[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 24, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5434-S5435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3121. Mr. CARDIN 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 F of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1291. ESTABLISHING A SENIOR OFFICIAL FOR THE COMPACTS OF 
                   FREE ASSOCIATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall designate a 
     senior official at the Department of State responsible for 
     administering the Compacts of Free Association at

[[Page S5435]]

     the Department of State (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Senior Official''). The Senior Official shall report to the 
     Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific 
     Affairs.
       (b) Duties.--The Senior Official shall--
       (1) be responsible for the conduct of United States foreign 
     policy with respect to the countries affiliated with the 
     United States Government under the Compacts of Free 
     Association (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Compacts''), namely the freely associated states of--
       (A) the Republic of Palau;
       (B) the Marshall Islands; and
       (C) the Federated States of Micronesia;
       (2) assist the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian 
     and Pacific Affairs in providing overall direction, 
     coordination, and supervision of interdepartmental activities 
     of the United States Government in these countries, including 
     ensuring the timely transfer of assistance and provision of 
     benefits through the United States Department of the 
     Interior, as laid out in the Compacts;
       (3) oversee and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of 
     United States policy with respect to these countries as well 
     as of the plans, programs, resources, and performance for 
     implementing that policy, including programs and other 
     activities implemented by the Department of the Interior;
       (4) directly supervise the policy and operations of the 
     Compacts and provide guidance to relevant United States 
     missions within the Indo-Pacific region;
       (5) ensure the provision of an adequate, regular flow of 
     information to posts abroad on United States Government 
     policies, policy deliberations, and diplomatic exchanges in 
     Washington, D.C.; and
       (6) ensure the continuity of implementation of commitments 
     and Compact obligations and benefits, consistent with United 
     States national interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $250,000 to support the Senior Official in 
     the conduct and discharge of the duties described in 
     subsection (b).
                                 ______