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Title II — Development initiatives

H.R. 7797 · 116th Congress · Jul 27, 2020 · Lineage

II Development initiatives

Sec. 201 USAID presence in the Pacific Islands

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on—
(1)
the Agency’s presence, staffing, programming, and resourcing of operations in the Pacific Islands;
(2)
gaps in such presence, including unfilled full-time equivalent positions, limitations and challenges due to staffing and support of Pacific Islands operations from the USAID office in Manila, and gaps in programming and resourcing;
(3)
limitations imposed by such gaps on United States strategic objectives; and
(4)
a strategy to expand such presence, including by establishing new missions or offices.

Sec. 202 Trade development with the Pacific Islands

(a)
Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that the United States should expand bilateral and multilateral trade with the Pacific Islands to promote development and mutual prosperity, particularly through the negotiation of trade and investment framework agreements with the Pacific Islands.
(b)
Strategy— The United States Trade Representative shall develop and implement a strategy to expand and diversify trade and promote regional development with the Pacific Islands, including through negotiating trade and investment framework agreements and free trade agreements, extending additional trade preferences, and other means.
(c)
Report—
(1)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Trade Representative shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the strategy developed under this section.
(2)
Matters to be included— The report required by paragraph (1) shall—
(A)
include a plan to negotiate and enter into trade and investment framework agreements and free trade agreements with the Pacific Islands, as appropriate; and
(B)
identify opportunities to work with existing regional frameworks to increase trade and economic integration with the Pacific Islands.

Sec. 203 Trade capacity building initiative for the Pacific Islands

(a)
In general— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall develop and implement a trade capacity building initiative for the Pacific Islands.
(b)
Conduct of initiative— The initiative developed under this section shall be coordinated with existing regional efforts and regional institutions and frameworks.
(c)
Elements— The initiative developed under this section shall—
(1)
include an initial assessment of—
(A)
economic opportunities for which United States businesses, or those of other like-minded partners, would be competitive; and
(B)
legal, economic, governance, infrastructural, or other hurdles limiting United States investment in the Pacific Islands;
(2)
develop human and institutional capacity and infrastructure across multiple sectors of economies, including digital connectivity and cybersecurity;
(3)
assist with development and implementation of regional and international trade agreements, including the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade Facilitation and facilitation of intra-regional trade flows;
(4)
support women-owned enterprises and gender equality; and
(5)
promote government policies that encourage free and fair competition, sound governance, and business environments conducive to economic growth.
(d)
Report—
(1)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the initiative developed under this section.
(2)
Update— The Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated report under paragraph (1) not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated $400,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section.

Sec. 204 Education and training program for natural disaster preparedness and emergency management professionals in the Pacific Islands

(a)
In general— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall develop and implement an education and training program on natural disaster prevention and preparedness for emergency management professionals in the Pacific Islands.
(b)
Conduct of program— The program developed under this section shall seek to—
(1)
leverage nongovernmental expertise in the United States, including from institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations;
(2)
integrate with and assist in the coordination of existing disaster mitigation and response plans in the region; and
(3)
cooperate with existing efforts by United States allies and partners in the region.
(c)
Report—
(1)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the program developed under this section.
(2)
Matters to be included— The report required by paragraph (1) shall include an identification of—
(A)
disaster risks in the Pacific Islands;
(B)
existing efforts by United States allies and partners to provide assistance and training for natural disaster preparedness and emergency management; and
(C)
objectives, means of implementation, and measures of success for the program.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section.

Sec. 205 Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands

(a)
Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands should be expanded and that the Peace Corps should reopen its programs in as many of the Pacific Islands as possible, including where it has previously operated but has suspended operations; and
(2)
consulting like-minded regional allies and partners, such as Australia and New Zealand, is crucial for identifying and overcoming challenges for increased Peace Corps presence in the Pacific Islands.
(b)
Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on—
(1)
the presence of the Peace Corps in the Pacific Islands; and
(2)
a strategy to expand such presence, as appropriate, including—
(A)
outcomes of consultations with regional allies and partners on areas in which cooperation can reduce factors limiting Peace Corps expansion; and
(B)
timelines for expanding and reopening programs in the Pacific Islands.

Sec. 206 Public health in the Pacific Islands

(a)
In general— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall develop and implement a strategy to improve public health in the Pacific Islands, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(b)
Conduct of strategy— The strategy developed under this section shall be coordinated with existing regional efforts and regional institutions and frameworks.
(c)
Report—
(1)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the strategy developed under this section.
(2)
Matters to be included— The report required by paragraph (1) shall include an identification of—
(A)
health care challenges, including health systems strengthening, immunization, non-communicable diseases, and gender-based violence, in the Pacific Islands;
(B)
public health challenges and needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific Islands; and
(C)
objectives, means of implementation, and measures of success for the strategy.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section.

Sec. 207 Education cooperation between the United States and the Pacific Islands

(a)
In general— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall develop and implement a strategy to improve educational outcomes in the Pacific Islands and increase educational exchange between the United States and the Pacific Islands.
(b)
Conduct of strategy— The strategy developed under this section shall be coordinated with education initiatives in the Pacific Islands, including the Pacific Regional Education Framework.
(c)
Report—
(1)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the strategy developed under this section.
(2)
Matters to be included— The report required by paragraph (1) shall include an identification of—
(A)
education challenges in the Pacific Islands; and
(B)
objectives, means of implementation, and measures of success for the strategy.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section.

Sec. 208 Climate change in the Pacific Islands

(a)
In general— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall develop and implement a strategy to provide assistance to the Pacific Islands to address climate change, with emphasis on coastal zone management, marine waste management, food security, and water resource management.
(b)
Conduct of strategy— The strategy developed under this section shall be coordinated with regional organizations and frameworks for climate adaptation in the Pacific Islands.
(c)
Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the strategy developed under this section.
(d)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section.

Sec. 209 Climate resilient infrastructure and energy security in the Pacific Islands

(a)
In general— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall develop and implement a strategy to invest in and improve critical infrastructure, including transport connectivity, information and communications technology, and energy security and access to electricity in the Pacific Islands, with an emphasis on climate resilient infrastructure and clean energy programs.
(b)
Conduct of strategy— The strategy developed under this section shall be coordinated with regional organizations and frameworks for development in the Pacific Islands.
(c)
International financial institutions— The Secretary of the Treasury shall direct the representatives of the United States to the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to support climate resilient infrastructure projects in the Pacific Islands.
(d)
Report—
(1)
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that contains the strategy developed under this section.
(2)
Update— The Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an updated report under paragraph (1) not later than three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated $200,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section.

Sec. 210 Coordination with other Federal agencies and cooperation and participation of nongovernmental United States entities

In carrying out sections 203, 204, 206, 207, 208, and 209, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall—
(1)
coordinate with existing programs and efforts of relevant agencies of the United States Government, especially with regards to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau; and
(2)
seek the cooperation and participation of United States private sector, United States nongovernmental organizations, and United States institutions of higher education.