S.Amdt. 2356

SA 2356. 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. PACIFIC ISLANDS RESTORATION AND HAZARDS REMOVAL
PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall establish an
Pacific Islands Restoration and Hazards Removal Program (in
this section referred to as the ``Program'').
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Program is--
(1) to coordinate with Pacific Island countries to support
survey and clearance operations of landmines and other
explosive remnants of war; and
(2) to build the national capacity of the Pacific Island
countries to identify, isolate, and mitigate risks related to
explosive ordnance hazards through survey and disposal
training, funding to nongovernmental organizations, and
support to regional cooperation initiatives with countries
that are partners and allies of the United States, including
Australia, France, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea,
and the United Kingdom.
(c) Report Required.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter,
the Secretary of State shall submit to the committees
specified in subsection (d) a report on the Program that
includes the following:
(1) An assessment of the risk from surface and subsurface
explosive ordnance hazards, submerged maritime vessels, and
related hazards as determined by the Secretary that exists
for the people of the Pacific Islands, including--
(A) a review of threats to critical infrastructure,
environmental resources, and other sectors essential to the
health, safety, and livelihoods of the people of the Pacific
Islands; and
(B) an identification of gaps in key databases or data
needed to provide a more thorough assessment of the risk.
(2) A list of the locations where the United States plans
to prioritize mitigation efforts based on the risk assessment
conducted under paragraph (1) to support and fund survey,
explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance
programs, and clearance operations and enhance national
capacity building to address hazards or mitigate risks
associated with the hazards identified in paragraph (1).
(3) A description of the survey and removal activities,
explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance, and
national capacity building initiatives conducted during the
year preceding submission of the report, including an
explanation of how those activities and initiatives aligned
with the activities and initiatives of countries that are
partners or allies of the United States.
(4) A description of the survey and removal activities,
explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance, and
national capacity building initiatives planned for the year
following the submission of the report, including budgetary
and other resource requirements necessary to conduct those
activities and initiatives during that year.
(5) A description of the United States support provided to
nongovernmental organizations conducting survey and removal
activities in Pacific Island countries.
(d) Committees Specified.--The committees specified in this
subsection are--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $10, 000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029 to carry out this
section.
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