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Bill

S 5131

CORE Pacific Act

119th Congress Introduced by Tammy Duckworth and 3 co-sponsors

Feasibility study within 120 days to assess attaching State consular officers to Coast Guard/Navy missions in the Pacific, including costs, logistics, and impact.

Introduced in Senate
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 5131

CORE Pacific Act (S. 5131, 119th Congress)

What the bill aims to do

  • Purpose: To analyze the feasibility of attaching Department of State consular officers to United States Coast Guard and Navy missions in Pacific Island countries.
  • Short title: The Consular Operations and Regional Engagement in the Pacific Act, or the CORE Pacific Act.

Key provisions and changes

  • Sense of Congress (Sec. 2)

    • Recognizes Pacific Island countries (including the Freely Associated States) as close US partners in strategically important waters.
    • States that it is in US national security interests to maintain and strengthen relations with governments and citizens of Pacific Island countries.

  • Definitions (Sec. 3)

    • Establishes the concept of “appropriate committees of Congress,” enumerating relevant Senate and House committees (Foreign Relations, Appropriations, Armed Services, Commerce/Science/Transportation, and Foreign Affairs, Appropriations, Armed Services, Energy and Commerce).

  • Feasibility study and reporting (Sec. 4)

    • General requirement: Within 120 days after enactment, the Secretary of State, in coordination with:
    • Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard
    • Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
    • Chief of Naval Operations
    • Must submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees analyzing the feasibility of attaching State Department consular officers to Coast Guard and Navy missions in Pacific Island countries.
    • Required elements of the report:
    • Demand for consular services by citizens of Pacific Island countries and challenges in obtaining those services.
    • Assessment of potential value and time/resources saved if consular decisions or services for non-hosting-embassy citizens were adjudicated or provided on-site through Coast Guard/Navy missions.
    • Estimated costs to the Department of State, Coast Guard, Indo-Pacific Command, and Navy, including alternative cost-effective options and recommendations for providing consular services.
    • Analysis of Coast Guard and Navy deployment frequency and duration to Pacific Island countries, including:
      • How often deployments occur vs. the desired number of visits
      • Typical time spent in port for such visits
      • Disruptions to missions caused by visits needed for consular assistance
    • Logistical considerations for implementing the initiative, including:
      • Spatial requirements to host State personnel and equipment on various vessels
      • ICT/connectivity needs for on-board consular work
      • Feasibility of printing visas aboard vessels
      • Ensuring physical security of consular officers and equipment
      • Impacts on vessel operations and security
      • Estimated time consular officers would spend aboard vessels between visits to Pacific Island countries

Who would be affected

  • Primary: U.S. Department of State (consular operations), U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and the U.S. Navy.
  • Citizens of Pacific Island countries, particularly those in regions without U.S. embassies hosting full consular services.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill directs a one-time feasibility report due within 120 days after enactment.
  • The report would inform Congress on potential next steps, costs, implementation options, and operational implications.
  • It does not by itself authorize personnel changes or funding; it triggers analysis and recommendations to Congress.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Operational: Could enable on-site consular services during maritime missions, potentially reducing wait times and improving access for Pacific Island nationals.
  • Logistical: Requires assessment of vessel space, IT/connectivity, visa printing capabilities, security, and impact on mission readiness.
  • Strategic: Aligns with stated congressional sense that Pacific Island partners are critical to U.S. national security and that engagement should be strengthened.
  • Financial: Requires cost assessments and consideration of alternative models before any funding decisions.

If you’d like, I can provide a brief comparison to similar prior efforts or a bullet-point quick-read for policymakers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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