By Gina T. Reilly
Migrants from the freely associated states who live on Guam are now covered by federal disaster programs.
Under P.L. 118-42, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, migrants from Pala, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands are now eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
The law, signed on March 9, renewed the U.S. government's economic assistance to Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. The law also made available programs that were either previously canceled or not available to COFA migrants living on U.S. soil.
“The devastation of Typhoon Mawar in 2023 hit our COFA citizens hard, with some not being able to get the assistance they needed with DUA, despite being able to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance," said David Dell’Isola, director of the Guam Department of Labor.
"This historic change recognizes the contributions of Compact of Free Association citizens to our community and the important role they play in building our economy and shaping our future,” he added.
Earlier this month, national and regional labor officials visited Guam to audit the Mawar DUA program.
"They praised the team for a well-run program and cited best practices to take back to the U.S.," the GDOL said in a press release. "It was also during this visit that USDOL officials informed GDOL Director Dell’Isola of the change to the law that now makes COFA citizens eligible for DUA benefits."
“The governor and I spent months advocating to our counterparts and Congress about the urgent need to support COFA citizens during times of disaster," Dell’Isola said.
"While I am disappointed that we could not provide DUA support to our COFA citizens in the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar in 2023, I am glad our voices were heard and addressed in the approval process," he added.
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