[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  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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