Rep. Gabbard Promotes Opportunities for COFA Migrants

Tulsi Gabbard. Courtesy photo.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) recently co-sponsored legislation to extend eligibility for national service programs to citizens of the Freely Associated States who reside in the US.

The legislation, introduced by Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), would amend Section 5 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to include citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands who reside in the US on the list of eligible individuals.

The current statute only allows US citizens, nationals or lawful permanent residents to participate in these programs.

Congressman Kilili Sablan of the Northern Mariana Islands is also an original co-sponsor.

“This legislation would help tens of thousands of COFA migrants living in the United States, including more than 12,000 in Hawaiʻi, gain valuable job training and skills, and give back to our community, by participating in programs that provide disaster relief services, educational opportunities, environmental restoration, and health care assistance to communities across the country,” said Rep. Gabbard, who introduced legislation to reinstate Medicaid eligibility for COFA migrants last year.

“Citizens from the Freely Associated States who reside in the US should be allowed to participate in national community service programs, just as they are allowed to serve in our military or receive student aid to further their education,” said Rep. Bordallo. “It is only fair that if we can allow FAS citizens to serve in our military and protect our way of life, then we should also allow them to serve our local communities through community service. I was disappointed when last year, several FAS citizens who had already begun their service projects were removed from the AmeriCorps program simply because they did not meet the citizenship eligibility requirements. These individuals are role models who want to help our community, and they should be allowed to do so through community service.

“I appreciate the leadership of Sen. BJ Cruz for championing this issue in the Guam Legislature and working with me to develop this bill,” said Rep. Bordallo. “I also appreciate the support of my colleagues, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawai‘i and Congressman Kilili Sablan from the Northern Mariana Islands, who are cosponsors of this bill. I look forward to working with them to move this bill through the legislative process and having it enacted it into law.”