SPRINGDALE, Ark. — In early March, President Biden signed a new deal that renewed benefits to Marshallese citizens that they hadn't had since 1996. However, since signing, nothing has happened.
This third compact renewal, or Compact 3, is the third bill signed to help the Marshallese people, designed to help restore benefits like food stamps many families said they needed, and didn't get in Compact 2.
“Since 1996, those benefits were out of the Compact treaty by accident. We're really excited about Compact 3 because it restored most of those benefits to us.” Said Michelle Pedro, the policy director for The Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese.
However, getting these benefits is taking longer than expected, and Philmar Mendoza Kabua, a Marshallese spokesperson, said they need it as soon as possible.
“It's a matter of life and death. A lot of our older folks have chronic diseases and some of them may need insulin, but they are not able to get it because medical services are so expensive," said Kabua. "Today, as we speak, there are Marshallese children that are living in multigenerational households that are starving.”
Kabua said she doesn't understand why they can't get it faster, as immigrating from the Marshall Islands is not easy. "I serve parents in households that have a lot of children, and those kids and it's devastating to not get those benefits because of their immigration status ... Why is it taking so long to help these families that are in need? Why?” Mendoza Kubua added.
Kabua says she is grateful the latest compact was signed, but "I just wished that our representatives and our governor would also help assist."
Philmar said they haven't told them when the benefits will be sent, and says she's worried it could take months or even years.
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