SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 763
WHEREAS, Shortly after World War II, the United States
assumed administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands under a United Nations strategic trusteeship, which
provided for United States control over development of the
islands' economies and international relations, as well as
military access to territory within the islands; and
WHEREAS, The treatment of the Pacific Islands as a
strategic trust territory allowed the United States Atomic
Energy Commission to establish the Pacific Proving Grounds in the
Marshall Islands, where 67 atmospheric nuclear weapons were
tested on a number of inhabited islands, some of which had not
been evacuated, between 1946 and 1958; several island residents
and their descendants who were in the vicinity of the test
proving grounds continue to exhibit medical conditions that may
have resulted from exposure to nuclear fallout, which is still
measurable on some islands; and
WHEREAS, The area formerly known as the Trust Territory of
the Pacific Islands consists of three groups of islands, the
Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the
Federated States of Micronesia, which are today referred to as
the Compact of Free Association islands; notwithstanding their
status as independent, sovereign nations, the COFA islands are
heavily dependent on United States government grants and are
subjected to United States military presence under the COFA
treaty; and
WHEREAS, Because of the unique relationship between the
three COFA nations and the United States, the COFA treaties allow
island citizens to enter the United States without visas to
study, live, and work, and to have access to available services
such as health care; since the implementation of the treaties,
citizens of the COFA islands have moved to the United States for
education and work opportunities because stagnant island
economies have made it difficult for residents to find jobs or
obtain quality education in their home countries; moreover, COFA
island citizens volunteer to serve in the United States armed
forces at a higher rate per capita than United States
citizens; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 3,500 COFA citizens reside in Texas
and directly contribute to the state through volunteering and
service in various workplace settings, including industrial,
managerial, and educational fields; in addition, numerous COFA
islanders serving in the United States military are stationed at
Texas military bases, including Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Sam
Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Sheppard Air Force Base,
Randolph Air Force Base, and Goodfellow Air Force Base; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, Congress and some state
governments have reduced benefits, including access to medical
coverage, for which COFA islanders residing in the United States
have historically been eligible; and
WHEREAS, COFA islanders and their children who reside in
the United States should be fairly treated in recognition of the
long-standing connection between the United States and the COFA
islands and the continued need of the United States to maintain a
strong military and economic presence in the island nations; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
Legislature, hereby express support for the rights of Compact of
Free Association islanders residing in Texas and extend to them
sincere appreciation for their extraordinary commitment to the
service and defense of our nation.
Johnson
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 19, 2019.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate