reduce and combat gender-based violence, in coordi-
nation with existing efforts by United States allies 
and partners as well as regional organizations; and 
(2) promote gender equality in political, eco-
nomic, social, and cultural development programs in 
the Pacific Islands. 
SEC. 304. PACIFIC ISLANDS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 
INITIATIVE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that routinized people-to-people exchange programs 
to bring Pacific Islands religious leaders, journalists, civil 
society members, politicians, and others to the United 
States strengthens existing relationships and advances 
United States interests and shared values in the region. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall de-
velop and implement a program to promote educational 
and professional development for young adult leaders and 
professionals in the Pacific Islands with a demonstrated 
passion to contribute to the continued development of the 
Pacific Islands. 
(c) CONDUCT OF PROGRAM.—The program developed 
under this section shall be implemented on a routine basis 
and may be carried out through— 
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(1) grants provided on a competitive basis to 
qualified organizations with demonstrated expertise 
relating to the Pacific Islands; 
(2) grants in amounts not to exceed $50,000 
provided on a competitive basis to qualified young 
leaders from the Pacific Islands for the purpose of 
carrying out projects dedicated to the improvement 
of their communities in the Pacific Islands; 
(3) regional workshops and professional and 
academic fellowships; and 
(4) people-to-people exchanges. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of State, acting through the Assistant Sec-
retary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a report on exchange programs for the Pa-
cific Islands region. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include— 
(A) an assessment of factors constraining 
the number and frequency of International Vis-
itor Leadership Program participants from 
countries of the Pacific Islands; 
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(B) an identification of resources that are 
necessary to address the factors described in 
subparagraph (A); and 
(C) a strategy for connecting alumni and 
participants of the Department of State’s pro-
fessional development exchange programs in 
East Asia, such as the Young Southeast Asian 
Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and the Young 
Pacific Leaders programs, to enhance inter and 
intra region people-to-people ties. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each 
of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to carry out this 
section. 
SEC. 305. CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the United 
States Agency for International Development shall develop 
and implement a program to promote the development of 
civil society in the Pacific Islands for the purpose of— 
(1) strengthening independent media and press 
freedom; 
(2) empowering citizens to freely organize and 
communicate, including through existing and new 
civic spaces; 
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(3) strengthening rule of law and increasing 
government accountability; and 
(4) promoting democratic political culture. 
(b) CONDUCT OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The program developed 
under this section shall be carried out in consulta-
tion with local civil society groups in the Pacific Is-
lands, including civil society groups that represent or 
work with traditionally marginalized groups. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The program developed under 
this section may be carried out through— 
(A) technical assistance and support, in-
cluding through training and professional and 
academic fellowships; 
(B) grants provided on a competitive basis 
to qualified civil society organizations for the 
purpose of carrying out projects and programs 
dedicated to the objectives identified in sub-
section (a); and 
(C) grants provided on a competitive basis 
to qualified United States organizations with 
demonstrated expertise in civil society develop-
ment and the Pacific Islands. 
(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 of the United States Agency for Inter-
national Development shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees a report on the pro-
gram developed under this section. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The report 
required by paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an assessment of the strength and via-
bility of civil society sectors of the Pacific Is-
lands, including legal, organizational capacity, 
financial, advocacy, services, infrastructure, and 
public image sectors; and 
(B) an identification of objectives and 
measures of success for the program. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each of 
the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to carry out this sec-
tion. 
Æ 
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