United States Departmentof the Interior OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 - OCT 9 N79 Honorable Henry M. Jackson La Chairman, Camittee on Energy amd Natural Resources United States Senate Washington, D. C. 20510 or - Dear Mr. Chaimmn: This respons to your request for a report on E.R. 3756 as passed by the House of Representatives on May 7, 1979, a bill "To authorize appropriations for certain insular areas of the United States, and for other purposes." The Administration recommends that H.R. 3756 be enacted with the amendments described below. Section 101 Section 101 would provide an oper-erried authorization of fiumis for Eire - the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands after 1980, both as to - tire ard amnt. eee eestration has no cbjection to the er ended provisions. We believe that language that is cpen-ended as a@munt gives recognition to the need for Trust Territory budget bility in light of the changes taking place there. Open-ended would accommodate the schedule that might arise from “ with the Micronesians on future political status terminating the trusteeship by the end of 1962. ‘Section 162 - . Section od would sisthorise the’ appropriationof $0 percant of the outstanding anounts payable under the adjudicated claims and final awards made the Micronesian Claims Commission under Title I of the MicronesianClaims Act of 1971. ‘These awards amount t §M.3 miLlion. To date, Japan and the United States have made available a in goods and services), pro rata basis to Ti Z of the remaining amounts by Japan. Since Japan has lh total of $11.8 million (with Japan's share whidyhas been paid or made available on a claimants. P.L. 95-13 authorizes payment outstanding upon a 50 percent contribution - made no further contribution, the balance of $22.6 million in Title I. AR, Py - weer seg sie: . * TERS ate Os a,eos RPE aye Re : au SRN, FPOE. * ae eel t . . ” aa oy — oe + awards remains unpaid. Clains relating to the immediate post-seare ‘and post war period (the Title II claims), totaling approximately — $32 million, have bean paid. . we ; ri