USC Subchapter III

48 U.S.C. § 1971 Transfer of surplus personal property owned by United States

(a) Transfer to Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Marshall Islands, and Federated States of MicronesiaNotwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to valid existing rights, and subject to subsection (b) of this section, all right, title, and interest of the Government of the United States in personal property situated in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and of the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in personal property wherever located shall be transferred, without reimbursement, by a date not later than ninety days following termination of the trusteeship agreement governing the administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, to the government of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Marshall Islands, or the Federated States of Micronesia according to a list of distribution established by the High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in consultation with the recipient government. (b) Declaration that property is surplusPersonal property referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall be transferred upon declaration by the High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands that such property is surplus to the needs of the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which declaration shall be approved, if applicable, by the head of the agency of the Government of the United States having administrative responsibility for the property. (c) Property held in trustIf no government exists in Palau on December 24, 1980, that is capable of receiving title to such property in its own name, the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands shall hold such property in trust for the prospective government of Palau until such government is established.

48 U.S.C. § 1972 Controlled substances in freely associated states

(a) In generalThe President is authorized to negotiate agreements which provide—(1) that the United States shall carry out the provisions of part C of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 821 et seq.) as necessary to provide for the lawful distribution of controlled substances in the freely associated states; and (2) that a freely associated state which institutes and maintains a voluntary system to report annual estimates of narcotics needs to the International Narcotics Control Board, and which imposes controls on imports of narcotic drugs consistent with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, shall be eligible for exports of narcotic drugs from the United States in the same manner as a country meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of section 953 11 See References in Text note below. of title 21. (b) Effective dateAgreements concluded pursuant to this section shall become effective pursuant to section 1901(f)(5) of this title or section 1931(d)(5) of this title, as may be applicable.

48 U.S.C. § 1973 Freely Associated State Air Carrier

(a) In furtherance of the objectives of the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 (Public Law 99–239) [48 U.S.C. 1901 et seq., 2001 et seq.] and notwithstanding any other provision of law, a Freely Associated State Air Carrier shall not be precluded from providing transportation, between a place in the United States and a place in a state in free association with the United States or between two places in such a freely associated state, by air of persons (and their personal effects) and property procured, contracted for, or otherwise obtained by any executive department or other agency or instrumentality of the United States for its own account or in furtherance of the purposes or pursuant to the terms of any contract, agreement, or other special arrangement made or entered into under which payment is made by the United States or payment is made from funds appropriated, owned, controlled, granted, or conditionally granted, or utilized by or otherwise established for the account of the United States, or shall be furnished to or for the account of any foreign nation, or any international agency, or other organization of whatever nationality, without provisions for reimbursement. (b) The term “Freely Associated State Air Carrier” shall apply exclusively to a carrier referred to in Article IX(5)(b) of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement concluded pursuant to Article II of Title Two and Section 232 of the Compact of Free Association.

48 U.S.C. § 1974 Connecting Oceania’s Nations With Vanguard Exercises and National Empowerment

(a) Short titleThis section may be cited as the “Connecting Oceania’s Nations with Vanguard Exercises and National Empowerment Act of 2023” or the “CONVENE Act of 2023”. (b) DefinitionsIn this section:(1) The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and (C) the congressional defense committees. (2) National security council.—The term “national security council” means, with respect to a specified country, an intergovernmental body under the jurisdiction of the freely elected government of the specified country that acts as the primary coordinating entity for security cooperation, disaster response, and the activities described in subsection (c)(5). (3) Specified country.—The term “specified country” means—(A) the Federated States of Micronesia; (B) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and (C) the Republic of Palau. (c) National security councils of specified countries(1) In generalThe Secretary of State, in consultation with other relevant Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, may consult and engage with each specified country to advise and provide assistance to a national security council (including by developing a national security council, if appropriate), or to identify a similar coordinating body for national security matters, comprised of citizens of the specified country—(A) that enables the specified country—(i) to better coordinate with the United States Government, including the Armed Forces, as appropriate; (ii) to increase cohesion on activities, including emergency humanitarian response, law enforcement, and maritime security activities; and (iii) to provide trained professionals to serve as members of the committees of the specified country established under the applicable Compact of Free Association; and (B) for the purpose of enhancing resilience capabilities and protecting the people, infrastructure, and territory of the specified country from malign actions. (2) CompositionThe Secretary of State, respecting the unique needs of each specified country, may seek to ensure that the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of the specified country is composed of sufficient staff and members to enable the activities described in paragraph (5). (3) Standards for equipment and servicesThe Secretary of State may work with the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of each specified country to ensure that—(A) the equipment and services used by the national security council or other identified coordinating body are compliant with security standards so as to minimize the risk of cyberattacks or espionage; (B) the national security council or other identified coordinating body takes all reasonable efforts not to procure or use systems, equipment, or software that originates from any entity identified under section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by “2021”. (10 U.S.C. 113 note); and (C) to the extent practicable, the equipment and services used by the national security council or other identified coordinating body are interoperable with the equipment and services used by the national security councils, or other identified coordinating bodies, of the other specified countries. (4) Report on implementation(A) In generalNot later than 180 days after December 22, 2023, and annually thereafter for 2 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes—(i) an assessment as to whether a national security council or a similar formal coordinating body is helping or would help achieve the objectives described in paragraph (1) at acceptable financial and opportunity cost; (ii) a description of all actions taken by the United States Government to assist in the identification or maintenance of a national security council, or other identified coordinating body, in each specified country; (iii) with respect to each specified country, an assessment as to whether—(I) the specified country has appropriately staffed its national security council or other identified coordinating body; and (II) the extent to which the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of the specified country is capable of carrying out the activities described in paragraph (5); (iv) an assessment of—(I) any challenge to cooperation and coordination with the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of any specified country; (II) current efforts by the Secretary of State to coordinate with the specified countries on the activities described in paragraph (5); and (III) existing governmental entities within each specified country that are capable of supporting such activities; (v) a description of any challenge with respect to—(I) the implementation of the national security council, or other identified coordinating body, of any specified country; and (II) the implementation of paragraphs (1) through (3); (vi) an assessment of any attempt or campaign by a malign actor to influence the political, security, or economic policy of a specified country, a member of a national security council or other identified coordinating body, or an immediate family member of such a member; and (vii) any other matter the Secretary of State considers relevant. (B) FormEach report required by subparagraph (A) may be submitted in unclassified form and may include a classified annex. (5) Activities describedThe activities described in this subsection are the following homeland security activities:(A) Coordination of—(i) the prosecution and investigation of transnational criminal enterprises; (ii) responses to national emergencies, such as natural disasters; (iii) counterintelligence and counter- coercion responses to foreign threats; and (iv) efforts to combat illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing. (B) Coordination with United States Government officials on humanitarian response, military exercises, law enforcement, and other issues of security concern. (C) Identification and development of an existing governmental entity to support homeland defense and civil support activities.