or
of
have
such
Island
needs."
laws
tailored
conditions
and
to
the
their
realities
specialized
In late 1983, NMFS completed its study and developed legislative
and
administrative recommendations designed
to remove
legal
impediments to fisheries development.
For example, NMFS supported legislation to liberalize federal vessel documentation
laws which hindered
the promotion of
fisheries'
development
in
the Pacific territories.
Under the then existing NMFS' loan
guarantee program, financing was limited to vessels of more than
5 tons.
Since most territories could not afford such large vessels, NMFS proposed modifying regulations to expand loan guarantees for smaller fishing vessels owned by residents from Guam,
‘American
Samoa
and
the NMI.
An American Samoan official
said
NMFS' recommended action would provide relief and potentially
expand the local fishing fleet by 50 percent.
The 1984 Omnibus
Territories Act provided relief from vessel documentation laws
for all the territories,
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
of
The United States has contributed to the social development
its
territories
through the extension of Federal assistance
programs.
Schools, hospitals, housing, and other infrastructure
projects have been heavily supported.
In addition, grant programs provide resources which enable the territories to deliver
various social services.
Territorial officials agree that the
United States has enhanced the general well-being of territorial
residents and raised their standard of living.
Despite
these
advances,
the
territories
have
problems with federal programs, including
experienced
--adverse effects on traditional cultural values,
--burdensome rules and regulations,
--funding ceilings, matching requirements,
and
--exclusion from specific programs available to the states.
in
The problems center on the ways the territories are treated
formulating,
Essentially,
extending,
these
and
implementing
problems--similar
to
federal
those
programs.
identified
with
the applicability of federal laws--are attributed to instances
when programs are developed to meet stateside needs without
They
fully considering the potential impact on the territories.
its
for
also call into question whether U.S. social objectives
territories are well defined.
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