Disaster regional strategy for Pacific Islands countries

(a) In general The Assistant Secretary for Mitigation and Disaster Assistance shall develop and implement a disaster preparedness strategy for the Pacific Islands countries. (b) Strategic purpose The strategy required by subsection (a) shall— (1) support United States foreign policy objectives and Indo-Pacific regional engagement by positioning the United States as the leading stabilization and crisis-response partner in the Pacific Islands countries; (2) bolster local resilience to natural and climatic disasters; (3) support building local capabilities for disaster risk reduction, recovery, and rapid response mechanisms; and (4) reinforce long-term United States partnerships, including with the Compacts of Free Association. (c) Implementation The Assistant Secretary for Migration and Disaster Assistance shall consult with the Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the development and execution of the strategy required by subsection (a). (d) Congressional briefing Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for two years, the Assistant Secretary shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the development and implementation of the strategy required by subsection (a).