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. 35 2000242