CORE Pacific Act

This Act may be cited as the “Consular Operations and Regional Engagement in the Pacific Act” or the “CORE Pacific Act”.

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) Pacific Island countries, especially the Freely Associated States, are close United States partners located across highly strategic waters that are critical for United States national security; and

(2) it is in the national security interests of the United States to maintain and strengthen relations with the governments and citizens of Pacific Island countries.

In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(3) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;

(4) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;

(5) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;

(6) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;

(7) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and

(8) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(a) In general.— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, the Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command, and the Chief of Naval Operations, shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress that analyzes the feasibility of attaching Department of State consular officers to Coast Guard and Navy missions in Pacific Island countries.

(b) Elements.— The report required under subsection (a) shall include—

(1) an assessment of—

(A) the current demand for consular services from citizens of Pacific Island countries; and

(B) the challenges such citizens face in obtaining consular services;

(2) an assessment of the approximate value, including in time and resources saved, such an initiative could save citizens of Pacific Island countries that do not host United States embassies by having their United States consular decisions adjudicated or receiving other consular services;

(3) an assessment of the cost that would be incurred by the Department of State, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Indo-Pacific Command, and the United States Navy from the implementation of such initiative, including potential alternative cost-effective options and recommendations for providing consular services to citizens of Pacific Island countries;

(4) an assessment of the frequency and duration of Coast Guard and Navy deployments to Pacific Island countries, including—

(A) deployment frequency measured against the desired number of visits;

(B) the amount of time typically spent in port for such visits; and

(C) disruptions to planned Coast Guard and Navy missions in order to visit locations needing consular assistance; and

(5) an evaluation of the logistical issues to be addressed to implement the initiative, including—

(A) an analysis of the spacing requirements to host Department of State personnel and equipment aboard the various types of Coast Guard and Navy vessels that make port calls to the Pacific Islands;

(B) an analysis of the information technology and connectivity requirements to conduct consular affairs activities in the Pacific Islands;

(C) the feasibility of printing visas aboard Coast Guard and Navy vessels;

(D) maintaining the physical security of consular officers and relevant adjudication equipment during such missions;

(E) the impacts to Coast Guard and Navy vessels’ operations and security; and

(F) the estimated time consular officers would spend on board Coast Guard and Navy vessels between visits to Pacific Island countries.