,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dadh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #ag1 #bjbd,ms4 ,cortez ,masto 7for herself and ,ms4 ,ernst7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,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 that-- 7#a7 the ,united ,states has longstanding and enduring cultural1 historic1 economic1 strategic1 and people-to-people connections with the ,pacific ,islands region1 based on shared values1 cultural histories1 common interests1 and a commitment to fostering mutual understanding and cooperation2 7#b7 successive ,presidential administrations have recognized the critical importance of the ,pacific ,islands region to the world in high-level strategic documents1 including-- 7,a7 the #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 ,islands region2 7,b7 the #bjag ,national ,security ,strategy1 which included 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 the #bjai ,indo-,pacific ,strategy ,report1 which identified the ,pacific ,islands region as critical to the ,u4,s4 strategy because of our shared values1 interests1 and commitments2 7,d7 the #bjbb ,indo-,pacific ,strategy1 which recognized the need to engage further with the ,pacific ,islands region on shared security goals2 and 7,e7 the #bjbb ,pacific ,partnership ,strategy1 which outlined goals and methods for deepening ,united ,states partnerships with ,pacific ,island nations2 7#c7 the ,united ,states ,government should further develop1 expand1 and support a comprehensive and multifaceted ,united ,states policy for the ,pacific ,islands region that-- 7,a7 promotes peace1 security1 and prosperity for all nations in a manner 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 law and promotes human rights and the preservation of the region's cultural heritages2 7#d7 the ,united ,states should support the vision1 values1 and objectives of existing regional multilateral institutions1 such as the ,pacific ,islands ,forum and the ,pacific ,community1 and frameworks including-- 7,a7 the #bjjj ,biketawa ,declaration2 7,b7 the #bjad ,framework for ,pacific ,regionalism2 7,c7 the #bjah ,boe ,declaration on ,regional ,security2 7,d7 the ,boe ,declaration ,action ,plan2 and 7,e7 the #bjej ,strategy for the ,blue ,pacific ,continent2 and 7#e7 the ,united ,states should work closely with allies and partners of the ,united ,states that have existing relationships and interests in the ,pacific ,islands region1 such as ,australia1 ,japan1 ,south ,korea1 ,new ,zealand1 and ,taiwan1 and regional institutions such as the ,pacific ,islands ,forum4 #c4 ,strategy for ,pacific ,partnership 7a7 ,in general ,not later than ,january #a1 #bjbf1 and every #d years thereafter1 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 with respect to the diplomatic posts1 defense posture1 and economic engagement of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,an assessment of threats to and pressures on the ,pacific ,islands region1 including such threats and pressures caused by factors such as-- 7,a7 natural disasters2 7,b7 illegal1 unreported1 and unregulated fishing2 7,c7 the presence and activity of non-,united ,states militaries2 7,d7 developmental challenges2 7,e7 economic coercion and corruption2 and 7,f7 other factors causing a direct risk to the national interests of the ,united ,states in the ,pacific ,islands region1 as determined by the ,president4 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 nations in the ,pacific ,islands region1 including at or through multilateral institutions1 evaluated in light of the national interests of the ,united ,states4 7#e7 ,a plan for the resources necessary for the ,united ,states to meet its goals in the ,pacific ,islands region4 7#f7 ,an identification of mechanisms1 including existing forums1 for coordinating and cooperating on shared goals among the following1 as appropriate3 7,a7 ,the governments of nations in the ,pacific ,islands region4 7,b7 ,regional partners in the ,pacific ,islands region1 including multilateral forums and organizations such as the ,pacific ,islands ,forum4 7,c7 ,civil society in the ,pacific ,islands region4 7,d7 ,subnational governments of the ,united ,states in the ,pacific4 7c7 ,consultation ,in developing the ,strategy1 the ,president shall consult1 as the ,president considers appropriate1 with-- 7#a7 such governmental agencies of the ,united ,states as the ,president considers relevant2 7#b7 regional organizations 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 nations in the ,pacific ,islands region2 7#d7 stakeholders from civil society2 7#e7 allies and partners of the ,united ,states2 and 7#f7 ,states and territories of the ,united ,states in the ,pacific4 7d7 ,report on implementation 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date on which the ,strategy is submitted1 the ,president shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the implementation of the ,strategy4 7#b7 ,matters ,to be included ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a proposed timeline for the implementation of the ,strategy4 7,b7 ,the number of full-time equivalent positions and contractors needed to achieve the goals included in the ,strategy4 7,c7 ,a description of any institutional or structural reorganizations the ,president recommends to help carry out the ,strategy4 7,d7 ,an identification of any additional funding needed to carry out the ,strategy4 7#c7 ,consolidation ,the report required by paragraph 7#a7 may be consolidated with any other report required to be submitted by the ,president on the date described in such paragraph or a similar date4 #d4 ,extension of diplomatic privileges1 exemptions1 and 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 ,consultation and coordination with allies and partners in the ,pacific ,islands region 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state and such other heads of ,federal departments and agencies as the ,president considers relevant1 shall consult and coordinate with allies and partners of the ,united ,states in the ,pacific ,islands region1 including ,australia1 ,japan1 ,new ,zealand1 ,taiwan1 and regional institutions such as the ,pacific ,islands ,forum1 the ,pacific ,islands ,development ,program1 the ,pacific ,community1 and the ,secretariat of the ,pacific ,regional ,environment ,programme1 with respect to programs to provide assistance to the ,pacific ,islands region1 including for purposes of-- 7#a7 deconflicting programming2 7#b7 ensuring that any programming does not adversely affect the absorptive capacity of the ,pacific ,islands region2 7#c7 ensuring complementary programs benefit the ,pacific ,islands region to the maximum extent practicable2 and 7#d7 ensuring that programming aligns with regional development goals1 as outlined by documents such as the #bjej ,strategy for the ,blue ,pacific ,continent1 in order to support sustainable development and promote a shared vision for the future of the ,pacific ,islands region4 7b7 ,formal consultative process ,the ,president shall establish a formal consultative process with the allies and partners described in subsection 7a7 for coordination with respect to the programs described in such subsection4 #f4 ,reports on transnational crime affecting the ,pacific ,islands region 7a7 ,updates of certain reports ,the ,secretary of ,state1 in coordination with such other heads of ,federal departments and agencies as the ,secretary considers appropriate1 shall annually update the reports listed in subsection 7b7 to include a discussion of transnational crime affecting the ,pacific ,islands region4 7b7 ,reports listed ,the reports listed in this subsection are the following3 7#a7 ,the international narcotics control strategy report required by section #dhi7;a7 of the ,foreign ,assistance ,act of #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bbia;h7a774 7#b7 ,the report on international compliance with fisheries requirements required by section #fjg of the ,high ,seas ,driftnet ,fishing ,moratorium ,protection ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ahbf;h74 7#c7 ,the report on trafficking in persons required by section #aaj7;b77#a7 of the ,trafficking ,victims ,protection ,act of #bjjj 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #gajg7;b77#a774 #g4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#b7 ,pacific ,islands region ,the term ,pacific ,islands region means the nations1 territories1 and other jurisdictions in the ,pacific ,ocean within ,melanesia1 ,micronesia1 and ,polynesia4