COFA citizens are no longer subject to the agonizing waiting period that often accompanies assistance programs. Instead, they are immediately eligible for benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provided they meet other financial and non-financial criteria1.
Read MoreCompact Agreements Finally Approved and Signed into Law!
Read MoreWe hope you will listen as Michelle speaks about her hopes for the community. What are your hopes & dreams for your community?
Read MoreOctober 15th marked the opening ceremony of the Tarmeto (Navigating) Project, a collaborative partnership between ACOM, Crystal Bridges and the artist Kholoud Sawef as part of the Arts + Social Impact Accelerator Program (ASAP). The ASAP program partnerships call for collaborators to work to use arts to elevate social issues in the community. Carving a canoe and connecting the cultural significance of the canoe to the stories of the Marshallese community navigating their lives in Northwest Arkansas is the objective of this project and partnership.
Read MoreBeing part of the strongest security force that protects the Marshall Islands and other Freely Associated countries was the greatest accomplishment I pursued as a young woman. At no time did I ever questioned my decision to be part of the US military because I was taught to think of Americans as our friends, allies, and family. This unique friendship through the Compact of Free Association outlines the mutual symbiotic relationship between United States of America and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which permits Marshallese and other Compact of Free Association (COFA) citizens to travel to the U.S without any need for visa or limitation of stay. American citizens are also afforded the same visitation freedom to the COFA nations.
Read MoreWhat is Compact Impact Fairness Act? What does it mean for citizens of the Compact of Free Association (COFA) that live in the US and US territories? What do you need to know about CIFA? How you can support and advocate for CIFA with us.
Read MoreThis is a bipartisan bill. A full list of who vote in favor (historically and future changes) can be found on Congrees.gov
Read MoreOn May 28th Representative Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), Representative Ed Case (D-Hawaii), along with Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to restore eligibility for many federal benefit programs to citizens from the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) nations. The Compact Impact Fairness Act (CIFA) will help many Micronesians, citizens from the COFA nations that are living in the U.S. including an estimated 15,000 who are residents of Arkansas and not eligible for programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI),and Covid-19 Funeral Assistance grants.
Read MoreOn February 23rd the Arkansas Legislative Council approved a rule change that affirms health coverage for Arkansas’ significant Marshallese population, reversing a policy that stripped Medicaid eligibility inadvertently nearly three decades ago.
Read MoreThis week Pacific Islander community leaders celebrated and recounted their efforts to permanently restore Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility to people living in the United States under the Compacts of Free Association (COFA).
Read MoreNew COVID-19 Bill Will Restore Health Care Access to Compact of Free Association Residents
