Sec. 169. Enhancing resilient critical infrastructure in the Pacific Islands
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The Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall develop and implement a strategy for the expansion, improvement, and protection of resilient critical infrastructure in the Pacific Islands. The strategy and related programming under paragraph
(1)shall— consider the— current and forecasted gaps in functionality of, and threats to, critical infrastructure in the Pacific Islands, including— for disaster preparedness and response, transport connectivity, operability of health systems, information and communications technology, food security, coastal zone management, marine and water resource management, and energy security and access to electricity; and to the extent practicable, the rates, severity and drivers of deterioration, structural deficiencies, and most pressing threats to public safety from aging, at-risk, and failing infrastructure; United States national security risks posed by weak, outdated, at-risk, and failing critical infrastructure in the Pacific Islands, with particular consideration for the interconnectedness of supply chains, interconnected transportation networks, technology, communications, and financial systems; and the policy-enabling environment for public and private sector investment in critical infrastructure in the Pacific Islands, including through local resource mobilization, early stage project preparation, development finance, and foreign direct investment; seek to enhance the ability of Pacific Islanders, including governments at the national and local levels, civil society leaders, and private sector partners, to attract and effectively manage public and private investment in critical infrastructure while resisting predatory lending and resource extraction deals by malign actors; identify priorities for critical infrastructure improvement, reinforcement, re-engineering, or replacement based on the significance of such infrastructure to ensuring public health, safety, and economic growth; support investment and improvement in natural resource management and conservation; include recommendations for policy and governance reforms in the Pacific Islands, as necessary and appropriate, to strengthen critical infrastructure resilience; and support trainings and information sharing, technology exchanges, reverse trade missions, and pilot projects that provide Pacific Islanders with access to proven, cost-effective solutions for mitigating the risks associated with critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and related interdependencies. The program developed under this section should be coordinated with like-minded allies, partners, and regional and international organizations to encourage alignment of efforts and to avoid duplicative investments and programming. The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, in consultation with the relevant Federal departments and agencies with technical and practical expertise, shall work with Pacific Island countries to— provide technical assistance, education, and training, including through grants and cooperative agreements for qualified United States and local nongovernmental organizations, to enhance early warning systems, emergency management and preparedness procedures, and post-disaster relief and recovery; and enhance coordination of existing disaster mitigation and response plans in the Pacific Islands region, including by United States allies and partners in the region. The Secretary of the Treasury shall direct the representatives of the United States to the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, and the Asian Development Bank to use the voice and vote of the United States to support sustainable, resilient, and high quality infrastructure projects in the Pacific Islands.