S.Amdt. 2354

SA 2354. Mr. SCHATZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the end of subtitle D of title XII, add the following:

SEC. 1266. BRIEFING ON ESTABLISHING A PACIFIC ISLANDS
SECURITY DIALOGUE.

(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a United
States-based public-private sponsored security dialogue (to
be known as the ``Pacific Islands Security Dialogue'') among
the Pacific Islands for the purposes of jointly exploring and
discussing issues affecting the economic, diplomatic, and
national security of the Pacific Islands.
(b) Report Required.--The briefing required by subsection
(a) shall, at a minimum, include the following:
(1) A review of the ability of the Department of State to
participate in a public-private sponsored security dialogue.
(2) A survey of Pacific Island countries on their interest
in engaging in such a dialogue and potential topics for
discussion.
(3) An assessment of the potential locations for conducting
a Pacific Islands Security Dialogue in the jurisdiction of
the United States.
(4) Consideration of dates for conducting a Pacific Islands
Security Dialogue that would maximize participation of
representatives from the Pacific Islands.
(5) A review of the funding modalities available to the
Department of State to help finance a Pacific Islands
Security Dialogue, including grant-making authorities
available to the Department of State.
(6) An assessment of any administrative, statutory, or
other legal limitations that would prevent the establishment
of a Pacific Islands Security Dialogue with participation and
support of the Department of State as described in subsection
(a).
(7) An analysis of how a Pacific Islands Security Dialogue
could help to advance the Boe Declaration on Regional
Security, including its emphasis on the changing environment
as the greatest existential threat to the Pacific Islands.
(8) An evaluation of how a Pacific Islands Security
Dialogue could help amplify the issues and work of existing
regional structures and organizations dedicated to the
security of the Pacific Islands region, such as the Pacific
Island Forum and Pacific Environmental Security Forum.
(9) An analysis of how a Pacific Islands Security Dialogue
would advance the Pacific Partnership Strategy of the United
States and the National Security Strategy of the United
States.
(c) Interagency Consultation.--To the extent practicable,
the Secretary of State may consult with the Secretary of
Homeland Security, the Secretary of Defense and, where
appropriate, evaluate the lessons learned of the Regional
Centers for Security Studies of the Department of Defense to
determine the feasibility and advisability of establishing
the Pacific Islands Security Dialogue.
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