Paying for Compact of Free Association migrants is a big expense for the state of Hawaii. Some say the state is unfairly burdened with what’s ultimately a federal obligation — albeit an unfunded one.

Civil Beat’s been following the story, including the plight of Micronesians who live and work in Hawaii in large part because they’re eligible for government health services here via COFA.

Hawaii’s congressional reps have lobbied hard for increased federal spending. Ball now in Obama’s court:

via dc808:

President Barack Obama has 45 days to convene a new committee tasked with reducing the burden on local governments affected by the Compact of Free Association (COFA), Hawaii’s congressional delegation announced on Wednesday. 

The deadline comes as part of language recently inserted into a wide-ranging spending bill that’s waiting for Obama’s signature.

COFA refers to the federal deal that allows citizens of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands to travel freely to the United States. Hawaii lawmakers have long complained about an unfair financial burden that the agreement creates for the state. 

Sen. Daniel Inouye, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee said that the United States stands by “our neighbors in the Pacific residing in Hawaii” but emphasized the need for “increased federal funds” to fulfill COFA obligations. 

The bill would give Obama 180 days to submit to Congress a required action plan for how the federal government can better assist local governments affected by COFA. The measure would also require the federal government to hire at least one person dedicated to working on COFA issues. 

All four of Hawaii’s congressional delegates described their aloha for Hawaii residents who came to the state via COFA. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa called increased assistance from the federal government “a matter of fairness for both Hawaii taxpayers and the COFA migrants themselves.”