Pete Domenici: “U.S. assistance under the current compact is made available as both financial and program assistance. In the case of…”

“U.S. assistance under the current compact is made available as both financial and program assistance. In the case of education, several U.S. domestic programs have been extended to the FSM and RMI since the compact was first approved in 1986. In July, the administration testified on this legislation and stated that ``funding in the compact was not structured to replace expiring Federal programs, or take the place of any program that is eliminated now, or could be eliminated in the future.'' In other words, continuation of the current program assistance was assumed. However, the House and Senate HELP committees have raised objections to this approach. Because these programs account for about 40 percent of the FSM and RMI education budgets, the success of the compacts depends upon either continuing the extension of these programs, or providing an alternate source of funding. The Domenici-Bingaman amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.J. Res. 63 includes language modeled on that passed in the House, that would create an authorization for alternate funding.”