Title II — H.R. 562 (Introduced in House)

Sec. 201 Assistance to improve public health outcomes and build public health capacity

(a)

In general— The Secretary of State, is authorized to assist the Pacific Islands to improve public health outcomes and build public health capacity.

(b)

Activities supported— Activities authorized to be carried out under subsection (a) may include—

(1)

programming, including grants, cooperative agreements, and other forms of assistance, as appropriate, to assist in building local capacity to ensure that Pacific Islanders have access to the essential health services they need to thrive and to address—

(A)

maternal and child health;

(B)

family planning and reproductive health;

(C)

gender-based violence;

(D)

food security and nutrition;

(E)

noncommunicable diseases;

(F)

communicable diseases, including neglected tropical diseases, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, sexually-transmitted infections, and zoonotic and emerging infectious disease threats;

(G)

equitable access to quality, essential, and affordable health services and quality-assured, safe, effective medical products and their appropriate use; and

(H)

water, sanitation, and hygiene;

(2)

technical assistance to strengthen local health system capacity and resilience in the areas of good leadership and governance, sustainable financing, interoperable information systems and high quality data for decision making, efficient medical products and supply chain systems, and management of human resources for health, with special attention to increasing health worker performance, retention, productivity, number, skill mix, and competency, including through exploring opportunities such as private sector engagement and digital health integration and access;

(3)

coordination with existing local and regional health sector goals, efforts, institutions, and frameworks; and

(4)

investment in and improvement of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, health clinics and pharmacies 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 on the implementation of this section.

Sec. 202 Assistance to promote freedom of the press

The Secretary of State is authorized to provide assistance to promote the dissemination of free and accurate information in the Pacific Islands, including for the following purposes:

(1)

Media capacity building and education, including to—

(A)

provide on-site media training tailored to local needs;

(B)

collaborate with local government and nongovernmental entities to promote media literacy and integrate media literacy into primary education curricula in local languages and dialects to ensure accessibility; and

(C)

routinize funding for professional programs, such as the Pacific Islands Journalism Reporting Tour, that bring media professionals from the Pacific Islands to the United States.

(2)

Strengthening and diversifying broadcast content tailored to local audiences, including content broadcast in the local vernacular.

(3)

Investing in connectivity infrastructure with an emphasis on broadcast radio and transmission.

Sec. 203 Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program

(a)

In general— The Secretary of State shall continue to implement and develop the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program to promote a robust, free media in the Pacific Islands and strengthen the capacity of media outlets and journalists in the Indo-Pacific region to develop their business strategies, enhance their ability to conduct independent journalism, and counter disinformation.

(b)

Goals— The goals of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program shall be to accomplish the following:

(1)

Increase the understanding of prevalent misinformation and disinformation narratives.

(2)

Develop the capacity of professional, independent media organizations and journalists to develop and implement media sustainability plans, improve business operations, and increase the quality and quantity of published information and news.

(3)

Expand media outlets’ access to resources, content-sharing agreements, and equipment, so that such outlets can provide quality content.

(4)

Develop the technical and investigative skills of journalists to conduct pre-bunking, fact-checking, and debunking to address misinformation and disinformation.

(c)

Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of other Federal departments or agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program and the engagement of the United States with the free media in the Pacific Islands, including the following:

(1)

An overview of the media and journalism landscape in the Pacific Islands.

(2)

A review of the efforts and planned efforts of the United States Government to strengthen free and independent media in the Pacific Islands, including a description of the objectives, means of implementation, and measures of success of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program.

(3)

An assessment of challenges to a free and open media in the Pacific Islands and to the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program, including strategies to mitigate such challenges.

(4)

An assessment of any additional authorities or resources necessary for more robust United States engagement to promote a free media in the Pacific Islands and greater implementation of the Indo-Pacific Media Advancement Program.

(d)

Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2033 to carry out this section.

Sec. 204 Program to promote educational and professional development for young adult leaders and professionals

(a)

Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that routinized people-to-people exchange programs to bring Pacific Islands religious leaders, journalists, civil society members, politicians, and others to the United States, as well as supporting similar exchange participants from the United States to the Pacific Islands, strengthens existing relationships and advances United States interests and shared values in the region.

(b)

In general— The Secretary of State shall develop and implement a program to promote educational and professional development for young adult leaders and professionals in the Pacific Islands with a demonstrated passion to contribute to the continued development of the Pacific Islands.

(c)

Conduct of program— The program developed under this section may be carried out through—

(1)

grants provided on a competitive basis to qualified organizations with demonstrated expertise relating to the Pacific Islands;

(2)

grants in amounts not to exceed $50,000 provided on a competitive basis to qualified young leaders from the Pacific Islands for the purpose of carrying out projects dedicated to the improvement of their communities in the Pacific Islands;

(3)

regional workshops and professional, vocational, and academic fellowships; and

(4)

people-to-people exchanges.

(d)

Briefing—

(1)

In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, should brief the appropriate congressional committees on exchange programs for the Pacific Islands region.

(2)

Elements— The briefing required by paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)

an assessment of any factors constraining the number and frequency of International Visitor Leadership Program participants from countries of the Pacific Islands;

(B)

an identification of resources that are necessary to address the factors described in subparagraph (A); and

(C)

a strategy for connecting alumni and participants of the Department of State’s professional development exchange programs in East Asia, such as the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative and the Young Pacific Leaders programs, to enhance interregion and intraregion people-to-people ties.

Sec. 205 Education assistance

(a)

Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

promoting basic education in the Pacific Islands, particularly in traditionally underserved communities, advances United States foreign policy goals and requires a whole of government approach, and the United States Government currently dedicates insufficient resources and attention to assisting with education needs in the region;

(2)

the Peace Corps alone is insufficient to achieve United States objectives of promoting sustainable, quality basic education; and

(3)

countries of the Pacific Islands meet the requirements outlined in subsection (c)(4) of section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c).

(b)

Education assistance— The President is authorized to provide assistance under section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c) to promote sustainable, quality basic education in the Pacific Islands, including for the following purposes:

(1)

Supporting national nutrition and health programs.

(2)

Working with partner governments to reform policies, improve curricula, strengthen data systems, train teachers, and provide quality learning materials.

(3)

Building new schools and renovating older facilities to ensure safe places for learning.

(4)

Providing individuals, particularly at-risk youth, with relevant education, training, and skills for meaningful employment.

(5)

Removing barriers to entering formal education for out-of-school individuals, assisting in keeping them in school, and providing an opportunity to catch up on schooling for those left behind.

(6)

Promoting teaching and research exchanges between the Pacific Islands and United States institutions of higher education, including community colleges.

Sec. 206 People-to-people ties

The Secretary of State and Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall continue to administer and expand programs fostering people-to-people ties between the United States and Pacific Islands, including—

(1)

the Youth Ambassadors Program in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs;

(2)

the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs;

(3)

the Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships Initiatives to the Pacific;

(4)

the U.S.-Pacific Institute for Rising Leaders Fellowship; and

(5)

the Global STEM Development Scholarship Program.

Sec. 207 Pacific Islands TRADES Program

(a)

Establishment— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall establish a program, to be known as the “Pacific Islands Training and Resources for Advancement in Development, Education, and Skills Program” or the “Pacific Islands TRADES Program”, to, through scholarships, training from such agency, and grants to partner organizations, assist with workforce development in the Pacific Islands to—

(1)

increase the capacity of the local workforce through medium- and long-term training and technical assistance in sectors of critical importance to the Pacific Islands, such as construction, tourism, boat maintenance, and fisheries;

(2)

balance maximizing workforce retention in the Pacific Islands with any necessary training outside of the Pacific Islands, with a focus on avoiding exacerbating outward labor flows;

(3)

keep Pacific priorities in mind by coordinating with like-minded allies and partners and working with local organizations and governments; and

(4)

provide resources for technical and management skills development to adequately prepare the workforce of the Pacific Islands for any potential incoming investment.

(b)

Report— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the Pacific Islands TRADES Program, including the following:

(1)

A comprehensive overview of such program.

(2)

An identification of the office overseeing such program.

(3)

A list of any partner organizations involved in such program.

(4)

A description of the training and workforce development planned as part of such program.

(5)

An assessment of the impact of such program.

(6)

Any additional resources needed to implement such program.

(c)

Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2026 through 2033 to carry out this section.

Sec. 208 Investment agreements

(a)

Sense of congress— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

the United States International Development Finance Corporation has a dual mandate to advance United States foreign policy and make development-focused investment around the world with a focus on communities most in need;

(2)

the United States International Development Finance Corporation must enter into an investment incentive agreement with a jurisdiction’s government in order to pursue development projects in that jurisdiction;

(3)

the market-based private sector development and inclusive economic growth of Solomon Islands and the Republic of Vanuatu are in the United States foreign policy interest;

(4)

the United States International Development Finance Corporation has not entered into investment incentive agreements with the government of Solomon Islands or with the government of the Republic of Vanuatu; and

(5)

the inability of the United States International Development Finance Corporation to support investments in Solomon Islands and the Republic of Vanuatu undermines United States policy to provide countries a robust alternative to state-direct investments by authoritarian governments and United States strategic competitors.

(b)

Investment agreements— The Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall continue and prioritize efforts to enter into investment incentive agreements with the governments of those Pacific Islands in which the United States International Development Finance Corporation is otherwise authorized to operate under the BUILD Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.).

(c)

Technical assistance— The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, as appropriate, is authorized to provide technical assistance to assist the Pacific Islands in negotiating and executing investment incentive agreements with the United States International Development Finance Corporation.

Sec. 209 Committee on Engagement with Civil Society Organizations in the Pacific Islands

(a)

Establishment— The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a committee, to be known as the “Committee on Engagement with Civil Society Organizations in the Pacific Islands” (referred to in this subsection as the “Committee”) for the purposes of—

(1)

coordinating interagency engagement with civil society organizations in the Pacific Islands;

(2)

coordinating collaboration with United States partners and allies on engagement with civil society organizations in the Pacific Islands; and

(3)

aligning such engagement with the needs of the Pacific Islands and the national security priorities of the United States.

(b)

Strategy— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Committee shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy on engagement with civil society organizations in the Pacific Islands, including—

(1)

a review of current efforts across the United States Government to engage with such organizations, including the role of such efforts in the delivery of foreign aid to communities;

(2)

a plan for engagement across the United States Government with such organizations;

(3)

an assessment of the importance of engagement by the United States with such organizations and how such engagement aligns with the advancement of Indo-Pacific and Pacific Islands priorities within the National Security Strategy, Indo-Pacific Strategy, and Pacific Partnership Strategy;

(4)

an analysis of interagency cooperation regarding United States engagement with such organizations and specific recommendations for expansion and improvement of such cooperation;

(5)

an analysis of the resources needed to bolster and streamline United States engagement with such organizations, including any additional statutory authorities or appropriations of funds;

(6)

an analysis of any engagement conducted by a country other than the United States with such organizations, including engagement that may undermine civil society in the Pacific Islands; and

(7)

an assessment of opportunities for greater coordination between the United States and like-minded partners and allies.

Sec. 210 American Spaces in the Pacific Islands

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the state of and plans for American Spaces in the Pacific Islands, including—

(1)

an overview of American Spaces in the Pacific Islands (including American Corners and American Centers), including an assessment of the current and historical programming and resources of American Spaces;

(2)

a plan for future American Spaces in Pacific Island countries, including any new development or expansion of existing American Spaces, and a description of any additional resources needed for such expansion; and

(3)

an assessment of the impact of American Spaces on American foreign policy and national security interests, including in comparison to the similar initiatives of other actors.

Title II — People-Centered Development

II People-Centered Development