scholarly journals Compact of Free Association Migrants and Health Insurance Policies: Barriers and Solutions to Improve Health Equity

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 004695801989478
Author(s):  
Pearl A. McElfish ◽  
Rachel S. Purvis ◽  
Sheldon Riklon ◽  
Seiji Yamada
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Free Association ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Improve Health

This commentary outlines the health insurance disparities of Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants living in the United States. Compact of Free Association migrants are citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau who can live, work, and study in the United States without a visa. Compact of Free Association migrants make up a significant proportion of the rapidly growing Pacific Islander population in the United States. This article describes the historical and current relationships between the United States and the Compact nations and examines national policy barriers constraining health insurance access for COFA migrants. In addition, the commentary describes the state-level health policies of Arkansas, Hawai’i, and Oregon, which are the states where the majority of COFA migrants reside. Finally, policy recommendations are provided to improve health equity for COFA migrants.

Language rights in the constitutions, organic acts, and statutes of the territories of the United States and the Freely Associated States

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo D. Faingold
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
The United States ◽  
American Samoa ◽  
Language Minority ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
Minority Languages ◽  
Language Rights ◽  
Official Language ◽  
The Republic

Abstract The constitutions, organic acts, and statutes of the territories of the United States and the Freely Associated States are given an exhaustive screening to identify legal language defining the linguistic obligations of each territory or associated state and the language rights of individuals and groups dwelling within. The author suggests that the territories of the United States and the Freely Associated States are well served by “hands-on” policies declaring provisions that protect the rights of language minority groups, or of all people living in the territory (i.e., Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and American Samoa) and associated states (i.e., the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau). As in many states in the United States, the absence of an explicit language policy in the United States Virgin Islands has not prevented it from practicing implicit language policies that promote the use of English while also allowing minority languages to be used in the territory. Unlike many states in the United States which declare English as the sole official language and/or enact provisions to protect official English, none of the territories and associated states of the United States declares English as the sole official language or establishes provisions that hinder the rights of language minority groups.

The Negotiations for the Future Political Status of Micronesia (1980-1984)

1984 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 484-497
Author(s):  
Arthur John Armstrong ◽  
Howard Loomis Hills
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Relations ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Free Association ◽  
The United States ◽  
United Nations Security Council ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
Political Status ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
New States

Fourteen years of Micronesian political status negotiations culminated in 1983 with the final signature of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Governments of Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Upon being approved in accordance with its terms and the constitutional processes of the signatory Governments, the Compact will establish bilateral relationships between the United States and the new states emerging from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Approval of these future political status arrangements will also provide the basis for termination of the Trusteeship Agreement between the United States and the United Nations Security Council. The Compact defines an international political partnership between the United States and the freely associated states that is without precise precedent in international law or U.S. domestic practice. Under the Compact, each freely associated state will enjoy control over its internal affairs and its foreign relations, including competence to enter into international agreements. Mutual security arrangements, set forth in the Compact and its separate agreements, provide for a U.S. defense umbrella during the life of free association and long-term exclusion of third-country military forces, should any or all of the freely associated states opt for independence at some future date.

scholarly journals Bosnia and Herzegovina on the uncertain path towards the membership in NATO

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-360
Author(s):  
Dragan Djukanovic
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Policy Document ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
The Republic

The path of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards NATO membership began after its entry into the Partnership for Peace in November 2006. In just a few years, Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved an intensive dialogue with NATO (2008) and the launch of negotiations on the Membership Action Plan (2010), which was however activated in December 2018. In the meantime, there have come to a discord between the key internal political factors in Bosnia and Herzegovina and particularly clear distinction between the Bosniak and Croat elites that unequivocally support NATO membership, and representatives of Serbs at the state level and the Republic of Srpska who are currently against it. Moreover, in October 2017, the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska took a stand by which it proclaimed the military neutrality of this entity and in that regard insisted on consultations with the neighboring state - the Republic of Serbia. However, in March 2018, the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a five-year strategic foreign policy document which stipulates that NATO membership is one of its foreign policy foundations. This document only added to the confusion regarding BiH?s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Following the general elections held in October 2018, this issue has now posed a specific problem over the formation of the Council of Ministers. Neighbors of Bosnia and Herzegovina - Serbia, Croatia and Montenegro have different opinions concerning the possibility of membership of this country in NATO. Accordingly, Croatia declaratively expresses support and emphasizes its interest in integrating BiH into NATO to prevent cross-border security challenges. Serbian officials are quite restrained about BiH?s entry into NATO, saying that this should be the result of the compromise of the elites of the three constituent nations. The global race between the United States and the Russian Federation represents a turning point in terms of BiH?s membership in NATO. The United States strongly supports this process, believing that it will secure the post-conflict Western Balkans project, while Russia retains the explicit position that any new enlargement poses a problem for its security.

Bank of Hawaii v. Balos

1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-586
Author(s):  
Mark A. Chinen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
District Court ◽  
Foreign State ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
The Republic

Plaintiff bank, incorporated under the laws of the state of Hawaii, brought an action in the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii against defendants, residents and citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). One of the defendants, Imata Kabua, moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction on the ground that diversity of citizenship did not exist because defendants were not citizens of a “foreign state” within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. §1332(a)(2). The district court (per King, J.) denied the motion and held that diversity jurisdiction exists because the RMI, although technically retaining membership in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI), has de facto become a foreign state.

Addressing the Health Problems After Immigration Faced by the Marshallese in Springdale, Arkansas: Lessons Learned from the City of Vienna

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 1309-1316
Author(s):  
Ryo Fujikura ◽  
Mikiyasu Nakayama ◽  
Shanna N. McClain ◽  
Scott Drinkall ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Host Community ◽  
Marshall Islands ◽  
Host Society ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The City

More than 10,000 people have migrated from the Republic of the Marshall Islands to Springdale, Arkansas in the United States. That number is increasing. The Marshallese living in Springdale are not effectively integrated into the host society. Many Marshallese are mentally stressed not only in their home country, but in Springdale as well. This problem will be alleviated if those in Springdale are well-integrated into the host society. The city of Vienna, Austria, has a history of accepting large numbers of immigrants. In this study, we analyzed the experience of integration in the city of Vienna and examined ways in which this can be applied to the situation in Springdale. Many Marshallese make few preparations for migration to the United States; this becomes an obstacle when they start residing there. Vienna Start Coaching, implemented by the City of Vienna, is a mechanism providing the information that is needed by foreigners when they arrive at the city. The city of Vienna has many therapists to provide mental health care for immigrants and citizens. This is to ensure the possibility of having people who can listen to them in their native language. Moreover, the city offers German language courses to immigrants. Provision of more English language education could facilitate their integration with the host community.

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