Pete Domenici: “Under the current compact, the disaster assistance programs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, have been…”

“Under the current compact, the disaster assistance programs of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, have been available to the FSM and RMI since 1986. Located in the western Pacific, the RMI and FSM are vulnerable to typhoons and experience periodic droughts in connection with the El Nino weather pattern. This vulnerability to disasters presents risks to public health and safety, jeopardizes the substantial investment made by the U.S. in the island's infrastructure, and it threatens achievements of the common goal of all three nations--promoting economic growth. Consequently, FEMA's presence in the islands has been shown to be an essential component of the assistance provided under the compact.”