VIDEO: On Senate Floor, Hirono Calls for Inclusion of Compacts of Free Association in National Security Supplemental Bill, Marks Six Months Since Maui Fires

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, delivered remarks on the Senate floor calling for the text of the recently-renegotiated Compacts of Free Association (COFA) to be added to the national security supplemental bill currently being considered by the U.S. Senate. Earlier today, Senator Hirono and a bipartisan group of Senators introduced an amendment to the bill that would add the text of the COFA agreements.

“While the funding for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indopacific currently included in this bill is critical, missing from this bill is the text of the recently-renegotiated Compacts of Free Association, agreements with the Pacific island nations—Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands,” said Senator Hirono. “At a time of rising tensions in the Pacific, these Compacts are a critical component of our ability to operate in the Pacific, especially as we work to counter China’s growing influence in this region.”

The COFA agreements provide the U.S. with exclusive military jurisdiction over an area of the Pacific Ocean—stretching from Hawaii to the Philippines—in exchange for economic assistance and access to certain federal programs. First agreed to in the early 1980s, the Compacts have to be renegotiated and approved by Congress every 20 years.

“These Compacts have broad, bipartisan support, including from both the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Energy and Natural Resources Committees,” continued Senator Hirono. “They understand how critical these agreements are to our posture and readiness in the Pacific and, frankly, the harmful message it would send if we do not get these Compacts agreed to.”

At the beginning of her remarks, Senator Hirono also recognized that it has been six months since the Maui wildfires and reiterated her commitment to ensuring that Maui has the resources it needs to recover and rebuild.

“As recovery efforts continue, I am grateful to the thousands of people who have come together from literally all over the world, to support our neighbors on Maui,” said Senator Hirono. “Maui’s recovery will take time, resources, and continuity of effort. I will keep working with my partners to ensure Maui has the resources it needs to recover and rebuild.”

A transcript of Senator Hirono’s full remarks is below and video is available for download here.

M. President, today marks six months since fires tore through Lahaina and Upcountry Maui. We continue to see the heart and resilience of our communities as we recover and remember the lives lost. As recovery efforts continue, I am grateful to the thousands of people who have come together from literally all over the world, to support our neighbors on Maui. Maui’s recovery will take time, resources, and continuity of effort. I will keep working with my partners to ensure Maui has the resources it needs to recover and rebuild.

On a separate, very important note, M. President, the national security supplemental package we are debating demonstrates our strong support for our allies at a time of rising global instability, recognizing that an investment in our partners is also an investment in our own national security. While the funding for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indopacific currently included in this bill is critical, missing from this bill is the text of the recently-renegotiated Compacts of Free Association, agreements with the Pacific island nations—Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. In exchange for economic assistance, the Compacts of Free Association provide our country with exclusive military access to these countries and their territorial waters.

With their strategic location in the South Pacific, these countries provide a strategic buffer between the United States and China. At a time of rising tensions in the Pacific, these Compacts are a critical component of our ability to operate in the Pacific, especially as we work to counter China’s growing influence in this region.

Our military leaders have unanimously pointed out the importance of these Compacts. Most recently, Admiral Paparo, nominated to lead U.S. military operations in the Indopacific, reiterated the importance of the Compacts in his confirmation hearing recently. These Compacts date back more than 40 years, but our relationship with these island nations dates back to World War II.  First agreed to in the early 1980s, the Compacts have to be renegotiated and approved by Congress every twenty years. Over the past four years, U.S. negotiators have worked with their counterparts in the COFA nations to agree to new Compacts that will govern our relationship with these countries for the next twenty years. Imagine, if we get this done with this bill, we will have accomplished what we need to do in our relationship and support for our Compact nation allies for the next twenty years.

M. President, these Compacts have broad, bipartisan support, including from both the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Energy and Natural Resources Committees. These are the Committees of jurisdiction over these Compacts. They understand how critical these agreements are to our posture and readiness in the Pacific, and, frankly, the harmful message it would send if we do not get these Compacts agreed to. Believe me, China is watching to see what we do in our support for our island friends.

And, in fact, just this week, the presidents of all three COFA nations—Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands—sent a letter to Congress, in which they wrote: “Although we understand the delay in the legislation's approval, it has generated uncertainty among our peoples. As much as they identify with and appreciate the United States…this has resulted in undesirable opportunities for economic exploitation by competitive political actors active in the region.”

Of course, they are talking about China, as I mentioned. China is watching, and would love nothing more than for the U.S. to fail to pass these Compacts. Failure for the U.S. would present China with a golden opportunity to bring the COFA nations close to their sphere of influence, significantly undermining our credibility and ability to operate in the region. Beyond the serious national security implications of the Compacts, nearly 100,000 citizens of the COFA nations live, work, and pay taxes in our country. Moreover, COFA citizens enlist in our military at higher rates than U.S. citizens.

With this bill, we stand with our allies. Yes, with the Compact nations—our allies in the Pacific. We’re not just talking about our allies in Europe, these Compact nations, our allies in the Pacific, are just as important—just as important to our national security. We are introducing an amendment with strong bipartisan support to add to this bill the text of the Compacts. And I thank Senator Risch, the lead sponsor of this amendment, for his leadership and partnership in this effort. As we work to support our allies around the globe, I urge my colleagues to stand with our COFA partners and support our amendment.

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