IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 18 

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 13, 2019 

Mr. WOMACK (for himself, Ms. GABBARD, Mr. HILL of Arkansas, Mr. 

WESTERMAN, Mr. CRAWFORD, and Mrs. RADEWAGEN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 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 ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC18.IH HC18

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•HCON 18 IH 

pact 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 

(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 House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 


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•HCON 18 IH 

1 (1) commends— 

2 (A) the rich history and heritage of the 

3 Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 

4 (B) citizens of the Republic of the Mar5 shall Islands who live in the United States for 

6 the contributions of those individuals to— 

7 (i) the communities in which those in8 dividuals live; and 

9 (ii) the national defense of the United 

10 States through their service in the Armed 

11 Forces of the United States; 

12 (2) recognizes the strategic importance of the 

13 Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 

14 (3) encourages a continued commitment to im15 prove census data to better serve citizens of the Re16 public of the Marshall Islands who live in the United 

17 States. 

Æ 


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