Sponsors (3)
The bill trades a modest, multi-year investment and limited U.S. personnel presence in the Pacific to strengthen regional law enforcement, stability, and infrastructure for potential gains in security and resilience, against fiscal cost, possible local pushback, and risks of personnel diversion or program overlap.
Law-enforcement partners (HSI and Pacific Island law-enforcement) receive sustained funding of $5M/year to strengthen regional cooperation and counter transnational crime, improving U.S. regional security posture.
Regional communities and U.S. interests benefit from infrastructure and technology support tied to the Initiative, promoting regional stability and economic resilience that can reduce crime drivers and protect trade routes.
U.S. forward-deployed personnel in the Pacific enable faster crisis response and closer operational cooperation, improving investigations and emergency coordination with regional partners.
Taxpayers will fund an ongoing $5M per year for up to eight years (about $40M total), diverting federal dollars that could be used for domestic priorities.
Pacific Island communities and local governments may view deployment of U.S. law enforcement and resources as foreign influence, risking diplomatic friction or backlash against U.S. presence.
HSI and federal law-enforcement workforce may see at least four FTEs allocated to the Pacific, potentially diverting personnel from domestic priorities or other regions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an HSI Pacific Islands Liaison Initiative, staffs it in Honolulu and Guam, requires annual reporting, and authorizes $5M/year for FY2027–2034.
Official title: To require Homeland Security Investigations to establish the Pacific Islands Liaison Initiative to strengthen the United States strategic partnerships and ability to combat transnational criminal organizations in the Pacific region, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 29, 2026 by Ed Case · Last progress June 29, 2026
Creates a Pacific Islands Liaison Initiative inside Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to strengthen U.S. partnerships and counter malign influence across the Pacific islands by expanding HSI presence, conducting joint operations and training, sharing resources, and supporting forward deployment. The bill requires HSI to staff the initiative with at least four full-time personnel (two in Honolulu, two in Guam), oversee operations from HSI Honolulu, and report annually on funding, activities, and effectiveness. Provides authorization of $5 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2034 to carry out the initiative and requires an initial report within one year of establishment and yearly follow-ups describing expenditures, capacity-building outcomes, and recommendations for improving regional security efforts.