To bolster United States engagement with the Pacific Islands region, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMs. Cortez Masto (for herself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Pacific Partnership Act strengthens US diplomatic and strategic engagement with Pacific Island nations (including those in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia). It requires the President to develop a comprehensive 4-year strategy for the region and creates formal mechanisms for coordinating with allies like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Taiwan on assistance programs.
Who Benefits and How
Pacific Island nations benefit from more coordinated and strategically-aligned US assistance programs, helping them address challenges like natural disasters, illegal fishing, and economic development. The bill ensures that aid programs are designed to complement each other and align with regional goals outlined in the "2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent."
US allies in the region (Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan) gain a formal consultative process for coordinating their own Pacific programs with US efforts, reducing duplication and maximizing collective impact.
The Pacific Islands Forum receives formal recognition through diplomatic immunities similar to other international organizations in which the US participates.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal agencies, particularly the State Department, take on new reporting and coordination requirements. The Secretary of State must annually update three existing reports to include coverage of transnational crime in the Pacific Islands region. The President must develop and submit a comprehensive strategy every 4 years and establish formal consultation processes with regional allies.
Taxpayers bear indirect costs from expanded diplomatic activities, though no specific funding amounts are authorized in this bill.
Key Provisions
- Requires a "Strategy for Pacific Partnership" submitted to Congress every 4 years (starting January 2026), covering diplomatic, defense, and economic engagement goals
- Extends diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Pacific Islands Forum, treating it like other international organizations
- Mandates coordination with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and regional institutions on assistance programs
- Requires annual updates to narcotics, fishing compliance, and human trafficking reports to include Pacific Islands transnational crime
- Establishes formal consultation processes with regional partners to avoid duplicating programs and align with regional development goals
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
The bill aims to bolster United States engagement with the Pacific Islands region through strategic planning, diplomatic support, and coordination with allies.
Policy Domains
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_president"
- → President of the United States
- "the_secretary_of_state"
- → Secretary of State
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The nations, territories, and other jurisdictions in the Pacific Ocean within Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology