Washington, D.C. — The congressional activities of the bipartisan Pacific Islands Caucus, co-chaired by Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, emphasized U.S. commitment in the region, legislation and funding, and Congress’s role in international partnerships in the Pacific during 2023.

“I appreciate my colleagues in the bipartisan Pacific Islands Caucus and the commitment we can show to the region together," said Co-Chairman Amata. "We’ve gotten a lot done in relation to the Pacific Islands but there will be more to do in 2024, and I look forward to working with each dedicated Co-Chair and Member of our Caucus on behalf of the Pacific Islands, including our security, economies, and environmental priorities.”

2023 ACTIVITIES INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:

Briefings and Events

The Pacific Islands Caucus hosted several activities and initiatives focused on exchange and education. In total, the Caucus hosted four Member-level events and three staff-level events.

• Member Roundtable with Pacific Island Ambassadors in conjunction with the Australian Embassy (May 13, 2023).
• Member Roundtable with legislators from Papua New Guinea (October 19, 2023).
• Member trip to New York to meet with the United Nations (October 22-23, 2023).
• Staff Briefing with the National Bureau of Asian Research on the Freely Associated States (March 21, 2023).
• Staff Briefing with the U.S. Institute of Peace on the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati (July 10, 2023).
• Pacific Islands-New Zealand Embassy Staff Happy Hour (October 3, 2023).
• Member and Staff Briefing with U.S. U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield on the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (November 14, 2023).
• Member roundtable with Pat Conroy, Australian Minister for Defence Industry, International Development and the Pacific (December 14, 2023).

 Members of the Caucus also joined in various individual and group exchanges with representatives of and delegations from the Pacific Islands on various topics, and appeared in the media regarding various Pacific Islands-related issues.

 Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The Pacific Islands Caucus supported various Pacific Islands-related initiatives in the FY 2024 NDAA. This included coordinating the introduction of several amendments to the FY 2024 NDAA. Six amendments were adopted into the House-passed NDAA.

On October 2, 2023, the Pacific Islands Caucus sent a letter to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees advocating for the retention of Caucus-supported provisions in conference. Three amendments were retained in the final version: one to expand the Develop Young Civilian Defense Leaders in the Indo-Pacific Pilot Program, a second on the State Partnership Program; and a third on Civic Action Teams in the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia.

Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations

On March 21, 2023, the Pacific Islands Caucus led a bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Committee advocating for certain priorities in the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. Of those priorities, the following were included in the House-passed bill:

• $175 million for the Pacific Islands region. This is a $25 million increase of FY 2023.
• Report language on increasing staffing for the Pacific Islands missions.
• Funding to support the initiatives announced in the Pacific Islands Forum’s Roadmap for a 21st-Century U.S.-Pacific Island Partnership including:
  
  • Funding to expand the Electrification Partnership throughout the Pacific Islands, as promised by the Administration at the first U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit.
  • $500,000 to expand Global Innovation through Science and Technology into the Pacific, as promised by the Administration at the first U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit.
  • $6 million for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Pacific American Fund.

The caucus is working to preserve these provisions in a final bill.

Compacts of Free Association

The Compacts of Free Association Amendments Act of 2023 was marked up and reported favorably by the House Natural Resources Committee on November 8^th 2023. The Pacific Islands Caucus has long championed the renewal of the Compacts of Free Association with Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, sending letters to the administration on the negotiations in previous Congresses. Several Pacific Islands Caucus Members cosponsored the bill.

Background

The bipartisan Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus was formed in 2019. It currently consists of 32 U.S. House Members and is co-chaired by Reps. Aumua Amata Radewagen Coleman (R-AS), Ed Case (D-HI), Young Kim (R-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Ann Wagner (R-MO), and Brad Sherman (D-CA).

The Caucus has the following objectives:

1. Serve as a resource in educating Members and staff on the importance of the Pacific Islands and the issues they face.
2. Demonstrate United States commitment to the Indo-Pacific and specifically to the Pacific Islands.
3. Facilitate communication and cooperation on issues of shared interest between the United States and the Pacific Islands, including development, trade, regional stability and security and climate change.
4. Assist in formulating and implementing sound national policy in the Indo-Pacific over the next generation.