I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7797 

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 27, 2020 

Mr. CASE (for himself, Mr. YOHO, Mr. BERA, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. YOUNG, 

Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Mr. TED LIEU of California, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Mr. 

VARGAS, Mr. BACON, and Mr. SABLAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition 

to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, 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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific 

6 Act’’ or ‘‘BLUE Pacific Act’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Findings. 

Sec. 3. Statement of policy. 

Sec. 4. Definitions. 

Sec. 5. Authority to consolidate reports; form of reports. 

TITLE I—DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE AND SECURITY COOPERATION 

Sec. 101. Diplomatic presence in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 102. Maritime security in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 103. International Law Enforcement Academy for the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 104. Security assistance for the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 105. Transnational crime in the Pacific Islands. 

TITLE II—DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES 

Sec. 201. USAID presence in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 202. Trade development with the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 203. Trade capacity building initiative for the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 204. Education and training program for natural disaster preparedness 

and emergency management professionals in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 205. Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 206. Public health in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 207. Education cooperation between the United States and the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 208. Climate change in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 209. Climate resilient infrastructure and energy security in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 210. Coordination with other Federal agencies and cooperation and participation of nongovernmental United States entities. 

TITLE III—PROMOTION OF SHARED VALUES 

Sec. 301. Freedom of the press in the Pacific Islands. 

Sec. 302. U.S. Agency for Global Media. 

Sec. 303. Gender equality. 

Sec. 304. Pacific Islands Leadership Development Initiative. 

Sec. 305. Civil society engagement and development. 

3 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

4 Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) The Pacific Islands— 

6 (A) are spread over a broad expanse of the 

7 Pacific Ocean, including the three sub-regions 

8 of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia; 


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1 (B) are home to some 2.3 million residents 

2 constituting diverse and dynamic cultures and 

3 people; and 

4 (C) face shared challenges and opportuni5 ties in development, including climate change, 

6 geographic distances from major markets and 

7 vulnerability to external shocks such as natural 

8 disasters. 

9 (2) The United States is a Pacific country with 

10 longstanding ties and shared values and interests 

11 with the Pacific Islands, including through the Com12 pacts of Free Association with the Freely Associated 

13 States, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 

14 Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of 

15 Palau. 

16 (3) The United States has vital national secu17 rity interests in the Pacific Islands, including— 

18 (A) protecting regional peace and security, 

19 including through a regional order that fully re20 spects the sovereignty of all nations; 

21 (B) advancing economic prosperity through 

22 trade and development free from coercion; and 

23 (C) supporting good governance, the rule 

24 of law, and human rights and fundamental free25 doms. 


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1 (4) The United States National Security Strat2 egy released in December 2017 outlines a United 

3 States foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region based 

4 on strengthening alliances and partnerships old and 

5 new, promoting regional development including 

6 through fair and reciprocal trade, and maintaining a 

7 strong defense to protect regional peace and secu8 rity. The National Security Strategy includes a com9 mitment to ‘‘shore up fragile partner states in the 

10 Pacific Islands region to reduce their vulnerability to 

11 economic fluctuations and natural disasters’’. 

12 (5) At the 30th Forum Partners Dialogue of 

13 the Pacific Islands Forum held in Nauru in Sep14 tember 2018, then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan 

15 Zinke stated: ‘‘The United States is deeply com16 mitted to the security and prosperity of our friends 

17 and neighbors in the Pacific . . . We see all of the 

18 Pacific Islands as an essential part of our free and 

19 open Indo-Pacific policy . . . When the United States 

20 invests in the Pacific Islands, we do so as a partner 

21 committed to a shared future that advances national 

22 sovereignty, regional cooperation, and trust.’’. 

23 (6) The Department of Defense’s June 2019 

24 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report identified the Pacific 

25 Islands as ‘‘critical to U.S. strategy because of our 


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1 shared values, interests, and commitments’’ and 

2 committed the United States to ‘‘building capacity 

3 and resilience to address maritime security; Illegal, 

4 Unreported, and Unregulated fishing; drug traf5 ficking; and resilience to address climate change and 

6 disaster response’’. 

7 (7) The United States has deepened its diplo8 matic engagement with the Pacific Islands through 

9 several recent meetings, including— 

10 (A) a historic White House meeting be11 tween President Trump and the three Presi12 dents of the Freely Associated States on May 

13 21, 2019; 

14 (B) attendance at the 2018 and 2019 Pa15 cific Islands Forum Partners Dialogue by the 

16 Secretary of the Interior; 

17 (C) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert 

18 Wilkie’s attendance at the inauguration of 

19 President David Panuelo of the Federated 

20 States of Micronesia in July 2019; and 

21 (D) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit 

22 to the Federated States of Micronesia in Au23 gust 2019. 

24 (8) The Boe Declaration on Regional Security, 

25 signed by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in 


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1 2018, affirmed that climate change ‘‘remains the 

2 single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and 

3 wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific’’ and asserted 

4 ‘‘the sovereign right of every Member to conduct its 

5 national affairs free of external interference and co6 ercion’’. 

7 (9) The Asian Development Bank has estimated 

8 that the Pacific Islands region needs upwards of 

9 $2.8 billion a year in investment needs through 

10 2030, in addition to $300 million a year for climate 

11 mitigation and adaptation over the same period. 

12 (10) The Pacific Islands swiftly enacted effec13 tive policies to prevent and contain the spread of the 

14 Coronavirus Disease 2019 (commonly referred to as 

15 ‘‘COVID–19’’) pandemic to their populations. To as16 sist the Pacific Islands in their response, the United 

17 States has provided over $32,000,000 in funding 

18 and coordinated its efforts with the Pacific Joint In19 cident Management Team. However, priorities must 

20 be met to ensure continued success in preventing the 

21 spread of the COVID–19 pandemic and long-term 

22 economic recovery in the Pacific Islands, including— 

23 (A) expanding testing capacity and acquisi24 tion of needed medical supplies through a reli25 able supply chain; 


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1 (B) planning for lifting of lockdowns and 

2 reopening of economic and social activities; and 

3 (C) mitigating the impacts of lost tourism 

4 revenue and other economic damages caused by 

5 the pandemic. 

6 (11) Since 1966, thousands of Peace Corps vol7 unteers have proudly served in the Pacific Islands, 

8 building strong people-to-people relationships and 

9 demonstrating the United States commitment to 

10 peace and development in the region. Prior to the 

11 COVID–19 pandemic, the Peace Corps maintained 

12 presence in four Pacific Island countries. Peace 

13 Corps volunteers continue to be in high demand in 

14 the Pacific Islands and have been requested across 

15 the region. 

16 SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 

17 It is the policy of the United States— 

18 (1) to develop and commit to a comprehensive, 

19 multifaceted, and principled United States policy for 

20 the Pacific Islands that— 

21 (A) promotes peace and security for all 

22 countries through a rules-based regional order 

23 that respects the sovereignty and political inde24 pendence of all nations; 


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1 (B) preserves the Pacific Ocean as an open 

2 and vibrant corridor for international maritime 

3 trade and promotes trade and sustainable devel4 opment that supports inclusive economic growth 

5 and autonomy for all nations; 

6 (C) improves civil society, strengthens 

7 democratic governance and the rule of law, and 

8 promotes human rights; 

9 (D) assists the Pacific Islands in pre10 venting and containing the spread of the 

11 COVID–19 pandemic and in pursuing long12 term economic recovery; and 

13 (E) supports existing regional architecture 

14 and international norms; 

15 (2) to support the vision, values, and objectives 

16 of the Pacific Islands Forum and other existing re17 gional institutions and frameworks, including— 

18 (A) the 2014 Framework for Pacific Re19 gionalism; 

20 (B) the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional 

21 Security; and 

22 (C) the Boe Declaration Action Plan; 

23 (3) to extend and renew the provisions of the 

24 Compacts of Free Association and related United 

25 States law that will expire in 2023 for the Republic 


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1 of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of 

2 Micronesia and in 2024 for the Republic of Palau 

3 unless they are extended and renewed; and 

4 (4) to work closely with United States allies 

5 and partners with existing relationships and inter6 ests in the Pacific Islands in advancing common 

7 goals. 

8 SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 

9 In this Act: 

10 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT11 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com12 mittees’’ means— 

13 (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 

14 Committee on Armed Services, and the Com15 mittee on Financial Services of the House of 

16 Representatives; and 

17 (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

18 the Committee on Armed Services, and the 

19 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 

20 Affairs of the Senate. 

21 (2) PACIFIC ISLANDS.—The terms ‘‘Pacific Is22 lands’’ means the Cook Islands, the Republic of Fiji, 

23 the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Mar24 shall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 

25 the Republic of Nauru, Niue, the Republic of Palau, 


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1 the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the 

2 Independent State of Samoa, the Solomon Islands, 

3 the Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Republic of 

4 Vanuatu. 

5 SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS; FORM OF 

6 REPORTS. 

7 (a) AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS.—Any 

8 reports required to be submitted to the appropriate con9 gressional committees under this Act that are subject to 

10 deadlines for submission consisting of the same units of 

11 time may be consolidated into a single report that is sub12 mitted to appropriate congressional committees pursuant 

13 to such deadlines and that contains all information re14 quired under such reports. 

15 (b) FORM OF REPORTS.—Each report required by 

16 this Act shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 

17 contain a classified annex. 

18 TITLE I—DIPLOMATIC PRES19 ENCE AND SECURITY CO20 OPERATION 

21 SEC. 101. DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN THE PACIFIC IS22 LANDS. 

23 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con24 gress that the Secretary of State should implement a 

25 strategy to expand the diplomatic presence of the United 


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1 States in the Pacific Islands, including by increasing the 

2 number of missions and diplomats in the region and by 

3 expanding and elevating United States participation in re4 gional forums. 

5 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

6 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

7 submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re8 port on the diplomatic presence of the United States in 

9 the Pacific Islands, including— 

10 (1) a description of gaps in diplomatic presence; 

11 (2) a description of limitations of such gaps on 

12 United States strategic objectives; 

13 (3) a description of the extent of United States 

14 membership and participation in regional forums 

15 and organizations; and 

16 (4) a strategy to expand and elevate diplomatic 

17 presence to fill such gaps, including by establishing 

18 new missions, expanding participation in regional fo19 rums, and elevating United States representation in 

20 regional forums. 

21 SEC. 102. MARITIME SECURITY IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

22 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con23 gress that the United States should seek to participate in 

24 and support efforts to coordinate a regional response to25 ward maritime security, including participation by the 


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1 United States and the Pacific Islands in the Pacific Fu2 sion Centre and the Information Fusion Centre. 

3 (b) SHIPRIDER AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of 

4 State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordi5 nation with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall 

6 develop and implement a plan to expand cross-border mar7 itime law enforcement operations (commonly known as 

8 ‘‘shiprider agreements’’) with the Pacific Islands. 

9 (c) REPORT.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

11 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec12 retary of State, in consultation with other Federal 

13 agencies as appropriate, shall submit to the appro14 priate congressional committees a report on United 

15 States efforts to promote maritime security in the 

16 Pacific Islands. 

17 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

18 required in paragraph (1) shall include— 

19 (A) a description of issues and challenges 

20 affecting maritime security for the Pacific Is21 lands; 

22 (B) a description of existing regional ef23 forts to promote maritime security, including 

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1 tween the United States and the Pacific Is2 lands; 

3 (C) an assessment of areas in which the 

4 United States can bolster and contribute to ex5 isting regional efforts, including to expand 

6 shiprider agreements; 

7 (D) a multi-year strategy for the imple8 mentation of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security 

9 Initiative in the Pacific Islands, including core 

10 objectives; and 

11 (E) measures of success for the strategy. 

12 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

13 are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each 

14 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

15 section. 

16 SEC. 103. INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY 

17 FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall de19 velop and implement a plan to expand coverage of the 

20 International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA) pro21 gram for the Pacific Islands, including by— 

22 (1) expanding coverage of the regional program 

23 located in Bangkok, Thailand to the Pacific Islands; 

24 or 


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1 (2) establishing a new regional program for the 

2 Pacific Islands. 

3 (b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The plan required 

4 by subsection (a) shall include consultation and coordina5 tion with existing regional law enforcement entities, in6 cluding the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police and civil soci7 ety, including those focused on human rights and special8 izing in victim-centered approaches, and take into consid9 eration costs of implementation, effectiveness, and capac10 ity of the Pacific Islands to participate in the ILEA pro11 gram. 

12 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

13 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

14 to the appropriate congressional committees a report that 

15 contains the plan developed under this section. 

16 SEC. 104. SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PACIFIC IS17 LANDS. 

18 (a) STRATEGY.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in 

20 coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall de21 velop and implement a strategy to provide assist22 ance, including through the programs and authori23 ties described in paragraph (2), to the Pacific Is24 lands for purposes of— 


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1 (A) enhancing law enforcement, counter2 narcotics operations, and maritime enforcement 

3 capabilities; and 

4 (B) building the capacity of local civilian 

5 and national security institutions to provide es6 sential services to civilian populations and to re7 spond to humanitarian challenges. 

8 (2) PROGRAMS AND AUTHORITIES DE9 SCRIBED.—The programs and authorities described 

10 in this paragraph are the following: 

11 (A) The International Military Education 

12 and Training program. 

13 (B) The Foreign Military Financing pro14 gram. 

15 (C) The Overseas Humanitarian Disaster 

16 and Civic Aid program. 

17 (D) The authority to build the capacity of 

18 foreign security forces under section 333 of title 

19 10, United States Code. 

20 (E) The authority to provide excess de21 fense articles under section 516 of the Foreign 

22 Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j). 

23 (3) NATIONAL POLICE FORCES AND COAST

24 GUARDS.—The national police forces and coast 

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1 ceive assistance under the programs and authorities 

2 described in paragraph (2) for purposes of the strat3 egy required by this subsection. 

4 (b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The strategy re5 quired by subsection (a) shall seek to preserve peace and 

6 regional stability in the Pacific Islands and take into con7 sideration and seek to build upon but not duplicate exist8 ing assistance provided by United States allies and part9 ners. 

10 (c) REPORT.— 

11 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

12 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec13 retary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

14 committees a report that contains the strategy devel15 oped under this section. 

16 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

17 required by paragraph (1) shall identify— 

18 (A) security challenges to the Pacific Is19 lands; 

20 (B) demonstrated needs of the Pacific Is21 lands for assistance, including excess defense 

22 articles, to fulfill such needs; 

23 (C) existing assistance programs and ef24 forts in the Pacific Islands, including programs 


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1 and efforts provided by United States allies and 

2 partners; 

3 (D) programs for training and sustainment 

4 with respect to such excess defense articles; 

5 (E) national police forces and coast guards 

6 of the Pacific Islands receiving assistance under 

7 the strategy; 

8 (F) a plan to provide humanitarian assist9 ance and disaster relief, if necessary, through 

10 the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic 

11 Aid program; and 

12 (G) measures of success for the strategy. 

13 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

14 are authorized to be appropriated $75,000,000 for each 

15 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

16 section. 

17 SEC. 105. TRANSNATIONAL CRIME IN THE PACIFIC IS18 LANDS. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi20 nation with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall 

21 develop and implement an interagency strategy to combat 

22 counterfeiting, cybercrime, crimes associated with illegal, 

23 unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug traf24 ficking, sex trafficking, and other forms of transnational 

25 crime affecting the Pacific Islands. 


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1 (b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy required 

2 under this section shall be coordinated with existing re3 gional efforts and regional institutions and frameworks, 

4 including the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police and the Pa5 cific Transnational Crime Network. 

6 (c) REPORT.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

8 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec9 retary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

10 committees a report that contains the strategy devel11 oped under this section. 

12 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

13 required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi14 fication of— 

15 (A) threats and challenges of transnational 

16 crime in the Pacific Islands; 

17 (B) existing law enforcement programs and 

18 efforts in the Pacific Islands, including pro19 grams and efforts provided by United States al20 lies and partners; and 

21 (C) objectives, means of implementation, 

22 and measures of success for the strategy. 

23 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

24 are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each 


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1 of the fiscal years 2021 though 2025 to carry out this 

2 section. 

3 TITLE II—DEVELOPMENT 

4 INITIATIVES 

5 SEC. 201. USAID PRESENCE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

6 Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact7 ment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States 

8 Agency for International Development shall submit to the 

9 appropriate congressional committees a report on— 

10 (1) the Agency’s presence, staffing, program11 ming, and resourcing of operations in the Pacific Is12 lands; 

13 (2) gaps in such presence, including unfilled 

14 full-time equivalent positions, limitations and chal15 lenges due to staffing and support of Pacific Islands 

16 operations from the USAID office in Manila, and 

17 gaps in programming and resourcing; 

18 (3) limitations imposed by such gaps on United 

19 States strategic objectives; and 

20 (4) a strategy to expand such presence, includ21 ing by establishing new missions or offices. 

22 SEC. 202. TRADE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PACIFIC IS23 LANDS. 

24 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con25 gress that the United States should expand bilateral and 


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1 multilateral trade with the Pacific Islands to promote de2 velopment and mutual prosperity, particularly through the 

3 negotiation of trade and investment framework agree4 ments with the Pacific Islands. 

5 (b) STRATEGY.—The United States Trade Rep6 resentative shall develop and implement a strategy to ex7 pand and diversify trade and promote regional develop8 ment with the Pacific Islands, including through negoti9 ating trade and investment framework agreements and 

10 free trade agreements, extending additional trade pref11 erences, and other means. 

12 (c) REPORT.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

14 after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an15 nually thereafter, the Trade Representative shall 

16 submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

17 a report that contains the strategy developed under 

18 this section. 

19 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

20 required by paragraph (1) shall— 

21 (A) include a plan to negotiate and enter 

22 into trade and investment framework agree23 ments and free trade agreements with the Pa24 cific Islands, as appropriate; and 


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1 (B) identify opportunities to work with ex2 isting regional frameworks to increase trade 

3 and economic integration with the Pacific Is4 lands. 

5 SEC. 203. TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE FOR THE 

6 PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 

8 States Agency for International Development shall develop 

9 and implement a trade capacity building initiative for the 

10 Pacific Islands. 

11 (b) CONDUCT OF INITIATIVE.—The initiative devel12 oped under this section shall be coordinated with existing 

13 regional efforts and regional institutions and frameworks. 

14 (c) ELEMENTS.—The initiative developed under this 

15 section shall— 

16 (1) include an initial assessment of— 

17 (A) economic opportunities for which 

18 United States businesses, or those of other like19 minded partners, would be competitive; and 

20 (B) legal, economic, governance, 

21 infrastructural, or other hurdles limiting United 

22 States investment in the Pacific Islands; 

23 (2) develop human and institutional capacity 

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1 mies, including digital connectivity and cybersecu2 rity; 

3 (3) assist with development and implementation 

4 of regional and international trade agreements, in5 cluding the World Trade Organization’s Agreement 

6 on Trade Facilitation and facilitation of intra-re7 gional trade flows; 

8 (4) support women-owned enterprises and gen9 der equality; and 

10 (5) promote government policies that encourage 

11 free and fair competition, sound governance, and 

12 business environments conducive to economic 

13 growth. 

14 (d) REPORT.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

16 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad17 ministrator shall submit to the appropriate congres18 sional committees a report that contains the initia19 tive developed under this section. 

20 (2) UPDATE.—The Administrator shall submit 

21 to the appropriate congressional committees an up22 dated report under paragraph (1) not later than 

23 three years after the date of the enactment of this 

24 Act. 


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1 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

2 are authorized to be appropriated $400,000,000 for each 

3 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

4 section. 

5 SEC. 204. EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NAT6 URAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMER7 GENCY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS IN 

8 THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 

10 States Agency for International Development shall develop 

11 and implement an education and training program on nat12 ural disaster prevention and preparedness for emergency 

13 management professionals in the Pacific Islands. 

14 (b) CONDUCT OF PROGRAM.—The program devel15 oped under this section shall seek to— 

16 (1) leverage nongovernmental expertise in the 

17 United States, including from institutions of higher 

18 education and nonprofit organizations; 

19 (2) integrate with and assist in the coordination 

20 of existing disaster mitigation and response plans in 

21 the region; and 

22 (3) cooperate with existing efforts by United 

23 States allies and partners in the region. 

24 (c) REPORT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad3 ministrator shall submit to the appropriate congres4 sional committees a report on the program developed 

5 under this section. 

6 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

7 required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi8 fication of— 

9 (A) disaster risks in the Pacific Islands; 

10 (B) existing efforts by United States allies 

11 and partners to provide assistance and training 

12 for natural disaster preparedness and emer13 gency management; and 

14 (C) objectives, means of implementation, 

15 and measures of success for the program. 

16 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

17 are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each 

18 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

19 section. 

20 SEC. 205. PEACE CORPS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

21 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con22 gress that— 

23 (1) the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pa24 cific Islands should be expanded and that the Peace 

25 Corps should reopen its programs in as many of the 


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1 Pacific Islands as possible, including where it has 

2 previously operated but has suspended operations; 

3 and 

4 (2) consulting like-minded regional allies and 

5 partners, such as Australia and New Zealand, is 

6 crucial for identifying and overcoming challenges for 

7 increased Peace Corps presence in the Pacific Is8 lands. 

9 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

10 of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace 

11 Corps shall submit to the appropriate congressional com12 mittees a report on— 

13 (1) the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pa14 cific Islands; and 

15 (2) a strategy to expand such presence, as ap16 propriate, including— 

17 (A) outcomes of consultations with regional 

18 allies and partners on areas in which coopera19 tion can reduce factors limiting Peace Corps ex20 pansion; and 

21 (B) timelines for expanding and reopening 

22 programs in the Pacific Islands. 

23 SEC. 206. PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

24 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 

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1 tion with the Secretary of State, shall develop and imple2 ment a strategy to improve public health in the Pacific 

3 Islands, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

4 (b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy devel5 oped under this section shall be coordinated with existing 

6 regional efforts and regional institutions and frameworks. 

7 (c) REPORT.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

9 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad10 ministrator shall submit to the appropriate congres11 sional committees a report that contains the strategy 

12 developed under this section. 

13 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

14 required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi15 fication of— 

16 (A) health care challenges, including health 

17 systems strengthening, immunization, non-com18 municable diseases, and gender-based violence, 

19 in the Pacific Islands; 

20 (B) public health challenges and needs re21 lated to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific 

22 Islands; and 

23 (C) objectives, means of implementation, 

24 and measures of success for the strategy. 


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1 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

2 are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each 

3 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

4 section. 

5 SEC. 207. EDUCATION COOPERATION BETWEEN THE 

6 UNITED STATES AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 

8 States Agency for International Development shall develop 

9 and implement a strategy to improve educational outcomes 

10 in the Pacific Islands and increase educational exchange 

11 between the United States and the Pacific Islands. 

12 (b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy devel13 oped under this section shall be coordinated with edu14 cation initiatives in the Pacific Islands, including the Pa15 cific Regional Education Framework. 

16 (c) REPORT.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

18 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad19 ministrator shall submit to the appropriate congres20 sional committees a report that contains the strategy 

21 developed under this section. 

22 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

23 required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi24 fication of— 


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1 (A) education challenges in the Pacific Is2 lands; and 

3 (B) objectives, means of implementation, 

4 and measures of success for the strategy. 

5 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

6 are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each 

7 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

8 section. 

9 SEC. 208. CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 

11 States Agency for International Development shall develop 

12 and implement a strategy to provide assistance to the Pa13 cific Islands to address climate change, with emphasis on 

14 coastal zone management, marine waste management, 

15 food security, and water resource management. 

16 (b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy devel17 oped under this section shall be coordinated with regional 

18 organizations and frameworks for climate adaptation in 

19 the Pacific Islands. 

20 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

21 of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub22 mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 

23 that contains the strategy developed under this section. 

24 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

25 are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each 


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1 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

2 section. 

3 SEC. 209. CLIMATE RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND EN4 ERGY SECURITY IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 

6 States Agency for International Development, in coordina7 tion with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall develop and 

8 implement a strategy to invest in and improve critical in9 frastructure, including transport connectivity, information 

10 and communications technology, and energy security and 

11 access to electricity in the Pacific Islands, with an empha12 sis on climate resilient infrastructure and clean energy 

13 programs. 

14 (b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy devel15 oped under this section shall be coordinated with regional 

16 organizations and frameworks for development in the Pa17 cific Islands. 

18 (c) INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.— 

19 The Secretary of the Treasury shall direct the representa20 tives of the United States to the World Bank Group, the 

21 International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development 

22 Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to 

23 support climate resilient infrastructure projects in the Pa24 cific Islands. 

25 (d) REPORT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

2 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad3 ministrator of the United States Agency for Inter4 national Development shall submit to the appro5 priate congressional committees a report that con6 tains the strategy developed under this section. 

7 (2) UPDATE.—The Administrator shall submit 

8 to the appropriate congressional committees an up9 dated report under paragraph (1) not later than 

10 three years after the date of the enactment of this 

11 Act. 

12 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

13 are authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for each 

14 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

15 section. 

16 SEC. 210. COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGEN17 CIES AND COOPERATION AND PARTICIPA18 TION OF NONGOVERNMENTAL UNITED 

19 STATES ENTITIES. 

20 In carrying out sections 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, and 

21 209, the Administrator of the United States Agency for 

22 International Development shall— 

23 (1) coordinate with existing programs and ef24 forts of relevant agencies of the United States Gov25 ernment, especially with regards to the Republic of 


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1 the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micro2 nesia, and the Republic of Palau; and 

3 (2) seek the cooperation and participation of 

4 United States private sector, United States non5 governmental organizations, and United States insti6 tutions of higher education. 

7 TITLE III—PROMOTION OF 

8 SHARED VALUES 

9 SEC. 301. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN THE PACIFIC IS10 LANDS. 

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi12 nation with the Administrator of the United States Agen13 cy for International Development, shall develop and imple14 ment a strategy for routine professional exchanges and 

15 other activities to strengthen the press and promote press 

16 freedom and investigative journalism capacity with jour17 nalists and media professionals in the Pacific Islands and 

18 to counter misinformation and disinformation. 

19 (b) REPORT.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

21 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec22 retary of State shall submit to the appropriate con23 gressional committees a report that contains the 

24 strategy developed under this section. 


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1 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

2 required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi3 fication of— 

4 (A) challenges to freedom of expression, in5 cluding for members of the press, in the Pacific 

6 Islands; and 

7 (B) objectives, means of implementation, 

8 and measures of success for the strategy. 

9 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

10 are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each 

11 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

12 section. 

13 SEC. 302. U.S. AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Executive Officer of the 

15 U.S. Agency for Global Media shall develop and implement 

16 a plan to provide expanded media content to the Pacific 

17 Islands and partner with journalists in the Pacific Islands. 

18 (b) REPORT.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

20 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

21 Chief Executive Officer shall submit to the appro22 priate congressional committees a report that con23 tains the plan developed under this section. 

24 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

25 required by paragraph (1) shall include— 


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1 (A) an assessment of facilities and costs to 

2 expand coverage to the Pacific Islands, includ3 ing options to utilize Voice of America affiliates; 

4 (B) an identification of objectives, means 

5 of implementation, and measures of success for 

6 the plan; and 

7 (C) an assessment on the scope and impact 

8 of media training efforts and people-to-people 

9 engagements organized by other countries for 

10 the Pacific Islands. 

11 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

12 are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of 

13 the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this sec14 tion. 

15 SEC. 303. GENDER EQUALITY. 

16 (a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—Congress affirms the 

17 importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment 

18 to United States policy in the Pacific Islands and recog19 nizes the work of the existing regional frameworks and 

20 platforms on gender equality. 

21 (b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State and the 

22 Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter23 national Development shall— 

24 (1) develop and implement an initiative to en25 courage and support efforts by the Pacific Islands to 


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1 reduce and combat gender-based violence, in coordi2 nation with existing efforts by United States allies 

3 and partners as well as regional organizations; and 

4 (2) promote gender equality in political, eco5 nomic, social, and cultural development programs in 

6 the Pacific Islands. 

7 SEC. 304. PACIFIC ISLANDS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 

8 INITIATIVE. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall de10 velop and implement a program to promote educational 

11 and professional development for young adult leaders and 

12 professionals in the Pacific Islands with a demonstrated 

13 passion to contribute to the continued development of the 

14 Pacific Islands. 

15 (b) CONDUCT OF PROGRAM.—The program devel16 oped under this section may be carried out through— 

17 (1) grants provided on a competitive basis to 

18 qualified organizations with demonstrated expertise 

19 relating to the Pacific Islands; 

20 (2) grants in amounts not to exceed $50,000 

21 provided on a competitive basis to qualified young 

22 leaders from the Pacific Islands for the purpose of 

23 carrying out projects dedicated to the improvement 

24 of their communities in the Pacific Islands; 


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1 (3) regional workshops and professional and 

2 academic fellowships; and 

3 (4) people-to-people exchanges. 

4 (c) REPORT.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec7 retary of State shall submit to the appropriate con8 gressional committees a report on the program de9 veloped under this section. 

10 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

11 required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi12 fication of objectives, means of implementation, and 

13 measures of success for the program. 

14 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

15 are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each 

16 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

17 section. 

18 SEC. 305. CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOP19 MENT. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 

21 States Agency for International Development shall develop 

22 and implement a program to promote the development of 

23 civil society in the Pacific Islands for the purpose of— 

24 (1) strengthening independent media and press 

25 freedom; 


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1 (2) empowering citizens to freely organize and 

2 communicate, including through existing and new 

3 civic spaces; 

4 (3) strengthening rule of law and increasing 

5 government accountability; and 

6 (4) promoting democratic political culture. 

7 (b) CONDUCT OF PROGRAM.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The program developed 

9 under this section shall be carried out in consulta10 tion with local civil society groups in the Pacific Is11 lands, including civil society groups that represent or 

12 work with traditionally marginalized groups. 

13 (2) ELEMENTS.—The program developed under 

14 this section may be carried out through— 

15 (A) technical assistance and support, in16 cluding through training and professional and 

17 academic fellowships; 

18 (B) grants in amounts not to exceed 

19 $50,000 provided on a competitive basis to 

20 qualified civil society organizations for the pur21 pose of carrying out projects and programs 

22 dedicated to the objectives identified in sub23 section (a); and 

24 (C) grants provided on a competitive basis 

25 to qualified United States organizations with 


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1 demonstrated expertise in civil society develop2 ment and the Pacific Islands. 

3 (c) REPORT.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

5 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad6 ministrator of the United States Agency for Inter7 national Development shall submit to the appro8 priate congressional committees a report on the pro9 gram developed under this section. 

10 (2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 

11 required by paragraph (1) shall include— 

12 (A) an assessment of the strength and via13 bility of civil society sectors of the Pacific Is14 lands, including legal, organizational capacity, 

15 financial, advocacy, services, infrastructure, and 

16 public image sectors; and 

17 (B) an identification of objectives and 

18 measures of success for the program. 

19 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

20 are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each 

21 of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 

22 section. 

Æ 


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