U.S. and Pacific Islands Forum Partnership Act
Bill: S.4650 | Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John (R-LA)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
U.S. and Pacific Islands Forum Partnership Act
This bill requires the President to appoint either the U.S. ambassador to a county that is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum or another qualified individual to serve as special envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum.

To establish the position of Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands 
                                 Forum.

    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 ``U.S. and Pacific Islands Forum 
Partnership Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Pacific Islands Forum (referred to in this Act as 
        ``PIF'') was established in 1971.
            (2) PIF is committed to accelerating economic growth, 
        social progress, cultural development, and regional peace and 
        stability.
            (3) The United States is committed to a free and open Indo-
        Pacific and to peace, security, and prosperity in the region.
            (4) The United States seeks to maintain and further develop 
        a constructive and cordial relationship with PIF and its member 
        nations, including the Freely Associated States (the Marshall 
        Islands, Micronesia, and Palau), which have special economic 
        and security ties with the United States.
            (5) The United States seeks to contribute to regional 
        stability in the Pacific region through assistance efforts to 
        combat illegal fishing, enhance maritime security, build 
        resilient infrastructure, and promote sound, just, and 
        responsive governance within the Pacific region to empower 
        citizens, help combat corruption, and strengthen nations' 
        autonomy.
            (6) The Smaller Island States of the Pacific Islands Forum 
        represent the most vulnerable of Forum Island Countries.
            (7) Increased United States diplomatic engagement and 
        developmental assistance can help alleviate the vulnerabilities 
        linked to the small size of the Smaller Island States, their 
        lack of natural resources, remoteness, and the range of 
        development challenges that limit their capacity to ensure 
        democratic, economic, and environmental resilience and long-
        term sustainable development.
            (8) It is in the long-term interest of the United States to 
        maintain and expand a relationship with PIF and its member 
        nations.
            (9) The United States does not have an Ambassador or 
        Special Envoy to PIF, which limits the ability of the United 
        States and PIF to respond quickly and appropriately to events 
        of mutual interest.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States must increase its diplomatic activity 
        and presence in the Pacific, particularly among Pacific Island 
        nations; and
            (2) the Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum--
                    (A) should be used to coordinate policies across 
                the Pacific region with like-minded democracies; and
                    (B) should have a direct line to the President and 
                the Secretary of State to communicate regarding the 
                unique and particular needs of Pacific partner nations.

SEC. 4. SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM.

    Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 
U.S.C. 2651a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (h) (as added by section 
        361(a)(1) of division FF of Public Law 116-260) as subsection 
        (k); and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l) Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum.--
            ``(1) Appointment.--The President shall appoint, by and 
        with the advice and consent of the Senate, either the United 
        States Ambassador to a country that is a member of the Pacific 
        Islands Forum or another qualified individual to serve as 
        Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum (referred to in this 
        section as the `Special Envoy'). If an Ambassador is appointed 
        to serve as the Special Envoy pursuant this paragraph, he or 
        she may not begin such service until after Senate confirmation 
        to such position and shall serve concurrently as an Ambassador 
        and as the Special Envoy without receiving additional 
        compensation.
            ``(2) Duties.--The Special Envoy shall--
                    ``(A) represent the United States in its role as 
                dialogue partner to the Pacific Islands Forum; and
                    ``(B) carry out such other duties as the President 
                or the Secretary of State may prescribe.''.
                                 <all>