[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10206 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10206

  To support the strengthening of civil society organizations in the 
                Pacific Islands, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 21, 2024

 Mr. Case (for himself, Mr. Moylan, Ms. Porter, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tokuda, 
   Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Sherman, Mr. 
  Norcross, Mr. Gottheimer, and Mr. Vargas) introduced the following 
      bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To support the strengthening of civil society organizations in 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Engage the Pacific Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) in the Pacific Islands region, civil society 
        organizations are critical components of overall cohesion and 
        support;
            (2) in pursuit of a Pacific-led approach to regional 
        assistance, it is critical that the United States engage with 
        and support the strengthening of civil society organizations in 
        the Pacific Islands region, including faith-based 
        organizations, environmental organizations, educational 
        organizations, and media organizations;
            (3) in order to maximize the effectiveness of United States 
        engagement in and support of the Pacific Islands region, the 
        United States must ensure the dissemination of information both 
        generally and through civil society organizations;
            (4) in order to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, it is 
        necessary to ``bolster freedom of information and expression 
        and combat foreign interference by supporting investigative 
        journalism, promoting media literacy and pluralistic and 
        independent media, and increasing collaboration to address 
        threats from information manipulation'', as the White House 
        2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy states;
            (5) as stated in the statement released after the 2024 
        Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, ``the United States is 
        committed to working with Pacific Island countries' 
        governments, likeminded partners, and the private sector to 
        empower and support Pacific economic resilience'', and one 
        avenue to achieve such goals is for the United States to 
        support capacity by Pacific Island countries' workforces to 
        maximize the benefits of national investment and business 
        opportunities; and
            (6) American Spaces, a program of the Department of State, 
        including American Corners and American Centers, contribute to 
        local society and boost United States presence in the region by 
        facilitating United States engagement in collaboration with 
        civil society organizations where residents can learn about the 
        United States, engage in English language learning 
        opportunities, learn about opportunities to study in the United 
        States, and engage in various in-person and virtual 
        programming, which facilitates the relationship between the 
        United States and the Pacific Islands.

SEC. 3. COMMITTEE ON ENGAGEMENT WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE 
              PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development and the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a committee, 
to be known as the ``Committee on Engagement with Civil Society 
Organizations in the Pacific Islands'' (referred to in this subsection 
as the ``Committee'') for the purposes of--
            (1) coordinating interagency engagement with civil society 
        organizations in the Pacific Islands;
            (2) coordinating collaboration with United States partners 
        and allies on engagement with civil society organizations in 
        the Pacific Islands; and
            (3) aligning such engagement with the needs of the Pacific 
        Islands and the national security priorities of the United 
        States.
    (b) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Committee shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a strategy on engagement with civil society 
organizations in the Pacific Islands, including--
            (1) a review of current efforts across the United States 
        Government to engage with such organizations, including the 
        role of such efforts in the delivery of foreign aid to 
        communities;
            (2) a plan for engagement across the United States 
        Government with such organizations;
            (3) an assessment of the importance of engagement by the 
        United States with such organizations and how such engagement 
        aligns with the advancement of Indo-Pacific and Pacific Islands 
        priorities within the National Security Strategy, Indo-Pacific 
        Strategy, and Pacific Partnership Strategy;
            (4) an analysis of interagency cooperation regarding United 
        States engagement with such organizations and specific 
        recommendations for expansion and improvement of such 
        cooperation;
            (5) an analysis of the resources needed to bolster and 
        streamline United States engagement with such organizations, 
        including any additional statutory authorities or 
        appropriations of funds;
            (6) an analysis of any engagement conducted by a country 
        other than the United States with such organizations, including 
        engagement that may undermine civil society in the Pacific 
        Islands; and
            (7) an assessment of opportunities for greater coordination 
        between the United States and like-minded partners and allies.

SEC. 4. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development and the Secretary of 
Defense, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
strategy for strategic communications in the Pacific Islands, 
including--
            (1) a review of such communications, including United 
        States interagency and multilateral efforts with like-minded 
        partners;
            (2) an assessment of the resources being used for such 
        communications, including the number of staff devoted to such 
        communications, the location of such staff, and the funds 
        appropriated for such communications;
            (3) an assessment of any additional resources needed for 
        such communications;
            (4) an assessment of how United States engagement is being 
        perceived in the Pacific Islands and how such perception might 
        be improved;
            (5) an assessment of how engagement by other actors is 
        being perceived in the Pacific Islands; and
            (6) specific recommendations for the expansion and 
        improvement of such communications.

SEC. 5. INDO-PACIFIC MEDIA ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall continue to implement 
and develop the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program to promote a 
robust, free media in the Pacific Islands and strengthen the capacity 
of media outlets and journalists in the Indo-Pacific region to develop 
their business strategies, enhance their ability to conduct independent 
journalism, and counter disinformation.
    (b) Goals.--The goals of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program 
shall be to accomplish the following:
            (1) Increase the understanding of prevalent misinformation 
        and disinformation narratives.
            (2) Develop the capacity of professional, independent media 
        organizations and journalists to develop and implement media 
        sustainability plans, improve business operations, and increase 
        the quality and quantity of published information and news.
            (3) Expand media outlets' access to resources, content-
        sharing agreements, and equipment, so that such outlets can 
        provide quality content.
            (4) Develop the technical and investigative skills of 
        journalists to conduct pre-bunking, fact-checking, and 
        debunking to address misinformation and disinformation.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
heads of other Federal departments or agencies, as appropriate, shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program and the engagement of the United 
States with the free media in the Pacific Islands, including the 
following:
            (1) An overview of the media and journalism landscape in 
        the Pacific Islands.
            (2) A review of the efforts and planned efforts of the 
        United States Government to strengthen free and independent 
        media in the Pacific Islands, including a description of the 
        objectives, means of implementation, and measures of success of 
        the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program.
            (3) An assessment of challenges to a free and open media in 
        the Pacific Islands and to the implementation of the Indo-
        Pacific Media Advancement Program, including strategies to 
        mitigate such challenges.
            (4) An assessment of any additional authorities or 
        resources necessary for more robust United States engagement to 
        promote a free media in the Pacific Islands and greater 
        implementation of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2030 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 6. PACIFIC ISLANDS TRADES PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the United States Agency 
for International Development shall establish a program, to be known as 
the ``Pacific Islands Training and Resources for Advancement in 
Development, Education, and Skills Program'' or the ``Pacific Islands 
TRADES Program'', to, through scholarships, training from such agency, 
and grants to partner organizations, assist with workforce development 
in the Pacific Islands to--
            (1) increase the capacity of the local workforce through 
        medium- and long-term training and technical assistance in 
        sectors of critical importance to the Pacific Islands, such as 
        construction, tourism, boat maintenance, and fisheries;
            (2) balance maximizing workforce retention in the Pacific 
        Islands with any necessary training outside of the Pacific 
        Islands, with a focus on avoiding exacerbating outward labor 
        flows;
            (3) keep Pacific priorities in mind by coordinating with 
        like-minded allies and partners and working with local 
        organizations and governments; and
            (4) provide resources for technical and management skills 
        development to adequately prepare the workforce of the Pacific 
        Islands for any potential incoming investment.
    (b) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the Pacific Islands 
TRADES Program, including the following:
            (1) A comprehensive overview of such program.
            (2) An identification of the office overseeing such 
        program.
            (3) A list of any partner organizations involved in such 
        program.
            (4) A description of the training and workforce development 
        planned as part of such program.
            (5) An assessment of the impact of such program.
            (6) Any additional resources needed to implement such 
        program.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2030 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 7. AMERICAN SPACES IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

    Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of State shall develop and submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the state of and plans for 
American Spaces in the Pacific Islands, including--
            (1) an overview of American Spaces in the Pacific Islands 
        (including American Corners and American Centers), including an 
        assessment of the current and historical programming and 
        resources of American Spaces;
            (2) a plan for future American Spaces in Pacific Island 
        countries, including any new development or expansion of 
        existing American Spaces, and a description of any additional 
        resources needed for such expansion; and
            (3) an assessment of the impact of American Spaces on 
        American foreign policy and national security interests, 
        including in comparison to the similar initiatives of other 
        actors.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) American spaces.--The term ``American Spaces'' means 
        public diplomacy facilities operated or supported by the 
        Department of State that provide digitally enhanced physical 
        platforms for effective engagement with foreign audiences in 
        support of the foreign policy objectives of the United States.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
        Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations 
        and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
            (3) Civil society organization.--The term ``civil society 
        organization'' means a non-governmental community organization, 
        including any faith-based organization, media organization, 
        environmental organization, and educational organization.
            (3) Pacific islands.--The term ``Pacific Islands'' means 
        the following:
                    (A) Niue.
                    (B) The Cook Islands.
                    (C) The Federated States of Micronesia.
                    (D) The Independent State of Papua New Guinea.
                    (E) The Independent State of Samoa.
                    (F) The Kingdom of Tonga.
                    (G) The Republic of Fiji.
                    (H) The Republic of Kiribati.
                    (I) The Republic of the Marshall Islands.
                    (J) The Republic of Nauru.
                    (K) The Republic of Palau.
                    (L) The Republic of Vanuatu.
                    (M) The Solomon Islands.
                    (N) Tuvalu.
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