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Housing benefits for FAS citizens approved
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Posted on Nov 16 2000
President Clinton has signed into law a piece of legislation that would allow citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the Republic of Marshall Islands to avail of federal housing benefits.
Citizens of the three Freely Associated States living on Saipan had challenged the original limitation on their eligibility for federal housing benefits in a case brought before the federal courts.
After losing in the CNMI District Court, the petitioners appealed to the Ninth Circuit. Jane Mack of Micronesian Legal Services said that the case is still pending and that the appeal was fully briefed and originally scheduled for oral argument on Nov. 14, 2000.
The bill originated in the U.S. House of Representatives and was introduced by Guam Del. Robert Underwood to initially allow the Government of Guam to acquire excess real property on the island.
Senator Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) then added an amendment in the Senate version to include the housing benefits for FAS citizens. The bill passed the Senate unanimously. The House approved the amended version without any objections.
There is a provision in the law regarding the housing benefits which applies only in Guam. It specifically denies that a preference over U.S. citizens can be given to FAS citizens in Guam.
Ms. Mack said such a provision is not needed in the CNMI. “The provision means that FAS citizens will be treated equally to U.S. citizens and not be put ahead of them. The law does not say that in Guam U.S. citizens get a preference over FAS citizens.”
“The Northern Marianas Housing Corporation already treats every applicant in a fair and systematic way,” she said. “NMHC has a waiting list in order of application date and assigns unit on a first come first serve basis considering household size and need.
