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FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing on U.S. Relations with Pacific Island Nations

Original title: SUSTAINING U.S. PACIFIC INSULAR RELATIONSHIPS

January 1, 2020

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing examines the status of U.S. agreements and strategic partnerships in the Pacific, which directly impacts regional security, federal funding allocations, and the diplomatic rights of citizens in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and other Pacific territories.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Pacific Island Nations

These nations maintain diplomatic and security agreements with the U.S. that are subject to congressional oversight and potential policy adjustments.

U.S. Department of Defense

The agency manages Indo-Pacific security affairs and provides testimony on strategic interests in the region.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2020.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is the official record of a joint hearing held by the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources on September 26, 2019. The hearing focused on sustaining and strengthening diplomatic, security, and economic relationships between the United States and Pacific Island nations.

Key Facts

  • The hearing was held on September 26, 2019, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
  • The session was a joint hearing between the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Natural Resources.
  • Witnesses included representatives from the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of the Interior, and the Government Accountability Office.
  • Ambassadors from the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia provided testimony.
  • The hearing record includes written responses to questions submitted by Representatives Engel, Titus, Omar, Case, Sablan, and Nicolas.
  • The record includes a statement for the record submitted by Representative McCaul and additional materials from Ambassador Kyota.

Why It Matters

The hearing examines the status of U.S. agreements and strategic partnerships in the Pacific, which directly impacts regional security, federal funding allocations, and the diplomatic rights of citizens in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and other Pacific territories.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
The hearing was convened to discuss the status and future of U.S. relationships with Pacific Island nations, focusing on security and diplomatic ties.
Who testified at the hearing?
Witnesses included high-level officials from the Department of Defense, State Department, Department of the Interior, the GAO, and Ambassadors from the Marshall Islands and Micronesia.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Inter-committee Coordination

The use of a joint hearing between Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources indicates a cross-jurisdictional approach to Pacific policy, blending diplomatic and territorial oversight.

Connected Entities

personAkillino H. SusaiaAmbassador to the United States from the Federated States of MicronesiaMap →
personNikolao PulaDirector, Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the InteriorMap →
personRaul M. GrijalvaChairman of the Committee on Natural ResourcesMap →
personRandall G. SchriverAssistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security AffairsMap →
personGerald M. ZackiosAmbassador to the United States from the Republic of The Marshall IslandsMap →
personSandra OudkirkDeputy Assistant Secretary for Australia, New Zealand, and The Pacific IslandsMap →
personDavid GootnickDirector of International Affairs and Trade, U.S. Government Accountability OffiMap →
personEliot L. EngelChairman of the Committee on Foreign AffairsMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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