(a) Domestic program requirements
Except as may otherwise be provided in this joint resolution, all United States Federal programs and services extended to or operated in the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands are and shall remain subject to all applicable criteria, standards, reporting requirements, auditing procedures, and other rules and regulations applicable to such programs when operating in the United States (including its territories and commonwealths).
(b) Relations with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
(1) Appropriations made pursuant to Article I of Title Two and subsection (a)(2) of section 221 of article II of Title Two of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact shall be made to the Secretary of the Interior, who shall have the authority necessary to fulfill his responsibilities for monitoring and managing the funds so appropriated consistent with the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, including the agreements referred to in section 462(b)(4) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and U.S.-RMI Compact (relating to Fiscal Procedures) and the agreements referred to in section 462(b)(5) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact (regarding the Trust Fund).
(2) Appropriations made pursuant to subsections (a)(1) and (a)(3) through (6) of section 221 of Article II of Title Two of the U.S.-FSM Compact and subsection (a)(1) and (a)(3) through (5) of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall be made directly to the agencies named in those subsections.
(3) Appropriations for services and programs referred to in subsection (b) of section 221 of Article II of Title Two of the U.S.-FSM Compact or U.S.-RMI Compact and appropriations for services and programs referred to in subsection (f) of this section and section
1921g (a) of this title shall be made to the relevant agencies in accordance with the terms of the appropriations for such services and programs.
(4) Federal agencies providing programs and services to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall coordinate with the Secretaries of the Interior and State regarding provision of such programs and services. The Secretaries of the Interior and State shall consult with appropriate officials of the Asian Development Bank and with the Secretary of the Treasury regarding overall economic conditions in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and regarding the activities of other donors of assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
(5) United States Government employees in either the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands are subject to the authority of the United States Chief of Mission, including as elaborated in section
3927 of title
22 and the Presidents Letter of Instruction to the United States Chief of Mission and any order or directive of the President in effect from time to time.
(6) Interagency group on freely associated states’ affairs.—
(A) In general.—
The President is hereby authorized to appoint an Interagency Group on Freely Associated States Affairs to provide policy guidance and recommendations on implementation of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact to Federal departments and agencies.
(B) Secretaries.—
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior shall be represented on the Interagency Group.
(7) United states appointees to joint committees.—
(A) Joint economic management committee.—
(i) In general.—
The three United States appointees (United States chair plus two members) to the Joint Economic Management Committee provided for in section 213 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and Article III of the U.S.-FSM Fiscal Procedures Agreement referred to in section 462(b)(4) of the U.S.-FSM Compact shall be United States Government officers or employees.
(ii) Departments.—
It is the sense of Congress that 2 of the 3 appointees should be designated from the Department of State and the Department of the Interior, and that U.S. officials of the Asian Development Bank shall be consulted in order to properly coordinate U.S. and Asian Development Bank financial, program, and technical assistance.
(iii) Additional scope.—
Section 213 of the U.S.-FSM Compact shall be construed to read as though the phrase, the implementation of economic policy reforms to encourage investment and to achieve self-sufficient tax rates, were inserted after with particular focus on those parts of the plan dealing with the sectors identified in subsection (a) of section 211.
(B) Joint economic management and financial accountability committee.—
(i) In general.—
The three United States appointees (United States chair plus two members) to the Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee provided for in section 214 of the U.S.-RMI Compact and Article III of the U.S.-RMI Fiscal Procedures Agreement referred to in section 462(b)(4) of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall be United States Government officers or employees.
(ii) Departments.—
It is the sense of Congress that 2 of the 3 appointees should be designated from the Department of State and the Department of the Interior, and that U.S. officials of the Asian Development Bank shall be consulted in order to properly coordinate U.S. and Asian Development Bank financial, program, and technical assistance.
(iii) Additional scope.—
Section 214 of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall be construed to read as though the phrase, the implementation of economic policy reforms to encourage investment and to achieve self-sufficient tax rates, were inserted after with particular focus on those parts of the framework dealing with the sectors and areas identified in subsection (a) of section 211.
(8) Oversight and coordination.—
It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that there are personnel resources committed in the appropriate numbers and locations to ensure effective oversight of United States assistance, and effective coordination of assistance among United States agencies and with other international donors such as the Asian Development Bank.
(9) The United States voting members (United States chair plus two or more members) of the Trust Fund Committee appointed by the Government of the United States pursuant to Article 7 of the Trust Fund Agreement implementing section 215 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and referred to in section 462(b)(5) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and any alternates designated by the Government of the United States shall be United States Government officers or employees. The United States voting members (United States chair plus two or more members) of the Trust Fund Committee appointed by the Government of the United States pursuant to Article 7 of the Trust Fund Agreement implementing section 216 of the U.S.-RMI Compact and referred to in section 462(b)(5) of the U.S.-RMI Compact and any alternates designated by the Government of the United States shall be United States Government officers or employees. It is the sense of Congress that the appointees should be designated from the Department of State, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of the Treasury.
(10) The Trust Fund Committee provided for in Article 7 of the U.S.-FSM Trust Fund Agreement implementing section 215 of the U.S.-FSM Compact shall be a
nonprofit">
nonprofit corporation incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. To the extent that any law, rule, regulation or ordinance of the District of Columbia, or of any State or political subdivision thereof in which the Trust Fund Committee is incorporated or doing business, impedes or otherwise interferes with the performance of the functions of the Trust Fund Committee pursuant to this joint resolution, such law, rule, regulation, or ordinance shall be deemed to be preempted by this joint resolution. The Trust Fund Committee provided for in Article 7 of the U.S.-RMI Trust Fund Agreement implementing section 216 of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall be a non-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia. To the extent that any law, rule, regulation or ordinance of the District of Columbia, or of any State or political subdivision thereof in which the Trust Fund Committee is incorporated or doing business, impedes or otherwise interferes with the performance of the functions of the Trust Fund Committee pursuant to this joint resolution, such law, rule, regulation, or ordinance shall be deemed to be preempted by this joint resolution.
(c) Continuing Trust Territory authorization The authorization provided by the Act of June 30, 1954, as amended (68 Stat. 330) shall remain available after the effective date of the Compact with respect to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the following purposes:
(1) Prior to October 1, 1986, for any purpose authorized by the Compact or the joint resolution of January 14, 1986 (Public Law 99239).
(2) Transition purposes, including but not limited to, completion of projects and fulfillment of commitments or obligations; termination of the Trust Territory Government and termination of the High Court; health and education as a result of exceptional circumstances; ex gratia contributions for the populations of Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utrik; and technical assistance and training in financial management, program administration, and maintenance of infrastructure.
(d) Survivability
In furtherance of the provisions of Title Four, Article V, sections 452 and 453 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, any provisions of the U.S.-FSM Compact or the U.S.-RMI Compact which remain effective after the termination of the U.S.-FSM Compact or U.S.-RMI Compact by the act of any party thereto and which are affected in any manner by provisions of this part shall remain subject to such provisions.
(e) Noncompliance sanctions; actions incompatible with United States authority
Congress expresses its understanding that the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands will not act in a manner incompatible with the authority and responsibility of the United States for security and defense matters in or related to the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands pursuant to the U.S.-FSM Compact or the U.S.-RMI Compact, including the agreements referred to in sections 462(a)(2) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and 462(a)(5) of the U.S.-RMI Compact. Congress further expresses its intention that any such act on the part of either such Government will be viewed by the United States as a material breach of the U.S.-FSM Compact or U.S.-RMI Compact. The Government of the United States reserves the right in the event of such a material breach of the U.S.-FSM Compact by the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia or the U.S.-RMI Compact by the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to take action, including (but not limited to) the suspension in whole or in part of the obligations of the Government of the United States to that Government.
(f) Continuing programs and laws
(1) Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of the Marshall Islands In addition to the programs and services set forth in section 221 of the Compact, and pursuant to section 222 of the Compact, the programs and services of the following agencies shall be made available to the Federated States of Micronesia and to the Republic of the Marshall Islands:
(A) Continuation of the programs and services of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), the programs and services of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency shall continue to be available to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the same extent as such programs and services were available in fiscal year 2003.
(i) Paragraph (a)(6) of section 221 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and paragraph (a)(5) of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall each be construed as though the paragraph reads as follows: the Department of Homeland Security, United States Federal Emergency Management Agency..
(ii) Subsection (d) of section 211 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and subsection (e) of section 211 of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall each be construed as though the subsection reads as follows: Not more than $200,000 (as adjusted for inflation pursuant to section 217 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 218 of the U.S.-RMI Compact) shall be made available by the Secretary of the Interior to the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency to facilitate the activities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in accordance with and to the extent provided in the Federal Programs and Services Agreement..
(iii) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall immediately undertake negotiations with the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands regarding disaster assistance and shall report to the appropriate committees of Congress no later than June 30, 2004, on the outcome of such negotiations, including recommendations for changes to law regarding disaster assistance under the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, and including subsidiary agreements as needed to implement such changes to law. If an agreement is not concluded, and legislation enacted which reflects such agreement, before the date which is five years after December 17, 2003, the following provisions shall apply: Paragraph (a)(6) of section 221 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and paragraph (a)(5) of section 221 of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall each be construed and applied as if each provision reads as follows: The U.S. Agency for International Development shall be responsible for the provision of emergency and disaster relief assistance in accordance with its statutory authorities, regulations and policies. The Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia may additionally request that the President make an emergency or major disaster declaration. If the President declares an emergency or major disaster, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Agency for International Development shall jointly
(a) assess the damage caused by the emergency or disaster and
(b) prepare a reconstruction plan including an estimate of the total amount of Federal resources that are needed for reconstruction. Pursuant to an interagency agreement, FEMA shall transfer funds from the Disaster Relief Fund in the amount of the estimate, together with an amount to be determined for administrative expenses, to the U.S. Agency for International Development, which shall carry out reconstruction activities in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia in accordance with the reconstruction plan. For purposes of Disaster Relief Fund appropriations, the funding of the activities to be carried out pursuant to this paragraph shall be deemed to be necessary expenses in carrying out the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (
42 U.S.C.
5121 et seq.).
DHS may provide to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia preparedness grants to the extent that such assistance is available to the States of the United States. Funding for this assistance may be made available from appropriations made to DHS for preparedness activities..
(B) Treatment of additional programs
(i) Consultation The United States appointees to the committees established pursuant to section 213 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 214 of the U.S.-RMI Compact shall consult with the Secretary of Education regarding the objectives, use, and monitoring of United States financial, program, and technical assistance made available for educational purposes.
(ii) Continuing programs The Government of the United States
(I) shall continue to make available to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands for fiscal years 2004 through 2023, the services to individuals eligible for such services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (
20 U.S.C.
1400 et seq.) to the extent that such services continue to be available to individuals in the United States; and
(II) shall continue to make available to eligible institutions in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and to students enrolled in such institutions, and in institutions in the United States and its territories, for fiscal years 2004 through 2023, grants under subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (
20 U.S.C.
1070a et seq.) to the extent that such grants continue to be available to institutions and students in the United States.
(iii) Supplemental education grants In lieu of eligibility for appropriations under part A of title I of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (
20 U.S.C.
6311 et seq.), title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (
29 U.S.C.
2801 et seq.), other than subtitle C of that Act (
29 U.S.C.
2881 et seq.) (Job Corps), title II of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (
20 U.S.C.
9201 et seq.; commonly known as the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act), title I of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (
20 U.S.C.
2321 et seq.), the Head Start Act (
42 U.S.C.
9831 et seq.), and subpart 3 of part A, and part C, of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (
20 U.S.C.
1070b et seq.,
42 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education to supplement the education grants under section 211(a)(1) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 211(a)(1) of the U.S.-RMI Compact, respectively, the following amounts:
(I) $12,230,000 for the Federated States of Micronesia for fiscal year 2005 and an equivalent amount, as adjusted for inflation under section 217 of the U.S.-FSM Compact, for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2023; and
(II) $6,100,000 for the Republic of the Marshall Islands for fiscal year 2005 and an equivalent amount, as adjusted for inflation under section 218 of the U.S.-RMI Compact, for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2023,
except that citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands who attend an institution of higher education in the United States or its territories, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of the Marshall Islands on December 17, 2003, may continue to receive assistance under such subpart 3 of part A or part C, for not more than 4 academic years after such date to enable such citizens to complete their program of study.
(iv) Fiscal procedures Appropriations made pursuant to clause (iii) shall be used and monitored in accordance with an agreement between the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Interior, and in accordance with the respective Fiscal Procedures Agreements referred to in section 462(b)(4) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 462(b)(4) of the U.S.-RMI Compact. The agreement between the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of the Interior shall provide for the transfer, not later than 60 days after the appropriations made pursuant to clause (iii) become available to the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, from the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the Secretary of the Interior for disbursement.
(v) Formula education grants For fiscal years 2005 through 2023, except as provided in clause (ii) and the exception provided under clause (iii), the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall not receive any grant under any formula-grant program administered by the Secretary of Education or the Secretary of Labor, nor any grant provided through the Head Start Act (
42 U.S.C.
9831 et seq.) administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(vi) Transition For fiscal year 2004, the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall continue to be eligible for appropriations and to receive grants under the provisions of law specified in clauses (ii) and (iii).
(vii) Technical assistance The Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands may request technical assistance from the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary of Labor the terms of which, including reimbursement, shall be negotiated with the participation of the appropriate cabinet officer for inclusion in the Federal Programs and Services Agreement.
(viii) Continued eligibility for competitive grants The Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall continue to be eligible for competitive grants administered by the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Labor to the extent that such grants continue to be available to State and local governments in the United States.
(ix) Applicability The government, institutions, and people of Palau shall remain eligible for appropriations and to receive grants under the provisions of law specified in clauses (ii) and (iii) until the end of fiscal year 2009, to the extent the government, institutions, and people of Palau were so eligible under such provisions in fiscal year 2003.
(C) The Legal Services Corporation.
(D) The Public Health Service.
(E) The Rural Housing Service (formerly, the Farmers Home Administration) in the Marshall Islands and each of the four States of the Federated States of Micronesia: Provided, That in lieu of continuation of the program in the Federated States of Micronesia, the President may agree to transfer to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia without cost, the portfolio of the Rural Housing Service applicable to the Federated States of Micronesia and provide such technical assistance in management of the portfolio as may be requested by the Federated States of Micronesia.
(2) Tort claims
The provisions of section 178 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact regarding settlement and payment of tort claims shall apply to employees of any Federal agency of the Government of the United States (and to any other person employed on behalf of any Federal agency of the Government of the United States on the basis of a contractual, cooperative, or similar agreement) which provides any service or carries out any other function pursuant to or in furtherance of any provisions of the U.S.-FSM Compact or the U.S.-RMI Compact or this joint resolution, except for provisions of Title Three of the Compact and of the subsidiary agreements related to such Title, in such area to which such Agreement formerly applied.
(3) PCB cleanup
The programs and services of the Environmental Protection Agency regarding PCBs shall, to the extent applicable, as appropriate, and in accordance with applicable law, be construed to be made available to such islands for the cleanup of PCBs imported prior to 1987. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Defense shall cooperate and assist in any such cleanup activities.
(g) College of Micronesia
Until otherwise provided by Act of Congress, or until termination of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, the College of Micronesia shall retain its status as a land-grant institution and its eligibility for all benefits and programs available to such land-grant institutions.
(h) Trust Territory debts to U.S. Federal agencies
Neither the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia nor the Government of the Marshall Islands shall be required to pay to any department, agency, independent agency, office, or instrumentality of the United States any amounts owed to such department, agency, independent agency, office, or instrumentality by the Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands as of the effective date of the Compact. There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
(i) Judicial training
(1) In general
In addition to amounts provided under section 211(a)(4) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, the Secretary of the Interior shall annually provide $300,000 for the training of judges and officials of the judiciary in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in cooperation with the Pacific Islands Committee of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council and in accordance with and to the extent provided in the Federal Programs and Services Agreement and the Fiscal Procedure Agreement, as appropriate.
(2) Authorization and continuing appropriation
There is hereby authorized and appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior, out of any funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to remain available until expended, for each fiscal year from 2004 through 2023, $300,000, as adjusted for inflation under section 218 of the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact, to carry out the purposes of this section.
(j) Technical assistance Technical assistance may be provided pursuant to section 224 of the U.S.-FSM Compact or the U.S.-RMI Compact by Federal agencies and institutions of the Government of the United States to the extent such assistance may be provided to States, territories, or units of local government. Such assistance by the Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the United States Coast Guard, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Department of the Interior, and other agencies providing assistance under the National Historic Preservation Act (80 Stat. 915;
16 U.S.C.
470–470t), shall be on a nonreimbursable basis. During the period the U.S.-FSM Compact and the U.S.-RMI Compact are in effect, the grant programs under the National Historic Preservation Act shall continue to apply to the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the same manner and to the same extent as prior to the approval of the Compact. Any funds provided pursuant to subsections (c) and (g) to (m) of this section and sections
1921a (a) and
1921b (a), (b), (f) to (h), and (j) of this title shall be in addition to and not charged against any amounts to be paid to either the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands pursuant to the U.S.-FSM Compact, the U.S.-RMI Compact, or their related subsidiary agreements.
(k) Prior service benefits program
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, persons who on January 1, 1985, were eligible to receive payment under the Prior Service Benefits Program established within the Social Security System of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands because of their services performed for the United States Navy or the Government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands prior to July 1, 1968, shall continue to receive such payments on and after the effective date of the Compact.
(l) Indefinite land use payments
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to complete repayment by the United States of any debts owed for the use of various lands in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands prior to January 1, 1985.
(m) Communicable disease control program
There are authorized to be appropriated for grants to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the governments of the affected jurisdictions, such sums as may be necessary for purposes of establishing or continuing programs for the control and prevention of communicable diseases, including (but not limited to) cholera, tuberculosis, and Hansens Disease. The Secretary of the Interior shall assist the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the governments of the affected jurisdictions in designing and implementing such a program.
(n) User fees
Any person in the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be liable for user fees, if any, for services provided in the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands by the Government of the United States to the same extent as any person in the United States would be liable for fees, if any, for such services in the United States.
(o) Treatment of judgments of courts of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau
No judgment, whenever issued, of a court of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau, against the United States, its departments and agencies, or officials of the United States or any other individuals acting on behalf of the United States within the scope of their official duty, shall be honored by the United States, or be subject to recognition or enforcement in a court in the United States, unless the judgment is consistent with the interpretation by the United States of international agreements relevant to the judgment. In determining the consistency of a judgment with an international agreement, due regard shall be given to assurances made by the Executive Branch to Congress of the United States regarding the proper interpretation of the international agreement.
(p) Establishment of trust funds; expedition of process
(1) In general
The Trust Fund Agreement executed pursuant to the U.S.-FSM Compact and the Trust Fund Agreement executed pursuant to the U.S.-RMI Compact each provides for the establishment of a trust fund.
(2) Method of establishment The trust fund may be established by
(A) creating a new legal entity to constitute the trust fund; or
(B) assuming control of an existing legal entity including, without limitation, a trust fund or other legal entity that was established by or at the direction of the Government of the United States, the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or otherwise for the purpose of facilitating or expediting the establishment of the trust fund pursuant to the applicable Trust Fund Agreement.
(3) Obligations
For the purpose of expediting the commencement of operations of a trust fund under either Trust Fund Agreement, the trust fund may, but shall not be obligated to, assume any obligations of an existing legal entity and take assignment of any contract or other agreement to which the existing legal entity is party.
(4) Assistance
Without limiting the authority that the United States Government may otherwise have under applicable law, the United States Government may, but shall not be obligated to, provide financial, technical, or other assistance directly or indirectly to the Government of the Federated States of Micronesia or the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the purpose of establishing and operating a trust fund or other legal entity that will solicit bids from, and enter into contracts with, parties willing to serve in such capacities as trustee, depositary, money manager, or investment advisor, with the intention that the contracts will ultimately be assumed by and assigned to a trust fund established pursuant to a Trust Fund Agreement.