SPRINGDALE, Ark. — In March, the United States Congress approved the Compact of Free Association (COFA) agreement and President Joe Biden officially signed it into law.
COFA is an agreement of economic assistance between the United States and the Marshall Islands until 2043. The reinstatement includes access to federal benefits such as SNAP.
In Northwest Arkansas, an area of the U.S. with a large Marshallese population, this reinstatement is met with celebration and relief.
"We're very, very excited about this renewed COFA agreement. Many of the federal programs that we have been paying into for over 25 years, we never had access to. We had access to them prior to that, but that was taken away. So these federal benefits that are restored to this community are things that they have been paying into all along. So it's serving us, right, finally. I think health care, access to health care, and food should be basic rights," said Melisa Laelan, Executive Director of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese.
Laelan says that access was taken away in 1996 by the Welfare Reform Act, but after years of waiting, it's finally restored.
"The SNAP program is going to be accessible to this particular community. Social Security Income (SSI) is something that we've been struggling with and also children and people with disabilities, we will be able to serve their community as well," Laelan said.
The COFA agreement will also provide economic assistance to 2 other countries:
- Micronesia $3.3 Billion
- Marshall Islands $2.3 Billion
- Palau $889 million
"This is largely the most amount of money that the islands ever received. They're supporting a lot of the financial support that goes to the Marshall Islands is going to be through this compact. They will support infrastructure and the economic development," Laelan explained.
Congressman Steve Womack says he fully supports the agreement.
"I've been a longtime advocate for renewing the Compacts of Free Association, which restores access to the care and services our Marshallese neighbors are entitled to while safeguarding our national security interests in the Pacific. Arkansas' Third District is home to thousands of Marshallese citizens, all of whom are core elements of our community and economy. I'm proud the approved compacts included the Compact Impact Fairness Act and the Care for COFA Veterans Act that I advocated tirelessly for so we can maintain our promise to these lawful residents," Womack said.
With the renewal of this agreement, Laelan describes the feeling of reassurance.
"It does give us reassurance of our immigration status, that nothing is going to change, you know, you're not going to be deported or anything like that, and also give us some sense of belonging. Now, we finally think that we're being recognized for the contribution that we have been giving this country. I think it's a great thing," Laelan said.
"It's like a sense of belonging we have alliances, we have friends, I think if you really look at the compact, and how it's written in the relationship with the United States between these two nations, is friendship to me a sisterhood," Laelan said.
The agreement has not been implemented on a state level just yet, but Laelan says when it's finally implemented the nonprofit will see an uptick in SNAP enrollments.
Watch 5NEWS on YouTube.
Download the 5NEWS app on your smartphone:
Stream 5NEWS 24/7 on the 5+ app: How to watch the 5+ app on your streaming device
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email KFSMDigitalTeam@tegna.com and detail which story you're referring to.