Pacific Islands Embassies Act
Bill: H.R.8683 | Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy (R-KY)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Pacific Islands Embassies Act
This bill requires the Department of State to establish U.S. embassies in Vanuatu, Kiribati, and Tonga.

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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pacific Islands Embassies Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (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 economically 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 Andersen Air Force Base.
            (4) Pacific Island countries cooperate with the United 
        States and United States partners on maritime 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 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 affairs of the United States to the Republic of 
        Kiribati and the Kingdom of Tonga.
            (8) The United States requires a physical diplomatic 
        presence in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic of Kiribati, 
        and the Kingdom of Tonga, to ensure the physical and operation 
        security of our efforts in those countries to deepen relations, 
        protect United States national security, and pursue United 
        States national interests.
            (9) Increasing the number of United States embassies 
        dedicated solely to a Pacific Island country demonstrates the 
        United States' ongoing commitment to the region and to the 
        Pacific Island countries.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF EMBASSIES.

    (a) Establishment of United States Embassies in Vanuatu, Kiribati, 
and Tonga.--As soon as possible, and not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
establish 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 infrastructure to ensure the 
physical and operational safety of embassy personnel, the Secretary of 
State may pursue strategies such as renting or purchasing an existing 
building 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 Department of 
State--
            (1) $40,200,000 for fiscal year 2023 for embassy 
        construction and maintenance of the 3 embassies to be 
        established pursuant to section 3; and
            (2) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2024 to maintain the 
        embassies.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

    (a) Progress Report.--Not later than 180 days following the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report that includes--
            (1) a description of the status of activities carried out 
        to achieve the objectives described in this Act;
            (2) an estimate of when embassies will be fully established 
        pursuant to section 3(a); and
            (3) an update on events in the Pacific Islands region 
        relevant to the establishment of United States embassies, 
        including activities by the People's Republic of China.
    (b) Report on Final Disposition.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit 
a report confirming the establishment of the 3 embassies required under 
section 3(a).
    (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the 
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
                                 <all>