region, including supporting education, health, and 
economic development initiatives. Prior to the 
COVID–19 pandemic, the Peace Corps maintained 
its presence in four countries of the Pacific Islands 
and has since announced plans to return to and ex-
pand programs in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and Vanuatu. 
Peace Corps volunteers continue to be in high de-
mand in the Pacific Islands and have been requested 
across the region. 
SEC. 102. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States— 
(1) to develop and commit to a comprehensive, 
multifaceted, and principled United States policy in 
the Pacific Islands that— 
(A) promotes peace, security, and pros-
perity for all countries through a rules-based 
regional order that respects the sovereignty, 
self-determination, and political independence of 
all nations; 
(B) preserves the Pacific Ocean as an open 
and vibrant corridor for international maritime 
trade and promotes trade and sustainable devel-
opment that supports inclusive economic growth 
and autonomy for all nations and addresses so-
cioeconomic and environmental challenges re-
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lated to public health, education, renewable en-
ergy, digital connectivity, and more; 
(C) supports regional efforts to address the 
challenges posed by climate change, including 
by strengthening resilience to natural disasters 
and through responsible stewardship of natural 
resources and the need for collective action to 
mitigate its impacts and build resilience; 
(D) improves civil society, strengthens 
democratic governance and the rule of law, and 
promotes human rights and the preservation of 
the region’s unique cultural heritages; and 
(E) supports existing regional architecture 
and the international rules based order and 
principles of international law; 
(2) to support the vision, values, and objectives 
of existing regional multilateral institutions and 
frameworks, such as the Pacific Islands Forum and 
the Pacific Community, including— 
(A) the 2000 Biketawa Declaration; 
(B) the 2014 Framework for Pacific Re-
gionalism; 
(C) the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional 
Security; 
(D) the Boe Declaration Action Plan; and 
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(E) the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific 
Continent; 
(3) to extend and amend the provisions of the 
Compacts of Free Association, subsidiary agree-
ments, and related United States law that will expire 
in 2023 for the Republic of the Marshall Islands and 
the Federated States of Micronesia and in 2024 for 
the Republic of Palau unless they are extended; and 
(4) to work closely with United States allies 
and partners with existing relationships and inter-
ests in the Pacific Islands, including Australia, 
Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan, in advancing 
common goals. 
SEC. 103. STRATEGY FOR PACIFIC ISLANDS PARTNERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than January 1, 2027, 
and every 4 years thereafter, the President shall develop 
and submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a strategy to be known as the ‘‘Strategy for Pacific Islands 
Partnership’’ (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Strat-
egy’’). 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The Strategy shall 
include the following: 
(1) A description of overarching goals for the 
United States-Pacific Island Partnership. 
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(2) A description of measurable objectives for 
United States engagement in the Pacific Islands. 
(3) An assessment of threats to the Pacific Is-
lands region. 
(4) A plan to address the security of the Pacific 
Islands region. 
(5) A strategy to invest in and improve critical 
infrastructure. 
(6) A regional Development Cooperation Strat-
egy formulated by the United States Agency for 
International Development. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In developing the Strategy, the 
President should consult, as appropriate, with— 
(1) regional organizations, such as the Pacific 
Islands Forum, the Pacific Islands Development 
Program, the Pacific Community and Secretariat for 
the Pacific Regional Environment Programme; 
(2) the countries of the Pacific Islands; 
(3) stakeholders such as civil society, faith- 
based organizations, and non-state actors; 
(4) United States allies and partners; and 
(5) United States Pacific territories and States. 
(d) COORDINATION.—In implementing the Strategy, 
the President shall coordinate with the heads of other Fed-
eral agencies, including the Secretary of State, the Sec-
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retary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Administrator of United States Agency for Inter-
national Development, the Secretary of Defense, and the 
United States Trade Representative. 
SEC. 104. STAFFING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, the Ad-
ministrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chief 
Executive Officer of the United States International De-
velopment Finance Corporation should increase the num-
ber of staff working on Pacific Islands issues and in the 
Pacific Islands to carry out this Act. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Federal officials de-
scribed in subsection (a) shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report— 
(1) detailing the number of full-time equivalent 
positions and contractors working on Pacific Islands 
issues, including in the Pacific Islands, to carry out 
this Act; 
(2) describing any planned changes to staffing 
levels to carry out this Act and if no changes are 
planned providing a plan to carry out this Act under 
current staffing levels; and 
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(3) if necessary, identifying additional funding 
needed to support staffing levels to carry out this 
Act. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of State and 
the Secretary of Commerce are authorized to hire locally- 
employed staff in the Pacific Islands to promote increased 
diplomatic engagement and economic and commercial en-
gagement between the United States and the Pacific Is-
lands. 
SEC. 105. ASSISTANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZA-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi-
nation with the Administrator of the United States Agen-
cy for International Development, the Secretary of the 
Treasury, and the Chief Executive Officer of the United 
States International Development Finance Corporation, as 
appropriate, shall provide support and technical assistance 
to Pacific Islands countries to assist such countries to ac-
cess existing development support and funding from inter-
national organizations, such as the United Nations and 
multilateral financial institutions. Such support and tech-
nical assistance may include— 
(1) technical support navigating grant pro-
grams, international investment mechanisms, and 
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other opportunities offered by international organi-
zations for sustainable development; 
(2) support receiving necessary certifications 
and complying with technical requirements to par-
ticipate in international financial mechanisms from 
which Pacific Islands countries may benefit; and 
(3) support complying with reporting and over-
sight requirements for programs conducted by inter-
national organizations. 
(b) INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.— 
The Secretary of the Treasury should direct the represent-
atives of the United States to the World Bank Group, the 
International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development 
Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to 
support climate resilient infrastructure projects and to 
build resilience to the impacts of climate change in the 
Pacific Islands. 
SEC. 106. ALLIES AND PARTNERS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS 
REGION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator 
of United States Agency for International Development, 
the Secretary of Defense, the United States Trade Rep-
resentative, and any other relevant official, should consult 
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and coordinate with allies and partners in the Pacific Is-
lands region, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, 
Taiwan, and regional institutions such as the Pacific Is-
lands Forum, the Pacific Islands Development Program, 
the Pacific Community and Secretariat for the Pacific Re-
gional Environment Programme, with respect to programs 
to provide assistance to the Pacific Islands, including pro-
grams established by this Act, including for purposes of— 
(1) deconflicting programming; 
(2) ensuring that any programming does not 
adversely affect the absorptive capacity of the Pa-
cific Islands; 
(3) ensuring complementary programs benefit 
the Pacific Islands to the maximum extent prac-
ticable; and 
(4) ensuring that programming aligns with re-
gional development goals, as outlined by documents 
such as the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Con-
tinent in order to support sustainable development 
and promote a shared vision for the future of the 
Pacific Islands. 
(b) FORMAL CONSULTATIVE PROCESS.—The Presi-
dent should establish a formal consultative process with 
such regional allies and partners to coordinate with re-
spect to such programs and future-years programming. 
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TITLE II—PEOPLE-CENTERED 
DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 201. ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH OUT-
COMES AND BUILD PUBLIC HEALTH CAPAC-
ITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, is author-
ized to assist the Pacific Islands to improve public health 
outcomes and build public health capacity, including in re-
sponse to the COVID–19 pandemic. 
(b) ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.—Activities authorized 
to be carried out under subsection (a) may include— 
(1) programming, including grants, cooperative 
agreements, and other forms of assistance, as appro-
priate, to assist in building local capacity to ensure 
that Pacific Islanders have access to the essential 
health services they need to thrive and to address— 
(A) maternal and child health; 
(B) family planning and reproductive 
health; 
(C) gender-based violence; 
(D) food security and nutrition; 
(E) noncommunicable diseases; 
(F) communicable diseases, including ne-
glected tropical diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/ 
AIDS, 
sexually-transmitted 
infections, 
and 
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zoonotic 
and 
emerging 
infectious 
disease 
threats; 
(G) equitable access to quality, essential, 
and affordable health services and quality-as-
sured, safe, effective medical products and their 
appropriate use; and 
(H) water, sanitation, and hygiene; 
(2) technical assistance to strengthen local 
health system capacity and resilience in the areas of 
good leadership and governance, sustainable financ-
ing, interoperable information systems and high 
quality data for decision making, efficient medical 
products and supply chain systems, and manage-
ment of human resources for health, with special at-
tention to increasing health worker performance, re-
tention, productivity, number, skill mix, and com-
petency, including through exploring opportunities 
such as private sector engagement and digital health 
integration and access; 
(3) coordination with existing local and regional 
health sector goals, efforts, institutions, and frame-
works; and 
(4) investment in and improvement of critical 
infrastructure, including hospitals, health clinics and 
pharmacies in the Pacific Islands. 
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(1) explore opportunities for United States pri-
vate sector investment; 
(2) examine regulations in host countries in the 
Pacific Islands that may hinder foreign direct invest-
ment, including those related to human rights, labor 
rights, and environmental protection, and provide 
technical assistance when requested by such host 
countries; and 
(3) report on the commercial and investment 
activities of non-allied foreign actors in the Pacific 
Islands. 
TITLE V—CLIMATE CHANGE AND 
DISASTERS 
SEC. 501. ASSISTANCE TO ENHANCE PREPAREDNESS FOR 
AND RESILIENCE TO NATURAL DISASTERS 
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES. 
The Secretary of State is authorized to assist the Pa-
cific Islands to enhance preparedness for and resilience to 
natural disasters and other emergencies. Such assistance 
includes— 
(1) education and training programs on natural 
disaster prevention and preparedness for emergency 
management professionals in the Pacific Islands, in-
cluding by leveraging the expertise of nonprofit orga-
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