119-hr562

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 562 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 562

To advance a comprehensive, long-term United States strategy and policy 
 for the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 January 20, 2025

Mr. Case (for himself, Mr. Moylan, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Ms. Titus, 
 Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, and Mr. Sherman) 
 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 advance 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. Strategic communications in the Pacific Islands.

Sec. 106. Assistance with international organizations.

Sec. 107. Allies and partners in the Pacific Islands region.

Sec. 108. Extension of diplomatic immunities to the Pacific Islands 
 Forum.

Sec. 109. Ambassador's Self-Help Small Grants Program.

Sec. 110. Establishing a senior official for the Compacts of Free 
 Association at the Department of State.
 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. Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program.

Sec. 204. Program to promote educational and professional development 
 for young adult leaders and professionals.

Sec. 205. Education assistance.

Sec. 206. People-to-people ties.

Sec. 207. Pacific Islands TRADES Program.

Sec. 208. Investment agreements.

Sec. 209. Committee on Engagement with Civil Society Organizations in 
 the Pacific Islands.

Sec. 210. American Spaces in the Pacific Islands.
 TITLE III--PEACE AND SECURITY

Sec. 301. Building the capacity of local civilian and national security 
 institutions.

Sec. 302. Reporting.

Sec. 303. International Law Enforcement Academy.
 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--ENVIRONMENTAL AND DISASTER RESILIENCE

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 the 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 12,300,000 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 unique environmental 
 challenges 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 environmental 
 resilience 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.
        (F) The 2022 National Security Strategy, which 
 identified the Pacific Islands as an area of particular 
 focus for expansion of regional diplomatic, 
 development, and economic engagement in the broader 
 Indo-Pacific.

    (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, in addition to the foreign assistance that the 
 United States provided annually to the region, to 
 support shared priorities in economic and human 
 development, environmental resilience, 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;
            (D) the Partners in the Blue Pacific Initiative, a 
 new initiative, to increase diplomatic engagement and 
 coordination in the region;
        (E) the establishment of a U.S.-Pacific Islands 
 Summit held in Washington, DC in 2022 and 2023; and
        (F) the increase in the total amount of United 
 States foreign assistance provided to the Pacific 
 Islands, from $302,500,000 in fiscal year 2022 to 
 $466,100,000 in fiscal year 2023.

    (6) The Boe Declaration on Regional Security, adopted in 
 2018 by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, the central 
 multilateral organization of the Pacific Islands and partners, 
 affirmed that climate change ``remains the single greatest 
 threat to the livelihoods, security, and well-being 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 requires upwards of $2,800,000,000 a 
 year in investment 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. Since having to suspend 
 operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Peace Corps has 
 reopened its posts in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and Vanuatu and has 
 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Palau regarding its 
 intent to reopen that post by the end of 2025. 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 articulate 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 strengthen 
 resilience to natural disasters and through responsible 
 stewardship of natural resources and the needs 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; and

    (3) to work closely with United States allies and partners 
 with existing relationships and interests in the Pacific 
 Islands, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, 
 Taiwan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and India, 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 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 shall endeavor to 
increase the number of staff working on Pacific Islands issues and in 
the Pacific Islands to carry out this Act.

    (b) 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. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development and the Secretary of 
Defense, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
strategy for strategic communications in the Pacific Islands, 
including--

    (1) a review of such communications, including United 
 States interagency and multilateral efforts with like-minded 
 partners;

    (2) an assessment of the resources being used for such 
 communications, including the number of staff devoted to such 
 communications, the location of such staff, and the funds 
 appropriated for such communications;

    (3) an assessment of any additional resources needed for 
 such communications;

    (4) an assessment of how United States engagement is being 
 perceived in the Pacific Islands and how such perception might 
 be improved;

    (5) an assessment of how engagement by other actors is 
 being perceived in the Pacific Islands; and

    (6) specific recommendations for the expansion and 
 improvement of such communications.

SEC. 106. 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 resilient infrastructure projects and to build environmental 
resilience in the Pacific Islands.

SEC. 107. 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 the 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, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the 
United Kingdom, France, Germany, and India, 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 shall endeavor to 
establish a formal consultative process with such regional allies and 
partners to coordinate with respect to such programs and future-years 
programming.

SEC. 108. EXTENSION OF DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITIES TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS 
 FORUM.

 The provisions of the International Organizations Immunities Act 
(22 U.S.C. 288 et seq.) may be extended to the Pacific Islands Forum in 
the same manner, to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions 
as such provisions may be extended to a public international 
organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any 
treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such 
participation or making an appropriation for such participation.

SEC. 109. AMBASSADOR'S SELF-HELP SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

    (1) at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, the 
 United States Government announced that the United States 
 Agency for International Development and the Department of 
 State are working together to set up an Ambassador's Self-Help 
 Small Grants Program that will provide targeted funding for 
 small-scale projects and increase the flexibility of United 
 States funding resources across the Pacific; and

    (2) this program will support community-led initiatives, 
 filling a gap by providing more accessible resources for small 
 projects that address local needs.

    (b) In General.--The Secretary of State and Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development shall continue to 
administer and implement the Ambassador's Self-Help Small Grants 
Program.
            (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $650,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2033 to 
carry out this section.

SEC. 110. ESTABLISHING A SENIOR OFFICIAL FOR THE COMPACTS OF FREE 
 ASSOCIATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall designate a senior 
official at the Department of State responsible for administering the 
Compacts of Free Association (in this section referred to as the 
``Compacts'') at the Department of State (in this section referred to 
as the ``Senior Official''). The Senior Official shall report to the 
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

    (b) Duties.--The Senior Official shall--

    (1) be responsible for the conduct of United States foreign 
 policy with respect to the countries affiliated with the United 
 States Government under the Compacts, namely the freely 
 associated states of--
        (A) the Republic of Palau;
        (B) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and
            (C) the Federated States of Micronesia;

    (2) assist the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian 
 and Pacific Affairs in providing overall direction, 
 coordination, and supervision of interdepartmental activities 
 of the United States Government in these countries, including 
 ensuring the timely transfer of assistance and provision of 
 benefits through the United States Department of the Interior, 
 as specified in the Compacts;

    (3) oversee and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of 
 United States policy with respect to these countries as well as 
 of the plans, programs, resources, and performance for 
 implementing that policy, including programs and other 
 activities implemented by the Department of the Interior;

    (4) directly supervise the policy and operations of the 
 Compacts and provide guidance to relevant United States 
 missions within the Indo-Pacific region;

    (5) ensure the provision of an adequate, regular flow of 
 information to posts abroad on United States Government 
 policies, policy deliberations, and diplomatic exchanges in 
 Washington, D.C.; and

    (6) ensure the continuity of implementation of commitments 
 and Compact obligations and benefits, consistent with United 
 States national interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
            (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $250,000 to support the Senior Official in the conduct and 
discharge of the duties described in subsection

    (b) .

 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.

    (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. INDO-PACIFIC MEDIA ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall continue to implement 
and develop the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program to promote a 
robust, free media in the Pacific Islands and strengthen the capacity 
of media outlets and journalists in the Indo-Pacific region to develop 
their business strategies, enhance their ability to conduct independent 
journalism, and counter disinformation.

    (b) Goals.--The goals of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program 
shall be to accomplish the following:

    (1) Increase the understanding of prevalent misinformation 
 and disinformation narratives.

    (2) Develop the capacity of professional, independent media 
 organizations and journalists to develop and implement media 
 sustainability plans, improve business operations, and increase 
 the quality and quantity of published information and news.

    (3) Expand media outlets' access to resources, content-
 sharing agreements, and equipment, so that such outlets can 
 provide quality content.

    (4) Develop the technical and investigative skills of 
 journalists to conduct pre-bunking, fact-checking, and 
 debunking to address misinformation and disinformation.
            (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
heads of other Federal departments or agencies, as appropriate, shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program and the engagement of the United 
States with the free media in the Pacific Islands, including the 
following:

    (1) An overview of the media and journalism landscape in 
 the Pacific Islands.

    (2) A review of the efforts and planned efforts of the 
 United States Government to strengthen free and independent 
 media in the Pacific Islands, including a description of the 
 objectives, means of implementation, and measures of success of 
 the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program.

    (3) An assessment of challenges to a free and open media in 
 the Pacific Islands and to the implementation of the Indo-
 Pacific Media Advancement Program, including strategies to 
 mitigate such challenges.

    (4) An assessment of any additional authorities or 
 resources necessary for more robust United States engagement to 
 promote a free media in the Pacific Islands and greater 
 implementation of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program.
            (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2033 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 204. 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 shall 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 any 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. 205. 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. 206. PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES.

 The Secretary of State and Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development shall continue to administer and 
expand programs fostering people-to-people ties between the United 
States and Pacific Islands, including--

    (1) the Youth Ambassadors Program in the Bureau of 
 Educational and Cultural Affairs;

    (2) the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs;

    (3) the Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships 
 Initiatives to the Pacific;

    (4) the U.S.-Pacific Institute for Rising Leaders 
 Fellowship; and

    (5) the Global STEM Development Scholarship Program.

SEC. 207. PACIFIC ISLANDS TRADES PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the United States Agency 
for International Development shall establish a program, to be known as 
the ``Pacific Islands Training and Resources for Advancement in 
Development, Education, and Skills Program'' or the ``Pacific Islands 
TRADES Program'', to, through scholarships, training from such agency, 
and grants to partner organizations, assist with workforce development 
in the Pacific Islands to--

    (1) increase the capacity of the local workforce through 
 medium- and long-term training and technical assistance in 
 sectors of critical importance to the Pacific Islands, such as 
 construction, tourism, boat maintenance, and fisheries;

    (2) balance maximizing workforce retention in the Pacific 
 Islands with any necessary training outside of the Pacific 
 Islands, with a focus on avoiding exacerbating outward labor 
 flows;

    (3) keep Pacific priorities in mind by coordinating with 
 like-minded allies and partners and working with local 
 organizations and governments; and

    (4) provide resources for technical and management skills 
 development to adequately prepare the workforce of the Pacific 
 Islands for any potential incoming investment.

    (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the Pacific Islands 
TRADES Program, including the following:

    (1) A comprehensive overview of such program.

    (2) An identification of the office overseeing such 
 program.

    (3) A list of any partner organizations involved in such 
 program.

    (4) A description of the training and workforce development 
 planned as part of such program.

    (5) An assessment of the impact of such program.

    (6) Any additional resources needed to implement such 
 program.
            (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2033 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 208. 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 development-focused 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 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 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 
 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 continue and prioritize 
efforts 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.

SEC. 209. COMMITTEE ON ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN 
 THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development and the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a committee, 
to be known as the ``Committee on Engagement with Civil Society 
Organizations in the Pacific Islands'' (referred to in this subsection 
as the ``Committee'') for the purposes of--

    (1) coordinating interagency engagement with civil society 
 organizations in the Pacific Islands;

    (2) coordinating collaboration with United States partners 
 and allies on engagement with civil society organizations in 
 the Pacific Islands; and

    (3) aligning such engagement with the needs of the Pacific 
 Islands and the national security priorities of the United 
 States.

    (b) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Committee shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a strategy on engagement with civil society 
organizations in the Pacific Islands, including--

    (1) a review of current efforts across the United States 
 Government to engage with such organizations, including the 
 role of such efforts in the delivery of foreign aid to 
 communities;

    (2) a plan for engagement across the United States 
 Government with such organizations;

    (3) an assessment of the importance of engagement by the 
 United States with such organizations and how such engagement 
 aligns with the advancement of Indo-Pacific and Pacific Islands 
 priorities within the National Security Strategy, Indo-Pacific 
 Strategy, and Pacific Partnership Strategy;

    (4) an analysis of interagency cooperation regarding United 
 States engagement with such organizations and specific 
 recommendations for expansion and improvement of such 
 cooperation;

    (5) an analysis of the resources needed to bolster and 
 streamline United States engagement with such organizations, 
 including any additional statutory authorities or 
 appropriations of funds;

    (6) an analysis of any engagement conducted by a country 
 other than the United States with such organizations, including 
 engagement that may undermine civil society in the Pacific 
 Islands; and

    (7) an assessment of opportunities for greater coordination 
 between the United States and like-minded partners and allies.

SEC. 210. AMERICAN SPACES IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of State shall develop and submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the state of and plans for 
American Spaces in the Pacific Islands, including--

    (1) an overview of American Spaces in the Pacific Islands 
 (including American Corners and American Centers), including an 
 assessment of the current and historical programming and 
 resources of American Spaces;

    (2) a plan for future American Spaces in Pacific Island 
 countries, including any new development or expansion of 
 existing American Spaces, and a description of any additional 
 resources needed for such expansion; and

    (3) an assessment of the impact of American Spaces on 
 American foreign policy and national security interests, 
 including in comparison to the similar initiatives of other 
 actors.

 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 the 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.

SEC. 303. INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

    (1) the Department of State's International Law Enforcement 
 Academies are valuable tools in our relationships with other 
 countries and enhancing the capacity of foreign criminal 
 justice partners to combat transnational crime;

    (2) assistance in combating transnational crime is 
 frequently cited as an area of need from Pacific Islands 
 leaders; and

    (3) the International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, 
 Thailand recently widened its audience to include the Pacific 
 Islands.

    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report--

    (1) detailing training and other activities that the 
 International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, Thailand has 
 conducted with Pacific Islands participants;

    (2) describing any planned expansions to the Bangkok 
 International Law Enforcement Academy's programming, including 
 the Pacific Islands, and any challenges to those planned 
 expansions, including any gaps and needs in funding, staffing 
 levels, and physical space; and

    (3) assessing the feasibility of continuing to administer 
 and expand programming for the Pacific Islands through the 
 International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, or if the 
 establishment of an additional International Law Enforcement 
 Academy dedicated to serving the Pacific Islands is necessary, 
 and what resources and authorities would be needed to do so.

 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--ENVIRONMENTAL AND DISASTER RESILIENCE

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, 
 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 support 
 environmental resilience, 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 impacts to climate and environment 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 changes and challenges to 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, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency, 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 the 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 $270,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2026 through 2033 to carry out this Act and the amendments 
made by this Act.
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