1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Connecting Oceania’s Nations with Vanguard Exercises and National Empowerment Act of 2023 or the CONVENE Act of 2023 . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Armed Services Committee, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Armed Services Committee, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (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 section 3(e). (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. 3. National security councils of specified countries (a) In general The 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— (1) that enables the specified country— (A) to better coordinate with the United States Government, including the Armed Forces, as appropriate; (B) to increase cohesion on activities, including emergency humanitarian response, law enforcement, and maritime security activities