Austin & Killeen, Texas – The Honorable Aren B. Palik, Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), accompanied by Madam Second Lady Adelita A. Palik, recently concluded a successful series of engagements with citizens of the Freely Associated States (FAS) residing in Texas, commemorating COFA Day and hosting a town hall with FSM citizens.
The visit began in Austin, where Vice President Palik and Madam Second Lady joined leaders and members of the COFA Alliance National Network (CANN)—a grassroots organization advocating for the rights and welfare of COFA citizens across the United States. The Vice President met with representatives from the national chapter as well as state chapters from Arkansas, Washington, and Texas. The discussions centered on the challenges and achievements of COFA citizens and CANN’s expanding role in helping families navigate access to state and federal services.
Following the meeting, Vice President Palik paid courtesy visits to the offices of Representative Brad Buckley and Senator Nathan Johnson, authors and sponsors of a legislative resolution recognizing March 18 as COFA Day in Texas. This milestone acknowledges the important contributions of the COFA community to the state and celebrates the unique and enduring ties between the United States and the Freely Associated States—namely the FSM, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (ROP).
On March 18, Vice President Palik and Madam Second Lady Palik were formally recognized on the floors of both chambers of the Texas Legislature during a ceremonial session. The adoption of House Resolution 559 (HR 559) and Senate Resolution 268 (SR 268) officially established March 18 as COFA Day in Texas. Joining the Vice President for the recognition were Senator David Anitok (RMI), H.E. Ambassador Hersey Kyota (Palau), H.E. Ambassador Jackson Soram (FSM), Acting Consul General Dominic Maluchmai, and Mr. Francis Sakate, President of CANN-Texas.
Following the legislative ceremony, Vice President Palik delivered remarks at a celebration held in the Capitol Rotunda, commending the COFA citizens for their continued contributions to their local communities and encouraging them to carry on as ambassadors of their respective island nations. He highlighted the unique relationship that the COFA nations share with the United States under the Compact of Free Association, emphasizing the mutual benefits of this enduring partnership.
The Vice President’s visit continued in Killeen, Texas, on March 19, where he hosted a Town Hall meeting with FSM citizens, organized in collaboration with CANN-Texas Chapter and the Kosrae State Central Texas Association (CENTEX).
The Vice President was warmly received by community leaders and families, as well as the Honorable Michael Blomquist, Mayor of Harker Heights, and Chief of Police Betiale L. Hawkings II.
In his remarks, Vice President Palik shared updates on the priorities of the Simina-Palik Administration, underscoring the importance of unity, progress, and citizen engagement both at home and abroad. He spoke of the enduring significance of the Compact of Free Association and encouraged FSM citizens to continue pursuing opportunities in the United States while also considering how they might contribute to nation-building efforts back home.
The Town Hall included an open dialogue where Vice President Palik and his delegation responded to questions on a wide range of topics including social security, passport services, health care, scholarships, job opportunities, and the potential establishment of polling locations on the U.S. mainland. Citizens were provided with useful guidance on accessing public services and official government information online.The evening concluded in a spirit of celebration and community, with sharing meals and cultural entertainment provided by the FSM citizens of Killeen.
