[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4148 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4148
To bolster United States engagement with the Pacific Islands region,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 17, 2024
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To bolster United States engagement with the Pacific Islands region,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Pacific Partnership Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States has longstanding and enduring
cultural, historic, economic, strategic, and people-to-people
connections with the Pacific Islands region, based on shared
values, cultural histories, common interests, and a commitment
to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation;
(2) successive Presidential administrations have recognized
the critical importance of the Pacific Islands region to the
world in high-level strategic documents, including--
(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 region;
(B) the 2017 National Security Strategy, which
included 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 region as ``critical to
the U.S. strategy because of our shared values,
interests, and commitments'';
(D) the 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy, which
recognized the need to engage further with the Pacific
Islands region on shared security goals; and
(E) the 2022 Pacific Partnership Strategy, which
outlined goals and methods for deepening United States
partnerships with Pacific Island nations;
(3) the United States Government should further develop,
expand, and support a comprehensive and multifaceted United
States policy for the Pacific Islands region that--
(A) promotes peace, security, and prosperity for
all nations in a manner that respects the sovereignty
and political independence of all nations;
(B) preserves the Pacific Ocean as a corridor for
international maritime economic opportunities and
growth and promotes sustainable development;
(C) supports regional efforts to address shared
challenges, including by strengthening resilience to
natural disasters and stewardship of natural resources;
and
(D) strengthens democratic governance and the rule
of law and promotes human rights and the preservation
of the region's cultural heritages;
(4) the United States should support the vision, values,
and objectives of existing regional multilateral institutions,
such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community,
and frameworks including--
(A) the 2000 Biketawa Declaration;
(B) the 2014 Framework for Pacific Regionalism;
(C) the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security;
(D) the Boe Declaration Action Plan; and
(E) the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific
Continent; and
(5) the United States should work closely with allies and
partners of the United States that have existing relationships
and interests in the Pacific Islands region, such as Australia,
Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan, and regional
institutions such as the Pacific Islands Forum.
SEC. 3. STRATEGY FOR PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP.
(a) In General.--Not later than January 1, 2026, and every 4 years
thereafter, the President, in coordination with the Secretary of State,
shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a
strategy entitled the ``Strategy for Pacific Partnership'' (in this
section referred to as the ``Strategy'').
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The Strategy shall include each of the
following:
(1) A description of overarching goals for United States
engagement in the Pacific Islands region, including with
respect to the diplomatic posts, defense posture, and economic
engagement of the United States.
(2) An assessment of threats to and pressures on the
Pacific Islands region, including such threats and pressures
caused by factors such as--
(A) natural disasters;
(B) illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing;
(C) the presence and activity of non-United States
militaries;
(D) developmental challenges;
(E) economic coercion and corruption; and
(F) other factors causing a direct risk to the
national interests of the United States in the Pacific
Islands region, as determined by the President.
(3) A plan to address the threats assessed pursuant to
paragraph (2).
(4) An analysis of the needs and goals expressed by
governments of nations in the Pacific Islands region, including
at or through multilateral institutions, evaluated in light of
the national interests of the United States.
(5) A plan for the resources necessary for the United
States to meet its goals in the Pacific Islands region.
(6) An identification of mechanisms, including existing
forums, for coordinating and cooperating on shared goals among
the following, as appropriate:
(A) The governments of nations in the Pacific
Islands region.
(B) Regional partners in the Pacific Islands
region, including multilateral forums and organizations
such as the Pacific Islands Forum.
(C) Civil society in the Pacific Islands region.
(D) Subnational governments of the United States in
the Pacific.
(c) Consultation.--In developing the Strategy, the President shall
consult, as the President considers appropriate, with--
(1) such governmental agencies of the United States as the
President considers relevant;
(2) regional organizations such as the Pacific Islands
Forum, the Pacific Islands Development Program, the Pacific
Community, the Forum Fisheries Agency, and the Secretariat of
the Pacific Regional Environment Programme;
(3) the governments of nations in the Pacific Islands
region;
(4) stakeholders from civil society;
(5) allies and partners of the United States; and
(6) States and territories of the United States in the
Pacific.
(d) Report on Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the Strategy is submitted, the President shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report on the
implementation of the Strategy.
(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) A proposed timeline for the implementation of
the Strategy.
(B) The number of full-time equivalent positions
and contractors needed to achieve the goals included in
the Strategy.
(C) A description of any institutional or
structural reorganizations the President recommends to
help carry out the Strategy.
(D) An identification of any additional funding
needed to carry out the Strategy.
(3) Consolidation.--The report required by paragraph (1)
may be consolidated with any other report required to be
submitted by the President on the date described in such
paragraph or a similar date.
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES, EXEMPTIONS, AND IMMUNITIES
TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM.
The provisions of the International Organizations Immunities Act
(22 U.S.C. 288 et seq.) may be extended to the Pacific Islands Forum in
the same manner, to the same extent, and subject to the same conditions
as such provisions may be extended to a public international
organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any
treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such
participation or making an appropriation for such participation.
SEC. 5. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION WITH ALLIES AND PARTNERS IN THE
PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION.
(a) In General.--The President, in consultation with the Secretary
of State and such other heads of Federal departments and agencies as
the President considers relevant, shall consult and coordinate with
allies and partners of the United States in the Pacific Islands region,
including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and regional
institutions such as the Pacific Islands Forum, the Pacific Islands
Development Program, the Pacific Community, and the Secretariat of the
Pacific Regional Environment Programme, with respect to programs to
provide assistance to the Pacific Islands region, including for
purposes of--
(1) deconflicting programming;
(2) ensuring that any programming does not adversely affect
the absorptive capacity of the Pacific Islands region;
(3) ensuring complementary programs benefit the Pacific
Islands region to the maximum extent practicable; and
(4) ensuring that programming aligns with regional
development goals, as outlined by documents such as the 2050
Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, in order to support
sustainable development and promote a shared vision for the
future of the Pacific Islands region.
(b) Formal Consultative Process.--The President shall establish a
formal consultative process with the allies and partners described in
subsection (a) for coordination with respect to the programs described
in such subsection.
SEC. 6. REPORTS ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME AFFECTING THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
REGION.
(a) Updates of Certain Reports.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with such other heads of Federal departments and agencies
as the Secretary considers appropriate, shall annually update the
reports listed in subsection (b) to include a discussion of
transnational crime affecting the Pacific Islands region.
(b) Reports Listed.--The reports listed in this subsection are the
following:
(1) The international narcotics control strategy report
required by section 489(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291h(a)).
(2) The report on international compliance with fisheries
requirements required by section 607 of the High Seas Driftnet
Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1826h).
(3) The report on trafficking in persons required by
section 110(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107(b)(1)).
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--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.
(2) Pacific islands region.--The term ``Pacific Islands
region'' means the nations, territories, and other
jurisdictions in the Pacific Ocean within Melanesia,
Micronesia, and Polynesia.
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