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]
[S. 4811 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4811

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 8, 2022

 Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice 
           and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 TITLES; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

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

Sec. 1. Short titles; 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. United States 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 10,000,000 residents, 
                including more than 8,600,000 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 3 subregions of Melanesia, Micronesia, 
                and Polynesia; and
                    (C) face shared challenges in development that have 
                distinct local contexts, including climate change, 
                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--
                    (A) the 2015 United States National Security 
                Strategy, which--
                            (i) first declared the rebalance to Asia 
                        and the Pacific;
                            (ii) affirmed the United States as a 
                        Pacific nation; and
                            (iii) paved the way for subsequent United 
                        States engagement with the Pacific Islands, 
                        including several new policies focused on 
                        conservation and resilience to climate change 
                        that were announced in September 2016;
                    (B) the 2017 United States 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, in addition to 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 
                Initiative, which was launched in March 2021 to 
                strengthen United States collaboration with island 
                countries and territories, including in the Pacific 
                Islands, regarding 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 well-being 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 has up to $2,800,000,000 per year in 
        investment needs through 2030, in addition to $300,000,000 per 
        year for climate mitigation and adaptation during 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 more than 
        $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 and lost tourism 
                revenue and other economic and food security damages 
                caused by the COVID-19 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. Before the 
        COVID-19 pandemic, the Peace Corps maintained a presence in 4 
        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--
                            (i) supports inclusive economic growth and 
                        autonomy for all nations; and
                            (ii) 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 Pacific Islands 
                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) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
        Development.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--Except as 
        otherwise provided, the term ``appropriate congressional 
        committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives.
            (3) Pacific islands.--The term ``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.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of State.

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 under 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 forums;
            (2) improving shared understanding of, and jointly 
        combating 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--
                    (A) continued United States and Pacific Islands 
                participation in the Pacific Fusion Centre in Vanuatu 
                and the Information Fusion Centre in Singapore; and
                    (B) 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, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce 
        and the Administrator, shall submit a report to the appropriate 
        congressional committees regarding the diplomatic and 
        development presence of the United States in the Pacific 
        Islands.
            (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include--
                    (A) a description of the presence, staffing, 
                programming, and resourcing of operations of the 
                Department of State, the United States Agency for 
                International Development, the United States 
                International Development Finance Corporation, the 
                Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the United States 
                Commercial Service in the Pacific Islands, including 
                programming and resourcing not specifically allocated 
                to the Pacific Islands;
                    (B) a description of the gaps in the presence 
                described under subparagraph (A), including unfilled 
                full-time equivalent positions;
                    (C) a description of the 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; 
                        and
                    (D) a strategy to expand and elevate such presence 
                to fill such gaps, including by--
                            (i) establishing new missions;
                            (ii) expanding participation in regional 
                        forums; and
                            (iii) elevating United States 
                        representation in regional forums.
    (c) Authority To Enhance Diplomatic and Economic Engagement.--The 
Secretary 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 shall submit a regional development 
cooperation strategy for the Pacific Islands to the appropriate 
congressional committees.

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

    (a) In General.--The Secretary 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) Elements.--The plan required under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) require consultation and coordination with existing 
        regional law enforcement entities, including the Pacific 
        Islands Chiefs of Police and civil society, including entities 
        that focus on human rights and specialize in victim-centered 
        approaches; and
            (2) consider the costs of implementation, effectiveness, 
        and capacity of the Pacific Islands to participate in the ILEA 
        program.
    (c) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall brief the appropriate 
congressional committees regarding the plan developed pursuant to 
subsection (a).

SEC. 103. SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, with the concurrence of the 
        Secretary of Defense, and in coordination with the Secretary of 
        Homeland Security, shall develop and implement a comprehensive 
        strategy for providing assistance to 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 working 
                toward operational coordination and interoperability 
                among Pacific Island maritime security forces, 
                including through regional fusion centers.
            (2) Programs and authorities described.--The strategy 
        required under paragraph (1) shall build on 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 subparagraphs (B), (C), and (E) of 
        paragraph (2) for purposes of carrying out the strategy 
        required under this subsection.
    (b) Elements.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) seek to preserve peace and regional stability in the 
        Pacific Islands; and
            (2) consider and seek to build upon (without duplicating) 
        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 a report 
        that contains the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (a) 
        to--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate;
                    (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives;
                    (E) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
                Representatives; and
                    (F) the Committee on Transportation and 
                Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required under 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of the security challenges in the 
                Pacific Islands;
                    (B) an analysis of demonstrated needs of the 
                Pacific Islands for assistance, including excess 
                defense, 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 training and sustainment programs 
                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, including--
                            (i) an assessment of additional resourcing 
                        needs to enhance operational capacity; and
                            (ii) a plan to improve on such programs and 
                        operations;
                    (H) a review of existing National Guard State 
                Partnership programs with the Pacific Islands, 
                including--
                            (i) an assessment of additional 
                        opportunities for leveraging such programs to 
                        address law enforcement, disaster relief and 
                        emergency management, and related priorities; 
                        and
                            (ii) a plan to expand, as appropriate, 
                        existing and new National Guard State 
                        Partnership Programs in the Pacific Islands 
                        region;
                    (I) a review of current efforts and progress in 
                removing unexploded ordnance in the Pacific Islands, 
                including an assessment of additional resources 
                needed--
                            (i) to ensure continued progress with such 
                        efforts; and
                            (ii) 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, including an assessment of 
                opportunities for the United States to participate in 
                such efforts by allocating staff and supplying 
                resources;
                    (K) measures to evaluate success for the strategy; 
                and
                    (L) a detailed assessment of the level of 
                appropriations that will be required to achieve the 
                objectives for the strategy in future years.

SEC. 104. COUNTERING TRANSNATIONAL CRIME.

    (a) Ratification of International Legal Instruments.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall prioritize efforts to 
        assist the Pacific Islands in ratifying and implementing 
        international legal conventions related to transnational crime, 
        including--
                    (A) the Convention on International Trade in 
                Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora, done at 
                Washington March 3, 1973 (27 UST 1087; TIAS 8429);
                    (B) the Agreement on Port State Measures to 
                Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and 
                Unregulated Fishing, done at Rome November 22, 2009, 
                and entered into force June 5, 2016; and
                    (C) relevant protocols supplementing the United 
                Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized 
                Crime, done at New York November 15, 2000, including--
                            (i) the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and 
                        Punish Trafficking in Person, Especially Women 
                        and Children (commonly known as the ``Palermo 
                        Protocol''), entered into force December 25, 
                        2003; and
                            (ii) the Protocol Against the Smuggling of 
                        Migrants by Land, Sea, and Air, entered into 
                        force January 28, 2004.
            (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 shall submit a report 
        to the appropriate congressional committees regarding--
                    (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) the plans of the United States for assisting 
                countries that have yet to fully ratify such 
                conventions with their respective ratification efforts.
    (b) Updates of Certain Reports.--The Secretary, in coordination 
with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall identify and update 
existing reports regarding 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, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal 
        agencies, shall submit a report that identifies countries of 
        the Pacific Islands that are countries of concern with respect 
        to illegal logging and associated trade to--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Finance of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include a description of--
                    (A) 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) 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; and
                    (C) 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 Amendments 
                of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.), to reduce the impacts 
                of illicit logging.
    (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) 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 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 under 
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 that complementary programs benefit the 
        Pacific Islands to the maximum extent practicable.
    (b) Formal Consultative Process.--The Secretary 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 shall 
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees 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 1 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 referred to in 
        paragraph (1); and
            (4) a review of the formal consultative process required 
        under 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 socioeconomic 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 United 
        States Trade Representative shall submit a report containing 
        the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (b) to--
                    (A) the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required under 
        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 nontariff 
                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 a briefing to the congressional 
        committees referred to in subsection (c)(1) regarding 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 under 
        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.

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

    (a) In General.--The Administrator, in coordination with the 
Secretary, 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 
pursuant to subsection (a) 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 intraregional 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) United States Commercial Service Presence.--The Secretary of 
Commerce shall expand the presence of the United States 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--
            (1) to explore opportunities for United States private 
        sector investment;
            (2)(A) to examine regulations in host countries in the 
        Pacific Islands that may hinder foreign direct investment, 
        including regulations related to human rights, labor rights, 
        and environmental protection; and
            (B) to provide technical assistance when requested by such 
        host countries; and
            (3) to 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 2023 through 2027 
to carry out this section.

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

    (a) In General.--The Administrator 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 Pacific Islands 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 a 
        report regarding the program developed pursuant to this section 
        to--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
                of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
                of Representatives.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required under 
        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.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $40,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2023 through 2027 
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 by reopening 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, in part, to promote 
        world peace and friendship 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 a 
report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes--
            (1) a comparative analysis of the presence of the Peace 
        Corps in the Pacific Islands region to other regions of the 
        world, including a cost-benefit analysis of placement in the 
        Pacific Islands region versus elsewhere;
            (2) an 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 under paragraph (3) to facilitate the expansion of 
        the Peace Corps presence in the Pacific Islands region, as 
        appropriate.

SEC. 205. PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator, in coordination with the 
Secretary, shall develop and implement a strategy to assist the Pacific 
Islands--
            (1) to improve public health outcomes; and
            (2) to build public health capacity, including in response 
        to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    (b) Conduct of Strategy.--The strategy developed pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall include--
            (1) programming, including grants, cooperative agreements, 
        and other forms of assistance that 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;
            (2) technical assistance to strengthen local health system 
        capacity and resilience in the areas of--
                    (A) good leadership and governance;
                    (B) sustainable financing;
                    (C) interoperable information systems and high 
                quality data for decision making;
                    (D) efficient medical products and supply chain 
                systems; and
                    (E) 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 a 
        report to the congressional committees referred to in section 
        203(c)(1) that contains the strategy developed pursuant to 
        subsection (a).
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required under 
        paragraph (1) shall identify--
                    (A) health care challenges, including health 
                systems strengthening, immunization, noncommunicable 
                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.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2023 through 2027 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 206. EDUCATION ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1)(A) promoting basic education in the Pacific Islands, 
        particularly in traditionally under-served communities--
                    (i) advances United States foreign policy goals; 
                and
                    (ii) requires a whole of government approach; and
            (B) 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 section 105(c)(4) 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 by--
            (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; and
            (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 2023 through 2027 
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, in coordination with the 
Administrator, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chief Executive 
Officer of the United States International Development Finance 
Corporation, shall develop and implement a strategy--
            (1) to 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) to 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) to 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 
        shall submit a report to the congressional committees referred 
        to in section 203(c)(1) regarding foreign infrastructure 
        developments in the Pacific Islands.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required under 
        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.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2023 through 2027 
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--
            (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--
            (1) media capacity building and education, such as--
                    (A) providing on-site media training tailored to 
                local needs;
                    (B) collaborating 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) routinizing 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; and
            (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 shall submit a report 
        to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the 
        implementation of this section.
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required under 
        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 2023 through 2027 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 302. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA.

    (a) In General.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
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 a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees 
        regarding the plan developed pursuant to subsection (a).
            (2) Matters to be included.--The briefing required under 
        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 2023 through 2027 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 303. GENDER EQUALITY.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--Congress--
            (1) affirms the importance of gender equality and women's 
        empowerment to United States policy in the Pacific Islands; and
            (2) recognizes the work of the existing regional frameworks 
        and platforms on gender equality.
    (b) In General.--The Secretary and the Administrator 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 and 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 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 pursuant to 
subsection (b) 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, acting through the 
        Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural 
        Affairs, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 
        committees regarding the exchange programs for the Pacific 
        Islands region.
            (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) assess the factors constraining the number and 
                frequency of International Visitor Leadership Program 
                participants from countries of the Pacific Islands;
                    (B) identify the resources that are necessary to 
                address the factors described in subparagraph (A); and
                    (C) include 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 and the Young 
                Pacific Leaders programs, to enhance inter-region 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 2023 through 2027 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 305. CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator 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 pursuant to 
        subsection (a) 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 pursuant to subsection 
        (a) 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 described 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 shall submit a 
        report to the appropriate congressional committees regarding 
        the program developed pursuant to subsection (a).
            (2) Matters to be included.--The report required under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) assess 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) identify the 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 2023 through 2027 
to carry out this section.
                                 <all>