Bill Text: HI SR199 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urging The United States Congress To Pass Legislation To Allow Migrants To The United States From Compacts Of Free Association States To Benefit From Federal Emergency Aid.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-14 - Referred to PSM, JDC. [SR199 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SR199-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	199
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING the united states CONGRESS TO pass legislation to allow migrants to the united states from COMPACTS OF FREE ASSOCIATION states TO BENEFIT FROM FEDERAL emergency aid.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Compacts of Free Association are international agreements between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau; and

 

     WHEREAS, the compacts allow citizens of these states to live and work in the United States without requiring visas; and

 

     WHEREAS, under the current compacts, the United States has agreed to provide federal aid when disasters occur in the associated states; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1996, welfare reform laws prohibited migrants to the United States from Compacts of Free Association states from accessing most federal aid and federal benefits; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act also prevents the Federal Emergency Management Agency from using federal funds to support non-citizens, including migrants from Compacts of Free Association states; and

 

     WHEREAS, these laws have prevented some migrants from Compacts of Free Association states in Hawaii from accessing federal aid, housing, and services following the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires; and

 

     WHEREAS, multiple bipartisan bills have been introduced in Congress to restore access to federal benefits, including federal emergency aid, for migrants from Compacts of Free Association states; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the United States Congress is urged to pass legislation to allow migrants to the United States from Compacts of Free Association states to benefit from federal emergency aid; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

COFA; Federal Disaster Relief; Federal Aid