48 USC § 1921
Approval of U.S.-FSM Compact of Free Association and the U.S.-RMI Compact of Free Association; references to subsidiary agreements or separate agreements
Pub. L. 116-282 (12/31/2020), except Pub. L. 116-260
USC

(a) Federated States of Micronesia
The Compact of Free Association, as amended with respect to the Federated States of Micronesia and signed by the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and set forth in Title II (section 201(a)) of this joint resolution, is hereby approved, and Congress hereby consents to the subsidiary agreements and amended subsidiary agreements listed in section 462 of the U.S.-FSM Compact, including Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, as amended under the Agreement to Amend Article X that was signed by those two Governments on June 30, 2004, which shall serve as the authority to implement the provisions thereof. Subject to the provisions of this joint resolution, the President is authorized to agree, in accordance with section 411 of the U.S.-FSM Compact, to an effective date for and thereafter to implement such U.S.-FSM Compact.

(b) Republic of the Marshall Islands
The Compact of Free Association, as amended with respect to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and signed by the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and set forth in Title II (section 201(b)) of this joint resolution, is hereby approved, and Congress hereby consents to the subsidiary agreements and amended subsidiary agreements listed in section 462 of the U.S.-RMI Compact, including Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as amended under the Agreement to Amend Article X that was signed by those two Governments on June 18, 2004, which shall serve as the authority to implement the provisions thereof. Subject to the provisions of this joint resolution, the President is authorized to agree, in accordance with section 411 of the U.S.-RMI Compact, to an effective date for and thereafter to implement such U.S.-RMI Compact.

(c) References to the Compact, the U.S.-FSM Compact, and the U.S.-RMI Compact; References to subsidiary agreements or separate agreements

(1) Any reference in this joint resolution (except references in Title II) to "the Compact" shall be treated as a reference to the Compact of Free Association set forth in title II of Public Law 99–239, January 14, 1986, 99 Stat. 1770. Any reference in this joint resolution to the "U.S.-FSM Compact" shall be treated as a reference to the Compact of Free Association, as amended between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and set forth in Title II (section 201(a)) of this joint resolution. Any reference in this joint resolution to the "U.S.-RMI Compact" shall be treated as a reference to the Compact of Free Association, as amended between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and set forth in Title II (section 201(b)) of this joint resolution.

(2) Any reference to the term "subsidiary agreements" or "separate agreements" in this joint resolution shall be treated as a reference to agreements listed in section 462 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, and any other agreements that the United States may from time to time enter into with either the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia or the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or with both such governments in accordance with the provisions of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact.

(d) Amendment, change, or termination in the U.S.-FSM compact and U.S.-RMI compact and certain agreements

(1) Any amendment, change, or termination by mutual agreement or by unilateral action of the Government of the United States of all or any part of the U.S.-FSM Compact or U.S.-RMI Compact shall not enter into force until after Congress has incorporated it in an Act of Congress.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall apply—

(A) to all actions of the Government of the United States under the U.S.-FSM Compact or U.S.-RMI Compact including, but not limited to, actions taken pursuant to sections 431, 441, or 442;

(B) to any amendment, change, or termination in the Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia Regarding Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security Concluded Pursuant to Sections 321 and 323 of the Compact of Free Association referred to in section 462(a)(2) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Marshall Islands Regarding Mutual Security Concluded Pursuant to Sections 321 and 323 of the Compact of Free Association referred to in section 462(a)(5) of the U.S.-RMI Compact;

(C) to any amendment, change, or termination of the agreements concluded pursuant to Compact section 177, and section 215(a) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 216(a) of the U.S.-RMI Compact, the terms of which are incorporated by reference into the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact; and

(D) to the following subsidiary agreements, or portions thereof:

(i) Articles III, IV, and X of the agreement referred to in section 462(b)(6) of the U.S.-RMI Compact.

(ii) Article III and IV of the agreement referred to in section 462(b)(6) of the U.S.-FSM Compact.

(iii) Articles VI, XV, and XVII of the agreement referred to in section 462(b)(7) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and U.S.-RMI Compact.

(e) Subsidiary agreements deemed bilateral
For purposes of implementation of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact and this joint resolution, the Agreement Concluded Pursuant to Section 234 of the Compact of Free Association and referred to in section 462(a)(1) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 462(a)(4) of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall be deemed to be a bilateral agreement between the United States and each other party to such subsidiary agreement. The consent or concurrence of any other party shall not be required for the effectiveness of any actions taken by the United States in conjunction with either the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands which are intended to affect the implementation, modification, suspension, or termination of such subsidiary agreement (or any provision thereof) as regards the mutual responsibilities of the United States and the party in conjunction with whom the actions are taken.

(f) Entry into force of future amendments to subsidiary agreements
No agreement between the United States and the government of either the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands which would amend, change, or terminate any subsidiary agreement or portion thereof, other than those set forth in subsection (d) of this section shall enter into force until 90 days after the President has transmitted such agreement to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives together with an explanation of the agreement and the reasons therefor. In the case of the agreement referred to in section 462(b)(3) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, such transmittal shall include a specific statement by the Secretary of Labor as to the necessity of such amendment, change, or termination, and the impact thereof.

References in Text

The Compact of Free Association, as amended with respect to the Federated States of Micronesia and signed by the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and set forth in Title II (section 201(a)) of this joint resolution, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c)(1), is contained in section 201(a) of Pub. L. 108–188, set out below.

This joint resolution, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 108–188, Dec. 17, 2003, 117 Stat. 2720, known as the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, which enacted this part and provisions set out as notes under this section and section 1901 of this title and amended provisions set out as a note under section 3101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Title II of this joint resolution enacted provisions set out as notes under this section. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2003 Amendment note set out under section 1901 of this title and Tables.

The Compact of Free Association, as amended with respect to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and signed by the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and set forth in Title II (section 201(b)) of this joint resolution, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(1), is contained in section 201(b) of Pub. L. 108–188, set out below.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–229, §801(a)(1), inserted before period at end of first sentence ", including Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, as amended under the Agreement to Amend Article X that was signed by those two Governments on June 30, 2004, which shall serve as the authority to implement the provisions thereof".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–229, §801(a)(2), inserted before period at end of first sentence ", including Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement Between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as amended under the Agreement to Amend Article X that was signed by those two Governments on June 18, 2004, which shall serve as the authority to implement the provisions thereof".

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–229, title VIII, §801(b), May 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 870, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall be effective as of the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [May 8, 2008]."

Clarification of Tax-Free Status of Trust Funds

Pub. L. 110–229, title VIII, §809, May 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 874, provided that: "In the U.S.–RMI Compact [section 201(b) of Pub. L. 108–188, set out below], the U.S.–FSM Compact [section 201(a) of Pub. L. 108–188, set out below], and their respective trust fund subsidiary agreements, for the purposes of taxation by the United States or its subsidiary jurisdictions, the term 'State' means 'State, territory, or the District of Columbia'."

Recital Clauses

Pub. L. 108–188, Dec. 17, 2003, 117 Stat. 2723, which enacted this part and provisions set out as notes under this section and amended provisions set out as a note under section 3101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, contained several "Whereas" clauses reading as follows:

"Whereas the United States (in accordance with the Trusteeship Agreement for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the United Nations Charter, and the objectives of the international trusteeship system of the United Nations) fulfilled its obligations to promote the development of the people of the Trust Territory toward self-government or independence as appropriate to the particular circumstances of the Trust Territory and its peoples and the freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned;

"Whereas the United States, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands entered into the Compact of Free Association set forth in title II of Public Law 99–239, January 14, 1986, 99 Stat. 1770 [set out as a note under section 1901 of this title], to create and maintain a close and mutually beneficial relationship;

"Whereas the United States, in accordance with section 231 of the Compact of Free Association entered into negotiations with the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to provide continued United States assistance and to reaffirm its commitment to this close and beneficial relationship; and

"Whereas these negotiations, in accordance with section 431 of the Compact, resulted in the 'Compact of Free Association, as amended between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia' [set out below], and the 'Compact of Free Association, as amended between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands' [set out below], which, together with their related agreements, were signed by the Government of the United States and the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands on May 14, and April 30, 2003, respectively".

Compact of Free Association, as Amended, Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Pub. L. 108–188, title II, §201(a), Dec. 17, 2003, 117 Stat. 2757, as amended by Pub. L. 110–229, title VIII, §806(b)(1), May 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 871, provided that: "The Compact of Free Association, as amended, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia is as follows:

"Preamble

"the government of the united states of america and the government of the federated states of micronesia

"Affirming that their Governments and their relationship as Governments are founded upon respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and that the people of the Federated States of Micronesia have the right to enjoy self-government; and

"Affirming the common interests of the United States of America and the Federated States of Micronesia in creating and maintaining their close and mutually beneficial relationship through the free and voluntary association of their respective Governments; and

"Affirming the interest of the Government of the United States in promoting the economic advancement and budgetary self-reliance of the Federated States of Micronesia; and

"Recognizing that their relationship until the entry into force on November 3, 1986 of the Compact was based upon the International Trusteeship System of the United Nations Charter, and in particular Article 76 of the Charter; and that pursuant to Article 76 of the Charter, the people of the Federated States of Micronesia have progressively developed their institutions of self-government, and that in the exercise of their sovereign right to self-determination they, through their freely-expressed wishes, have adopted a Constitution appropriate to their particular circumstances; and

"Recognizing that the Compact reflected their common desire to terminate the Trusteeship and establish a government-to-government relationship which was in accordance with the new political status based on the freely expressed wishes of the people of the Federated States of Micronesia and appropriate to their particular circumstances; and

"Recognizing that the people of the Federated States of Micronesia have and retain their sovereignty and their sovereign right to self-determination and the inherent right to adopt and amend their own Constitution and form of government and that the approval of the entry of the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia into the Compact by the people of the Federated States of Micronesia constituted an exercise of their sovereign right to self-determination; and

"Recognizing the common desire of the people of the United States and the people of the Federated States of Micronesia to maintain their close government-to-government relationship, the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia:

"NOW, THEREFORE, MUTUALLY AGREE to continue and strengthen their relationship of free association by amending the Compact, which continues to provide a full measure of self-government for the people of the Federated States of Micronesia; and

"FURTHER AGREE that the relationship of free association derives from and is as set forth in this Compact, as amended, by the Governments of the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia; and that, during such relationship of free association, the respective rights and responsibilities of the Government of the United States and the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia in regard to this relationship of free association derive from and are as set forth in this Compact, as amended.

Compact of Free Association, as Amended, Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Pub. L. 108–188, title II, §201(b), Dec. 17, 2003, 117 Stat. 2795, as amended by Pub. L. 110–229, title VIII, §806(b)(2), May 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 873, provided that: "The Compact of Free Association, as amended, between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands is as follows:

"Preamble

"the government of the united states of america and the government of the republic of the marshall islands

"Affirming that their Governments and their relationship as Governments are founded upon respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and that the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands have the right to enjoy self-government; and

"Affirming the common interests of the United States of America and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in creating and maintaining their close and mutually beneficial relationship through the free and voluntary association of their respective Governments; and

"Affirming the interest of the Government of the United States in promoting the economic advancement and budgetary self-reliance of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and

"Recognizing that their relationship until the entry into force on October 21, 1986 of the Compact was based upon the International Trusteeship System of the United Nations Charter, and in particular Article 76 of the Charter; and that pursuant to Article 76 of the Charter, the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands have progressively developed their institutions of self-government, and that in the exercise of their sovereign right to self-determination they, through their freely-expressed wishes, have adopted a Constitution appropriate to their particular circumstances; and

"Recognizing that the Compact reflected their common desire to terminate the Trusteeship and establish a government-to-government relationship which was in accordance with the new political status based on the freely expressed wishes of the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and appropriate to their particular circumstances; and

"Recognizing that the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands have and retain their sovereignty and their sovereign right to self-determination and the inherent right to adopt and amend their own Constitution and form of government and that the approval of the entry of the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands into the Compact by the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands constituted an exercise of their sovereign right to self-determination; and

"Recognizing the common desire of the people of the United States and the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to maintain their close government-to-government relationship, the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands:

"NOW, THEREFORE, MUTUALLY AGREE to continue and strengthen their relationship of free association by amending the Compact, which continues to provide a full measure of self-government for the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and

"FURTHER AGREE that the relationship of free association derives from and is as set forth in this Compact, as amended, by the Governments of the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and that, during such relationship of free association, the respective rights and responsibilities of the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in regard to this relationship of free association derive from and are as set forth in this Compact, as amended.


Tried the LawStack mobile app?

Join thousands and try LawStack mobile for FREE today.

  • Carry the law offline, wherever you go.
  • Download CFR, USC, rules, and state law to your mobile device.