Whereas Fiji became independent of the United Kingdom on October 10, 1970; Whereas Fiji is a valued security partner of the United States, participating in the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program, which sends members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to professional military education courses in the United States; Whereas the Republic of Fiji Military Forces deployed to Australia in January 2020 to assist with the Australian bushfires and look to contribute to future United Nations peacekeeping operations; Whereas Fiji participates in workshops sponsored by United States Indo-Pacific Command covering international humanitarian law, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), maritime security, peacekeeping, and search and rescue operations; Whereas since signing a shiprider agreement with Fiji in 2019, the United States has hosted Fijian shipriders on United States Navy and Coast Guard vessels; Whereas the United States Government supports strengthening cooperative activities with the Government of Fiji, including sustainable fisheries management and those authorized by the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 ( Public Law 115–109 ); Whereas section 1252 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 ( Public Law 116–92 ) expands the number of countries that receive assistance under the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative, including Fiji; Whereas a peaceful, prosperous, and open Indo-Pacific rooted in a rule-based order that promotes security, opportunity, and dignity to all peoples benefits the people of both the United States and Fiji; Whereas Fiji restored democratic governance in 2014; Whereas over 30,000 United States citizens trace their roots to Fiji, many of whom reside in California; Whereas Fiji has hosted the Peace Corps since 1968