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 pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a comprehensive, long-term United States strat-
egy and policy for 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 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 ‘‘BLUE Pacific Act’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
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 Is-
lands. 
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 Is-
lands. 
Sec. 208. Climate change in the Pacific Islands. 
Sec. 209. Climate resilient infrastructure and energy security in the Pacific Is-
lands. 
Sec. 210. Coordination with other Federal agencies and cooperation and partici-
pation 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. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Pacific Islands— 
(A) are spread over a broad expanse of the 
Pacific Ocean, including the three sub-regions 
of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia; 
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(B) are home to some 2.3 million residents 
constituting diverse and dynamic cultures and 
people; and 
(C) face shared challenges and opportuni-
ties in development, including climate change, 
geographic distances from major markets and 
vulnerability to external shocks such as natural 
disasters. 
(2) The United States is a Pacific country with 
longstanding ties and shared values and interests 
with the Pacific Islands, including through the Com-
pacts 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 secu-
rity interests in the Pacific Islands, including— 
(A) protecting regional peace and security, 
including through a regional order that fully re-
spects the sovereignty of all nations; 
(B) advancing economic prosperity through 
trade and development free from coercion; and 
(C) supporting good governance, the rule 
of law, and human rights and fundamental free-
doms. 
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(4) The United States National Security Strat-
egy released in December 2017 outlines a United 
States foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region based 
on strengthening alliances and partnerships old and 
new, promoting regional development including 
through fair and reciprocal trade, and maintaining a 
strong defense to protect regional peace and secu-
rity. The National Security Strategy includes a com-
mitment to ‘‘shore up fragile partner states in the 
Pacific Islands region to reduce their vulnerability to 
economic fluctuations and natural disasters’’. 
(5) At the 30th Forum Partners Dialogue of 
the Pacific Islands Forum held in Nauru in Sep-
tember 2018, then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan 
Zinke stated: ‘‘The United States is deeply com-
mitted to the security and prosperity of our friends 
and neighbors in the Pacific . . . We see all of the 
Pacific Islands as an essential part of our free and 
open Indo-Pacific policy . . . When the United States 
invests in the Pacific Islands, we do so as a partner 
committed to a shared future that advances national 
sovereignty, regional cooperation, and trust.’’. 
(6) The Department of Defense’s June 2019 
Indo-Pacific Strategy Report identified the Pacific 
Islands as ‘‘critical to U.S. strategy because of our 
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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 traf-
ficking; and resilience to address climate change and 
disaster response’’. 
(7) The United States has deepened its diplo-
matic engagement with the Pacific Islands through 
several recent meetings, including— 
(A) a historic White House meeting be-
tween President Trump and the three Presi-
dents of the Freely Associated States on May 
21, 2019; 
(B) attendance at the 2018 and 2019 Pa-
cific Islands Forum Partners Dialogue by the 
Secretary of the Interior; 
(C) Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert 
Wilkie’s attendance at the inauguration of 
President David Panuelo of the Federated 
States of Micronesia in July 2019; and 
(D) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit 
to the Federated States of Micronesia in Au-
gust 2019. 
(8) The Boe Declaration on Regional Security, 
signed by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in 
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2018, affirmed that climate change ‘‘remains the 
single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and 
wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific’’ and asserted 
‘‘the sovereign right of every Member to conduct its 
national affairs free of external interference and co-
ercion’’. 
(9) The Asian Development Bank has estimated 
that the Pacific Islands region needs upwards of 
$2.8 billion a year in investment needs through 
2030, in addition to $300 million a year for climate 
mitigation and adaptation over the same period. 
(10) The Pacific Islands swiftly enacted effec-
tive policies to prevent and contain the spread of the 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (commonly referred to as 
‘‘COVID–19’’) pandemic to their populations. To as-
sist the Pacific Islands in their response, the United 
States has provided over $32,000,000 in funding 
and coordinated its efforts with the Pacific Joint In-
cident Management Team. However, priorities must 
be met to ensure continued success in preventing the 
spread of the COVID–19 pandemic and long-term 
economic recovery in the Pacific Islands, including— 
(A) expanding testing capacity and acquisi-
tion of needed medical supplies through a reli-
able supply chain; 
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(B) planning for lifting of lockdowns and 
reopening of economic and social activities; and 
(C) mitigating the impacts of lost tourism 
revenue and other economic damages caused by 
the pandemic. 
(11) Since 1966, thousands of Peace Corps vol-
unteers have proudly served in the Pacific Islands, 
building strong people-to-people relationships and 
demonstrating the United States commitment to 
peace and development in the region. Prior to the 
COVID–19 pandemic, the Peace Corps maintained 
presence in four Pacific Island countries. Peace 
Corps volunteers continue to be in high demand in 
the Pacific Islands and have been requested across 
the region. 
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States— 
(1) to develop and commit to a comprehensive, 
multifaceted, and principled United States policy for 
the Pacific Islands that— 
(A) promotes peace and security for all 
countries through a rules-based regional order 
that respects the sovereignty and political inde-
pendence of all nations; 
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(B) preserves the Pacific Ocean as an open 
and vibrant corridor for international maritime 
trade and promotes trade and sustainable devel-
opment that supports inclusive economic growth 
and autonomy for all nations; 
(C) improves civil society, strengthens 
democratic governance and the rule of law, and 
promotes human rights; 
(D) assists the Pacific Islands in pre-
venting and containing the spread of the 
COVID–19 pandemic and in pursuing long- 
term economic recovery; and 
(E) supports existing regional architecture 
and international norms; 
(2) to support the vision, values, and objectives 
of the Pacific Islands Forum and other existing re-
gional institutions and frameworks, including— 
(A) the 2014 Framework for Pacific Re-
gionalism; 
(B) the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional 
Security; and 
(C) the Boe Declaration Action Plan; 
(3) to extend and renew the provisions of the 
Compacts of Free Association and related United 
States law that will expire in 2023 for the Republic 
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of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of 
Micronesia and in 2024 for the Republic of Palau 
unless they are extended and renewed; and 
(4) to work closely with United States allies 
and partners with existing relationships and inter-
ests in the Pacific Islands in advancing common 
goals. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the 
Committee on Armed Services, and the Com-
mittee on Financial Services of the House of 
Representatives; and 
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
the Committee on Armed Services, and the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs of the Senate. 
(2) PACIFIC ISLANDS.—The terms ‘‘Pacific Is-
lands’’ means the Cook Islands, the Republic of Fiji, 
the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Mar-
shall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
the Republic of Nauru, Niue, the Republic of Palau, 
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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. 5. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS; FORM OF 
REPORTS. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS.—Any 
reports required to be submitted to the appropriate con-
gressional 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 sub-
mitted to appropriate congressional committees pursuant 
to such deadlines and that contains all information re-
quired under such reports. 
(b) FORM OF REPORTS.—Each report required by 
this Act shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 
contain a classified annex. 
TITLE 
I—DIPLOMATIC 
PRES-
ENCE 
AND 
SECURITY 
CO-
OPERATION 
SEC. 101. DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN THE PACIFIC IS-
LANDS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Secretary of State should implement a 
strategy to expand the diplomatic presence of the United 
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States in the Pacific Islands, including by increasing the 
number of missions and diplomats in the region and by 
expanding and elevating United States participation in re-
gional forums. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a re-
port on the diplomatic presence of the United States in 
the Pacific Islands, including— 
(1) a description of gaps in diplomatic presence; 
(2) a description of limitations of such gaps on 
United States strategic objectives; 
(3) a description of the extent of United States 
membership and participation in regional forums 
and organizations; and 
(4) a strategy to expand and elevate diplomatic 
presence to fill such gaps, including by establishing 
new missions, expanding participation in regional fo-
rums, and elevating United States representation in 
regional forums. 
SEC. 102. MARITIME SECURITY IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the United States should seek to participate in 
and support efforts to coordinate a regional response to-
ward maritime security, including participation by the 
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United States and the Pacific Islands in the Pacific Fu-
sion Centre and the Information Fusion Centre. 
(b) SHIPRIDER AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of 
State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordi-
nation with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall 
develop and implement a plan to expand cross-border mar-
itime law enforcement operations (commonly known as 
‘‘shiprider agreements’’) with the Pacific Islands. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of State, in consultation with other Federal 
agencies as appropriate, shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report on United 
States efforts to promote maritime security in the 
Pacific Islands. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required in paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) a description of issues and challenges 
affecting maritime security for the Pacific Is-
lands; 
(B) a description of existing regional ef-
forts to promote maritime security, including 
shiprider agreements and other operations be-
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tween the United States and the Pacific Is-
lands; 
(C) an assessment of areas in which the 
United States can bolster and contribute to ex-
isting regional efforts, including to expand 
shiprider agreements; 
(D) a multi-year strategy for the imple-
mentation of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security 
Initiative in the Pacific Islands, including core 
objectives; and 
(E) measures of success for the strategy. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 103. INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY 
FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall de-
velop and implement a plan to expand coverage of the 
International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA) pro-
gram for the Pacific Islands, including by— 
(1) expanding coverage of the regional program 
located in Bangkok, Thailand to the Pacific Islands; 
or 
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(2) establishing a new regional program for the 
Pacific Islands. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The plan required 
by subsection (a) shall include consultation and coordina-
tion with existing regional law enforcement entities, in-
cluding the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police and civil soci-
ety, including those focused on human rights and special-
izing in victim-centered approaches, and take into consid-
eration costs of implementation, effectiveness, and capac-
ity of the Pacific Islands to participate in the ILEA pro-
gram. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
contains the plan developed under this section. 
SEC. 104. SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PACIFIC IS-
LANDS. 
(a) STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall de-
velop and implement a strategy to provide assist-
ance, including through the programs and authori-
ties described in paragraph (2), to the Pacific Is-
lands for purposes of— 
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(A) enhancing law enforcement, counter- 
narcotics operations, and maritime enforcement 
capabilities; and 
(B) building the capacity of local civilian 
and national security institutions to provide es-
sential services to civilian populations and to re-
spond to humanitarian challenges. 
(2) 
PROGRAMS
AND
AUTHORITIES
DE-
SCRIBED.—The programs and authorities described 
in this paragraph are the following: 
(A) The International Military Education 
and Training program. 
(B) The Foreign Military Financing pro-
gram. 
(C) The Overseas Humanitarian Disaster 
and Civic Aid program. 
(D) The authority to build the capacity of 
foreign security forces under section 333 of title 
10, United States Code. 
(E) The authority to provide excess de-
fense articles under section 516 of the Foreign 
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j). 
(3) NATIONAL
POLICE
FORCES
AND
COAST 
GUARDS.—The national police forces and coast 
guards of the Pacific Islands shall be eligible to re-
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ceive assistance under the programs and authorities 
described in paragraph (2) for purposes of the strat-
egy required by this subsection. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The strategy re-
quired by subsection (a) shall seek to preserve peace and 
regional stability in the Pacific Islands and take into con-
sideration and seek to build upon but not duplicate exist-
ing assistance provided by United States allies and part-
ners. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report that contains the strategy devel-
oped under this section. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by paragraph (1) shall identify— 
(A) security challenges to the Pacific Is-
lands; 
(B) demonstrated needs of the Pacific Is-
lands for assistance, including excess defense 
articles, to fulfill such needs; 
(C) existing assistance programs and ef-
forts in the Pacific Islands, including programs 
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and efforts provided by United States allies and 
partners; 
(D) programs for training and sustainment 
with respect to such excess defense articles; 
(E) national police forces and coast guards 
of the Pacific Islands receiving assistance under 
the strategy; 
(F) a plan to provide humanitarian assist-
ance and disaster relief, if necessary, through 
the Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic 
Aid program; and 
(G) measures of success for the strategy. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $75,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 105. TRANSNATIONAL CRIME IN THE PACIFIC IS-
LANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi-
nation with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall 
develop and implement an interagency strategy to combat 
counterfeiting, cybercrime, crimes associated with illegal, 
unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug traf-
ficking, sex trafficking, and other forms of transnational 
crime affecting the Pacific Islands. 
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(b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy required 
under this section shall be coordinated with existing re-
gional efforts and regional institutions and frameworks, 
including the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police and the Pa-
cific Transnational Crime Network. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a report that contains the strategy devel-
oped under this section. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi-
fication of— 
(A) threats and challenges of transnational 
crime in the Pacific Islands; 
(B) existing law enforcement programs and 
efforts in the Pacific Islands, including pro-
grams and efforts provided by United States al-
lies and partners; and 
(C) objectives, means of implementation, 
and measures of success for the strategy. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each 
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of the fiscal years 2021 though 2025 to carry out this 
section. 
TITLE II—DEVELOPMENT 
INITIATIVES 
SEC. 201. USAID PRESENCE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States 
Agency for International Development shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on— 
(1) the Agency’s presence, staffing, program-
ming, and resourcing of operations in the Pacific Is-
lands; 
(2) gaps in such presence, including unfilled 
full-time equivalent positions, limitations and chal-
lenges due to staffing and support of Pacific Islands 
operations from the USAID office in Manila, and 
gaps in programming and resourcing; 
(3) limitations imposed by such gaps on United 
States strategic objectives; and 
(4) a strategy to expand such presence, includ-
ing by establishing new missions or offices. 
SEC. 202. TRADE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PACIFIC IS-
LANDS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the United States should expand bilateral and 
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multilateral trade with the Pacific Islands to promote de-
velopment and mutual prosperity, particularly through the 
negotiation of trade and investment framework agree-
ments with the Pacific Islands. 
(b) STRATEGY.—The United States Trade Rep-
resentative shall develop and implement a strategy to ex-
pand and diversify trade and promote regional develop-
ment with the Pacific Islands, including through negoti-
ating trade and investment framework agreements and 
free trade agreements, extending additional trade pref-
erences, and other means. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an-
nually thereafter, the Trade Representative shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report that contains the strategy developed under 
this section. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) include a plan to negotiate and enter 
into trade and investment framework agree-
ments and free trade agreements with the Pa-
cific Islands, as appropriate; and 
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(B) identify opportunities to work with ex-
isting regional frameworks to increase trade 
and economic integration with the Pacific Is-
lands. 
SEC. 203. TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE FOR THE 
PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development shall develop 
and implement a trade capacity building initiative for the 
Pacific Islands. 
(b) CONDUCT OF INITIATIVE.—The initiative devel-
oped under this section shall be coordinated with existing 
regional efforts and regional institutions and frameworks. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The initiative developed under this 
section shall— 
(1) include an initial assessment of— 
(A) economic opportunities for which 
United States businesses, or those of other like- 
minded partners, would be competitive; and 
(B) 
legal, 
economic, 
governance, 
infrastructural, or other hurdles limiting United 
States investment in the Pacific Islands; 
(2) develop human and institutional capacity 
and infrastructure across multiple sectors of econo-
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mies, including digital connectivity and cybersecu-
rity; 
(3) assist with development and implementation 
of regional and international trade agreements, in-
cluding the World Trade Organization’s Agreement 
on Trade Facilitation and facilitation of intra-re-
gional trade flows; 
(4) support women-owned enterprises and gen-
der equality; and 
(5) promote government policies that encourage 
free and fair competition, sound governance, and 
business 
environments 
conducive 
to 
economic 
growth. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report that contains the initia-
tive developed under this section. 
(2) UPDATE.—The Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees an up-
dated report under paragraph (1) not later than 
three years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
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(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $400,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 204. EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NAT-
URAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EMER-
GENCY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS IN 
THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development shall develop 
and implement an education and training program on nat-
ural disaster prevention and preparedness for emergency 
management professionals in the Pacific Islands. 
(b) CONDUCT OF PROGRAM.—The program devel-
oped under this section shall seek to— 
(1) leverage nongovernmental expertise in the 
United States, including from institutions of higher 
education and nonprofit organizations; 
(2) integrate with and assist in the coordination 
of existing disaster mitigation and response plans in 
the region; and 
(3) cooperate with existing efforts by United 
States allies and partners in the region. 
(c) REPORT.— 
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report on the program developed 
under this section. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi-
fication of— 
(A) disaster risks in the Pacific Islands; 
(B) existing efforts by United States allies 
and partners to provide assistance and training 
for natural disaster preparedness and emer-
gency management; and 
(C) objectives, means of implementation, 
and measures of success for the program. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 205. PEACE CORPS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pa-
cific Islands should be expanded and that the Peace 
Corps should reopen its programs in as many of the 
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Pacific Islands as possible, including where it has 
previously operated but has suspended operations; 
and 
(2) consulting like-minded regional allies and 
partners, such as Australia and New Zealand, is 
crucial for identifying and overcoming challenges for 
increased Peace Corps presence in the Pacific Is-
lands. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace 
Corps shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a report on— 
(1) the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pa-
cific Islands; and 
(2) a strategy to expand such presence, as ap-
propriate, including— 
(A) outcomes of consultations with regional 
allies and partners on areas in which coopera-
tion can reduce factors limiting Peace Corps ex-
pansion; and 
(B) timelines for expanding and reopening 
programs in the Pacific Islands. 
SEC. 206. PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development, in coordina-
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tion with the Secretary of State, shall develop and imple-
ment a strategy to improve public health in the Pacific 
Islands, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
(b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy devel-
oped under this section shall be coordinated with existing 
regional efforts and regional institutions and frameworks. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report that contains the strategy 
developed under this section. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi-
fication of— 
(A) health care challenges, including health 
systems strengthening, immunization, non-com-
municable diseases, and gender-based violence, 
in the Pacific Islands; 
(B) public health challenges and needs re-
lated to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific 
Islands; and 
(C) objectives, means of implementation, 
and measures of success for the strategy. 
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(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 
207. 
EDUCATION 
COOPERATION 
BETWEEN 
THE 
UNITED STATES AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development shall develop 
and implement a strategy to improve educational outcomes 
in the Pacific Islands and increase educational exchange 
between the United States and the Pacific Islands. 
(b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy devel-
oped under this section shall be coordinated with edu-
cation initiatives in the Pacific Islands, including the Pa-
cific Regional Education Framework. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall submit to the appropriate congres-
sional committees a report that contains the strategy 
developed under this section. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by paragraph (1) shall include an identi-
fication of— 
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(A) education challenges in the Pacific Is-
lands; and 
(B) objectives, means of implementation, 
and measures of success for the strategy. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 208. CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development shall develop 
and implement a strategy to provide assistance to the Pa-
cific Islands to address climate change, with emphasis on 
coastal zone management, marine waste management, 
food security, and water resource management. 
(b) CONDUCT OF STRATEGY.—The strategy devel-
oped under this section shall be coordinated with regional 
organizations and frameworks for climate adaptation in 
the Pacific Islands. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
that contains the strategy developed under this section. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each 
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