Sec. 208. Enhancement of diplomatic and economic engagement with Pacific island countries
245 words·~1 min read·
/bill/116/s/4629/is/section-208A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of State and Secretary of Commerce are authorized to hire Locally Employed Staff in Pacific island countries for the purpose of promoting increased diplomatic engagement and increased economic and commercial engagement between the United States and Pacific island countries. Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State and the Department of Commerce for fiscal year 2021, not more than $10,000,000, respectively, shall be available to carry out the purposes of this section. The availability of funds in paragraph
(1)shall expire on December 31, 2025. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the activities of the Department of State and Department of Commerce Locally Employed Staff in Pacific island countries, which shall include an assessment of the additional diplomatic, economic, and commercial engagement and activities in the Pacific island countries provided by Locally Employed Staff and an assessment of the impact of the activities with respect to the diplomatic, economic, and security interests of the United States. In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.