09/19/2025 Newsletter

Happenings in Congress

• The House Appropriations Committee advanced its National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026. The current version includes several wins for the Pacific, including:
  • $175 million for assistance to the Pacific Islands.
  • $17 million for the East-West Center.
  • $3 million for the Advancing Port Enhancement and Customs Security program in the Pacific Islands.  
  • Funding for Pacific Islands exchange programs, with a focus on partnering with universities in Pacific locations.  
  • Funding for small grants programs to assist local communities across the Pacific Islands.  
  • Funding for a Flexible Microfinance Facility for the Pacific Islands, launched by the Development Finance Corporation with the Department of State.
  • Report language supporting funding for free and open media in the Pacific.
  • Funding for trade capacity-building activities in the Pacific Islands.
  • Report language supporting the Peace Corps’ expansion in the Pacific.
  • Funding for a demand-driven initiative to diversify trade opportunities in the Pacific Islands.  
  • Language requiring a report on ways to strengthen U.S. trade and investment with the Pacific Islands.  
  • Funding for unexploded ordinance removal in the Pacific Islands, including Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.  
• The House passed H.R. 4275, the Coast Guard Authorization Act, on July 23. The measure included a provision from Congressman Trent Kelly and Congressman Ed Case's Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act to increase focus on Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific.
• On September 8, the House unanimously passed H.R. 4490, the PARTNER Act, which extends diplomatic privileges and immunities to five international organizations, including the Pacific Islands Forum. This provision originated from Congressman Ed Case and Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen's Pacific Partnership Act.
• The House passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on September 10. It included various provisions relevant to the Pacific, including directing Joint Task Force-Micronesia to become responsible for strengthening community relationships between the U.S. Armed Forces and Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens impacted by military installations and operation locations in the FAS, mandating an annual report on the presence and activities of the European Union and NATO militaries in the Pacific and authorizing $1.4 billion for Pacific Deterrence Initiative construction. The Senate is still considering its version of the bill.
• The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved its State Department Reauthorization package on September 18. The set of bills included several wins for the Pacific, including requiring a Strategy for Pacific Partnership, a disaster regional strategy for Pacific Islands countries and a cyber and digital regional strategy for the Pacific Islands. 

In the News

• Pacific Islands leaders meet with climate change, security on agenda - The 54^th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting kicked off on September 8 with donor partners barred from participating. 

• CNMI Governor Arnold Palacios, 69, passes away after medical incident — Governor Arnold Indalecio Palacios passed away on July 23 after a medical incident led him to collapse in his office on Capitol Hill on Saipan.

•  U.S. Coast Guard, partners conclude Operation Ika Moana in Samoa — The U.S. Coast Guard concluded participation in Operation Ika Moana, a maritime surveillance initiative hosted by the Samoan Police Maritime Wing in conjunction with the Pacific Maritime Security Program, in Apia, Samoa, August 8 through 14.  

• Pacific leaders sign Ocean of Peace treaty, launch Pacific Resilience Facility — The Ocean of Peace declaration reflects Pacific nations’ commitment to uphold peace, security and cooperation across the world’s largest ocean. The Pacific Resilience Facility is the region’s first financial institution collectively owned by Pacific governments to provide regional climate and disaster resilience financing for Pacific communities at the front line of the climate crisis.

•  UN chief hails 'remarkable example' of Papua New Guinea as he concludes historic trip — Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid the first ever visit to Papua New Guinea by a sitting Secretary-General in early September. 

•  Samoa's first woman leader is ousted in an election following the collapse of her government — Samoa's incumbent ruling party, FAST, will return to power with 31 of 51 parliamentary seats and a new leader after its September 5 election.
• Pacific territories react to French government demise — The collapse of François Bayrou and his government on Monday, following a vote of defiance from Members of Parliament, has triggered many reactions, including from political figures in the French Pacific territories.

Pacific Voices

• On our playlist this week: Sweet Lady of Waiāhole by Bruddah Waltah
• On our watch list this week: Chief of War on Apple TV
• On our reading list this week: Shifting Tides: The National Security Implications of the United States' Pacific Drawdown by CSIS