S.Amdt. 501

SA 501. Ms. ERNST (for herself, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Van
Hollen) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the
bill S. 2226, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2024 for
military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,

[[Page S2640]]

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, add the following:

DIVISION F--CONVENE ACT OF 2023

SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.--This division may be cited as the
``Connecting Oceania's Nations with Vanguard Exercises and
National Empowerment'' or the ``CONVENE Act of 2023''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this
division is as follows:

DIVISION F--CONVENE ACT OF 2023

Sec. 6001. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 6002. Definitions.

TITLE LXI--ASSISTANCE TO SPECIFIED COUNTRIES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCILS

Sec. 6101. Definitions.
Sec. 6102. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 6103. Identification of national security councils of specified
countries.
Sec. 6104. Feasibility study on expanding activities of the Coast Guard
and civic action teams in specified countries.
Sec. 6105. Pilot program.
Sec. 6106. Report.
Sec. 6107. Authorization of appropriations.

TITLE LXII--EXPANSION OF UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA AND
REPORTS

Sec. 6201. Expansion of United States Agency for Global Media to
specified countries.
Sec. 6202. Reports and feasibility study.

SEC. 6002. DEFINITIONS.

In this division:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Armed Services of the Senate; and
(B) the Committees on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
(2) Congressional defense committees.--The term
``congressional defense committees'' has the meaning given
such term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.
(3) Illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing.--The term
``illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing'' has the
meaning given such term in section 300.201 of title 50, Code
of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
(4) Malign action.--The term ``malign action'' means an
activity--
(A) carried out, directly or indirectly, by a malign actor;
and
(B) that is determined by the Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, to threaten or
degrade the national security of the United States.
(5) Malign actor.--The term ``malign actor'' has the
meaning given the term ``foreign entity of concern'' in
section 40207(a) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (42 U.S.C. 18741).
(6) National security council.--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
section 6103(f).
(7) Specified country.--The term ``specified country''
means--
(A) the Federated States of Micronesia;
(B) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
(C) the Republic of Palau; and
(D) any country that is a signatory to an agreement with
the United States to establish a Compact of Free Association.

TITLE LXI--ASSISTANCE TO SPECIFIED COUNTRIES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCILS

SEC. 6101. DEFINITIONS.

In this title:
(1) Academy graduate.--The term ``academy graduate'' means
an individual who has graduated from--
(A) the United States Military Academy;
(B) the United States Naval Academy;
(C) the United States Air Force Academy;
(D) the United States Coast Guard Academy; or
(E) the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
(2) Homeland defense.--The term ``homeland defense'' means
an activity undertaken for the military protection of the
territory or domestic population of a country, or the
infrastructure or other assets of a country that are critical
to national security, as determined by the elected government
of the country, from a threat to or aggression against the
country.
(3) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
such term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 6102. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated
States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau have entered
into a Compact of Free Association with the United States
that recognizes the long-standing economic and military
relationship between such countries;
(2) like many countries in the Pacific region, the Republic
of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia,
and the Republic of Palau are at risk of economic, military,
and other security sector coercion by the People's Republic
of China;
(3) the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated
States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau have limited
government resources to respond to such coercion or
adequately cooperate with the United States for the purpose
of responding to such coercion;
(4) it is in the national interest of the United States to
assist--
(A) such countries in developing the capacity to so
cooperate with the United States so as to ensure a safe and
secure Pacific region; and
(B) in the establishment of a coordinating body in each
such country that is capable of--
(i) coordinating a response to natural disasters and other
emergencies;
(ii) collaborating with the United States Government--

(I) to carry out military exercises; and
(II) to address security concerns; and

(iii) coordinating and implementing efforts to combat
illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing; and
(5) any such coordinating body should be established at the
behest of, and managed directly by, the freely elected
government of each such country.

SEC. 6103. IDENTIFICATION OF NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCILS OF
SPECIFIED COUNTRIES.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense and other relevant agencies,
may consult and engage with each specified country to
identify, advise, and develop a security architecture,
including by identifying and maintaining a national security
council comprised of citizens of the specified country--
(1) that enables the specified country--
(A) to better coordinate with the United States Armed
Forces;
(B) to increase cohesion on activities, including emergency
humanitarian response, law enforcement, and maritime security
activities; and
(C) to provide trained national security professionals to
serve as members of the Joint Committees of the specified
country established under the applicable Compact of Free
Association; and
(2) for the purpose of protecting the people,
infrastructure, and territory of the specified country from
malign actions.
(b) Composition.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense, respecting the unique needs of
each specified country, may seek to ensure that the national
security council of the specified country is composed of
sufficient staff and members to enable the activities
described in subsection (f).
(c) Access to Sensitive Information.--The Secretary of
State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense, may
establish, for use by the members and staff of the national
security council of each specified country, standards and a
process for vetting and sharing sensitive and classified
information.
(d) Standards for Equipment and Services.--The Secretary of
State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense, may
work with the national security council of each specified
country to ensure that--
(1) the equipment and services used by the national
security council are compliant with the most advanced
security standards so as to minimize the risk of cyberattacks
or espionage by the People's Republic of China or any other
actor;
(2) the national security council does not procure or use
systems, equipment, or software that originates from an
entity affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party or the
People's Republic of China, including any entity identified
under section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021
(Public Law 116-283; 134 Stat. 3965; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) or
any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of any such entity; and
(3) the equipment and services used by the national
security council are interoperable with the equipment and
services used by the national security councils of the other
specified countries.
(e) Report on Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for three
years, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report that includes--
(A) a description of all actions taken by the United States
Government to assist in the identification or maintenance of
a national security council in each specified country;
(B) with respect to each specified country, an assessment
as to whether--
(i) the specified country has appropriately staffed its
national security council as required by subsection (b); and
(ii) the national security council of the specified country
is capable of carrying out the activities described in
subsection (f);
(C) an assessment of--
(i) any challenge to cooperation and coordination with the
national security council of any specified country;
(ii) current efforts by the Secretary of State to
coordinate with the specified countries on the activities
described in subsection (f); and
(iii) existing governmental entities within each specified
country that are capable of supporting such activities;

[[Page S2641]]

(D) a description of any challenge with respect to--
(i) the implementation of the national security council of
any specified country; and
(ii) compliance with any of subsections (a) through (d);
(E) 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 an immediate family member of such a
member; and
(F) any other matter the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense consider relevant.
(2) Form.--Each report required by paragraph (1) may be
submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified
annex containing the information required under subparagraph
(E) of that paragraph and any other information the Secretary
of State and the Secretary of Defense consider appropriate.
(f) Activities Described.--The activities described in this
subsection are the following:
(1) Homeland security activities.--
(A) Coordination of--
(i) the prosecution and investigation of transnational
criminal enterprises;
(ii) responses to domestic emergencies, such as natural
disasters;
(iii) counterintelligence and counter-coercion responses to
foreign threats; and
(iv) efforts to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated
fishing.
(B) Coordination with United States Government officials on
humanitarian response, military exercises, law enforcement,
and other issues of security concern.
(C) Identification and development of an existing
governmental entity to support homeland defense and civil
support activities.
(2) National intelligence activities.--Coordination of
intelligence collection, counterintelligence, and counter-
coercion responses to foreign threats.
(g) Report on Future Integration Efforts.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to
the congressional defense committees a report that includes
an assessment of the following:
(A) Best practices for establishing a mechanism for
cooperation, including a line of active communication, among
the national security councils of the specified countries.
(B) The amount of funds that allies of the United States
and the specified countries may be capable of contributing to
the maintenance of the national security councils.
(C) Additional potential government partnerships among the
national security councils and agencies of the United States
Government that would be in the national interest of the
United States.
(D) The feasibility of providing equipment from Department
of Defense surplus stocks to the national security councils
in a manner that appropriately protects sensitive information
and the national security interests of the United States.
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) may be
submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified
annex.

SEC. 6104. FEASIBILITY STUDY ON EXPANDING ACTIVITIES OF THE
COAST GUARD AND CIVIC ACTION TEAMS IN SPECIFIED
COUNTRIES.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the
Secretary of Homeland Security, shall--
(1) complete a study on the feasibility and advisability
of--
(A) supporting additional port visits and deployments in
support of Operation Blue Pacific or any successor operation
oriented toward Oceania; and
(B) expanding or re-establishing civic action team camps,
or establishing dedicated staging, training, and education
sites, in the specified countries; and
(2) submit to the congressional defense committees a report
on the findings of the study required by paragraph (1).

SEC. 6105. PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--During the period of fiscal years 2024
through 2026, the Secretary of State, in consultation with
the Secretary of Defense, may conduct one or more pilot
programs in each specified country for the purpose of
evaluating the effectiveness of supporting the employment,
within the government of the specified country, of veterans
and academy graduates who are citizens of the specified
country--
(1) to carry out one or more activities described in
section 6103(f); or
(2) to support the operations or maintenance of the
national security councils of the specified country.
(b) Identification.--The Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, may negotiate
with the government of each specified country to identify
existing or new positions to support the employment of
veterans and academy graduates in the roles described in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
(c) Use of Funds.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Secretary of Defense, may use funds authorized to be
appropriated under section 6107--
(1) to support the education and training of veterans and
academy graduates to qualify for a position identified under
subsection (b), only if the cost of such education or
training does not exceed $10,000 per participant;
(2) to provide a stipend for participants; and
(3) for other purposes, as determined by the Secretary of
State.
(d) Limitation.--
(1) In general.--An individual who is not a veteran or an
academy graduate may not participate in a pilot program under
this section.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of
State may waive the application of paragraph (1) in the case
of a graduate of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
program described in section 2102 of title 10, United States
Code.
(e) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date on
which the pilot programs under this section terminate, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate committees
of Congress a report that sets forth--
(1) the amounts expended for each such pilot program;
(2) the number of participants trained and employed through
each such pilot program;
(3) the number of waivers granted under subsection (d)(2);
(4) an assessment of any challenges in implementing such
pilot programs and a description of such challenges; and
(5) for each specified country--
(A) an identification of the agencies within the government
of the specified country in which participants were employed
through such a pilot program; and
(B) an assessment of the impact of supporting the
identified positions within the government of the specified
country, and an analysis of any resulting reduced expenses by
the United States Government or any benefit accrued in the
interest of the United States Government by supporting such
positions.
(f) Feasibility Study.--Not later than one year after the
date on which the pilot programs under this section
terminate, the Secretary of State shall--
(1) complete a study on the feasibility and advisability of
converting any such pilot program into a permanent program;
and
(2) submit to the congressional defense committees a report
on the findings of the study under paragraph (1).

SEC. 6106. REPORT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five
years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report that--
(1) with respect to each specified country, includes an
itemized list of expenditures made pursuant to the
authorization under section 6107, including specific total
amounts spent on equipment, facilities, payroll, and other
costs; and
(2) assesses whether--
(A) the amount authorized under that section was sufficient
to cover the needs of the national security councils in the
specified countries; and
(B) the funds authorized under that section were used for
activities described in section 6103(f) and whether any such
funds were used for purposes other than such activities.
(b) Form.--Each report required by subsection (a) may be
submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified
annex.

SEC. 6107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated, for fiscal year
2024, for the Department of State and the Department of
Defense, $10,000,000 for the identification, maintenance, and
support of the national security councils of the specified
countries and the development of reporting requirements and
security investigations, for supporting operations and
activities of the national security councils, including
exercises within the specified countries, and for other
purposes as determined by the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense, of which--
(1) not less than $1,000,000 shall be made available as a
grant to each of the specified countries for the
establishment and maintenance of a national security council,
including equipment, facilities, and staff payroll; and
(2) not less than $3,000,000 shall be made available to
support the pilot programs described in section 6105.

TITLE LXII--EXPANSION OF UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA AND
REPORTS

SEC. 6201. EXPANSION OF UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA
TO SPECIFIED COUNTRIES.

(a) In General.--The Chief Executive Officer of the United
States Agency for Global Media and the head of any other
relevant Federal department or agency, in collaboration with
appropriate nongovernmental entities, shall support
independent journalism and combat surveillance in the
specified countries by--
(1) making grants to expand Radio Free Asia to prioritize
local coverage in the specified countries and relevant
regional coverage in the Asia-Pacific region;
(2) expanding existing training and partnership programs in
the specified countries that promote journalistic standards,
investigative reporting, cybersecurity, and digital analytics
to help expose and counter foreign information operations;
and
(3) ensuring that networks and grantees of the United
States Agency for Global Media in the specified countries
continue carrying out their mission of providing credible and
timely news coverage, including news coverage of the
activities of the People's Republic of China and other
regimes in the region of the specified countries.

[[Page S2642]]

(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for five
years, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States
Agency for Global Media shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report that outlines--
(A) the progress in establishing a network of independent
journalists in each specified country;
(B) the amount of news coverage on malign actions taking
place in the specified countries;
(C) recommendations for additional efforts to provide news
and information, and content, in local languages for
marginalized indigenous groups in the specified countries;
and
(D) recommendations for additional programming in such
countries.
(2) Form.--Each report required by paragraph (1) may be
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified
annex.
(c) Support for Local Media.--The Secretary of State,
acting through the Assistant Secretary of State for
Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and in coordination with
the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, shall support and train
journalists on the investigative techniques necessary to
ensure public accountability with respect to--
(1) the Belt and Road Initiative;
(2) the People's Republic of China's illegal, unreported,
or unregulated fishing activities; and
(3) other malign activities, including influence operations
abroad directly or indirectly supported by the Chinese
Communist Party or the Government of the People's Republic of
China.
(d) Expansion of Radio Free Asia.--Section 309(a)(1) of the
United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22
U.S.C. 6208(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``and elsewhere''
before the period at the end.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated, for fiscal year 2024, for the United
States Agency for Global Media, $7,000,000 for new programs
in the specified countries and relevant regional coverage in
the Asia-Pacific region to support local media, build
independent media, and combat the information operations by
the People's Republic of China and other malign actors, and
for the monitoring and evaluation of such programs, of
which--
(1) not less than $5,000,000 shall be made available as a
grant for Radio Free Asia language services; and
(2) not less than $2,000,000 shall be made available as
grants for Radio Free Asia digital media services to counter
propaganda directed at Chinese populations in the specified
countries and the Asia-Pacific region through ``Global
Mandarin'' programming.

SEC. 6202. REPORTS AND FEASIBILITY STUDY.

(a) Report on Department of State Limitations.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report
that includes--
(A) a strategy on the establishment and development of
defense attache or defense representative positions for
individuals who are specifically trained and tasked to
support the unique homeland defense responsibilities of the
specified countries and the proposed national security
councils;
(B) the estimated cost of providing, within the United
States embassy in each specified country, office space
capable of allowing the secure systems and equipment and
other accommodations and support necessary for the placement
of a defense attache in each such embassy; and
(C) an assessment of--
(i) the benefit to the United States of placing a defense
attache or defense representative in each such embassy; and
(ii) any other factor that may limit the accommodation of a
defense attache or defense representative and related support
staff in each such embassy.
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) may be
submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified
annex.
(b) Report on Defense Attache Limitations.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of
National Intelligence, shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a report that includes--
(A) the estimated cost of accrediting to each specified
country a defense attache or defense representative who is
not dual-accredited or holding a nonresident accreditation;
and
(B) an assessment of--
(i) the benefit to the United States of placing a defense
attache or defense representative in the United States
embassy of each specified country; and
(ii) any other factor that may limit the placement of a
defense attache or defense representative and related support
staff in each such embassy.
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in a classified form but may include an
unclassified summary.
(c) Feasibility Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation
with the Secretary of State and the Director of National
Intelligence, shall complete a study on the feasibility and
advisability of--
(A) creating a secure space within the United States
embassy in each specified country that is capable of hosting
a defense attache or defense representative and related
support staff; and
(B) accrediting to each specified country a defense attache
or defense representative who is not dual-accredited or
holding a nonresident accreditation.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on
the findings of the study under paragraph (1).
(B) Form.--The report required by subparagraph (A) shall be
submitted in classified form but may include an unclassified
summary.
(d) Report on United States Indo-Pacific Command Division
of Specified Countries.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the congressional defense committees a report that
includes--
(A) an assessment of the benefits of ensuring that the
specified countries are covered within the same internal
organizational divisions of the United States Indo-Pacific
Command, including task forces;
(B) an identification of any internal division within the
United States Indo-Pacific Command that separates or divides
the specified countries, including task forces; and
(C) a justification for any internal division identified
under subparagraph (B), and a cost-benefit analysis of
maintaining such division.
(2) Form.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall be
submitted in classified form but may include an unclassified
summary.
______