Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2023

This bill would renew and update the strategic partnership between the United States and three Pacific Island nations: the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. It provides approximately $7 billion in economic assistance over the next 20 years to support essential services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure in these nations in exchange for exclusive U.S. military access to their territories.

For citizens, the bill restores access to federal benefits—such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and certain veterans' healthcare services—for residents of these islands who live and work lawfully in the United States. Additionally, it ensures that students from these nations attending U.S. public colleges are eligible for in-state tuition rates, easing the financial burden on families and local governments in states with large Pacific Islander communities.