OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

The U.S. The Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has announced $3,001,886 in Technical Assistance Program (TAP) and Maintenance Assistance Program (MAP) grant funding to the Government of Guam for fiscal year 2022. The funding will support various government needs that include grants management training, streamlining business processes across government agencies, improving public safety surveillance, upgrading IT infrastructure for better public access, including equipment, and critical support for the port and the VA cemetery. Funds will also aid in the development of a local marine science program at the University of Guam and assist vulnerable Micronesian communities on Guam.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) has announced $431,805 in fiscal year 2022 Technical Assistance Program funding to maintain and update small aircraft engine avionics and engines used for air transportation services between Guam, the Republic of Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia, especially to the smaller islands where no regular air or sea transportation is available. The funding will also purchase spare parts and equipment for emergency patient transport.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has announced $1,499,430 in fiscal year 2022 Technical Assistance Program grant funding to two civic engagement and education programs for insular areas students. One million dollars has been provided to the Close-Up Foundation and $499,430 has been provided to the Junior State Foundation.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs announces $700,000 in fiscal year 2022 funding for the Prior Service Trust Fund Administration, which distributes benefits to approximately 700 former employees of the post-World War II, U.S. administered, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) in the Western Pacific.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs announces $27,720,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2022 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) grant funding for priority needs across the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

OIA has made available $26,670,000 in fiscal year 2022 funding provided by Congress for the American Samoa government to support the operations of public schools, the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, the community college, and the judicial system in the territory.

The $5 million represents economic compensation for adverse financial and economic impacts in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) after tax and trade provisions intended to benefit the RMI were removed by Congress from the Compact of Free Association under Public Law 99-239 as amended to Public Law 108-188.