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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The United States has enjoyed strong relationships |
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with the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, |
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and the Federated States of Micronesia; and |
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WHEREAS, The Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 |
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terminated U.S. trusteeship over the former Trust Territory of the |
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Pacific Islands and established the Federated States of Micronesia |
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and the Republic of the Marshall Islands as independent nations in |
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1986; in 1994, the U.S. established another Compact of Free |
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Association with the Republic of Palau; the agreements also outline |
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how economic assistance is administered to the nations by the U.S. |
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Office of Insular Affairs; and |
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WHEREAS, The COFA agreements are perpetual with a periodic |
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review of financial provisions; the most recent amendments to the |
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agreements were passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by |
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former President Joe Biden on March 9, 2024, and they went into |
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effect on March 18, 2024; the amendments ensured that veterans |
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living in the COFA islands could access VA medical services, and |
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they restored and extended federal domestic services such as SNAP, |
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TANF, FEMA, and in-state tuition; the amendments also strengthened |
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U.S. Indo-Pacific influence by enhancing U.S. military presence in |
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the COFA nations; and |
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WHEREAS, An estimated 94,000 non-immigrant legal permanent |
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residents from COFA nations currently live in the U.S. and its |
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territories; of that population, approximately 5,000 live in and |
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contribute to the State of Texas and the United States as a whole |
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through various employment sectors, including technical and |
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professional fields; in addition, many COFA islanders serve in the |
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U.S. military and are stationed at bases in Texas; in 2019, the |
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Senate and the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature adopted resolutions acknowledging the historical |
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significance of the COFA agreements; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas and the United States have benefited |
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immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with the |
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Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the |
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Federated States of Micronesia, and it is a pleasure to join in |
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recognizing the many contributions of Texas residents who trace |
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their heritage to the COFA nations; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby express support for the protection of COFA islanders |
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residing in Texas and affirm their rights afforded under the |
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Compact of Free Association agreements; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby recognize March 18, 2025, as COFA Day in Texas. |