I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8683 
To provide for the establishment of United States embassies in the Republic 
of Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati, and the Kingdom of Tonga, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 9, 2022 
Mr. BARR (for himself, Mr. CASE, and Mr. STEWART) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To provide for the establishment of United States embassies 
in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati, 
and the Kingdom of Tonga, 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 ‘‘Pacific Islands Embas-
sies Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
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(1) The Pacific Islands are vital to United 
States national security and national interests in the 
Indo-Pacific region and globally. 
(2) The Pacific Islands region spans 15 percent 
of the world’s surface area and controls access to 
open waters in the Central Pacific, sea lanes to the 
Western Hemisphere, supply lines to United States 
forward-deployed forces in East Asia, and economi-
cally important fisheries. 
(3) The Pacific Islands region is home to the 
State of Hawaii, 11 United States territories, United 
States Naval Base Guam, and United States Ander-
sen Air Force Base. 
(4) Pacific Island countries cooperate with the 
United States and United States partners on mari-
time security and efforts to stop illegal, unreported, 
and destructive fishing. 
(5) The Pacific Islands are rich in biodiversity 
and on the frontlines of sea level rise, worsening 
tropical storms, and coral reef loss associated with 
climate change. 
(6) The People’s Republic of China (PRC) 
seeks to increase its influence in the Pacific Islands 
region, including through infrastructure development 
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under the PRC’s Belt and Road Initiative and its 
new security agreement with the Solomon Islands. 
(7) The United States Embassy in Papua New 
Guinea manages the diplomatic affairs of the United 
States to the Republic of Vanuatu, and the United 
States Embassy in Fiji manages the diplomatic af-
fairs of the United States to the Republic of Kiribati 
and the Kingdom of Tonga. 
(8) The United States requires a physical diplo-
matic presence in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Re-
public of Kiribati, and the Kingdom of Tonga, to en-
sure the physical and operation security of our ef-
forts in those countries to deepen relations, protect 
United States national security, and pursue United 
States national interests. 
(9) Increasing the number of United States em-
bassies dedicated solely to a Pacific Island country 
demonstrates the United States’ ongoing commit-
ment to the region and to the Pacific Island coun-
tries. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF EMBASSIES. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES EMBASSIES 
IN VANUATU, KIRIBATI, AND TONGA.—As soon as pos-
sible, and not later than 2 years after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall establish 
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physical United States embassies in the Republic of 
Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati, and the Kingdom of 
Tonga and recommend to the President ambassadors to 
lead each of these 3 embassies. 
(b) OTHER STRATEGIES.—In establishing embassies 
pursuant to subsection (a) and creating the physical infra-
structure to ensure the physical and operational safety of 
embassy personnel, the Secretary of State may pursue 
strategies such as renting or purchasing an existing build-
ing or colocation of embassies with like-minded partners 
like Australia and New Zealand. 
(c) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The President may waive 
the requirements under subsection (a) for a period of one 
year if the President determines and reports to Congress 
in advance that such waiver is necessary to protect the 
national security interests of the United States. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated for the De-
partment of State— 
(1) $40,200,000 for fiscal year 2023 for em-
bassy construction and maintenance of the 3 embas-
sies to be established pursuant to section 3; and 
(2) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 to maintain 
the embassies. 
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