President Bush Signs Bill Funding Key Marshall Islands Health and Education Programs

The U.S. Congress’ final FY2005 funding bill, signed by President Bush on December 8, provides significant education and health care assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The funding includes $6.1 million for Supplemental Educational Grants, $1 million for the Section 177 Health Care Program, $6.3 million for the Department of Energy programs in the RMI, and $1 million for the Prior Service Trust Fund. RMI’s Ambassador to the United States, Banny deBrum, said that the new educational assistance, which will replace US Education formula grants, "will permit our government to further President Note’s strong commitment to enhancing educational opportunities for all Marshallese citizens."

The Section 177 funding is essential to the RMI for administering these programs since the Nuclear Claims Tribunal can no longer support the doctors and other personnel who have provided essential services in both Majuro and on the atolls, deBrum said.

The Act includes an increase of $2 million by Congress over the $4.3 million requested by the Bush Administration with the intent of providing the traditional amount for programs dealing with the aftermath of US nuclear testing in the Marshalls.

The RMI is waiting a review on Capital Hill of its Changed Circcumstances Petition, submitted in 2000, which provides justification for new funding by the U.S. Government to address the long-term health and environmental effects of the U.S. nuclear testing program.

According to Jessica Reimers, of the RMI Embassy in Washington, D.C., several Congressional committees have agreed to hearings on this matter in the coming months.