CONVENE Act of 2023

The CONVENE Act of 2023 requires the U.S. Secretary of State to work with the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau to establish or strengthen their national security councils (or similar bodies) for coordinating security and emergency response. These councils would focus on improving U.S. collaboration on disaster response, maritime security, counterintelligence, and combating illegal fishing. The bill mandates that equipment and services used by these councils meet cybersecurity standards, avoid certain foreign systems, and be interoperable with U.S. systems. It also requires annual reports to Congress for two years detailing progress, challenges, and assessments of the councils' effectiveness.