OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

“Coral reefs are important income generators for tourism and food industries in island economies; and while coral reefs protect and harbor fish and other coastal resources, they also provide islands with critical protection from erosion and wave action from storms.,” said Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor. “We are grateful to Congress for providing this funding and helping the Insular Areas protect these unique natural resources.”  

“In response to the Governor’s request, we are pleased to provide this additional support for Guam following President Biden’s emergency declaration and thank all of our federal partners for their continued support for supplemental territorial and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Typhoon Mawar,” said Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor. “We anticipate that this grant to Guam will provide stability and continuity of services in this current time of need and in the future.”

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has announced $5,218,185 in fiscal year 2023 Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grant funding that will go towards supporting programs and projects to benefit the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) through local governments, a non-profit organization, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has completed a visit to the Republic of Palau as part of her weeklong visit to the Pacific Islands, where she highlighted the United States’ historic and long-standing relationship with Palau, one of three freely associated states in the Pacific whose relationship is underpinned by a Compact of Free Association (Compact). She also announced $1,008,000 in Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Program grant funds for Palau.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland kicked off a week-long visit to the Pacific Islands today in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), where she highlighted the Biden-Harris administration’s ongoing commitment to protecting and investing in the natural and cultural resources of the U.S. territory. She also announced $1,146,133 in Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) Technical Assistance Program (TAP) grant funds for the territory.

“We are pleased to fund these impactful projects and proposals for the benefit of the people of American Samoa that will support business development, port management, grants management, tuna policies, and healthy youth.” -Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor