PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

A price-index adjustment in the Covenant does not change the federal money paid to the Northern Mariana Islands under the Covenant’s funding agreement. After the original aid period ends, direct grant payments keep going for seven more years at the last yearly level. For fiscal years 1996–1999 the payment is $11,000,000 each year; for fiscal year 2000 it is $5,580,000; for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 it returns to $11,000,000 each year; and for fiscal year 2003 the payment is $5,420,000. These payments require an equal local match and must follow the rules in the Agreement of the Special Representatives dated December 17, 1992. Any extra money not needed for these payments is handled as described next unless Congress changes it. Extra amounts are to be used by the Secretary for capital projects. For fiscal years 1996–2001, $4,580,000 per year goes to Guam as Impact Aid. In fiscal year 1996, $7,700,000 goes to American Samoa capital work and $4,420,000 to resettle Rongelap Atoll. From fiscal year 1997 on, funds may be used for capital projects in Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, with small rescissions of $200,000 in 2009 and $225,000 each year 2010–2018 (adjusted with Congressional pay changes). In 1997, $3,000,000 goes to the College of the Northern Marianas and up to $3,000,000 per year may address immigration, labor, and law enforcement in the Northern Mariana Islands. The Secretary must make and update a five-year plan for American Samoa, set project priorities, and may set aside up to $2,000,000 per year for an emergency fund (capped at $10,000,000). In fiscal year 2000, $5,420,000 is for the Virgin Islands’ correctional and required projects. Total federal contributions after April 26, 1996 for Rongelap resettlement may not exceed $32,000,000 and must be tied to a President-approved agreement saying the funds are a full settlement, used only for resettlement, and properly audited. Federal agencies may route funds through the Secretary of the Interior to help Rongelap resettle. Aid to people who choose not to return to Rongelap may be given under separate rules, but not until the Secretary notifies Congress that all resettlement money has been provided.

Title 48, §1804

Territories and Insular Possessions, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Composite price index adjustments not applicable

section 704(c) of the foregoing Covenant shall not apply to the Federal financial assistance which is provided to the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to section 1803 of this title.

(b)Additional years of assistance

Upon the expiration of the period of Federal financial assistance which is provided to the Government of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to section 1803 of this title, payments of direct grant assistance shall continue at the annual level provided for the last fiscal year of the additional period of seven fiscal years except that, for fiscal years 1996 through 1999, payments to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to the multi-year funding agreements contemplated under the Covenant shall be $11,000,000 annually and for fiscal year 2000, payments to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be $5,580,000, but shall return to the level of $11,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2001 and 2002. In fiscal year 2003, the payment to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be $5,420,000. Such payments shall be subject to an equal local match and all other requirements set forth in the Agreement of the Special Representatives on Future Federal Financial Assistance of the Northern Mariana Islands, executed on December 17, 1992 between the special representative of the President of the United States and special representatives of the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands with any additional amounts otherwise made available under this section in any fiscal year and not required to meet the schedule of payments in this subsection to be provided as set forth in subsection (c) until Congress otherwise provides by law.

(c)Specific allocations for capital infrastructure projects

The additional amounts referred to in subsection (b) shall be made available to the Secretary for obligation as follows:

(1)for fiscal years 1996 through 2001, $4,580,000 annually for capital infrastructure projects as Impact Aid for Guam under section 1904(e)(6) of this title;

(2)for fiscal year 1996, $7,700,000 shall be provided for capital infrastructure projects in American Samoa; $4,420,000 for resettlement of Rongelap Atoll; and

(3)for fiscal years 1997 and thereafter, all such amounts shall be available solely for capital infrastructure projects in Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, except that $200,000 in fiscal year 2009 and $225,000 annually for fiscal years 2010 through 2018 are hereby rescinded; Provided, That the amount rescinded shall be increased by the same percentage as that of the annual salary and benefit adjustments for Members of Congress Provided, That, in fiscal year 1997, $3,000,000 of such amounts shall be made available to the College of the Northern Marianas and beginning in fiscal year 1997, and in each year thereafter, not to exceed $3,000,000 may be allocated, as provided in appropriations Acts, to the Secretary of the Interior for use by Federal agencies or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to address immigration, labor, and law enforcement issues in the Northern Mariana Islands. The specific projects to be funded in American Samoa shall be set forth in a five-year plan for infrastructure assistance developed by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with the American Samoa Government and updated annually and submitted to the Congress concurrent with the budget justifications for the Department of the Interior. In developing budget recommendations for capital infrastructure funding, the Secretary shall indicate the highest priority projects, consider the extent to which particular projects are part of an overall master plan, whether such project has been reviewed by the Corps of Engineers and any recommendations made as a result of such review, the extent to which a set-aside for maintenance would enhance the life of the project, the degree to which a local cost-share requirement would be consistent with local economic and fiscal capabilities, and may propose an incremental set-aside, not to exceed $2,000,000 per year, to remain available without fiscal year limitation, as an emergency fund in the event of natural or other disasters to supplement other assistance in the repair, replacement, or hardening of essential facilities: Provided further, That the cumulative amount set aside for such emergency fund may not exceed $10,000,000 at any time.

(4)for fiscal year 2000, $5,420,000 shall be provided to the Virgin Islands for correctional facilities and other projects mandated by Federal law.

(d)Resettlement of Rongelap Atoll

Within the amounts allocated for infrastructure pursuant to this section, and subject to the specific allocations made in subsection (c), additional contributions may be made, as set forth in appropriations Acts, to assist in the resettlement of Rongelap Atoll: Provided, That the total of all contributions from any Federal source after April 26, 1996, may not exceed $32,000,000 and shall be contingent upon an agreement, satisfactory to the President, that such contributions are a full and final settlement of all obligations of the United States to assist in the resettlement of Rongelop Atoll and that such funds will be expended solely on resettlement activities and will be properly audited and accounted for. In order to provide such contributions in a timely manner, each Federal agency providing assistance or services, or conducting activities, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is authorized to make funds available through the Secretary of the Interior, to assist in the resettlement of Rongelap. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the provision of ex gratia assistance pursuant to section 1905(c)(2) of this title including for individuals choosing not to resettle at Rongelap, except that no such assistance for such individuals may be provided until the Secretary notifies the Congress that the full amount of all funds necessary for resettlement at Rongelap has been provided.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Covenant, referred to in subsec. (a), is the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, which is contained in section 1 of Pub. L. 94–241, set out as a note under section 1801 of this title. section 1904(e)(6) of this title, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was in the original “section 104(c)(6) of Public Law 99–239”, which was translated as meaning section 104(e)(6) of Pub. L. 99–239 to reflect the probable intent of Congress, because section 1904(c) does not contain pars. and section 1904(e)(6) relates to impact aid. Codification Section was formerly set out as a note under section 1681 of this title. April 26, 1996, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original “enactment of this Act”, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 104–134, which added subsec. (d) of this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 110–229 substituted “Marshall Islands, except that $200,000 in fiscal year 2009 and $225,000 annually for fiscal years 2010 through 2018 are hereby rescinded; Provided, That the amount rescinded shall be increased by the same percentage as that of the annual salary and benefit adjustments for Members of Congress” for “Marshall Islands:”. 1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–113 substituted “fiscal years 1996 through 1999” for “fiscal years 1996 through 2002” and “$11,000,000 annually and for fiscal year 2000, payments to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be $5,580,000, but shall return to the level of $11,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2001 and 2002. In fiscal year 2003, the payment to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands shall be $5,420,000. Such payments shall be” for “$11,000,000 annually,”. Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 106–113 added par. (4). 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–134 substituted “except that, for fiscal years 1996 through 2002, payments to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands pursuant to the multi-year funding agreements contemplated under the Covenant shall be $11,000,000 annually, subject to an equal local match and all other requirements set forth in the Agreement of the Special Representatives on Future Federal Financial Assistance of the Northern Mariana Islands, executed on December 17, 1992 between the special representative of the President of the United States and special representatives of the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands with any additional amounts otherwise made available under this section in any fiscal year and not required to meet the schedule of payments in this subsection to be provided as set forth in subsection (c) until Congress otherwise provides by law.” for “until Congress otherwise provides by law.” Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 104–134 added subsecs. (c) and (d).

§1804 Direct Grant Assistance