$100,000 made to American Samoa and the NMI.
The matching
requirement waiver was raised to $200,000 in 1983 for American
Samoa and NMI, and in 1984 for Guam and the Virgin Islands.
being
and
There
is
tailored
American
two examples.
percent of the
food stuffs.
vides a needed
also
some
to meet
Samoa's
evidence
local
medicaid
that
needs.
program
individual
NMI's
food
programs
stamp
implemented
in
are
program
1982
are
NMI's food stamp program is structured so that 25
food stamps issued must be used to purchase local
According to the NMI Governor, the program prosocial service and benefits the local economy.
Recognizing American Samoa's unique circumstances, Congress
authorized
latitude
to
the
Department
waive
or
of
modify
Health
the
and
Human
Services
requirements of Title
qreat
XIX--the
federal medicaid program.
According to the Governor of American
Samoa, the flexible medicaid requirements tailored to American
Samoan conditions permitted
not disrupt local customs.
them to design a program which does
Waivers relieve some
3
In addition to legislation eliminating some administrative
burdens,
lations.
federal
agencies
have granted waivers to certain regu-
Territory officials
said
that
federal
agencies
have
become more receptive to the territories' needs and that administrative and program problems are handled directly by the territories and the appropriate federal agencies.
The. officials said
that good working relationships have been established with most
of the federal agencies involved in the territories' programs.
Because most program problems tend to be administrative,
many territorial leaders see no need to make major changes in
the current federal approach in administering programs.
How-
ever, many believe a mechanism should be put in place to ensure
that
the
territories
are
made
aware
of
federal
programs
avail-
able to them and that it provide a means for the territories to
express their view when unigue circumstances call
tions in the way they are treated in each program.
for modifica~
CONCLUSION
Despite progress in achieving some economic growth and
improving the general well-being of their residents, the territories depend heavily on federal assistance and most are not
making much progress toward economic self-reliance. Each territory has unique local constraints to development which preclude
complete economic and financial self-reliance in the foreseeable
future.
However, federal constraints caused by policies, laws,
and programs are raising questions about overall U.S. policy
objectives for its territories.
38
I00O245
egade TF gat
wt Viel * fetegtEER
‘
administrative problems