[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 120 (Thursday, July 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2639-S2642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  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.
                                 ______