Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “U.S. and Pacific Islands Forum Partnership Act”.
U.S. and Pacific Islands Forum Partnership Act
A BILL
To establish the position of Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum.
Sec. 2 Findings
Congress finds the following:
The Pacific Islands Forum (referred to in this Act as “PIF”) was established in 1971.
PIF is committed to accelerating economic growth, social progress, cultural development, and regional peace and stability.
The United States is committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific and to peace, security, and prosperity in the region.
The United States seeks to maintain and further develop a constructive and cordial relationship with PIF and its member nations, including the Freely Associated States (the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau), which have special economic and security ties with the United States.
The United States seeks to contribute to regional stability in the Pacific region through assistance efforts to combat illegal fishing, enhance maritime security, build resilient infrastructure, and promote sound, just, and responsive governance within the Pacific region to empower citizens, help combat corruption, and strengthen nations’ autonomy.
The Smaller Island States of the Pacific Islands Forum represent the most vulnerable of Forum Island Countries.
Increased United States diplomatic engagement and developmental assistance can help alleviate the vulnerabilities linked to the small size of the Smaller Island States, their lack of natural resources, remoteness, and the range of development challenges that limit their capacity to ensure democratic, economic, and environmental resilience and long-term sustainable development.
It is in the long-term interest of the United States to maintain and expand a relationship with PIF and its member nations.
The United States does not have an Ambassador or Special Envoy to PIF, which limits the ability of the United States and PIF to respond quickly and appropriately to events of mutual interest.
Sec. 3 Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
the United States must increase its diplomatic activity and presence in the Pacific, particularly among Pacific Island nations; and
the Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum—
should be used to coordinate policies across the Pacific region with like-minded democracies; and
should have a direct line to the President and the Secretary of State to communicate regarding the unique and particular needs of Pacific partner nations.
Sec. 4 Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum
Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended—
by redesignating subsection (h) (as added by section 361(a)(1) of division FF of Public Law 116–260) as subsection (k); and
by adding at the end the following:
“(l) Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum
“(1) Appointment—The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, either the United States Ambassador to a country that is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum or another qualified individual to serve as Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum (referred to in this section as the “Special Envoy”). If an Ambassador is appointed to serve as the Special Envoy pursuant this paragraph, he or she may not begin such service until after Senate confirmation to such position and shall serve concurrently as an Ambassador and as the Special Envoy without receiving additional compensation.
“(2) Duties—The Special Envoy shall—
“(A) represent the United States in its role as dialogue partner to the Pacific Islands Forum; and
“(B) carry out such other duties as the President or the Secretary of State may prescribe.”