Expanding America's Pacific Diplomatic Presence Act of 2022
Bill: S.4209 | Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. (D-HI)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Expanding America's Pacific Diplomatic Presence Act of 2022
This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress an assessment of the feasibility of establishing new diplomatic posts in Pacific Island countries and territories that currently do not have a U.S. diplomatic post.

To require a feasibility study regarding establishing new diplomatic 
                     posts in the Pacific Islands.

    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 ``Expanding America's Pacific 
Diplomatic Presence Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. FEASIBILITY STUDY REGARDING ESTABLISHING NEW DIPLOMATIC POSTS 
              IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Study Required.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study assessing the feasibility of establishing new 
diplomatic posts in Pacific Islands countries and territories that 
currently do not have a United States embassy or other United States 
diplomatic post.
    (b) Briefing and Report.--The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall--
            (1) not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, brief the appropriate congressional committees on 
        preliminary observations relating to the study conducted under 
        subsection (a); and
            (2) not later than 18 months after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report on the results of the study.
    (c) Elements.--The report required under subsection (b) shall 
include the following elements:
            (1) An explanation of the methodologies and processes the 
        Department of State uses when determining whether and where to 
        establish new diplomatic posts abroad and the scale and size of 
        such posts.
            (2) A description of the existing diplomatic posts the 
        Department of State has in the Pacific Islands region and an 
        analysis of how they advance United States national security 
        priorities.
            (3) An assessment of what is known about the impact the 
        opening of new diplomatic posts in the Pacific Islands region 
        will have on--
                    (A) United States relations with host nations;
                    (B) United States relations with other allies and 
                partners in the Indo-Pacific region; and
                    (C) the advancement of United States national 
                security priorities.
            (4) An assessment of what is known about the feasibility of 
        establishing new diplomatic posts in the Pacific Islands 
        region.
            (5) An assessment of proposed locations for new diplomatic 
        posts in the Pacific Islands region to expand the United States 
        diplomatic presence in the region.
            (6) An assessment of alternatives to establishing new 
        diplomatic posts that would expand the United States diplomatic 
        presence in the Pacific Islands region.
            (7) A determination of the costs to the Department of 
        constructing or acquiring new diplomatic posts in the Pacific 
        Islands region, and an explanation and analysis of such costs.
            (8) A determination of the costs to the Department of 
        expanding existing diplomatic posts in the Pacific Islands 
        region as an alternative to constructing or acquiring new 
        facilities, and an explanation and analysis of such costs.
            (9) A determination of the costs to the Department of 
        staffing new diplomatic posts in the Pacific Islands region, 
        including with regard to allowances, differentials, and other 
        benefits to which Foreign Service officers assigned to such 
        posts may be entitled and the salaries and benefits afforded to 
        locally employed staff.
            (10) An assessment of personnel from agencies other than 
        the Department of State, including the Department of Defense, 
        who will be needed at new diplomatic posts in the Pacific 
        Islands region.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section--
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Diplomatic post.--The term ``diplomatic post'' means an 
        embassy, consulate general, consulate, consular agency, or 
        other overseas post of a United States mission.
            (3) Pacific islands countries and territories that 
        currently do not have a united states embassy or other united 
        states diplomatic post.--The term ``Pacific Islands countries 
        and territories that currently do not have a United States 
        embassy or other United States diplomatic post'' means Tonga, 
        Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, the Cook 
        Islands, Niue, French Polynesia, and New Caledonia.
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