Springdale, Arkansas – On May 28th Representative Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), Representative Ed Case (D-Hawaii), along with Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to restore eligibility for many federal benefit programs to citizens from the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) nations. The Compact Impact Fairness Act (CIFA) will help many Micronesians, citizens from the COFA nations that are living in the U.S. including an estimated 15,000 who are residents of Arkansas and not eligible for programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Covid-19 Funeral Assistance grants.
Under the Compacts, the Freely Associated States of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau, provide the United States with exclusive military rights in a critical Indo-Pacific region. In exchange citizens of COFA nations are able to live and work in the United States without a visa. Against the intent and spirit of the Compacts, COFA citizens lost access to federal benefits after Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.
Last year the disproportionate toll of COVID deaths within COFA communities, many of whom work in essential jobs, helped broaden support to fix the 25-year old legislative drafting error. In late 2020, Pacific Islanders secured a fix to restore access to Medicaid eligibility, a critical need but just one of many federal benefits entitled under the intent of the Compacts.
“The CIFA Act is about fairness and justice. We have citizens of COFA nations who have worked really hard in essential jobs in food processing, health care and early childhood education, and paid taxes but can’t access all benefits that they pay into. Citizens of COFA nations have sacrificed their lands for the security of the United States. The CIFA Act aligns with the original aim of the Compact to safeguard the lives and livelihood of COFA citizens living in the United States,” shared Melisa Laelan, Executive Director of the Arkansas Coalition for Marshallese (ACOM).
As COFA governments are in active negotiation with the United States on the Compact treaties, many COFA community leaders are working to ensure that the experience of COFA citizens in the United States are not ignored.
Dr. Sheldon Riklon, the Peter O. Kohler, M.D., Endowed Chair in Health Disparities at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, shared “The citizens of COFA nations in Arkansas helped keep our essential industries like food processing and health care running throughout the pandemic. And by doing so many were exposed to Covid-19, died, and spread infections to family members in multigenerational households. While the mass scale tragedy in our communities helped push forth Medicaid eligibility restoration, families are still struggling. Nearly every extended family has lost someone, and as COFA citizens are unable to receive grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Covid 19 Funeral Assistance Program.”
“We give thanks and appreciation to Representative Womack for his continued support and engagement and reaching out to the community and following through with important legislation. We look forward to working closely with him and continue to build important relationships. This will help Micronesians to move forward and have the ability to adapt to their environment as we truly respect each other’s cultures, nurture it and understand each other in partnership,” shared Michelle Pedro, Policy Director & Communications Specialist of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese.
About Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese (ACOM)
Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese (ACOM) is a non-profit organization 501c(3) founded in 2011 focusing on initiatives to improve the quality of life for the more than 15,000 Marshallese community members living in Arkansas. We serve Marshallese and strive to support and build capacity with other islander communities. ACOM engages the Marshallese community through a culturally specific approach applying education, leadership, policy, and holistic services. For more information about ACOM, visit www.arkansasmarshallese.org.