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

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 18 Recognizing the rich history, heritage, and strategic importance of the Repub- lic 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 fol- lowing 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 subse- quently 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 impor- tance 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 (re- ferred 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 Com- VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HC18.IH HC18 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HCON 18 IH pact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (Pub- lic Law 108–188; 117 Stat. 2720), which authorizes eco- nomic 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 Mar- shall 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 under- served by the Federal Government: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 1 concurring), That Congress— 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HC18.IH HC18 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HCON 18 IH (1) commends— 1 (A) the rich history and heritage of the 2 Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 3 (B) citizens of the Republic of the Mar- 4 shall Islands who live in the United States for 5 the contributions of those individuals to— 6 (i) the communities in which those in- 7 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 the strategic importance of the 12 Republic of the Marshall Islands; and 13 (3) encourages a continued commitment to im- 14 prove census data to better serve citizens of the Re- 15 public of the Marshall Islands who live in the United 16 States. 17 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HC18.IH HC18 pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS