I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10206 
To support the strengthening of civil society organizations in the Pacific 
Islands, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 21, 2024 
Mr. CASE (for himself, Mr. MOYLAN, Ms. PORTER, Ms. TITUS, Ms. TOKUDA, 
Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. SHERMAN, 
Mr. NORCROSS, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, and Mr. VARGAS) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To support the strengthening of civil society organizations 
in the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Engage the Pacific 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
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(1) in the Pacific Islands region, civil society 
organizations are critical components of overall cohe-
sion and support; 
(2) in pursuit of a Pacific-led approach to re-
gional assistance, it is critical that the United States 
engage with and support the strengthening of civil 
society organizations in the Pacific Islands region, 
including faith-based organizations, environmental 
organizations, educational organizations, and media 
organizations; 
(3) in order to maximize the effectiveness of 
United States engagement in and support of the Pa-
cific Islands region, the United States must ensure 
the dissemination of information both generally and 
through civil society organizations; 
(4) in order to support a free and open Indo- 
Pacific, it is necessary to ‘‘bolster freedom of infor-
mation and expression and combat foreign inter-
ference by supporting investigative journalism, pro-
moting media literacy and pluralistic and inde-
pendent media, and increasing collaboration to ad-
dress threats from information manipulation’’, as 
the White House 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy states; 
(5) as stated in the statement released after the 
2024 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, ‘‘the 
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United States is committed to working with Pacific 
Island countries’ governments, likeminded partners, 
and the private sector to empower and support Pa-
cific economic resilience’’, and one avenue to achieve 
such goals is for the United States to support capac-
ity by Pacific Island countries’ workforces to maxi-
mize the benefits of national investment and busi-
ness opportunities; and 
(6) American Spaces, a program of the Depart-
ment of State, including American Corners and 
American Centers, contribute to local society and 
boost United States presence in the region by facili-
tating United States engagement in collaboration 
with civil society organizations where residents can 
learn about the United States, engage in English 
language learning opportunities, learn about oppor-
tunities to study in the United States, and engage 
in various in-person and virtual programming, which 
facilitates the relationship between the United States 
and the Pacific Islands. 
SEC. 3. COMMITTEE ON ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY 
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of State, in co-
ordination with the Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development and the Secretary 
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of Defense, shall establish a committee, to be known as 
the ‘‘Committee on Engagement with Civil Society Organi-
zations in the Pacific Islands’’ (referred to in this sub-
section 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 prior-
ities 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 organiza-
tions, including the role of such efforts in the deliv-
ery 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 engage-
ment by the United States with such organizations 
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and how such engagement aligns with the advance-
ment 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 re-
garding United States engagement with such organi-
zations and specific recommendations for expansion 
and improvement of such cooperation; 
(5) an analysis of the resources needed to bol-
ster and streamline United States engagement with 
such organizations, including any additional statu-
tory authorities or appropriations of funds; 
(6) an analysis of any engagement conducted by 
a country other than the United States with such or-
ganizations, including engagement that may under-
mine 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. 4. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS IN THE PACIFIC IS-
LANDS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development and the Secretary of Defense, shall 
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submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
strategy for strategic communications in the Pacific Is-
lands, 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 engage-
ment 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. 5. INDO-PACIFIC MEDIA ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall con-
tinue 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 
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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 Ad-
vancement Program shall be to accomplish the following: 
(1) Increase the understanding of prevalent 
misinformation and disinformation narratives. 
(2) Develop the capacity of professional, inde-
pendent media organizations and journalists to de-
velop and implement media sustainability plans, im-
prove 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 appro-
priate congressional committees a report on the Indo-Pa-
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cific Media Advancement Program and the engagement of 
the United States with the free media in the Pacific Is-
lands, 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, in-
cluding a description of the objectives, means of im-
plementation, 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 imple-
mentation of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement 
Program, including strategies to mitigate such chal-
lenges. 
(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 2030 to carry out this sec-
tion. 
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SEC. 6. 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 tech-
nical 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 out-
side of the Pacific Islands, with a focus on avoiding 
exacerbating outward labor flows; 
(3) keep Pacific priorities in mind by coordi-
nating with like-minded allies and partners and 
working with local organizations and governments; 
and 
(4) provide resources for technical and manage-
ment skills development to adequately prepare the 
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workforce of the Pacific Islands for any potential in-
coming investment. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit 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 pro-
gram. 
(6) Any additional resources needed to imple-
ment such program. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 7. AMERICAN SPACES IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of State shall develop and submit to 
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the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
state of and plans for American Spaces in the Pacific Is-
lands, including— 
(1) an overview of American Spaces in the Pa-
cific Islands (including American Corners and Amer-
ican Centers), including an assessment of the cur-
rent and historical programming and resources of 
American Spaces; 
(2) a plan for future American Spaces in Pa-
cific Island countries, including any new develop-
ment 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 se-
curity interests, including in comparison to the simi-
lar initiatives of other actors. 
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AMERICAN SPACES.—The term ‘‘American 
Spaces’’ means public diplomacy facilities operated 
or supported by the Department of State that pro-
vide digitally enhanced physical platforms for effec-
tive engagement with foreign audiences in support of 
the foreign policy objectives of the United States. 
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(2) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate. 
(3) CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘civil society organization’’ means a non-govern-
mental community organization, including any faith- 
based organization, media organization, environ-
mental organization, and educational organization. 
(3) PACIFIC ISLANDS.—The term ‘‘Pacific Is-
lands’’ means the following: 
(A) Niue. 
(B) The Cook Islands. 
(C) The Federated States of Micronesia. 
(D) The Independent State of Papua New 
Guinea. 
(E) The Independent State of Samoa. 
(F) The Kingdom of Tonga. 
(G) The Republic of Fiji. 
(H) The Republic of Kiribati. 
(I) The Republic of the Marshall Islands. 
(J) The Republic of Nauru. 
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(K) The Republic of Palau. 
(L) The Republic of Vanuatu. 
(M) The Solomon Islands. 
(N) Tuvalu. 
Æ 
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