May 13, 2025
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
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 as follows:
(1)
The United States has longstanding and enduring cultural, historic, economic, strategic, and people-to-people connections with the Pacific Islands, based on shared values, cultural histories, common interests, and a commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.
(2)
Successive United States administrations have recognized the critical importance of the Pacific Islands, to the world in high-level strategic documents, including the—
(A)
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;
(B)
2017 National Security Strategy, which includes a commitment to shore up fragile partner states in the Pacific Islands region to reduce their vulnerability to economic fluctuations and natural disasters
;
(C)
2019 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report, which identified the Pacific Islands as critical to United States strategy because of our shared values, interests, and commitments
;
(D)
2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy Report, which recognized the need to engage further with the Pacific Islands on shared security goals; and
(E)
2022 Strategy for Pacific Partnership, which outlined goals and methods for deepening the 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 that—
(A)
promotes peace, security, and prosperity for all countries 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 internationally recognized human rights and the preservation of the region’s cultural heritages.
(4)
The United States should collaborate closely with existing regional multilateral institutions and frameworks, such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community.
(5)
The United States should work closely with United States allies and partners with existing relationships and interests in the Pacific Islands, such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Taiwan, and regional institutions like the Pacific Islands Forum.
Sec. 3. Strategy for Pacific Partnership
(a) In general
Not later than January 1, 2026, and again not later than January 1, 2030, 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 United States diplomatic posts, defense posture, and economic engagement.
(2)
An assessment of threats and pressures to the Pacific Islands region including those caused by factors such as—
(A)
natural disasters;
(B)
illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing;
(C)
non-United States military presence and activity;
(D)
developmental challenges;
(E)
economic coercion and corruption; and
(F)
other factors assessed to be causing a direct risk to the United States national interests in the Pacific Islands.
(3)
A plan to address the threats assessed pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4)
A plan for the resources necessary for the United States to meet its goals in the Pacific Islands region.
(5)
Mechanisms, including existing forums, for coordinating and cooperating on shared goals among the following, as appropriate:
(A)
the governments of Pacific Island countries;
(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; and
(D)
United States subnational governments in the Pacific.
(c) Consultation
In developing the Strategy, the President should consult, as appropriate, with—
(1)
relevant United States governmental agencies;
(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 the countries in the Pacific Islands;
(4)
civil society stakeholders;
(5)
United States allies and partners; and
(6)
United States Pacific territories and States.
Sec. 4. Extension of diplomatic 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. Allies and partners in the Pacific Islands region
(a) In general
The President, in consultation with the Secretary of State, and the relevant heads of other Federal departments and agencies, should consult and coordinate with allies and partners 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 Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, with respect to programs to provide assistance to the Pacific Islands, including for purposes of—
(1)
deconflicting programming;
(2)
ensuring that any programming does not adversely affect the absorptive capacity of the Pacific Islands;
(3)
ensuring complementary programs benefit the Pacific Islands to the maximum extent practicable; and
(4)
ensuring that programming aligns with regional development goals to promote a shared vision for the future of the Pacific Islands.
(b) Formal consultative process
The President should establish a formal consultative process with such regional allies and partners to coordinate with respect to such programs and future-years programming.
Sec. 6. Reporting
(a) Updates of certain reports
(1) In general
The Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall annually update the reports listed in paragraph (2) to include within the scope of such reports a regional discussion of transnational crime affecting the Pacific Islands.
(2) Reports listed
The reports listed in this paragraph are the following:
(A)
The International Narcotics Control Strategy report required by section 489 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2291h).
(B)
The Improving International Fisheries Management report required by section 607 of title VI of the Fisheries Act of 1995 (16 U.S.C. 1826h).
(C)
The Trafficking in Persons report submitted under section 110 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107).
(b) Modification to report on Indo-Pacific region
Section 5595(c) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 3393) is amended—
(1)
by striking paragraph (1) and redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (1);
(2)
in paragraph (1), as so redesignated, by striking the 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy, or successor documents,
and inserting any relevant guidance documents
; and
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (1), as so redesignated, the following:
(2)
Implementing any relevant guidance documents that set forth the United States Government strategy toward the Pacific Islands region.
Sec. 7. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(B)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(2) Pacific Islands; Pacific islands region
The term Pacific Islands and Pacific Islands region mean the nations, territories, and other jurisdictions in the Pacific Ocean within the broad groupings of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.