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Title 48 — Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-73

§1981 Findings

Title 48 › Chapter CHAPTER 18— - MICRONESIA, MARSHALL ISLANDS, AND PALAU › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - MICRONESIA, MARSHALL ISLANDS, AND PALAU: 2023 AGREEMENTS › § 1981

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Congress says the United States fulfilled its duties under the Trusteeship Agreement and the U.N. Charter to help the people of the Trust Territory move toward self-government or independence. Congress also says the U.S. made Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau to keep close, cooperative ties. Congress notes that amended Compacts and related deals were signed and approved over time. The Palau agreement was signed September 3, 2010 and amended September 19, 2018, and the U.S. signed a Palau agreement on May 22, 2023. On May 23, 2023 the U.S. signed three agreements with FSM (including an amendment, a fiscal procedures agreement, and a trust fund agreement) and on September 28, 2023 it signed a Federal Programs and Services agreement for FSM. On October 16, 2023 the U.S. signed three similar agreements with RMI.

Full Legal Text

Title 48, §1981

Territories and Insular Possessions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Congress finds the following:
(1)The United States (in accordance with the Trusteeship Agreement for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the United Nations Charter, and the objectives of the international trusteeship system of the United Nations) fulfilled its obligations to promote the development of the people of the Trust Territory toward self-government or independence, as appropriate, to the particular circumstances of the Trust Territory and the people of the Trust Territory and the freely expressed wishes of the people concerned.
(2)The United States, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands entered into the Compact of Free Association set forth in section 201 of the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 (48 U.S.C. 1901 note; Public Law 99–239) and the United States and the Republic of Palau entered into the Compact of Free Association set forth in section 201 of Public Law 99–658 (48 U.S.C. 1931 note) to create and maintain a close and mutually beneficial relationship.
(3)The “Compact of Free Association, as amended, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia”, the “Compact of Free Association, as amended, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands”, and related agreements were signed by the Government of the United States and the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and approved, as applicable, by section 201 of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921 note; Public Law 108–188).
(4)The “Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Palau Following the Compact of Free Association section 432 Review”, was signed by the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Palau on September 3, 2010, and amended on September 19, 2018.
(5)On May 22, 2023, the United States signed the “Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Palau Resulting From the 2023 Compact of Free Association section 432 Review”.
(6)On May 23, 2023, the United States signed 3 agreements related to the U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association, including an Agreement to Amend the Compact, as amended, a new fiscal procedures agreement, and a new trust fund agreement and on September 28, 2023, the United States signed a Federal Programs and Services agreement related to the U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association.
(7)On October 16, 2023, the United States signed 3 agreements relating to the U.S.-RMI Compact of Free Association, including an Agreement to Amend the Compact, as amended, a new fiscal procedures agreement, and a new trust fund agreement.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

For

Short Title

of title II of Pub. L. 118–42 as the “Compact of Free Association

Amendments

Act of 2024”, see section 201 of title II of div. G of Pub. L. 118–42, set out as a

Short Title

of 2024 Amendment note under section 1901 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

48 U.S.C. § 1981

Title 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73