$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