6 bv Ww research, planning assistance, studics, and demonstration projects. (b) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums a Sec. 602. Title V of the Act of October 15, 1977, enti- ama as may be necessary to carry outthis section. tled ““An Act to authorize certain appropriationsfor the terri- mo Qo Oo nerships, or corporations. Technical assistance may include & governments, or the einployment of private individuals, part- tories of the United States, to amend certain Acts relating thereto, and for other purposes’ (91 Stat. 1159) shall be amended as follows: At the end of subsection (d) strike the sentence beginning with ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law’ and ending with ‘‘or the Northern Mariana Islands.”’ and substitute the following sentence: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands any department or agency shall waive any requirements for local matching funds (including inkind contributions) required by law to be pro- vided by American Samoa or the Northern Mariana Tslands.”’. Sec. 603. In the event that a political union is clfected at a future time between the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federal Government and cachof its agencies is authorized anddirected to assure that—