OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

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Interior Announces $34 Million in Compact Funding for FY 2022 Government Operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Insular Affairs, Press Release
Republic of the Marshall Islands flag logo
11/10/2021
The United States (U.S.) Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs today announced that $33,732,400 in Compact of Free Association (Compact) funding for fiscal year (FY) 2022 for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) was approved by the bilateral Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee (JEMFAC) earlier this year.
OIA Cares Act (Public Law 116-136) Grant Awards Itemized to each Insular Area for fiscal years 2020 and 2021
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Logo
11/8/2021
OIA Cares Act (Public Law 116-136) Grant Awards Itemized to each Insular Area for fiscal years 2020 and 2021.
Statement from the Deputy Assistant Secretary on the Occasion of the 35th Anniversary the Compact of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia
Insular Affairs, Press Release
Statement from the Deputy Assistant Secretary on the 35th Anniversary
11/3/2021
Wishing the Federated States of Micronesia a very joyous celebration on the 35th anniversary of your independence and entry into free association with the United States under the Compact of Free Association. We look forward to many more years of celebrating with you and continuing our special relationship with the people of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, and Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia—our close friends in the Pacific.
Interior Office of Insular Affairs Announces Full and Final Allocation of $55 Million in Cares Act Funds to Insular Areas
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Logo
11/1/2021
The OIA announces its final allocation of $55 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act through the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) to the Insular Areas. The funds will be used to prepare for and address the impacts of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Statement from the Deputy Assistant Secretary on the Occasion of the 35th Anniversary of the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Insular Affairs, Press Release
Statement from the Deputy Assistant Secretary on the 35th anniversary
10/21/2021
Wishing the Republic of the Marshall Islands a very joyous celebration on the 35th anniversary of your independence and entry into free association with the United States under the Compact of Free Association. We look forward to many more years of celebrating with you and continuing our special relationship with the people of the Marshall Islands—our close friends in the Pacific.
Interior Announces $4.1 Million to Fight the Brown Tree Snake on Guam
Insular Affairs, Press Release
Brown Tree Snake on Guam
10/14/2021
“Islands are particularly vulnerable to invasive species that disrupt natural, long-standing biological processes and threaten our unique, island eco-systems,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Keone Nakoa. “Each year, OIA provides significant funds to critical efforts seeking to help restore balance.”
Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs Awards $8.5 Million for Energy Initiatives in the U.S. Territories
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Logo
10/13/2021
“Energy costs in the territories are among the highest in the nation,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Keone Nakoa. “We are pleased to provide support for these initiatives that help drive down the costs and promote cleaner energy options, a priority in the Biden-Harris administration.”
Statement from the Deputy Assistant Secretary on the Occasion of the 27th Anniversary of the Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau
Insular Affairs, Press Release
Statement from the Deputy Assistant Secretary photo
10/1/2021
Wishing the Republic of Palau a very joyous celebration on the 27th anniversary of your independence and entry into free association with the United States under the Compact of Free Association. We look forward to many more years of celebrating with you and continuing our special relationship with Palau—our close friends in the Pacific
Summary of Compact Impact Grants Mandatory and Discretionary Provided in Fiscal Year 2021 to the Affected Jurisdictions
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Logo
9/30/2021
Summary of Compact Impact Grants Mandatory and Discretionary Provided in Fiscal Year 2021 to the Affected Jurisdictions
TAP and MAP grants announced for the freely associated states; regional support for FY2021
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Logo
9/30/2021
OIA awarded numerous Technical Assistance Program (TAP) and Maintenance Assistance Program (MAP) grants in fiscal year 2021 to the FSM, RMI, and Palau. Other grants awarded provided support to several insular areas. The various grants were provided to local governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academic institutions.
Interior Office of Insular Affairs Announces Nearly $3 Million to Protect Coral Reefs and Combat Invasive Species in the Insular Areas
Insular Affairs, Press Release
CRAG of American Samoa photo
9/29/2021
“Supporting healthy coral reefs and protecting natural resources from invasive species are essential components to confront climate change effectively,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Keone Nakoa. “Due to their island geographies and the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, families in the U.S. territories and the freely associated states are particularly vulnerable to the existential threat of climate change.
Interior Department announces $11 million for American Samoa and Guam in capital infrastructure funds
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Logo
9/22/2021
Funds totaling $27,720,000 support priority health and wellness, transportation and utility infrastructure needs in the territories such as hospitals, schools, wastewater and solid waste systems, but can also be leveraged as local matching funds for other federal grant programs related to disaster recovery.  
Deputy Assistant Secretary Keone Nakoa and Senior Advisor Betsy Hildebrandt Join Interior’s Insular Affairs Team
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Logo
9/13/2021
The Biden-Harris administration has appointed Keone Nakoa of Hawai’i as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs and Betsy Hildebrandt of Virginia as the new Senior Advisor for Insular Areas to the Assistant Secretary.
Interior Supports Insular Area Students Through Close-Up and Junior State Foundation
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Logo
9/2/2021
Office of Insular Affairs has provided $1,499,100 in fiscal year 2021 Technical Assistance Program grant funding to two civic engagement and education programs for insular areas students. One million dollars has been announced for the Close-Up Foundation and $499,100 has been awarded to the Junior State Foundation.
Interior Announces $2.6 Million to Replace Palau Mobile Telecommunications Network and Bolster Health Monitoring
Insular Affairs, Press Release
OIA Palau Flag
8/13/2021
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs announced $2,684,500 in Technical Assistance Program grant funding to the Republic of Palau government. Funds will be used to replace the Palau National Communication Corporation’s core mobile network to meet internationally accepted digital trust standards and to help develop a public health monitoring and reporting system in the island nation. 

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