IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 3 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 28, 2019 

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Reform, Armed Services, and Foreign Affairs, 

for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 

for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 

committee concerned 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the rich history, heritage, and strategic importance of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the 

Marshallese population residing in the United States. 

Whereas the Republic of the Marshall Islands— 

(1) is a sovereign country in free association with 

the United States under the Compact of Free Association 

between the Government of the United States and the 

Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘Compact’’), approved 

in the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 (Public 

Law 99–239; 99 Stat. 1770) and amended by the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–188; 117 Stat. 2720), which authorizes economic assistance, through Federal grants and programs, 

to persons in the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 


jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
2 

SCON 3 RFH 

(2) has full authority and responsibility over security 

and defense matters relating to the Republic of the Marshall Islands; 

Whereas, under the Compact, eligible citizens of the Republic 

of the Marshall Islands may reside, work, and study in 

the United States without a visa and may serve in the 

Armed Forces of the United States; 

Whereas an estimated 1⁄3 of the population of the Republic 

of the Marshall Islands has relocated to the United 

States; and 

Whereas Marshallese individuals who live in the United 

States— 

(1) offer positive economic and cultural benefits to 

the communities in which those individuals live; 

(2) pay Federal and State taxes but are not eligible 

for benefits under— 

(A) the Medicare program established under 

title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 

1395 et seq.); or 

(B) the Medicaid program established under 

title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 

et seq.); and 

(3) were undercounted in the 2010 census and, as 

a result, areas where those individuals live are underserved by the Federal Government: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) commends— 

4 (A) the rich history and heritage of the 

5 Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 


jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
3 

SCON 3 RFH 

1 (B) citizens of the Republic of the Mar2 shall Islands who live in the United States for 

3 the contributions of those individuals to— 

4 (i) the communities in which those in5 dividuals live; and 

6 (ii) the national defense of the United 

7 States through their service in the Armed 

8 Forces of the United States; 

9 (2) recognizes the strategic importance of the 

10 Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 

11 (3) encourages a continued commitment to im12 prove census data to better serve citizens of the Re13 public of the Marshall Islands who live in the United 

14 States. 

Passed the Senate May 23 (legislative day, May 22), 

2019. 

Attest: JULIE E. ADAMS, 

Secretary. 


jbell on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS