H. Res. 1157 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
December 11, 2018. 
Whereas the Pacific Islands countries and territories are 
home to more than 10 million culturally diverse people 
and are rooted in a unique culture and history spanning 
thousands of years; 
Whereas the South Pacific region, of which the Pacific Is-
lands countries and territories are an integral part, is en-
dowed with a resource-rich ocean stretching over 20 mil-
lion square miles; 
Whereas the United States partnership with the countries of 
the Pacific Islands region dates back to the battles of 
World War II on the shores of Tarawa, Pelelieu, and 
Guadalcanal, where Pacific Islanders and Americans alike 
sacrificed for our collective security; 
Whereas the United States territories of American Samoa, 
Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands are located in the South Pacific region and some 
of these relationships date back to the Spanish-American 
War; 
Whereas the United States is committed to the future secu-
rity and prosperity of the Pacific Islands countries and 
territories and is responsible for security and defense 
matters in and relating to Palau, the Federated States
•HRES 1157 EH 
of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 
under their respective Compacts of Free Association; 
Whereas the Compacts of Free Association arrangements 
with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic 
of the Marshall Islands were renewed in 2003 for a pe-
riod of 20 years and negotiations regarding the subse-
quent renewal of these agreements should be concluded 
in advance of their expiration in 2023; 
Whereas the South Pacific region is critical to United States 
national security and defense, and there are several 
United States military bases and testing sites in the re-
gion, including the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile De-
fense Test Site on the Marshall Islands; 
Whereas the United States cooperates closely with Pacific Is-
lands countries and territories as a partner committed to 
a common future that advances national security, re-
gional cooperation, and trust and collaborating on a wide 
range of important issues such as addressing environ-
mental and public health threats, distributing humani-
tarian assistance and disaster relief, and promoting peace 
and prosperity in the region; 
Whereas in the Boe Declaration of 2018, leaders of Pacific 
Islands countries and territories reaffirmed that the 
threat of climate change imperils the livelihoods, security, 
and well-being of the peoples of such countries and terri-
tories; 
Whereas a major priority of Pacific Islands countries and ter-
ritories is addressing environmental and sustainability 
challenges, including responding to national disasters, 
and implementing environmental programs to address 
mitigating their unique vulnerabilities to the effects of
•HRES 1157 EH 
rising sea levels, combatting ocean acidification, and pro-
tecting natural resources, and extreme weather events re-
mains a priority for and point of collaboration between 
the United States and Pacific Islands countries; 
Whereas the United States works closely with Australia and 
New Zealand and other like-minded partners in the 
South Pacific region, and there is opportunity for en-
hancing such cooperation as all three countries look for 
opportunities to increase their focus on this important re-
gion; 
Whereas China’s increased influence in the South Pacific re-
gion and the possibility of a future Chinese military pres-
ence in this region could expand its monitoring and sur-
veillance capabilities, threatening the United States mili-
tary presence in the region; 
Whereas media reports revealed that Chinese scientists placed 
acoustic sensors in the Mariana Trench near Guam and 
near the island of Yap in the Federated States of Micro-
nesia, which could be used to monitor United States sub-
marine activity in the region; 
Whereas planned casino resort developments by Chinese in-
vestors on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands could complicate Department of Defense plans on 
the islands for extensive training and exercises resulting 
from the relocation of Marines from Okinawa, Japan; 
Whereas a bilateral agreement between the United States and 
Japan will relocate approximately 4,100 United States 
Marines from Okinawa, Japan to Guam, significantly bol-
stering United States national security in the region; 
Whereas official Chinese Government statements and policy 
documents indicate that the Pacific Islands are a compo-
•HRES 1157 EH 
nent of the Belt and Road Initiative, which according to 
the Department of Defense aims ‘‘to develop strong eco-
nomic ties with other countries, shape their interests to 
align with China’s, and deter confrontation or criticism 
of China’s approach to sensitive issues’’; 
Whereas the Lowy Institute found that China has pledged 
$5.88 billion worth of aid to the region since 2011, yet 
despite these large commitments, China has only spent 
$1.26 billion so far and concerns remain over the types 
of loans extended and whether the commitments will be 
kept; 
Whereas recent debt sustainability analysis by the World 
Bank shows that nine Pacific Islands countries and terri-
tories are currently classified as either at high or mod-
erate risk of debt distress; 
Whereas China continues to shrink the number of Taiwan’s 
international partners around the globe by inducing coun-
tries to switch recognition through financial incentives 
and six of Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies in the 
Pacific Islands region advocate on Taiwan’s behalf at the 
United Nations and other international fora; 
Whereas the United States plays an active role in regional 
fisheries management through its involvement in the 
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and 
in maintaining programs to help Pacific Island countries 
combat illegal fishing, including bilateral ‘‘shiprider’’ 
agreements that allow law enforcement officers of host 
partner countries onboard United States Coast Guard 
ships and aircraft to patrol national exclusive economic 
zones;
•HRES 1157 EH 
Whereas the United States, through more than 17 depart-
ments and agencies, committed more than $350 million 
in fiscal year 2017 to engagement with Pacific Islands 
countries; 
Whereas the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2018 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2018 authorized and appropriated $123.8 million in 
funding through 2024 for the 2010 Palau Compact Re-
view Agreement; 
Whereas every two years, the United States Navy’s Pacific 
Fleet hosts the world’s largest international maritime ex-
ercise, known as the ‘‘Rim of the Pacific’’, for which this 
past year Tongan Marines traveled to Hawaii with Aus-
tralia’s Navy to participate and Fiji has been invited to 
join the exercise in 2020; and 
Whereas in September 2018 at the 30th Pacific Islands 
Forum in Nauru, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke 
stated the United States ‘‘see[s] all of the Pacific Islands 
as an essential part of our free and open Indo-Pacific 
policy’’: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) reaffirms its strong commitment to United 
States engagement with all countries and territories of 
the South Pacific region, including the Cook Islands, the 
Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, 
Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, the Republic of 
Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, 
Tuvalu, and Vanuatu;
•HRES 1157 EH 
(2) reaffirms its strong support to the United 
States Pacific Island territories of Guam, the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American 
Samoa, home to nearly 300,000 United States citizens; 
(3) supports continued efforts to deepen cooperation 
with countries and territories of the Pacific Islands in 
areas of mutual interest, such as addressing the negative 
impacts of climate change, promoting sustainable eco-
nomic development, and supporting regional organiza-
tions and stability; 
(4) calls for the United States to increase the fre-
quency of high-level bilateral and multilateral visits with 
leaders of Pacific Islands; 
(5) promotes and supports efforts by Australia, 
New Zealand, France, and other like-minded partners to 
strengthen Pacific Islands countries’ sovereignty and de-
velopment through economic and security assistance; and 
(6) encourages continued support for the Compacts 
of Free Association which enhance the strategic posture 
of the United States in the Western Pacific, reinforce 
United States regional commitment, preempt potential 
adversaries from establishing positional advantage, and