Title 48 › Chapter 18— MICRONESIA, MARSHALL ISLANDS, AND PALAU › Subchapter I— MICRONESIA AND MARSHALL ISLANDS › Part B— Approval and Implementation of Compacts, As Amended › § 1921b
The United States must provide free technical help and training to the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to help enforce Marshall Islands laws and to cooperate with U.S. criminal law enforcement. Help can include equipment and training for things like postal inspection of drugs. U.S. funds may reimburse U.S. state or local agencies that give that help. The RMI must let the people of Bikini keep using land on Ejit that they used as of January 1, 1985, without charge until Bikini is safe and livable unless a Marshall Islands court finally blocks that use. If a court blocks it, the U.S. will help people stay on Ejit or find suitable alternative land. The U.S. will pay money under the Section 177 agreement only after the RMI names a Fund Manager; if the President finds that manager unqualified, the money goes into an interest-bearing escrow account until the dispute is settled and a qualified manager is chosen. After 15 years the manager must transfer remaining funds to the RMI or an account the RMI names. The law says fixed payments from the Section 177 fund for people affected by U.S. nuclear testing: Bikini $75,000,000; Enewetak $48,750,000; Rongelap $37,500,000; Utrik $22,500,000. The Section 177 agreement is ratified as the final settlement of the listed claims. The U.S. must continue special medical care for Rongelap and Utrik and, beginning January 1, 2012 and at least every 4 years, the Department of Energy must do a visual check of the Runit “Cactus Crater” structure and test nearby groundwater and report results to Congress. The law funds planting and food programs for Bikini and Enewetak, including at least $1,300,000 per year (adjusted for inflation) for planting and appropriations of $1,300,000 per year for FY2004 through FY2023. It authorizes specific one-time and yearly amounts for Rongelap resettlement trust payments for FY2005–2007. The Treasury must set up a $7,500,000 Enjebi Community Trust Fund to help Enjebi resettlement or relocation under timelines tied to January 14, 1986 and 25-year rules. The U.S. Comptroller General can audit U.S. assistance to the RMI and must be given records for at least five years; RMI must cooperate. The law also says the RMI must pay Kwajalein landowners per the October 19, 1982 land use agreement; if the RMI does not pay, the U.S. will raise the issue under Compact procedures and may hold excess U.S. payments in escrow, with a five-year deadline after December 17, 2003 for a new agreement or return of funds. The President may make loans and grants to help Ebeye and other Kwajalein communities.
Full Legal Text
Territories and Insular Possessions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
48 U.S.C. § 1921b
Title 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60