#aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gaei ,,an ,,act ,to bolster ,united ,states engagement with the ,pacific ,islands region1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,pacific ,partnership ,act4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress as follows3 7#a7 ,the ,united ,states has longstanding and enduring cultural1 historic1 economic1 strategic1 and people-to-people connections with the ,pacific ,islands1 based on shared values1 cultural histories1 common interests1 and a commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation4 7#b7 ,successive ,united ,states administrations have recognized the critical importance of the ,pacific ,islands1 to the world in high-level strategic documents1 including the-- 7,a7 #bjae ,national ,security ,strategy1 which first declared the rebalance to ,asia and the ,pacific1 affirmed the ,united ,states as a ,pacific nation1 and paved the way for subsequent ,united ,states engagement with the ,pacific ,islands2 7,b7 #bjag ,national ,security ,strategy1 which includes a commitment to shore up fragile partner states in the ,pacific ,islands region to reduce their vulnerability to economic fluctuations and natural disasters2 7,c7 #bjai ,indo-,pacific ,strategy ,report1 which identified the ,pacific ,islands as critical to ,united ,states strategy because of our shared values1 interests1 and commitments2 7,d7 #bjbb ,indo-,pacific ,strategy ,report1 which recognized the need to engage further with the ,pacific ,islands on shared security goals2 and 7,e7 #bjbb ,strategy for ,pacific ,partnership1 which outlined goals and methods for deepening the ,united ,states partnerships with ,pacific ,island nations4 7#c7 ,the ,united ,states ,government should further develop1 expand1 and support a comprehensive and multifaceted ,united ,states policy for the ,pacific ,islands that-- 7,a7 promotes peace1 security1 and prosperity for all countries that respects the sovereignty and political independence of all nations2 7,b7 preserves the ,pacific ,ocean as a corridor for international maritime economic opportunities and growth and promotes sustainable development2 7,c7 supports regional efforts to address shared challenges1 including by strengthening resilience to natural disasters and stewardship of natural resources2 and 7,d7 strengthens democratic governance and the rule of law1 and promotes human rights and the preservation of the region's cultural heritages4 7#d7 ,the ,united ,states should support the vision1 values1 and objectives of existing regional multilateral institutions and frameworks1 such as the ,pacific ,islands ,forum and the ,pacific ,community4 7#e7 ,the ,united ,states should work closely with ,united ,states allies and partners with existing relationships and interests in the ,pacific ,islands1 such as ,australia1 ,japan1 ,south ,korea1 ,new ,zealand1 and ,taiwan1 and regional institutions like the ,pacific ,islands ,forum4 #c4 ,strategy for ,pacific ,partnership 7a7 ,in general ,not later than ,january #a1 #bjbf1 and again not later than ,january #a1 #bjcj1 the ,president1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,state1 shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy entitled the ,strategy for ,pacific ,partnership 7in this section referred to as the ,strategy74 7b7 ,matters ,to be included ,the ,strategy shall include each of the following3 7#a7 ,a description of overarching goals for ,united ,states engagement in the ,pacific ,islands region1 including ,united ,states diplomatic posts1 defense posture1 and economic engagement4 7#b7 ,an assessment of threats and pressures to the ,pacific ,islands region including those caused by factors such as-- 7,a7 natural disasters2 7,b7 illegal1 unreported1 and unregulated fishing2 7,c7 non-,united ,states military presence and activity2 7,d7 developmental challenges2 7,e7 economic coercion and corruption2 and 7,f7 other factors assessed to be causing a direct risk to the ,united ,states national interests in the ,pacific ,islands4 7#c7 ,a plan to address the threats assessed pursuant to paragraph 7#b74 7#d7 ,an analysis of the needs and goals expressed by governments of the ,pacific ,islands region1 including at or through multilateral institutions1 evaluated in light of the ,united ,states national interests4 7#e7 ,a plan for the resources necessary for the ,united ,states to meet its goals in the ,pacific ,islands region4 7#f7 ,mechanisms1 including existing forums1 for coordinating and cooperating on shared goals among the following1 as appropriate3 7,a7 the governments of ,pacific ,island countries2 7,b7 regional partners in the ,pacific ,islands region1 including multilateral forums and organizations1 such as the ,pacific ,islands ,forum2 7,c7 civil society in the ,pacific ,islands2 and 7,d7 ,united ,states subnational governments in the ,pacific4 7c7 ,consultation ,in developing the ,strategy1 the ,president should consult1 as appropriate1 with-- 7#a7 relevant ,united ,states governmental agencies2 7#b7 regional organizations1 such as the ,pacific ,islands ,forum1 the ,pacific ,islands ,development ,program1 the ,pacific ,community1 the ,forum ,fisheries ,agency1 and the ,secretariat of the ,pacific ,regional ,environment ,programme2 7#c7 the governments of the countries in the ,pacific ,islands2 7#d7 civil society stakeholders2 7#e7 ,united ,states allies and partners2 and 7#f7 ,united ,states ,pacific territories and ,states4 #d4 ,extension of diplomatic immunities to the pacific islands forum ,the provisions of the ,international ,organizations ,immunities ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bhh et seq47 may be extended to the ,pacific ,islands ,forum in the same manner1 to the same extent1 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 participation4 #e4 ,reports on implementation 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of submission of a strategy detailed in section #c7;a71 the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an implementation report-- 7#a7 with a proposed timeline for implementation of the strategy described in section #c7;a7 of this ,act2 7#b7 detailing the assessed number of full-time equivalent positions and contractors needed to achieve the goals laid out in the strategy described in section #c7;a7 of this ,act2 7#c7 describing any institutional or structural re-organizations suggested to help carry out the strategy described in section #c7;a7 of this ,act2 and 7#d7 if necessary1 identifying additional funding needed to support resource levels to carry out the strategy described in #c7;a74 7b7 ,consolidation ,a report required by this subsection may be consolidated with any other report required to be submitted by the same ,federal official on the same or similar date as the requirement under this subsection4 #f4 ,allies and partners in the pacific islands region 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 and the relevant heads of other ,federal departments and agencies1 should consult and coordinate with allies and partners in the ,pacific ,islands region1 including ,australia1 ,japan1 ,new ,zealand1 ,taiwan1 and regional institutions1 such as the ,pacific ,islands ,forum1 the ,pacific ,islands ,development ,program1 the ,pacific ,community and ,secretariat for the ,pacific ,regional ,environment ,programme1 with respect to programs to provide assistance to the ,pacific ,islands1 including for purposes of-- 7#a7 deconflicting programming2 7#b7 ensuring that any programming does not adversely affect the absorptive capacity of the ,pacific ,islands2 7#c7 ensuring complementary programs benefit the ,pacific ,islands to the maximum extent practicable2 and 7#d7 ensuring that programming aligns with regional development goals to promote a shared vision for the future of the ,pacific ,islands4 7b7 ,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 programming4 #g4 ,reporting 7a7 ,updates of certain reports ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with the heads of other ,federal departments and agencies as appropriate1 shall annually update the reports listed in subsection 7b7 to include within the scope of such reports a regional discussion of transnational crime affecting the ,pacific ,islands4 7b7 ,reports listed ,the reports listed in this subsection are the following3 7#a7 ,the ,international ,narcotics ,control ,strategy report required by section #dhi of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bbia;h74 7#b7 ,the ,improving ,international ,fisheries ,management report required by section #fjg of title ,,vi of the ,fisheries ,act of #aiie 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahbf;h74 7#c7 ,the ,trafficking in ,persons report submitted under section #aaj of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gajg74 #h4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate4 7#b7 ,pacific ,islands2 ,pacific islands region ,the term ,pacific ,islands and ,pacific ,islands region mean the nations1 territories1 and other jurisdictions in the ,pacific ,ocean within the broad groupings of ,melanesia1 ,micronesia1 and ,polynesia4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,september #i1 #bjbd4;,clerk4