Us Assistance to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands: a Question of Accountability
Gilman, Benjamin A; Leach, James A; Tom Lantos, Iowa; Henry Hyde, California J; Howard Berman, Illinois L; Doug Bereuter, California; Gary Ackerman, Nebraska L; York CHRISTOPHER SMITH, New H (2000). Us Assistance to Micronesia and the Marshall Islands: a Question of Accountability (Report). Washington, DC: House of Representatives, U.S. Congress. p. 42.
- Has attachment: File:AEDR9VTG.pdf
Abstract: "...It is in this context that the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK) and I tasked the General Accounting Office (GAO) to undertake a two-part review of the Compact.
The first report, which was issued last month, examines, one, the cost to the U.S. of providing assistance to the FSM and the RMI from fiscal years 1987 through 1999; and second, funds provided prior to the Compact for the effects of nuclear weapons testing on what is now the RMI. According to the GAO, more than $2.6 billion--yes, this is ``B for billion--in financial and other assistance has been provided to the FSM and the RMI during this time period.
Of that, approximately $2 billion has been through quarterly cash payments with minimal or no oversight to the islands' bank accounts. The remaining $500 million was provided by 19 Federal agencies in various services such as education, Head Start and Pell grant funding, weather forecasting support, preventive health services, Job Training and Partnership Act aid, and the like.
This translates over the past 13 years into approximately $1.5 billion to the FSM, a nation of 131,500 people, and $1.1 billion to the 50,500 inhabitants of the RMI.
The GAO found significant inaccuracies and inconsistencies with the data being used by the Department of the Interior to supervise and monitor Federal assistance programs. In fact, Interior is still unable to document $27 million in reimbursements. As the GAO reports, ``Collectively, therefore, Interior's ability to accurately report on assistance provided is called into question.'.."
