Congress · Laws

Palau Compact of Free Association Act

Public Law 99-658 · H.J.Res. 626 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 14, 1986 · International Affairs

Sponsor: Rep. John Seiberling (D-OH-14)

Cosponsors (5): Rep. Morris Udall, Rep. Dante Fascell,

Passage votes

HouseVoice vote
SenateVoice vote

Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Title I: Approval of Compact; Interpretation of, and United States Policies Regarding, Compact; Supplemental Provisions - Grants congressional approval of the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Government of Palau.

Repeals provisions of the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 relating to Congressional approval in principle to the Compact of Free Association between the United States and Palau.

Sets forth specified provisions relating to: (1) the use of military civic action teams in Palau or the Marshall Islands; (2) an inventory and study of the most unique natural and historical resources of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands; and (3) authorizations for transition purposes for FY 1987 through 1989 for Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands.

Requires a report by the Secretary of Agriculture to the President and the Congress with respect to the feasibility and cost to restore the fertility of the topsoil on the islands of Peleliu and Angaur (as a result of World War II).

Declares it to be U.S. policy to request only the minimum area of Palauan lands necessary for security and defense purposes. Provides for: (1) the use of military areas and facilities in Palau by the armed forces of other nations; and (2) Palauan jurisdiction on exclusive use lands.

Authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Army, in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, and the State of Ohio, to undertake a program to restore vegetative cover to eliminate erosion from all recreational lands in Palau. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1986 through 1989 for the development of recreational lands in Palau.

Title II: Compact of Free Association - Sets forth the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Government of Palau. (Declares that the people of Palau are self-governing. States that the United States shall provide grant and program assistance to Palau. Declares that the United States has full authority and responsibility for the security and defense of Palau.)

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Appropriations Committee · House · discharged from, referred to
Armed Services Committee · House · discharged from, referred to
Foreign Affairs Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee
Natural Resources Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee
Judiciary Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported by
Ways and Means Committee · House · hearings by (full committee), markup by, referred to, reported by

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 36 actions.

Nov 14, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-658.
Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
Nov 5, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
Oct 16, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Agreed to Senate Amendments by Voice Vote.
Oct 6, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote.
FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Sep 29, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Sep 19, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
Sep 17, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Armed Services Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Judiciary Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
Sep 11, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Ways and Means Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by House Ways and Means Committee
Aug 15, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Appropriations Committee
Jul 31, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
Jul 23, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Appropriations Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Armed Services Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
Jun 26, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Foreign Affairs Committee
Jun 25, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
Jun 17, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Markup by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
Jun 5, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Foreign Affairs Committee
May 21, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
CommitteeCommittee · Markup by East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
May 20, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee

Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.