TOKYO, JAPAN – March 15, 2026 – On the margins of the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum (IPEM) in Tokyo, Japan, H.E. Hilda C. Heine joined H.E. Surangel Whipps Jr., President of Palau, and H.E. Wesley Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia, in signing a joint letter addressed to Mr. Sean Duffy, United States Secretary of Transportation.
In their communication to Secretary Duffy, the leaders emphasized that the citizens of the Freely Associated States — Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia — have long been guaranteed the right to live and work freely in all U.S. states under the Compacts of Free Association. They noted that many FAS citizens rely on Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) required occupations and that leaving eligibility to state‑by‑state processes would create inconsistent access and undermine rights established in U.S. law.
The leaders urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to consider an exception for FAS citizens within the recently issued rule concerning the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs. President Heine and her fellow leaders reaffirmed the strong partnership between the Freely Associated States and the United States and expressed appreciation for continued dialogue and cooperation on matters affecting their citizens.
