Title: BLUE Pacific Act
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act or the BLUE Pacific Act
This bill requires and authorizes activities related to U.S. foreign policy in the Pacific Islands, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.
The bill requires specified departments and agencies to develop and implement strategies in the region to
The bill also requires the Department of State to prioritize efforts to help the Pacific Islands ratify and implement international legal conventions related to transnational crime. The State Department must also coordinate with regional allies and partners in providing assistance to the Pacific Islands.
The President may provide assistance to the Pacific Islands to promote quality basic education and to promote the dissemination of free and accurate information.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2967 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2967

  To establish a comprehensive, long-term United States strategy and 
        policy for the Pacific Islands, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 4, 2021

Mr. Case (for himself, Mr. Young, Mr. Bera, and Mr. Sherman) introduced 
  the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
   Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and 
 Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a comprehensive, long-term United States strategy and 
        policy for the Pacific Islands, 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 AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Boosting Long-term 
U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act'' or the ``BLUE Pacific Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Statement of policy.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Authority to consolidate reports; form of reports.
  TITLE I--UNITED STATES ENGAGEMENT AND COUNTERING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME

Sec. 101. Diplomatic presence in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 102. International Law Enforcement Academy for the Pacific 
                            Islands.
Sec. 103. Security assistance for the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 104. Countering transnational crime.
Sec. 105. Coordination with regional allies.
                   TITLE II--DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

Sec. 201. Trade development with the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 202. Trade capacity building initiative for the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 203. Emergency preparedness initiative for the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 204. Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 205. Public health in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 206. Education assistance.
Sec. 207. Climate resilient development in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 208. Coordination with other Federal agencies and cooperation and 
                            participation of nongovernmental United 
                            States entities.
                 TITLE III--PROMOTION OF SHARED VALUES

Sec. 301. Press freedom in the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 302. U.S. Agency For Global Media.
Sec. 303. Gender equality.
Sec. 304. Pacific Islands Leadership Development Initiative.
Sec. 305. Civil society engagement and development.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Pacific Islands--
                    (A) are home to roughly 10 million residents, 
                including over 8.6 million in Papua New Guinea, 
                constituting diverse and dynamic cultures and peoples;
                    (B) are spread across an expanse of the Pacific 
                Ocean equivalent to 15 percent of the Earth's surface, 
                including the three sub-regions of Melanesia, 
                Micronesia, and Polynesia; and
                    (C) face shared challenges in development that have 
                distinct local contexts, including climate change and 
                rising sea levels, geographic distances from major 
                markets, and vulnerability to external shocks such as 
                natural disasters.
            (2) The United States is a Pacific country with 
        longstanding ties and shared values and interests with the 
        Pacific Islands, including through the Compacts of Free 
        Association with the Freely Associated States, the Republic of 
        the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and 
        the Republic of Palau.
            (3) The United States has vital national security interests 
        in the Pacific Islands, including--
                    (A) protecting regional peace and security that 
                fully respects the sovereignty of all nations;
                    (B) advancing economic prosperity free from 
                coercion through trade and sustainable development; and
                    (C) supporting democracy, good governance, the rule 
                of law, and human rights and fundamental freedoms.
            (4) Successive United States administrations have 
        recognized the importance of the Pacific region, including the 
        Pacific Islands, in high-level strategic documents, including 
        the following:
                    (A) The 2015 National Security Strategy, which 
                first declared the rebalance to Asia and the Pacific, 
                affirmed the United States as a Pacific nation, and 
                paved the way for subsequent United States engagement 
                with the Pacific Islands, including several new 
                policies focused on conservation and resilience to 
                climate change announced in September 2016.
                    (B) The 2017 National Security Strategy, which 
                includes a commitment to ``shore up fragile partner 
                states in the Pacific Islands region to reduce their 
                vulnerability to economic fluctuations and natural 
                disasters''.
                    (C) The 2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report, which 
                identified the Pacific Islands as ``critical to U.S. 
                strategy because of our shared values, interests, and 
                commitments'' and committed the United States to 
                ``building capacity and resilience to address maritime 
                security; Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing; 
                drug trafficking; and resilience to address climate 
                change and disaster response''.
            (5) The United States has deepened its diplomatic 
        engagement with the Pacific Islands through several recent 
        initiatives, including--
                    (A) the Pacific Pledge, which provided an 
                additional $100,000,000 in 2019 and $200,000,000 in 
                2020, on top of the approximately $350,000,000 that the 
                United States provides annually to the region to 
                support shared priorities in economic and human 
                development, climate change, and more; and
                    (B) the Small and Less Populous Island Economies 
                (SALPIE) Initiative launched in March 2021 to 
                strengthen United States collaboration with island 
                countries and territories, including in the Pacific 
                Islands, on COVID-19 economic challenges, long-term 
                economic development, climate change, and other shared 
                interests.
            (6) The Boe Declaration on Regional Security, signed by 
        leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum in 2018, affirmed that 
        climate change ``remains the single greatest threat to the 
        livelihoods, security, and wellbeing of the peoples of the 
        Pacific'' and asserted ``the sovereign right of every Member to 
        conduct its national affairs free of external interference and 
        coercion''.
            (7) The Asian Development Bank has estimated that the 
        Pacific Islands region needs upwards of $2.8 billion a year in 
        investment needs through 2030, in addition to $300 million a 
        year for climate mitigation and adaptation over the same 
        period.
            (8) The Pacific Islands swiftly enacted effective policies 
        to prevent and contain the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 
        2019 (commonly referred to as ``COVID-19'') pandemic to their 
        populations. The United States has provided over $130,000,000 
        in assistance to the Pacific Islands for their COVID-19 
        response. However, priorities must be met to ensure continued 
        success in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
        achieving swift and widespread vaccinations, and pursuing long-
        term economic recovery in the Pacific Islands, including 
        through--
                    (A) expanding testing capacity and acquisition of 
                needed medical supplies, including available COVID-19 
                vaccines and supporting vaccination efforts, through a 
                reliable supply chain;
                    (B) planning for lifting of lockdowns and reopening 
                of economic and social activities; and
                    (C) mitigating and recovering from the impacts of 
                the COVID-19 pandemic on the health system and the 
                reliance on food and energy imports as well as lost 
                tourism revenue and other economic and food security 
                damages caused by the pandemic.
            (9) Since 1966, thousands of Peace Corps volunteers have 
        proudly served in the Pacific Islands, building strong people-
        to-people relationships and demonstrating the United States 
        commitment to peace and development in the region. Prior to the 
        COVID-19 pandemic, the Peace Corps maintained presence in four 
        countries of the Pacific Islands. Peace Corps volunteers 
        continue to be in high demand in the Pacific Islands and have 
        been requested across the region.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States--
            (1) to develop and commit to a comprehensive, multifaceted, 
        and principled United States policy in the Pacific Islands 
        that--
                    (A) promotes peace, security, and prosperity for 
                all countries through a rules-based regional order that 
                respects the sovereignty and political independence of 
                all nations;
                    (B) preserves the Pacific Ocean as an open and 
                vibrant corridor for international maritime trade and 
                promotes trade and sustainable development that 
                supports inclusive economic growth and autonomy for all 
                nations and addresses socioeconomic challenges related 
                to public health, education, renewable energy, digital 
                connectivity, and more;
                    (C) supports regional efforts to address the 
                challenges posed by climate change, including by 
                strengthening resilience to natural disasters and 
                through responsible stewardship of natural resources;
                    (D) improves civil society, strengthens democratic 
                governance and the rule of law, and promotes human 
                rights and the preservation of the region's unique 
                cultural heritages;
                    (E) assists the Pacific Islands in preventing and 
                containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and in 
                pursuing long-term economic recovery; and
                    (F) supports existing regional architecture and 
                international norms;
            (2) to support the vision, values, and objectives of 
        existing regional multilateral institutions and frameworks, 
        such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community, 
        including--
                    (A) the 2014 Framework for Pacific Regionalism;
                    (B) the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security; 
                and
                    (C) the Boe Declaration Action Plan;
            (3) to extend and renew the provisions of the Compacts of 
        Free Association and related United States law that will expire 
        in 2023 for the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the 
        Federated States of Micronesia and in 2024 for the Republic of 
        Palau unless they are extended and renewed; and
            (4) to work closely with United States allies and partners 
        with existing relationships and interests in the Pacific 
        Islands, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan, 
        in advancing common goals.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--Except as 
        otherwise provided, the term ``appropriate congressional 
        committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate.
            (2) Pacific islands.--The terms ``Pacific Islands'' means 
        the Cook Islands, the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of 
        Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated 
        States of Micronesia, the Republic of Nauru, Niue, the Republic 
        of Palau, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the 
        Independent State of Samoa, the Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of 
        Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Vanuatu.

SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO CONSOLIDATE REPORTS; FORM OF REPORTS.

    (a) Authority to Consolidate Reports.--Any reports required to be 
submitted to the appropriate congressional committees under this Act 
that are subject to deadlines for submission consisting of the same 
units of time may be consolidated into a single report that is 
submitted to appropriate congressional committees pursuant to such 
deadlines and that contains all information required under such 
reports.
    (b) Form of Reports.--Each report required by this Act shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex.

  TITLE I--UNITED STATES ENGAGEMENT AND COUNTERING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME

SEC. 101. DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the strategic importance of the Pacific Islands 
        necessitates an examination of whether United States 
        diplomatic, economic, and development engagement and presence 
        in the Pacific Islands region is sufficient to effectively 
        support United States objectives and meaningful participation 
        in regional fora;
            (2) improving shared understanding of and jointly 
        combatting the transnational challenges pertinent to the 
        Pacific Islands region with countries of the Pacific Islands 
        and regional partners such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, 
        and Taiwan is vitally important to our shared long-term 
        interests of stability, security, and prosperity;
            (3) the United States should seek to participate in and 
        support efforts to coordinate a regional response toward 
        maritime security, including through continued United States 
        and Pacific Islands participation in the Pacific Fusion Centre 
        in Vanuatu and Information Fusion Centre in Singapore, and 
        robust cooperation with regional allies; and
            (4) the United States Government should commit to sending 
        appropriate levels of representation to regional events.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, 
        the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of 
        Commerce and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
        International Development, shall submit to the appropriate 
        congressional committees a report on the diplomatic and 
        development presence of the United States in the Pacific 
        Islands.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A description of the Department of State, 
                United States Agency for International Development, 
                United States International Development Finance 
                Corporation, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and 
                United States Commercial Service presence, staffing, 
                programming, and resourcing of operations in the 
                Pacific Islands, including programming and resourcing 
                not specifically allocated to the Pacific Islands.
                    (B) A description of gaps in such presence, 
                including unfilled full-time equivalent positions.
                    (C) A description of limitations and challenges 
                such gaps pose to United States strategic objectives, 
                including--
                            (i) gaps in support of the Pacific Islands 
                        due to operations being conducted from the 
                        United States Agency for International 
                        Development offices in Manila and Suva; and
                            (ii) gaps in programming and resourcing.
                    (D) A strategy to expand and elevate such presence 
                to fill such gaps, including by establishing new 
                missions, expanding participation in regional forums, 
                and elevating United States representation in regional 
                forums.
    (c) Authority To Enhance Diplomatic and Economic Engagement.--The 
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce are authorized to hire 
locally employed staff in the Pacific Islands for the purpose of 
promoting increased diplomatic engagement and economic and commercial 
engagement between the United States and the Pacific Islands.
    (d) Regional Development Cooperation Strategy.--Not later than 180 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees a regional development cooperation strategy for the Pacific 
Islands.

SEC. 102. INTERNATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY FOR THE PACIFIC 
              ISLANDS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall develop and implement 
a plan to expand coverage of the International Law Enforcement 
Academies (ILEA) program for the Pacific Islands, including by--
            (1) expanding coverage of the regional program located in 
        Bangkok, Thailand to the Pacific Islands; or
            (2) establishing a new regional program for the Pacific 
        Islands.
    (b) Matters To Be Included.--The plan required by subsection (a) 
shall include consultation and coordination with existing regional law 
enforcement entities, including the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police 
and civil society, including those focused on human rights and 
specializing in victim-centered approaches, and take into consideration 
costs of implementation, effectiveness, and capacity of the Pacific 
Islands to participate in the ILEA program.
    (c) Briefing Required.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide the appropriate 
congressional committees a briefing on the plan developed under this 
section.

SEC. 103. SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of State, with the 
        concurrence of the Secretary of Defense and in coordination 
        with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall develop and 
        implement a comprehensive strategy to provide assistance to and 
        build the capacity of local civilian and national security 
        institutions of the Pacific Islands for purposes of--
                    (A) enhancing maritime security and maritime domain 
                awareness to address challenges such as illegal, 
                unreported, and unregulated fishing;
                    (B) assisting local law enforcement in detecting, 
                preventing, and combating human and drug trafficking 
                and other forms of transnational crime;
                    (C) providing essential services to civilian 
                populations and responding to humanitarian challenges 
                caused by natural disasters;
                    (D) participating in efforts by regional 
                institutions and frameworks to coordinate and 
                facilitate cooperation on shared security challenges; 
                and
                    (E) expanding information sharing and to work 
                toward operational coordination and interoperability 
                among Pacific Island maritime security forces, 
                including through regional fusion centers.
            (2) Programs and authorities described.--The strategy 
        required by this subsection shall build on but not be limited 
        to the following programs and authorities:
                    (A) The International Military Education and 
                Training program.
                    (B) The Foreign Military Financing program.
                    (C) The Overseas Humanitarian Disaster and Civic 
                Aid program.
                    (D) The authority to build the capacity of foreign 
                security forces under section 333 of title 10, United 
                States Code.
                    (E) The authority to provide excess defense 
                articles under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance 
                Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j).
                    (F) The National Guard State Partnership Program.
            (3) National police forces and coast guards.--The national 
        police forces and coast guards of the Pacific Islands are 
        eligible to receive assistance under the programs and 
        authorities described in paragraph (2) (other than the programs 
        and authorities described in subparagraphs (A), (D), and (F) of 
        paragraph (2)) for purposes of the strategy required by this 
        subsection.
    (b) Matters To Be Included.--The strategy required by subsection 
(a) shall seek to preserve peace and regional stability in the Pacific 
Islands and take into consideration and seek to build upon but not 
duplicate existing assistance provided by United States allies and 
partners.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the 
        strategy developed under this section.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of security challenges to the 
                Pacific Islands;
                    (B) an analysis of demonstrated needs of the 
                Pacific Islands for assistance, including excess 
                defense equipment and related materials with 
                humanitarian and development uses to fulfill such 
                needs;
                    (C) a review of existing security assistance 
                programs in the Pacific Islands, including programs and 
                efforts provided by United States allies and partners;
                    (D) a plan for programs for training and 
                sustainment with respect to such excess defense 
                equipment and related materials, including those with 
                humanitarian and development uses;
                    (E) a list of militaries, national police forces, 
                coast guards, and other national security forces of the 
                Pacific Islands receiving assistance under the 
                strategy;
                    (F) a plan to provide humanitarian assistance and 
                disaster relief, if necessary, through the Overseas 
                Humanitarian Disaster and Civic Aid program;
                    (G) a review of existing cross-border maritime law 
                enforcement operations (commonly known as ``shiprider 
                agreements'') with the Pacific Islands, an assessment 
                of additional resourcing needs to enhance operational 
                capacity, and a plan to improve on these programs and 
                operations;
                    (H) a review of existing National Guard State 
                Partnership Programs with the Pacific Islands, an 
                assessment of additional opportunities to leverage 
                National Guard State Partnership Programs to address 
                law enforcement, disaster relief and emergency 
                management, and related priorities, and a plan to 
                expand, as appropriate, existing and new National Guard 
                State Partnership Programs in the region;
                    (I) a review of current efforts and progress in 
                removing unexploded ordnance in the Pacific Islands and 
                an assessment of additional resourcing needed to ensure 
                continued progress, including to support coordination 
                with regional efforts and those of United States allies 
                and partners;
                    (J) a review of existing regional fusion centers 
                and other cooperative intelligence sharing efforts in 
                the Pacific Islands to address maritime security, 
                transnational crime, natural disasters, and other 
                security challenges and an assessment of opportunities 
                for the United States to participate in such efforts, 
                including by allocating staff and supplying resourcing;
                    (K) measures to evaluate success for the strategy; 
                and
                    (L) a detailed assessment of appropriations 
                required to achieve the objectives for the strategy in 
                future years.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee 
                on Armed Services, and the Committee on Transportation 
                and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
                Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

SEC. 104. COUNTERING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME.

    (a) Ratification of International Legal Instruments.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall prioritize 
        efforts to assist the Pacific Islands in ratifying and 
        implementing international legal conventions related to 
        transnational crime, such as--
                    (A) the Convention on International Trade in 
                Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora;
                    (B) the Agreement on Port State Measures; and
                    (C) relevant protocols supplementing the United 
                Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized 
                Crime, such as--
                            (i) the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and 
                        Punish Trafficking in Person, Especially Women 
                        and Children; and
                            (ii) the Protocol Against the Smuggling of 
                        Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air.
            (2) Biennial report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter 
        as appropriate, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a report on--
                    (A) the status of the progress of each country of 
                the Pacific Islands toward ratifying and implementing 
                international legal conventions related to 
                transnational crime; and
                    (B) United States plans for assisting those 
                countries that have yet to fully ratify such 
                conventions with their respective ratification efforts.
    (b) Updates of Certain Reports.--The Secretary of State, in 
coordination with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall identify 
and update existing reports to include forms of transnational crime 
affecting the Pacific Islands, such as--
            (1) the International Narcotics Control Strategy report;
            (2) the Improving International Fisheries Management 
        report; and
            (3) the Trafficking in Persons report.
    (c) Illegal Logging and Associated Trade.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
        Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of relevant 
        Federal agencies, shall submit to appropriate congressional 
        committees a report that identifies countries of the Pacific 
        Islands that are countries of concern with respect to illegal 
        logging and associated trade.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A description of the impact illegal logging and 
                associated trade have had on local communities, good 
                governance, and biodiversity, including an 
                identification of those foreign countries that may be 
                financing or in any other manner supporting illegal 
                logging activities.
                    (B) A description of efforts taken by countries 
                identified under paragraph (1) to comply and take 
                appropriate corrective action to mitigate illegal 
                logging, and an evaluation of the progress of those 
                efforts.
                    (C) A description of steps taken by the heads of 
                relevant Federal agencies to assist the Pacific Islands 
                in adopting and implementing international measures 
                comparable to those of the United States, such as the 
                Lacey Act, to reduce impacts of illicit logging.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Finance of the Senate.
    (d) Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing.--Section 3553 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (16 U.S.C. 
8033) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (7), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (9); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (7) (as amended) the 
        following:
            ``(8) an assessment of gaps or limitations in the ability 
        of the United States to effectively assist priority regions and 
        priority flag states relating to IUU fishing due to resource 
        constraints and the additional resources necessary to overcome 
        those constraints; and''.

SEC. 105. COORDINATION WITH REGIONAL ALLIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall consult and 
coordinate with regional allies and partners, including Australia, 
Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and regional institutions such as the 
Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community, with respect to 
programs to provide assistance to the Pacific Islands, including 
programs established by this Act, including for purposes of--
            (1) deconflicting programming;
            (2) ensuring that any programming does not adversely affect 
        the absorptive capacity of the Pacific Islands; and
            (3) ensuring complementary programs benefit the Pacific 
        Islands to the maximum extent practicable.
    (b) Formal Consultative Process.--The Secretary of State shall 
establish a formal consultative process with such regional allies and 
partners to coordinate with respect to such programs and future-years 
programming.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
includes--
            (1) a review of ongoing efforts, initiatives, and programs 
        undertaken by regional allies and partners, including 
        multilateral organizations, to advance priorities identified in 
        this Act;
            (2) a review of ongoing efforts, initiatives, and programs 
        undertaken by non-allied foreign actors that are viewed as 
        being potentially harmful or in any way detrimental to one or 
        more countries of the Pacific Islands;
            (3) an assessment of United States programs in the Pacific 
        Islands and their alignment and complementarity with the 
        efforts of regional allies and partners identified in paragraph 
        (1); and
            (4) a review of the formal consultative process required in 
        subsection (b) to summarize engagements held and identify 
        opportunities to improve coordination with regional allies and 
        partners.

                   TITLE II--DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

SEC. 201. TRADE DEVELOPMENT WITH THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States should expand bilateral and multilateral trade with the Pacific 
Islands to promote socio-economic development and mutual prosperity.
    (b) Strategy.--The United States Trade Representative shall develop 
and implement a strategy to expand and diversify trade and promote 
regional development with the Pacific Islands, including through 
negotiating trade and investment framework agreements.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Trade 
        Representative shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report that contains the strategy developed under 
        this section.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of the readiness of countries in 
                the Pacific Islands to enter into enhanced trade 
                relationships with the United States, including with 
                respect to reducing or eliminating tariff and non-
                tariff barriers inhibiting progress towards deepening 
                trade relationships;
                    (B) a review of existing regional multilateral and 
                bilateral trade agreements and preference programs 
                involving the Pacific Islands and their impacts on 
                regional trade and development; and
                    (C) an identification of opportunities to work with 
                existing regional frameworks to increase trade and 
                economic integration with the Pacific Islands.
    (d) Briefing Required on Pacific Islands Trade Preferences.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the United States Trade 
        Representative shall provide to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a briefing on the use of the Generalized System of 
        Preferences under title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
        2461 et seq.) by the Pacific Islands.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The briefing required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) a review of the usage of the Generalized System 
                of Preferences by the Pacific Islands over the past 20 
                years, including the value and types of goods traded 
                under the program;
                    (B) an analysis of United States trade with the 
                Pacific Islands covered under the Generalized System of 
                Preferences compared to trade with the Pacific Islands 
                not conducted under any trade preference program;
                    (C) an assessment of why the Pacific Islands 
                underutilizes the Generalized System of Preferences in 
                trade with the United States; and
                    (D) recommendations for how the United States 
                Government can further assist the Pacific Islands in 
                utilizing the Generalized System of Preferences.
            (3) Update.--The Trade Representative shall provide to the 
        appropriate congressional committees an updated briefing under 
        this subsection not later than 3 years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
    (e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
        Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Finance of the Senate.

SEC. 202. TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development, in coordination with the Secretary of State, 
the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Chief 
Executive Officer of the United States International Development 
Finance Corporation, shall develop and implement a trade capacity 
building initiative for the Pacific Islands.
    (b) Elements and Conduct of Initiative.--The initiative developed 
under this section shall--
            (1) include an initial, public assessment of--
                    (A) economic opportunities for which United States 
                businesses, or those of other like-minded partners, 
                would be competitive; and
                    (B) legal, economic, governance, infrastructural, 
                or other hurdles limiting United States investment in 
                the Pacific Islands;
            (2) develop human and institutional capacity and 
        infrastructure across multiple sectors of economies, including 
        digital connectivity and cybersecurity;
            (3) assist with development and implementation of regional 
        and international trade agreements, including the World Trade 
        Organization's Agreement on Trade Facilitation and facilitation 
        of intra-regional trade flows;
            (4) support women-owned enterprises and gender equality; 
        and
            (5) promote government policies that encourage free and 
        fair competition, sound governance, environmental protection, 
        and business environments conducive to sustainable and 
        inclusive economic growth.
    (c) U.S. Commercial Service Presence.--The Secretary of Commerce 
shall expand the presence of the U.S. Commercial Service in the Pacific 
Islands and allocate additional Foreign Commercial Service Officers to 
the Pacific Islands, including by elevating existing partner posts and 
establishing new Commercial Service posts and partner posts, to--
            (1) explore opportunities for United States private sector 
        investment;
            (2) examine regulations in host countries in the Pacific 
        Islands that may hinder foreign direct investment, including 
        those related to human rights, labor rights, and environmental 
        protection, and provide technical assistance when requested by 
        such host countries; and
            (3) report on the commercial and investment activities of 
        non-allied foreign actors in the Pacific Islands.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 203. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INITIATIVE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development shall develop and implement an initiative to 
assist the Pacific Islands in enhancing their preparedness for and 
resilience to natural disasters and other emergencies.
    (b) Conduct of Program.--The program developed under this section 
shall include--
            (1) education and training programs on natural disaster 
        prevention and preparedness for emergency management 
        professionals in the Pacific Islands, including by leveraging 
        the expertise of nonprofit organizations and institutions of 
        higher education in the United States;
            (2) technical assistance, including through grants and 
        cooperative agreements for qualified United States and local 
        nongovernmental organizations, to enhance early warning 
        systems, emergency management and preparedness procedures, and 
        post-disaster relief and recovery; and
            (3) coordination of existing disaster mitigation and 
        response plans in the region, including by United States allies 
        and partners in the region.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
        the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
        program developed under this section.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of disaster risks in the Pacific 
                Islands and existing local and regional capacity to 
                respond to such risks;
                    (B) a review of existing efforts by United States 
                allies and partners to provide assistance and training 
                for natural disaster preparedness and emergency 
                management; and
                    (C) objectives, means of implementation, and 
                measures of success for the initiative.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
                Senate.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 204. PEACE CORPS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands 
        should be expanded and the Peace Corps should reopen its 
        programs in as many of the Pacific Islands as possible, 
        including where it has previously operated but has suspended 
        operations;
            (2) consulting like-minded regional allies and partners, 
        such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Taiwan is crucial 
        for identifying and overcoming challenges for increased Peace 
        Corps presence in the Pacific Islands;
            (3) the Peace Corps, whose mission is to promote world 
        peace and friendship in part by helping the people of 
        interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and 
        women, provides an invaluable opportunity to connect the 
        American people with the people of the Republic of the Marshall 
        Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic 
        of Palau; and
            (4) the Peace Corps should promptly reopen its programs in 
        the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of 
        Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps shall submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes--
            (1) a comparative analysis of the Peace Corps presence in 
        the Pacific Islands region to other regions of the world, 
        including a cost-benefit analysis of placement in the region 
        versus elsewhere globally;
            (2) analysis of current impediments to Peace Corps 
        expansion in the Pacific Islands region;
            (3) outcomes of consultations among United States agencies, 
        and with regional allies and partners, on areas in which 
        cooperation can reduce factors limiting Peace Corps expansion, 
        particularly those related to medical transportation and 
        personal safety; and
            (4) a plan and timeline for implementing outcomes 
        identified in paragraph (3) to facilitate expansion of Peace 
        Corps presence in the region, where appropriate.

SEC. 205. PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development, in coordination with the Secretary of State, 
shall develop and implement a strategy to assist the Pacific Islands in 
improving public health outcomes and building public health capacity, 
including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    (b) Conduct of Strategy.--The strategy developed under this section 
shall include--
            (1) programming, including grants, cooperative agreements, 
        and other forms of assistance as the Administrator determines 
        appropriate, to assist in building local capacity to address--
                    (A) maternal and child health;
                    (B) family planning and reproductive health;
                    (C) gender-based violence;
                    (D) food security and nutrition;
                    (E) non-communicable diseases;
                    (F) communicable diseases, including neglected 
                tropical diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, sexually-
                transmitted infections, and zoonotic and emerging 
                infectious disease threats;
                    (G) equitable access to quality, essential, and 
                affordable health services and quality-assured, safe, 
                effective medical products and their appropriate use; 
                and
                    (H) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH);
            (2) technical assistance to strengthen local health system 
        capacity and resilience in the areas of good leadership and 
        governance, sustainable financing, interoperable information 
        systems and high quality data for decision making, efficient 
        medical products and supply chain systems, and management of 
        human resources for health, with special attention to 
        increasing health worker performance, retention, productivity, 
        number, skill mix, and competency, including through exploring 
        opportunities such as private sector engagement and digital 
        health integration and access; and
            (3) coordination with existing local and regional health 
        sector goals, efforts, institutions, and frameworks.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
        the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains 
        the strategy developed under this section.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include an identification of--
                    (A) health care challenges, including health 
                systems strengthening, immunization, non-communicable 
                diseases, and gender-based violence, in the Pacific 
                Islands;
                    (B) public health challenges and needs related to 
                the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific Islands; and
                    (C) objectives, means of implementation, and 
                measures of success for the strategy.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
                Senate.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 206. EDUCATION ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) promoting basic education in the Pacific Islands, 
        particularly in traditionally under-served communities, 
        advances United States foreign policy goals and requires a 
        whole of government approach, and the United States Government 
        currently dedicates insufficient resources and attention to 
        assisting with education needs in the region;
            (2) the Peace Corps alone is insufficient to achieve United 
        States objectives of promoting sustainable, quality basic 
        education; and
            (3) countries of the Pacific Islands meet the requirements 
        outlined in subsection (c)(4) of section 105 of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c).
    (b) Education Assistance.--The President is authorized to provide 
assistance under section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2151c) to promote sustainable, quality basic education in the 
Pacific Islands, including for the following purposes:
            (1) Supporting national nutrition and health programs.
            (2) Working with partner governments to reform policies, 
        improve curricula, strengthen data systems, train teachers, and 
        provide quality learning materials.
            (3) Building new schools and renovating older facilities to 
        ensure safe places for learning.
            (4) Providing individuals, particularly at-risk youth, with 
        relevant education, training, and skills for meaningful 
        employment.
            (5) Removing barriers to entering formal education for out-
        of-school individuals, assisting in keeping them in school, and 
        providing an opportunity to catch up on schooling for those 
        left behind.
            (6) Promoting teaching and research exchanges between the 
        Pacific Islands and United States institutions of higher 
        education.
    (c) 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 section.

SEC. 207. CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States Government should leverage the full 
        range of authorities and programs available to assist the 
        Pacific Islands in achieving their development goals;
            (2) United States development assistance should seek to 
        build on existing public and private sector investments while 
        creating new opportunities toward a favorable environment for 
        additional such investments; and
            (3) United States development efforts should be coordinated 
        with and seek to build on existing efforts by like-minded 
        partners and allies and regional and international multilateral 
        organizations.
    (b) Strategy.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Development Finance 
Corporation, shall develop and implement a strategy to--
            (1) invest in and improve critical infrastructure, 
        including transport connectivity, information and 
        communications technology, food security, coastal zone 
        management, marine and water resource management, and energy 
        security and access to electricity in the Pacific Islands, with 
        an emphasis on climate resiliency and sustainable development;
            (2) provide technical assistance to assist local government 
        and civil society leaders assess risks to local infrastructure, 
        especially those posed by climate change, consider and 
        implement risk mitigation efforts and policies to strengthen 
        resilience, and evaluate proposed projects and solutions for 
        their efficacy and sustainability; and
            (3) support investment and improvement in ecosystem 
        conservation and protection for the long-term sustainable use 
        of ecosystem services, especially those that mitigate effects 
        of climate change and those that support food security and 
        livelihoods.
    (c) Conduct of Strategy.--The strategy developed under this section 
shall be coordinated with like-minded partners and allies, regional and 
international multilateral organizations, and regional frameworks for 
development in the Pacific Islands.
    (d) International Financial Institutions.--The Secretary of the 
Treasury shall direct the representatives of the United States to the 
World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian 
Development Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to 
support climate resilient infrastructure projects in the Pacific 
Islands.
    (e) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
        of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report on foreign infrastructure developments in 
        the Pacific Islands.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) a review of foreign infrastructure developments 
                in the Pacific Islands by non-United States allies and 
                partners;
                    (B) assessments of the environmental impact and 
                sustainability of such developments; and
                    (C) an analysis of the financial sustainability of 
                such developments and their impacts on the debt of host 
                countries in the Pacific Islands.
            (3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
        means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
                Senate.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 208. COORDINATION WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND COOPERATION AND 
              PARTICIPATION OF NONGOVERNMENTAL UNITED STATES ENTITIES.

    The Federal officials responsible for carrying out sections 202, 
203, 205, 206, and 207, shall, in carrying out such sections--
            (1) coordinate with existing programs and efforts of 
        relevant agencies of the United States Government, especially 
        with regards to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
        Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau; and
            (2) seek the cooperation and participation of United States 
        private sector, United States nongovernmental organizations, 
        and United States institutions of higher education.

                 TITLE III--PROMOTION OF SHARED VALUES

SEC. 301. PRESS FREEDOM IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Finding.--Congress finds that residents of the Pacific Islands 
speak 24 official languages and thousands of indigenous or unofficial 
local languages
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States should work with allies and partners, 
        particularly Australia and New Zealand, to provide free or low-
        cost access to national news wires so the Pacific Islands have 
        greater access to raw news feeds; and
            (2) it is in the interest of the United States to work with 
        the Pacific Islands to develop regulations to address the 
        licensing and operations of foreign media to build resilience 
        in the media sector to unsanctioned external influence or 
        interference while respecting free expression and cultivating 
        diverse media voices.
    (c) Press Freedom Assistance.--The President is authorized to 
provide assistance to promote the dissemination of free and accurate 
information in the Pacific Islands, including for the following 
purposes:
            (1) Media capacity building and education, including to--
                    (A) provide on-site media training tailored to 
                local needs;
                    (B) collaborate with local government and 
                nongovernmental entities to promote media literacy and 
                integrate media literacy into primary education 
                curricula in local languages and dialects to ensure 
                accessibility; and
                    (C) routinize funding for professional programs, 
                such as the Pacific Islands Journalism Reporting Tour, 
                that bring media professionals from the Pacific Islands 
                to the United States.
            (2) Strengthening and diversifying broadcast content 
        tailored to local audiences, including content broadcast in the 
        local vernacular.
            (3) Investing in connectivity infrastructure with an 
        emphasis on broadcast radio and transmission.
    (d) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit 
        to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
        implementation of this section.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of--
                            (i) the national laws of the Pacific 
                        Islands with respect to foreign investment in 
                        media and related sectors;
                            (ii) relevant licensing regulations of the 
                        Pacific Islands; and
                            (iii) governmental restrictions on free 
                        expression that limit the availability of 
                        diverse media voices in the Pacific Islands; 
                        and
                    (B) analyses of covert efforts by foreign media 
                actors in the Pacific Islands--
                            (i) to influence, shape, or circumvent 
                        regulations in the media or telecommunication 
                        sectors; and
                            (ii) to co-opt local media and narratives.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 302. U.S. AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA.

    (a) In General.--The Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Agency for 
Global Media shall develop and implement a plan to provide expanded 
media content to the Pacific Islands and partner with journalists in 
the Pacific Islands.
    (b) Briefing Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer shall 
        provide the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on 
        the plan developed under this section.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The briefing required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of facilities and costs to expand 
                coverage to the Pacific Islands, including options to 
                utilize Voice of America affiliates;
                    (B) an identification of objectives, means of 
                implementation, and measures of success for the plan; 
                and
                    (C) an assessment on the scope and impact of media 
                training efforts and people-to-people engagements 
                organized by other countries for the Pacific Islands.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 303. GENDER EQUALITY.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--Congress affirms the importance of gender 
equality and women's empowerment to United States policy in the Pacific 
Islands and recognizes the work of the existing regional frameworks and 
platforms on gender equality.
    (b) In General.--The Secretary of State and the Administrator of 
the United States Agency for International Development shall--
            (1) develop and implement an initiative to encourage and 
        support efforts by the Pacific Islands to reduce and combat 
        gender-based violence, in coordination with existing efforts by 
        United States allies and partners as well as regional 
        organizations; and
            (2) promote gender equality in political, economic, 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 Congress 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 develop 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--
            (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 Secretary of State, acting 
        through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and 
        Cultural Affairs, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report on exchange programs for the Pacific 
        Islands region.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include--
                    (A) an assessment of factors constraining the 
                number and frequency of International Visitor 
                Leadership Program participants from countries of the 
                Pacific Islands;
                    (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 professional 
                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 DEVELOPMENT.

    (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;
            (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 consultation with local civil society 
        groups in the Pacific Islands, 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, including 
                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 subsection (a); and
                    (C) grants provided on a competitive basis to 
                qualified United States organizations with demonstrated 
                expertise in civil society development and the Pacific 
                Islands.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United 
        States Agency for International Development shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a report on the program 
        developed under this section.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required by 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of the strength and viability of 
                civil society sectors of the Pacific Islands, 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 section.
                                 <all>