H.R. 3748

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3748 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3748

To require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on the 
promotion of certain policies regarding the effects of sea level rise 
on the statehood and maritime zones of countries, and for other 
purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 5, 2025

Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Moylan, Mr. Case, Mrs. Radewagen, and Mr. 
Krishnamoorthi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs

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A BILL

To require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on the 
promotion of certain policies regarding the effects of sea level rise 
on the statehood and maritime zones of countries, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Maintaining Area Rights and 
Integrity Through International Maritime Enforcement Act'' or the 
``MARITIME Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Increasing sea levels pose an existential threat to 
low-lying island States in the Pacific Ocean.
(2) Maritime zones are critical for the economies of the 
Pacific Islands, which depend on exclusive rights to resources.
(3) New trends are developing in the practices and views of 
States on the need for stable maritime zones in the face of sea 
level rise, as reflected in the approach taken by the members 
of the Pacific Islands Forum and the Alliance of Small Island 
States.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

It is the policy of the United States that--
(1) sea level rise driven by climate change should not 
cause any country to lose its statehood or its membership in 
the United Nations, its specialized agencies, or other 
international organizations;
(2) the United States is committed to working with other 
countries on issues relating to sea level rise and statehood to 
advance these objectives;
(3) sea level rise driven by climate change should not 
diminish the maritime zones on which island States and other 
coastal States rely, including for food and livelihoods;
(4) the United States is committed to preserving the 
legitimacy of maritime zones, and associated rights and 
entitlements, that have been established consistent with 
international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention 
on the Law of the Sea and that are not subsequently updated 
despite sea level rise caused by climate change;
(5) countries should support the initiative of the Pacific 
Islands Forum and the Alliance of Small Island States to take 
steps now to determine, memorialize, and publish their coastal 
baselines in accordance with the international law of the sea 
as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the 
Sea; and
(6) the United States will encourage countries to adopt 
similar policies on the issue of statehood and the preservation 
of maritime zones.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the efforts of the 
United States to promote the adoption, by foreign countries and 
international organizations, of policies that are complementary to 
United States policies regarding the effects of sea level rise on the 
statehood and maritime zones of countries.
(b) Report Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following:
(1) A comprehensive review of the initiatives of the 
Department of State and other relevant departments and agencies 
to promote the adoption of policies described in subsection (a) 
by foreign countries and international organizations.
(2) An assessment of how the Department of State and other 
relevant departments and agencies are establishing or expanding 
bilateral and multilateral efforts to encourage the adoption of 
policies described in subsection (a) in international fora.
(3) An assessment of any legal, policy, logistical, 
financial, or administrative barrier to promoting the adoption 
of policies described in subsection (a).
(4) A list of countries and international organizations 
that have adopted policies described in subsection (a).
(c) Form of Report.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the 
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
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