§2001 — Title 48 Territories and Insular Possessions | U.S. Code

Summary

Congress says the United States lacks a clear policy for noncontiguous Pacific areas — the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the State of Hawaii, and the State of Alaska — and for U.S.-associated Pacific areas: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau. Federal decision-makers often fail to think about how foreign and domestic policies will affect these places, which hurts both federal goals and the areas themselves. Nationwide rules can be a poor fit because these areas have special needs. Federal organizations that deal with the islands are not working well enough to coordinate services, run programs consistently, adjust policies for each area, answer Congress, or meet U.S. international responsibilities.

Title 48, §2001

Territories and Insular Possessions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Congress finds that—

(1)the United States does not have a clearly defined policy for United States noncontiguous Pacific areas (including the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the State of Hawaii, and the State of Alaska) and for United States-associated noncontiguous Pacific areas (including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau);

(2)the Federal Government has often failed to consider the implications for, effects on, and potential of noncontiguous Pacific areas in the formulation and conduct of foreign and domestic policy, to the detriment of both the attainment of the objectives of Federal policy and noncontiguous Pacific areas;

(3)policies and programs designed for the United States as a whole may impose inappropriate standards on noncontiguous Pacific areas because of their unique circumstances and needs; and

(4)the present Federal organizational arrangements for liaison with (and providing assistance to) the insular areas may not be adequate—

(A)to coordinate the delivery of Federal programs and services to noncontiguous Pacific areas;

(B)to provide a consistent basis for administration of programs;

(C)to adapt policy to the special requirements of each area and modify the application of Federal programs, laws, and regulations accordingly;

(D)to be responsive to the Congress in the discharge of its responsibilities; and

(E)to attain the international obligations of the United States.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly set out as a note under section 1681 of this title.

§2001 Findings

Summary

Title 48, §2001

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata