III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 34 

Recognizing the rich history, heritage, and strategic importance of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Marshallese population residing in 

the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 27, 2018 

Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. COTTON) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

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 Amendments Act of 

2003 (Public Law 108–188; 117 Stat. 2720), which— 

(A) is set to expire in 2023; and 


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•SCON 34 IS 

(B) authorizes economic assistance, through 

Federal grants and programs, to persons in the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 

(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— 


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•SCON 34 IS 

1 (A) the rich history and heritage of the 

2 Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 

3 (B) citizens of the Republic of the Mar4 shall Islands who live in the United States for 

5 the contributions of those individuals to— 

6 (i) the communities in which those in7 dividuals live; and 

8 (ii) the national defense of the United 

9 States through their service in the Armed 

10 Forces of the United States; 

11 (2) recognizes— 

12 (A) the strategic importance of the Repub13 lic of the Marshall Islands; and 

14 (B) the importance of the upcoming re15 negotiation of the Compact of Free Association 

16 between the Government of the United States 

17 and the Government of the Republic of the 

18 Marshall Islands; and 

19 (3) encourages a continued commitment to im20 prove census data to better serve citizens of the Re21 public of the Marshall Islands who live in the United 

22 States. 

Æ 


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