Compacts of Free Association with the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and enacting legislation to approve amended Compacts of Free Association with the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands is the most important way for Congress to support United States strategic partnerships with the 3 countries.