S3547-118

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Connecting Oceania’s Nations with Vanguard Exercises and National Empowerment Act of 2023 or the CONVENE Act of 2023.

2. Definitions In this Act: The term appropriate committees of Congress means— the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Armed Services Committee, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Armed Services Committee, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. The term national security council means, with respect to a specified country, an intergovernmental body under the jurisdiction of the freely elected government of the specified country that acts as the primary coordinating entity for security cooperation, disaster response, and the activities described in section 3(e). The term specified country means— the Federated States of Micronesia; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and the Republic of Palau.

3. National security councils of specified countries The Secretary of State, in consultation with other relevant Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, may consult and engage with each specified country to advise and provide assistance to a national security council (including by developing a national security council, if appropriate), or to identify a similar coordinating body for national security matters, comprised of citizens of the specified country— that enables the specified country— to better coordinate with the United States Government, including the Armed Forces, as appropriate; to increase cohesion on activities, including emergency humanitarian response, law enforcement, and maritime security activities; and to provide trained professionals to serve as members of the committees of the specified country established under the applicable Compact of Free Association; and for the purpose of enhancing resilience capabilities and protecting the people, infrastructure, and territory of the specified country from malign actions. The Secretary of State, respecting the unique needs of each specified country, may seek to ensure that the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of the specified country is composed of sufficient staff and members to enable the activities described in subsection (e). The Secretary of State may work with the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of each specified country to ensure that— the equipment and services used by the national security council or other identified coordinating body are compliant with security standards so as to minimize the risk of cyberattacks or espionage; the national security council or other identified coordinating body takes all reasonable efforts not to procure or use systems, equipment, or software that originates from any entity identified under section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (Public Law 116–283; 10 U.S.C. 113 note); and to the extent practicable, the equipment and services used by the national security council or other identified coordinating body are interoperable with the equipment and services used by the national security councils, or other identified coordinating bodies, of the other specified countries. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 2 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes— an assessment as to whether a national security council or a similar formal coordinating body is helping or would help achieve the objectives described in subsection (a) at acceptable financial and opportunity cost; a description of all actions taken by the United States Government to assist in the identification or maintenance of a national security council, or other identified coordinating body, in each specified country; with respect to each specified country, an assessment as to whether— the specified country has appropriately staffed its national security council or other identified coordinating body; and the extent to which the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of the specified country is capable of carrying out the activities described in subsection (e); an assessment of— any challenge to cooperation and coordination with the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of any specified country; current efforts by the Secretary of State to coordinate with the specified countries on the activities described in subsection (e); and existing governmental entities within each specified country that are capable of supporting such activities; a description of any challenge with respect to— the implementation of the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of any specified country; and the implementation of subsections (a) through (c); an assessment of any attempt or campaign by a malign actor to influence the political, security, or economic policy of a specified country, a member of a national security council or other identified coordinating body, or an immediate family member of such a member; and any other matter the Secretary of State considers relevant. Each report required by paragraph (1) may be submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified annex. The activities described in this subsection are the following homeland security activities: Coordination of— the prosecution and investigation of transnational criminal enterprises; responses to national emergencies, such as natural disasters; counterintelligence and counter- coercion responses to foreign threats; and efforts to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing. Coordination with United States Government officials on humanitarian response, military exercises, law enforcement, and other issues of security concern. Identification and development of an existing governmental entity to support homeland defense and civil support activities.