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.