Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act or the BLUE Pacific Act
This bill requires and authorizes activities related to U.S. foreign policy in the Pacific Islands, which includes the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.
The bill authorizes various activities in the Pacific Islands, including to
The bill also requires (1) the Department of State to help Pacific Island countries access development support from international organizations, (2) the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to seek to enter into investment incentive agreements with Pacific Islands countries, and (3) the Department of Commerce to expand the presence of the U.S. Commercial Service and increase the number foreign commercial officers in the Pacific Islands.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4538 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4538
To establish a comprehensive, long-term United States strategy and
policy for the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 11, 2023
Mr. Case (for himself, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Bera, Mr. Sherman, Mr.
Fitzpatrick, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, and
Mr. Meeks) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on
Natural Resources, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a comprehensive, long-term United States strategy and
policy for the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Boosting Long-term
U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act'' or the ``BLUE Pacific Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Authority to consolidate reports; form of reports.
TITLE I--POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND REGIONALISM
Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Statement of policy.
Sec. 103. Strategy for Pacific Islands Partnership.
Sec. 104. Staffing.
Sec. 105. Assistance with international organizations.
Sec. 106. Allies and partners in the Pacific Islands region.
TITLE II--PEOPLE-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 201. Assistance to improve public health outcomes and build public
health capacity.
Sec. 202. Assistance to promote freedom of the press.
Sec. 203. Program to promote educational and professional development
for young adult leaders and professionals.
Sec. 204. Education assistance.
Sec. 205. Investment agreements.
TITLE III--PEACE AND SECURITY
Sec. 301. Building the capacity of local civilian and national security
institutions.
Sec. 302. Reporting.
TITLE IV--RESOURCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 401. Trade development with the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 402. Trade capacity building initiative for the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 403. United States Commercial Service.
TITLE V--CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTERS
Sec. 501. Assistance to enhance preparedness for and resilience to
natural disasters and other emergencies.
Sec. 502. Climate resilient infrastructure.
TITLE VI--OCEAN AND ENVIRONMENT
Sec. 601. Oceans management.
Sec. 602. Sea level rise.
Sec. 603. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
TITLE VII--TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTIVITY
Sec. 701. Digital access and inclusion.
Sec. 702. Cybersecurity.
TITLE VIII--REPORT ON THE STRATEGY FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS PARTNERSHIP AND
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
Sec. 801. Report on the Strategy for Pacific Islands Partnership.
Sec. 802. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--Except as
otherwise provided, the term ``appropriate congressional
committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) Pacific islands.--The terms ``Pacific Islands'' means
the Cook Islands, the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of
Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated
States of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, Niue, the Republic
of Palau, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the
Independent State of Samoa, the Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of
Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Vanuatu.
SEC. 3. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS; FORM OF REPORTS.
(a) Authority To Consolidate Reports.--Any reports required to be
submitted to the appropriate congressional committees under this Act
that are subject to deadlines for submission consisting of the same
units of time may be consolidated into a single report that is
submitted to appropriate congressional committees pursuant to such
deadlines and that contains all information required under such
reports.
(b) Form of Reports.--Each report required to be submitted to the
appropriate congressional committees under this Act and any
consolidated report described in subsection (a) shall be submitted in
unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.
TITLE I--POLITICAL LEADERSHIP AND REGIONALISM
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Pacific Islands--
(A) are home to roughly 10,000,000 residents;
(B) are spread across an expanse of the Pacific
Ocean equivalent to 15 percent of the Earth's surface,
including the three subregions of Melanesia,
Micronesia, and Polynesia; and
(C) face shared challenges in development that have
distinct local contexts, including climate change and
rising sea levels, geographic distances from major
markets, and vulnerability to external shocks such as
natural disasters in both slow and sudden onset
situations.
(2) The United States is a Pacific country with
longstanding ties and shared values and interests with the
Pacific Islands, including through the Compacts of Free
Association with the Freely Associated States, the Republic of
the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and
the Republic of Palau.
(3) The United States has vital national security interests
in the Pacific Islands, including--
(A) protecting regional peace and security that
fully respects the sovereignty of all nations;
(B) advancing economic prosperity free from
coercion and unfair practices through trade and
sustainable development; and
(C) supporting democracy, good governance, the rule
of law, and human rights and fundamental freedoms.
(4) Successive United States administrations have
recognized the importance of the Pacific region, including the
Pacific Islands, in high-level strategic documents, including
the following:
(A) The 2015 National Security Strategy, which
first declared the rebalance to Asia and the Pacific,
affirmed the United States as a Pacific nation, and
paved the way for subsequent United States engagement
with the Pacific Islands, including several new
policies focused on conservation and resilience to
climate change announced in September 2016.
(B) The 2017 National Security Strategy, which
includes a commitment to ``shore up fragile partner
states in the Pacific Islands region to reduce their
vulnerability to economic fluctuations and natural
disasters''.
(C) The 2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report, which
identified the Pacific Islands as ``critical to U.S.
strategy because of our shared values, interests, and
commitments'' and committed the United States to
``building capacity and resilience to address maritime
security; Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing;
drug trafficking; and resilience to address climate
change and disaster response''.
(D) The 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report, which
recognized the need to engage further with the Pacific
Islands on shared security goals.
(E) The 2022 Strategy for Pacific Island
Partnership, which outlined goals and methods for
deepening the United States partnerships with Pacific
Island nations.
(5) The United States has deepened its diplomatic
engagement with the Pacific Islands through several recent
initiatives, including--
(A) the Pacific Pledge, which provided an
additional $100,000,000 in 2019 and $200,000,000 in
2020, on top of the approximately $350,000,000 that the
United States provides annually to the region to
support shared priorities in economic and human
development, climate change, and more;
(B) the Small and Less Populous Island Economies
(SALPIE) Initiative launched in March 2021 to
strengthen United States collaboration with island
countries and territories, including in the Pacific
Islands, on COVID-19 economic challenges, long-term
economic development, climate change, and other shared
interests;
(C) the declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership of
2022 in which the United States and the Pacific Islands
resolved to strengthen their partnership, bolstering
Pacific regionalism; and
(D) the Partners in the Blue Pacific Initiative, a
new initiative, to increase diplomatic engagement and
coordination in the region.
(6) The Boe Declaration on Regional Security, adopted by
leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2018, affirmed that
climate change ``remains the single greatest threat to the
livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of the peoples of the
Pacific'' and asserted ``the sovereign right of every Member to
conduct its national affairs free of external interference and
coercion''.
(7) The Asian Development Bank has estimated that the
Pacific Islands region needs upwards of $2,800,000,000 a year
in investment needs through 2030, in addition to $300,000,000 a
year for climate mitigation and adaptation over the same
period.
(8) Since 1966, thousands of Peace Corps volunteers have
proudly served in the Pacific Islands, building strong people-
to-people relationships and partnerships demonstrating the
United States commitment to peace and sustainable development
in the region, including supporting education, health, and
economic development initiatives. Prior to the COVID-19
pandemic, the Peace Corps maintained its presence in four
countries of the Pacific Islands and has since announced plans
to return to and expand programs in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and
Vanuatu. Peace Corps volunteers continue to be in high demand
in the Pacific Islands and have been requested across the
region.
SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to develop and commit to a comprehensive, multifaceted,
and principled United States policy in the Pacific Islands
that--
(A) promotes peace, security, and prosperity for
all countries through a rules-based regional order that
respects the sovereignty, self-determination, and
political independence of all nations;
(B) preserves the Pacific Ocean as an open and
vibrant corridor for international maritime trade and
promotes trade and sustainable development that
supports inclusive economic growth and autonomy for all
nations and addresses socioeconomic and environmental
challenges related to public health, education,
renewable energy, digital connectivity, and more;
(C) supports regional efforts to address the
challenges posed by climate change, including by
strengthening resilience to natural disasters and
through responsible stewardship of natural resources
and the need for collective action to mitigate its
impacts and build resilience;
(D) improves civil society, strengthens democratic
governance and the rule of law, and promotes human
rights and the preservation of the region's unique
cultural heritages; and
(E) supports existing regional architecture and the
international rules based order and principles of
international law;
(2) to support the vision, values, and objectives of
existing regional multilateral institutions and frameworks,
such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community,
including--
(A) the 2000 Biketawa Declaration;
(B) the 2014 Framework for Pacific Regionalism;
(C) the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security;
(D) the Boe Declaration Action Plan; and
(E) the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific
Continent;
(3) to extend and amend the provisions of the Compacts of
Free Association, subsidiary agreements, and related United
States law that will expire in 2023 for the Republic of the
Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia and in
2024 for the Republic of Palau unless they are extended; and
(4) to work closely with United States allies and partners
with existing relationships and interests in the Pacific
Islands, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan,
in advancing common goals.
SEC. 103. STRATEGY FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS PARTNERSHIP.
(a) In General.--Not later than January 1, 2027, and every 4 years
thereafter, the President shall develop and submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a strategy to be known as the ``Strategy for
Pacific Islands Partnership'' (in this section referred to as the
``Strategy'').
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The Strategy shall include the
following:
(1) A description of overarching goals for the United
States-Pacific Island Partnership.
(2) A description of measurable objectives for United
States engagement in the Pacific Islands.
(3) An assessment of threats to the Pacific Islands region.
(4) A plan to address the security of the Pacific Islands
region.
(5) A strategy to invest in and improve critical
infrastructure.
(6) A regional Development Cooperation Strategy formulated
by the United States Agency for International Development.
(c) Consultation.--In developing the Strategy, the President should
consult, as appropriate, with--
(1) regional organizations, such as the Pacific Islands
Forum, the Pacific Islands Development Program, the Pacific
Community and Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment
Programme;
(2) the countries of the Pacific Islands;
(3) stakeholders such as civil society, faith-based
organizations, and non-state actors;
(4) United States allies and partners; and
(5) United States Pacific territories and States.
(d) Coordination.--In implementing the Strategy, the President
shall coordinate with the heads of other Federal agencies, including
the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the
Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of United States Agency for
International Development, the Secretary of Defense, and the United
States Trade Representative.
SEC. 104. STAFFING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, the Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development, the Secretary of
the Treasury, and the Chief Executive Officer of the United States
International Development Finance Corporation should increase the
number of staff working on Pacific Islands issues and in the Pacific
Islands to carry out this Act.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Federal officials described in subsection
(a) shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report--
(1) detailing the number of full-time equivalent positions
and contractors working on Pacific Islands issues, including in
the Pacific Islands, to carry out this Act;
(2) describing any planned changes to staffing levels to
carry out this Act and if no changes are planned providing a
plan to carry out this Act under current staffing levels; and
(3) if necessary, identifying additional funding needed to
support staffing levels to carry out this Act.
(c) Authorization.--The Secretary of State and the Secretary of
Commerce are authorized to hire locally-employed staff in the Pacific
Islands to promote increased diplomatic engagement and economic and
commercial engagement between the United States and the Pacific
Islands.
SEC. 105. ASSISTANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chief Executive
Officer of the United States International Development Finance
Corporation, as appropriate, shall provide support and technical
assistance to Pacific Islands countries to assist such countries to
access existing development support and funding from international
organizations, such as the United Nations and multilateral financial
institutions. Such support and technical assistance may include--
(1) technical support navigating grant programs,
international investment mechanisms, and other opportunities
offered by international organizations for sustainable
development;
(2) support receiving necessary certifications and
complying with technical requirements to participate in
international financial mechanisms from which Pacific Islands
countries may benefit; and
(3) support complying with reporting and oversight
requirements for programs conducted by international
organizations.
(b) International Financial Institutions.--The Secretary of the
Treasury should direct the representatives of the United States to the
World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian
Development Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to
support climate resilient infrastructure projects and to build
resilience to the impacts of climate change in the Pacific Islands.
SEC. 106. ALLIES AND PARTNERS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION.
(a) In General.--The President, in consultation with the Secretary
of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of
Commerce, the Administrator of United States Agency for International
Development, the Secretary of Defense, the United States Trade
Representative, and any other relevant official, should consult and
coordinate with allies and partners in the Pacific Islands region,
including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and regional
institutions such as the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Islands
Development Program, the Pacific Community and Secretariat for the
Pacific Regional Environment Programme, with respect to programs to
provide assistance to the Pacific Islands, including programs
established by this Act, including for purposes of--
(1) deconflicting programming;
(2) ensuring that any programming does not adversely affect
the absorptive capacity of the Pacific Islands;
(3) ensuring complementary programs benefit the Pacific
Islands to the maximum extent practicable; and
(4) ensuring that programming aligns with regional
development goals, as outlined by documents such as the 2050
Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent in order to support
sustainable development and promote a shared vision for the
future of the Pacific Islands.
(b) Formal Consultative Process.--The President should establish a
formal consultative process with such regional allies and partners to
coordinate with respect to such programs and future-years programming.
TITLE II--PEOPLE-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 201. ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH OUTCOMES AND BUILD PUBLIC
HEALTH CAPACITY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, is authorized to assist
the Pacific Islands to improve public health outcomes and build public
health capacity, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b) Activities Supported.--Activities authorized to be carried out
under subsection (a) may include--
(1) programming, including grants, cooperative agreements,
and other forms of assistance, as appropriate, to assist in
building local capacity to ensure that Pacific Islanders have
access to the essential health services they need to thrive and
to address--
(A) maternal and child health;
(B) family planning and reproductive health;
(C) gender-based violence;
(D) food security and nutrition;
(E) noncommunicable diseases;
(F) communicable diseases, including neglected
tropical diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, sexually-
transmitted infections, and zoonotic and emerging
infectious disease threats;
(G) equitable access to quality, essential, and
affordable health services and quality-assured, safe,
effective medical products and their appropriate use;
and
(H) water, sanitation, and hygiene;
(2) technical assistance to strengthen local health system
capacity and resilience in the areas of good leadership and
governance, sustainable financing, interoperable information
systems and high quality data for decision making, efficient
medical products and supply chain systems, and management of
human resources for health, with special attention to
increasing health worker performance, retention, productivity,
number, skill mix, and competency, including through exploring
opportunities such as private sector engagement and digital
health integration and access;
(3) coordination with existing local and regional health
sector goals, efforts, institutions, and frameworks; and
(4) investment in and improvement of critical
infrastructure, including hospitals, health clinics and
pharmacies in the Pacific Islands.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of
this section.
SEC. 202. ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
The Secretary of State is authorized to provide assistance to
promote the dissemination of free and accurate information in the
Pacific Islands, including for the following purposes:
(1) Media capacity building and education, including to--
(A) provide on-site media training tailored to
local needs;
(B) collaborate with local government and
nongovernmental entities to promote media literacy and
integrate media literacy into primary education
curricula in local languages and dialects to ensure
accessibility; and
(C) routinize funding for professional programs,
such as the Pacific Islands Journalism Reporting Tour,
that bring media professionals from the Pacific Islands
to the United States.
(2) Strengthening and diversifying broadcast content
tailored to local audiences, including content broadcast in the
local vernacular.
(3) Investing in connectivity infrastructure with an
emphasis on broadcast radio and transmission.
SEC. 203. PROGRAM TO PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FOR YOUNG ADULT LEADERS AND PROFESSIONALS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that routinized
people-to-people exchange programs to bring Pacific Islands religious
leaders, journalists, civil society members, politicians, and others to
the United States, as well as supporting similar exchange participants
from the United States to the Pacific Islands, strengthens existing
relationships and advances United States interests and shared values in
the region.
(b) In General.--The Secretary of State may develop and implement a
program to promote educational and professional development for young
adult leaders and professionals in the Pacific Islands with a
demonstrated passion to contribute to the continued development of the
Pacific Islands.
(c) Conduct of Program.--The program developed under this section
may be carried out through--
(1) grants provided on a competitive basis to qualified
organizations with demonstrated expertise relating to the
Pacific Islands;
(2) grants in amounts not to exceed $50,000 provided on a
competitive basis to qualified young leaders from the Pacific
Islands for the purpose of carrying out projects dedicated to
the improvement of their communities in the Pacific Islands;
(3) regional workshops and professional, vocational, and
academic fellowships; and
(4) people-to-people exchanges.
(d) Briefing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting
through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and
Cultural Affairs, should brief the appropriate congressional
committees on exchange programs for the Pacific Islands region.
(2) Elements.--The briefing required by paragraph (1) shall
include--
(A) an assessment of factors constraining the
number and frequency of International Visitor
Leadership Program participants from countries of the
Pacific Islands;
(B) an identification of resources that are
necessary to address the factors described in
subparagraph (A); and
(C) a strategy for connecting alumni and
participants of the Department of State's professional
development exchange programs in East Asia, such as the
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative and the Young
Pacific Leaders programs, to enhance interregion and
intraregion people-to-people ties.
SEC. 204. EDUCATION ASSISTANCE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) promoting basic education in the Pacific Islands,
particularly in traditionally underserved communities, advances
United States foreign policy goals and requires a whole of
government approach, and the United States Government currently
dedicates insufficient resources and attention to assisting
with education needs in the region;
(2) the Peace Corps alone is insufficient to achieve United
States objectives of promoting sustainable, quality basic
education; and
(3) countries of the Pacific Islands meet the requirements
outlined in subsection (c)(4) of section 105 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c).
(b) Education Assistance.--The President is authorized to provide
assistance under section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2151c) to promote sustainable, quality basic education in the
Pacific Islands, including for the following purposes:
(1) Supporting national nutrition and health programs.
(2) Working with partner governments to reform policies,
improve curricula, strengthen data systems, train teachers, and
provide quality learning materials.
(3) Building new schools and renovating older facilities to
ensure safe places for learning.
(4) Providing individuals, particularly at-risk youth, with
relevant education, training, and skills for meaningful
employment.
(5) Removing barriers to entering formal education for out-
of-school individuals, assisting in keeping them in school, and
providing an opportunity to catch up on schooling for those
left behind.
(6) Promoting teaching and research exchanges between the
Pacific Islands and United States institutions of higher
education, including community colleges.
SEC. 205. INVESTMENT AGREEMENTS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States International Development Finance
Corporation has a dual mandate to advance United States foreign
policy and make highly developmental investment around the
world with a focus on communities most in need;
(2) the United States International Development Finance
Corporation must enter into an investment incentive agreement
with a jurisdiction's government in order to pursue development
projects in that jurisdiction;
(3) the market-based private sector development and
inclusive economic growth of the Solomon Islands and the
Republic of Vanuatu are in the United States foreign policy
interest;
(4) the United States International Development Finance
Corporation has not entered into investment incentive
agreements with the government of the Solomon Islands or with
the government of the Republic of Vanuatu; and
(5) the inability of the United States International
Development Finance Corporation to support investments in the
Solomon Islands and the Republic of Vanuatu undermines United
States policy to provide countries a robust alternative to
state-direct investments by authoritarian governments and
United States strategic competitors.
(b) Investment Agreements.--The Chief Executive Officer of the
United States International Development Finance Corporation, in
coordination with the Secretary of State, shall seek to enter into
investment incentive agreements with the governments of those Pacific
Islands in which the United States International Development Finance
Corporation is otherwise authorized to operate under the BUILD Act of
2018 (22 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).
(c) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chief Executive
Officer of the United States International Development Finance
Corporation, as appropriate, is authorized to provide technical
assistance to assist the Pacific Islands in negotiating and executing
investment incentive agreements with the United States International
Development Finance Corporation.
TITLE III--PEACE AND SECURITY
SEC. 301. BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL CIVILIAN AND NATIONAL SECURITY
INSTITUTIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, as
appropriate, is authorized to provide assistance to build the capacity
of local civilian and national security institutions of the Pacific
Islands for purposes of--
(1) enhancing maritime security and maritime domain
awareness to address challenges such as illegal, unreported,
and unregulated fishing;
(2) assisting local law enforcement in detecting,
preventing, and combating trafficking in persons and drug
trafficking and other forms of transnational crime;
(3) providing essential services to civilian populations
and responding to humanitarian challenges caused by natural
disasters;
(4) participating in efforts by regional institutions and
frameworks to coordinate and facilitate cooperation on shared
security challenges;
(5) expanding information sharing and working toward
operational coordination and interoperability among Pacific
Island maritime security forces, including through regional
fusion centers; and
(6) providing assistance in legal actions, including hiring
legal counsel or providing legal support, as appropriate, to
support Pacific Islands in defending their rights and interests
related to maritime security, combating transnational crime,
responding to natural disasters, and participating in regional
security efforts.
(b) Related Programs and Authorities.--The assistance and capacity
building authorized by this subsection should build on the following:
(1) The International Military Education and Training
program.
(2) The Foreign Military Financing program.
(3) The Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid
program.
(4) The authority to build the capacity of foreign security
forces under section 333 of title 10, United States Code.
(5) The authority to provide excess defense articles under
section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2321j).
(6) The National Guard State Partnership Program.
(7) The International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement
Program.
(c) National Police Forces and Coast Guards.--The national police
forces and coast guards of countries of the Pacific Islands are
eligible to receive assistance under the programs and authorities
described in subsection (b) (other than the programs and authorities
described in paragraphs (1), (4), (6), and (7) of subsection (b)).
SEC. 302. REPORTING.
(a) Updates of Certain Reports.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with the heads of other Federal agencies as appropriate,
shall identify and update the reports described in subsection (b) to
include in such reports a discussion of forms of transnational crime
affecting the Pacific Islands.
(b) Reports Described.--The reports described in this subsection
are the following:
(1) The International Narcotics Control Strategy report.
(2) The Improving International Fisheries Management
report.
(3) The Trafficking in Persons report.
TITLE IV--RESOURCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 401. TRADE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United
States should expand bilateral and multilateral trade with the Pacific
Islands to promote socioeconomic development and mutual prosperity.
(b) Trade Development.--The United States Trade Representative is
authorized to expand and diversify trade and promote regional
development with the Pacific Islands, including through negotiating
trade and investment framework agreements.
SEC. 402. TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, in coordination with the Secretary of State,
the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Chief
Executive Officer of the United States International Development
Finance Corporation, and the Director of the United States Trade and
Development Agency are authorized to implement programming to build
trade capacity in the Pacific Islands.
(b) Activities.--The activities authorized under this section
include--
(1) development of human and institutional capacity and
infrastructure across multiple sectors of economies, including
digital connectivity and cybersecurity;
(2) assistance with development and implementation of
regional and international trade agreements, including the
World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade Facilitation and
facilitation of intraregional trade flows;
(3) support for women-owned enterprises and gender
equality; and
(4) promotion of government policies that encourage free
and fair competition, sound governance, environmental
protection, and business environments conducive to sustainable
and inclusive economic growth.
SEC. 403. UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL SERVICE.
The Secretary of Commerce shall expand the presence of the United
States Commercial Service in the Pacific Islands and allocate
additional Foreign Commercial Service Officers to the Pacific Islands,
including by elevating existing partner posts and establishing new
Commercial Service posts and partner posts, to--
(1) explore opportunities for United States private sector
investment;
(2) examine regulations in host countries in the Pacific
Islands that may hinder foreign direct investment, including
those related to human rights, labor rights, and environmental
protection, and provide technical assistance when requested by
such host countries; and
(3) report on the commercial and investment activities of
non-allied foreign actors in the Pacific Islands.
TITLE V--CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTERS
SEC. 501. ASSISTANCE TO ENHANCE PREPAREDNESS FOR AND RESILIENCE TO
NATURAL DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES.
The Secretary of State is authorized to assist the Pacific Islands
to enhance preparedness for and resilience to natural disasters and
other emergencies. Such assistance includes--
(1) education and training programs on natural disaster
prevention and preparedness for emergency management
professionals in the Pacific Islands, including by leveraging
the expertise of nonprofit organizations and institutions of
higher education in the United States;
(2) technical assistance, including through grants and
cooperative agreements for qualified United States and local
nongovernmental organizations, to enhance early warning
systems, emergency management and preparedness procedures, and
post-disaster relief and recovery;
(3) coordination of existing disaster mitigation and
response plans in the region, including by United States allies
and partners in the region;
(4) infrastructure development and upgrades to improve
disaster preparedness and response, such as the construction of
evacuation centers, flood control measures, and communication
networks;
(5) support for local community-based disaster risk
reduction programs, including the development of evacuation
plans, training in first aid and emergency response, and
provision of emergency supplies;
(6) technical assistance and training to enhance the
capacity of local emergency response agencies, including search
and rescue teams, fire departments, and medical personnel;
(7) provision of critical humanitarian assistance, such as
food, water, shelter, and medical care, in the aftermath of
disasters; and
(8) support for programs aimed at reducing the long-term
impacts of disasters, such as disaster risk insurance, small
business recovery programs, and environmental restoration
initiatives.
SEC. 502. CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development, the Secretary
of the Treasury, and the Chief Executive Officer of the United States
International Development Finance Corporation, as appropriate, is
authorized to--
(1) invest in and improve critical infrastructure,
including transport connectivity, hospitals, health clinics,
pharmacies, information and communications technology, food
security, coastal zone management, marine and water resource
management, and energy security and access to electricity in
the Pacific Islands, with an emphasis on climate resiliency and
sustainable development;
(2) provide technical assistance to assist local government
and civil society leaders assess risks to local infrastructure,
especially those posed by climate change, consider and
implement risk mitigation efforts and policies to strengthen
resilience, and evaluate proposed projects and solutions for
their efficacy and sustainability;
(3) support investment and improvement in ecosystem
conservation and protection for the long-term sustainable use
of ecosystem services, especially those that mitigate effects
of climate change and those that support food security and
livelihoods;
(4) invest in and improve critical telecommunications
infrastructure and cybersecurity;
(5) foster public-private partnerships and cooperation
among stakeholders to mobilize private sector investment and
innovation for sustainable infrastructure development and
climate resiliency in the Pacific Islands;
(6) provide technical assistance and capacity building to
local governments and communities to integrate climate
resilience into their infrastructure planning and development
strategies;
(7) develop and implement programs that promote the use of
renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in the
Pacific Islands, including through investment in clean energy
infrastructure and technical assistance to local utilities and
energy regulators;
(8) work with regional organizations and governments to
promote the sustainable management of marine resources,
including through the development of marine protected areas and
ecosystem-based management approaches;
(9) foster partnerships between Pacific Island governments
and research institutions to build scientific capacity and
support research on climate change impacts and adaptation
strategies in the region; and
(10) promote the use of innovative financing mechanisms,
such as green bonds and climate risk insurance, to help Pacific
Island countries access affordable financing for climate-
resilient infrastructure development.
TITLE VI--OCEAN AND ENVIRONMENT
SEC. 601. OCEANS MANAGEMENT.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development and the
Secretary of Commerce, is authorized to--
(1) support programming that promotes fisheries
sustainability and marine biodiversity conservation in the
Pacific Islands;
(2) support the development, adoption, and implementation
of regional sustainable fisheries policies, standards, and
regulatory frameworks;
(3) partner with regional private sector interests in the
adoption and implementation of seafood industry fair-labor
standards and sustainable fishing practices;
(4) provide technical assistance to assist local government
and civil society leaders to improve environmental and ocean
management; and
(5) provide technical assistance and capacity building to
improve data collection and management, including through the
use of innovative technologies, to support sustainable
fisheries management and biodiversity conservation in the
region;
(6) support the development and implementation of
integrated ocean management and marine spatial planning
frameworks that incorporate local knowledge and community
input, promote ecosystem-based management approaches, and
address transboundary marine conservation challenges;
(7) support research and monitoring programs to better
understand the impacts of climate change on oceans and
fisheries in the Pacific Islands and to inform evidence-based
management approaches;
(8) support regional efforts to combat illegal, unreported,
and unregulated fishing and promote sustainable fisheries
practices, including through the development of traceability
systems and improved monitoring and enforcement capacity;
(9) encourage private sector investment in sustainable
fisheries and marine conservation efforts in the Pacific
Islands, including through partnerships with local communities
and businesses; and
(10) promote public awareness and engagement on issues
related to sustainable fisheries and ocean management in the
Pacific Islands, including through education and outreach
programs.
SEC. 602. SEA LEVEL RISE.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development and the
Secretary of Commerce, is authorized to provide support and technical
assistance to Pacific Islands to address the impacts of sea level rise
with the aim of--
(1) protecting and mitigating the impacts of sea level rise
on coastal communities and their economies;
(2) protecting and increasing the resilience of critical
coastal infrastructure;
(3) preserving Pacific Islands maritime boundaries and
their entitlements;
(4) preserving Pacific Islands' statehoods;
(5) providing support to Pacific Islands to develop and
implement effective and just migration policies that address
the impacts of sea level rise on communities and provide
options for those who wish to migrate;
(6) collaborating with international organizations and
Pacific Island to provide humanitarian assistance to those
affected by sea level rise, including through access to food,
water, and shelter; and
(7) supporting efforts to build resilience and sustainable
livelihoods in affected communities, including through the
development of alternative economic opportunities and
sustainable agriculture practices.
SEC. 603. ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED, AND UNREGULATED FISHING.
Section 3553 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2020 (16 U.S.C. 8033) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (10); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
``(9) an assessment of gaps or limitations in the ability
of the United States to effectively assist priority regions and
priority flag states relating to IUU fishing due to resource
constraints and the additional resources necessary to overcome
those constraints; and''.
TITLE VII--TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTIVITY
SEC. 701. DIGITAL ACCESS AND INCLUSION.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development and the heads of
the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the United States Trade and
Development Authority, is authorized to provide support to the Pacific
Islands to--
(1) expand access to high quality broadband and
telecommunications infrastructure in the Pacific Islands;
(2) partner with regional private and public sector
interests to promote and expand secure and accessible broadband
connectivity; and
(3) strengthen the private sector and civil society's
digital capacity and digital skillset.
SEC. 702. CYBERSECURITY.
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development and the heads of
the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the United States Trade and
Development Authority, is authorized to provide support and technical
assistance to the Pacific Islands to--
(1) increase adoption of policies and regulatory positions
that encourage open, interoperable, reliable, and secure
digital infrastructure;
(2) increase adoption of cybersecurity best practices in
the Pacific Islands, including through education and training
programs for government and private sector entities;
(3) assist with the development and implementation of
cybersecurity strategies and policies, including incident
response plans and risk management frameworks;
(4) promote international cooperation and information
sharing on cybersecurity threats and incidents; and
(5) assist in the establishment and strengthening of
national and regional Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs)
to enhance cyber incident detection and response capabilities.
TITLE VIII--REPORT ON THE STRATEGY FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS PARTNERSHIP AND
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS
SEC. 801. REPORT ON THE STRATEGY FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS PARTNERSHIP.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date on which
the initial report on the progress in implementing the Strategy for
Pacific Islands Partnership required by section 103 is submitted to the
appropriate congressional committees, and not later than January 1 of
each odd-numbered year thereafter, the President, in consultation with
the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the
Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of United States Agency for
International Development, the Secretary of Defense, the United States
Trade Representative, and any other relevant official, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the progress in
implementing the Strategy for Pacific Islands Partnership.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required by subsection (a)
shall include the following:
(1) An assessment of the security challenges to the Pacific
Islands, including--
(A) an assessment of the status of security
challenges to the Pacific Islands, including as
outlined by regional documents such as the Boe
Declaration on regional security;
(B) an analysis of demonstrated needs of the
Pacific Islands for assistance, including excess
defense equipment and related materials with
humanitarian and development uses to fulfill such
needs;
(C) a review of existing security assistance
programs in the Pacific Islands, including programs and
efforts provided by United States allies and partners;
(D) a plan for programs for training and
sustainment with respect to such excess defense
equipment and related materials, including those with
humanitarian and development uses;
(E) a list of militaries, national police forces,
coast guards, and other national security forces of the
Pacific Islands receiving assistance under the
strategy;
(F) a plan to provide humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief, if necessary, through the Overseas
Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid program;
(G) a review of existing cross-border maritime law
enforcement operations (commonly known as ``shiprider
agreements'') with the Pacific Islands, an assessment
of additional resourcing needs to enhance operational
capacity, and a plan to improve on these programs and
operations;
(H) a review of existing National Guard State
Partnership Programs with the Pacific Islands, an
assessment of additional opportunities to leverage
National Guard State Partnership Programs to address
law enforcement, disaster relief and emergency
management, and related priorities, and a plan to
expand, as appropriate, existing and new National Guard
State Partnership Programs in the region;
(I) a review of current efforts and progress in
removing unexploded ordnance in the Pacific Islands and
an assessment of additional resourcing needed to ensure
continued progress, including to support coordination
with regional efforts and those of United States allies
and partners;
(J) a review of existing regional fusion centers
and other cooperative intelligence sharing efforts in
the Pacific Islands to address maritime security,
transnational crime, natural disasters, and other
security challenges and an assessment of opportunities
for the United States to participate in such efforts,
including by allocating staff and supplying resourcing;
(K) measures to evaluate success for the strategy;
and
(L) a detailed assessment of appropriations
required to achieve the objectives for the strategy in
future years.
(2) An assessment of the diplomatic presence in the Pacific
Islands, including--
(A) a description of the Department of State,
United States Agency for International Development,
United States International Development Finance
Corporation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, United
States Trade and Development Authority and United
States Commercial Service presence, staffing,
programming, and resourcing of operations in the
Pacific Islands, including programming and resourcing
not specifically allocated to the Pacific Islands; and
(B) a description of gaps in such presence,
including unfilled full-time equivalent positions.
(3) A description of coordination with regional allies,
including--
(A) a review of ongoing efforts, initiatives, and
programs undertaken by regional allies and partners,
including multilateral organizations, to advance the
priorities identified in this Act;
(B) a review of ongoing efforts, initiatives, and
programs undertaken by nonallied foreign actors that
are viewed as being potentially harmful or in any way
detrimental to one or more countries of the Pacific
Islands; and
(C) an assessment of United States programs in the
Pacific Islands and their alignment and complementarity
with the efforts of regional allies and partners.
(4) A description of trade capacity building, including--
(A) economic opportunities for which United States
businesses, or those of other like-minded partners,
would be competitive;
(B) legal, economic, governance, infrastructural,
or other hurdles limiting United States investment in
the Pacific Islands; and
(C) steps the United States has taken to--
(i) develop human and institutional
capacity and infrastructure across multiple
sectors of economies, including digital
connectivity and cybersecurity;
(ii) assist with development and
implementation of regional and international
trade agreements, including the World Trade
Organization's Agreement on Trade Facilitation
and facilitation of intraregional trade flows;
(iii) support women-owned enterprises and
gender equality; and
(iv) promote government policies that
encourage free and fair competition, sound
governance, environmental protection, and
business environments conducive to sustainable
and inclusive economic growth.
(5) A description of trade development, including--
(A) an assessment of the readiness of countries in
the Pacific Islands to enter into enhanced trade
relationships with the United States, including with
respect to reducing or eliminating tariff and nontariff
barriers inhibiting progress towards deepening trade
relationships;
(B) a review of existing regional multilateral and
bilateral trade agreements and preference programs
involving the Pacific Islands and their impacts on
regional trade and development; and
(C) an identification of opportunities to work with
existing regional frameworks to increase trade and
economic integration with the Pacific Islands.
(6) A description of emergency preparedness for the Pacific
Islands, including--
(A) an assessment of disaster risks in the Pacific
Islands and existing local and regional capacity to
respond to such risks; and
(B) a review of existing efforts by United States
allies and partners to provide assistance and training
for natural disaster preparedness and emergency
management.
(7) A description of activities of the Peace Corps in the
Pacific Islands, including--
(A) a comparative analysis of the Peace Corps
presence in the Pacific Islands region to other regions
of the world, including a cost-benefit analysis of
placement in the region versus elsewhere globally;
(B) an analysis of current impediments to Peace
Corps expansion in the Pacific Islands region;
(C) outcomes of consultations among United States
agencies, and with regional allies and partners, on
areas in which cooperation can reduce factors limiting
Peace Corps expansion, particularly those related to
medical transportation and personal safety; and
(D) a plan and timeline for implementing outcomes
identified to facilitate expansion of Peace Corps
presence in the region, where appropriate.
(8) A description of public health and health care
challenges in the Pacific Islands, including health systems
strengthening, immunization, noncommunicable diseases, and
gender-based violence.
(9) A description of resilient development in the Pacific
Islands, including--
(A) a review of foreign infrastructure developments
in the Pacific Islands by non-United States allies and
partners;
(B) assessments of the environmental impact and
sustainability of such developments;
(C) an analysis of the financial sustainability of
such developments and their impacts on the debt of host
countries in the Pacific Islands; and
(D) an analysis of the region's banking
infrastructure and Pacific Island access to financial
services.
(10) A description of press freedom in the Pacific Islands,
including--
(A) an assessment of the national laws of the
Pacific Islands with respect to foreign investment in
media and related sectors;
(B) relevant licensing regulations of the Pacific
Islands and governmental restrictions on free
expression that limit the availability of diverse media
voices in the Pacific Islands; and
(C) analyses of covert efforts by foreign media
actors in the Pacific Islands--
(i) to influence, shape, or circumvent
regulations in the media or telecommunication
sectors; and
(ii) to co-opt local media and narratives.
(11) A description of civil society engagement and
development, including--
(A) an assessment of the strength and viability of
civil society sectors of the Pacific Islands, including
legal, organizational capacity, financial, advocacy,
services, infrastructure, and public image sectors; and
(B) an identification of objectives and measures of
success for the program.
(12) A description of United States Government efforts to
assist the Pacific Islands in the improvement of critical
physical and cyber infrastructure, including--
(A) investments in the development or improvement
critical infrastructure supported by the United States;
(B) technical assistance for the development or
improvement of critical infrastructure supported by the
United States; and
(C) a description of support given to Pacific
Islands on the expansion of telecommunications
infrastructure.
(13) A description of United States Government efforts to
assist the Pacific Islands in accessing support from
international organizations.
(14) A description of how United States Government efforts
align with regional development goals, as outlined in documents
such as the 2050 Strategy for a Blue Pacific Continent.
(c) Recommendation.--Beginning on the date that is 10 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the President may submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a recommendation on the
consolidation or elimination of any duplicative reports as required by
this section.
SEC. 802. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $250,000,000 for each of
fiscal years 2023 through 2033 to carry out this Act and the amendments
made by this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E656-657)
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
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