Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR268 Compare Versions

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1		-	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 268
2		-	WHEREAS, The United States has enjoyed strong
3		-	relationships with the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the
4		-	Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia; and
	1	+	89R16802 KSM-D
	2	+	By: Johnson, Eckhardt, West S.R. No. 268
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	7	+	R E S O L U T I O N
	8	+	WHEREAS, The United States has enjoyed strong relationships
	9	+	with the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands,
	10	+	and the Federated States of Micronesia; and
5	11		WHEREAS, The Compact of Free Association Act of 1985
6		-	terminated U.S. trusteeship over the former Trust Territory of
7		-	the Pacific Islands and established the Federated States of
8		-	Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands as
9		-	independent nations in 1986; in 1994, the U.S. established
10		-	another Compact of Free Association with the Republic of Palau;
11		-	the agreements also outline how economic assistance is
12		-	administered to the nations by the U.S. Office of Insular
13		-	Affairs; and
	12	+	terminated U.S. trusteeship over the former Trust Territory of the
	13	+	Pacific Islands and established the Federated States of Micronesia
	14	+	and the Republic of the Marshall Islands as independent nations in
	15	+	1986; in 1994, the U.S. established another Compact of Free
	16	+	Association with the Republic of Palau; the agreements also outline
	17	+	how economic assistance is administered to the nations by the U.S.
	18	+	Office of Insular Affairs; and
14	19		WHEREAS, The COFA agreements are perpetual with a periodic
15	20		review of financial provisions; the most recent amendments to the
16		-	agreements were passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law
17		-	by former President Joe Biden on March 9, 2024, and they went
18		-	~~into~~ effect on March 18, 2024; the amendments ensured that
19		-	~~veterans~~ living in the COFA islands could access VA medical
20		-	~~services, and~~ they restored and extended federal domestic
21		-	~~services such as SNAP,~~ TANF, FEMA, and in-state tuition; the
22		-	~~amendments also strengthened~~ U.S. Indo-Pacific influence by
23		-	~~enhancing U.S. military presence in~~ the COFA nations; and
	21	+	agreements were passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by
	22	+	former President Joe Biden on March 9, 2024, and they went into
	23	+	effect on March 18, 2024; the amendments ensured that veterans
	24	+	living in the COFA islands could access VA medical services, and
	25	+	they restored and extended federal domestic services such as SNAP,
	26	+	TANF, FEMA, and in-state tuition; the amendments also strengthened
	27	+	U.S. Indo-Pacific influence by enhancing U.S. military presence in
	28	+	the COFA nations; and
24	29		WHEREAS, An estimated 94,000 non-immigrant legal permanent
25	30		residents from COFA nations currently live in the U.S. and its
26	31		territories; of that population, approximately 5,000 live in and
27	32		contribute to the State of Texas and the United States as a whole
28	33		through various employment sectors, including technical and
29		-	professional fields; in addition, many COFA islanders serve in
30		-	~~the~~ U.S. military and are stationed at bases in Texas; in 2019,
31		-	~~the~~ Senate and the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
	34	+	professional fields; in addition, many COFA islanders serve in the
	35	+	U.S. military and are stationed at bases in Texas; in 2019, the
	36	+	Senate and the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
32	37		Legislature adopted resolutions acknowledging the historical
33	38		significance of the COFA agreements; and
34	39		WHEREAS, Texas and the United States have benefited
35	40		immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with the
36	41		Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the
37	42		Federated States of Micronesia, and it is a pleasure to join in
38	43		recognizing the many contributions of Texas residents who trace
39	44		their heritage to the COFA nations; now, therefore, be it
40		-	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
41		-	Legislature, hereby express support for the protection of COFA
42		-	islanders residing in Texas and affirm their rights afforded
43		-	under the Compact of Free Association agreements; and, be it
44		-	further
45		-	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature,
	45	+	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature
	46	+	hereby express support for the protection of COFA islanders
	47	+	residing in Texas and affirm their rights afforded under the
	48	+	Compact of Free Association agreements; and, be it further
	49	+	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature
46	50		hereby recognize March 18, 2025, as COFA Day in Texas.
47		-	Johnson, Eckhardt, West
48		-	________________________________
49		-	President of the Senate
50		-	I hereby certify that the
51		-	above Resolution was adopted by
52		-	the Senate on March 18, 2025.
53		-	________________________________
54		-	Secretary of the Senate
55		-	________________________________
56		-	Member, Texas Senate
57		-	________________________________
58		-	Member, Texas Senate
59		-	________________________________
60		-	Member, Texas Senate