Sec. 502. Priorities for assistance

280 words·~1 min read·/bill/114/s/2865/is/section-502

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In selecting countries in the Asia-Pacific region to which security assistance should be provided, the Secretary of State may prioritize the provision of maritime capacity building assistance to countries in the Asia-Pacific that will contribute to the achievement of following objectives: Retaining unhindered access to and use of international waterways in the Asia-Pacific region that are critical to ensuring the security and free flow of commerce and achieving United States national security objectives.

Improving maritime domain awareness in the Asia-Pacific region. Countering piracy in the Asia-Pacific region. Disrupting illicit maritime trafficking activities and other forms of maritime trafficking activity in the Asia-Pacific that directly benefit organizations that have been determined to be a security threat to the United States. Enhancing the maritime capabilities of a country or regional organization to respond to emerging threats to maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region.

In carrying out the provision of maritime capacity building— priority may be placed on assistance to enhance the maritime security capabilities of the military or security forces of countries in the Asia-Pacific region that have maritime missions and the government agencies responsible for such forces; and assistance may be provided to a country in the Asia-Pacific region to enhance the capabilities of that country, or of a regional organization that includes that country, to conduct— maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; littoral and port security;

Coast Guard operations; command and control; and management and oversight of maritime activities. The Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress each year a report on the status of the provision of equipment, training, supplies, or other services provided pursuant to maritime capacity building in the Asia-Pacific in the preceding year.