VIDEO: Hirono Questions INDOPACOM Commander About Hawaii Missile Defense and Support for COFA Citizens

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), on the missile defense of Hawaii and the importance of the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) during a full committee hearing. During her question line, Senator Hirono pressed Admiral Aquilino on INDOPACOM’s ability to defend Hawaii from missiles.

“When we met recently, Admiral Aquilino, you made it very clear that you are the responsible person for missile defense of Hawaii,” said Senator Hirono during the hearing. “As the supported commander for this mission, do you believe the Services, and your fellow Combatant Commanders, are providing you the capabilities you need for the defense of Hawaii now and into the future?”

“I am absolutely responsible for the defense of Hawaii; I am supported by a variety of great partners,” confirmed Admiral Aquilino. “The bottom line is Hawaii is defended and we will continue to defend it.”

Senator Hirono also highlighted the importance of the COFA agreements, which are critical to the ongoing operations of the Indo-Pacific. Under the COFA agreements, citizens of the Freely Associated States are entitled to live, study, and work in the United States without a visa and access certain public benefits. However, a 1996 welfare reform law prevented COFA citizens from accessing most federal benefits available to other legal resident non-citizens present in the United States.

“The COFA agreements include support for COFA citizens, who can come to our country without visas—a very special category for lawfully-present people in our country,” continued Senator Hirono. “Until a policy change in the late 1990’s, these COFA citizens had access to federal benefits. While the access to COFA benefits is not directly within your jurisdiction, effective Compacts are critical to our ability to operate in your AOR.”

Admiral Aquilino expressed his agreement, echoing the importance of the COFA agreements to the defense of the U.S., and reaffirmed his support for honoring the commitments the U.S. has made to COFA citizens.

“Those are partner nations that we have deep history ties with,” said Admiral Aquilino. “They have proven to be patriots and they’re tremendous friends.”

Currently, the U.S. is negotiating to extend the COFA agreements with all three Freely Associated States—the Republics of the Marshall Islands and Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. These agreements give the U.S. control over an area of the Pacific Ocean, stretching from Hawaii to the Philippines, in exchange for modest economic assistance and access to certain federal programs. Economic assistance and eligibility for certain federal programs in-country are set to expire in 2023 for the Marshall Islands and Micronesia, and in 2024 for Palau.

A link to download video of Senator Hirono’s full question line is available here.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Senator Hirono is focused on overseeing the safe closure of Red Hill, rebuilding and modernizing military infrastructure in Hawaii and around the country, strengthening U.S. relationships with partners and allies, and advancing DOD’s work to combat climate change. 

Senator Hirono is also fighting to ensure the Department of Defense (DOD) is ready and able to defend Hawaii from foreign threats, and has repeatedly pressed DOD leadership on the need for a unified, department-wide plan for the missile defense of Hawaii. Last month, she questioned General Glen VanHerck, Commander of the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command, on the need for a robust, unified plan for missile defense of Hawaii during a full committee hearing. Senator Hirono also previously pressed the Commanders of U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Space Command about the roles their commands play in Hawaii’s missile defense. 

Last month, Senator Hirono introduced Compact Impact Fairness Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to restore access to a range of federal benefits for citizens of the Freely Associated States of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau, who reside in the United States. The bill also builds upon Senator Hirono’s legislation to restore Medicaid eligibility for COFA citizens, which was signed into law in 2020.

###