Case Leads Re-Introduction Of Expanded Framework For United States Policy In The Pacific Islands

Fellow Members of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus join bipartisan measure for all-of-government engagement expansion throughout critical region

News Release from Office of Rep Ed Case, Washington, DC, January 25, 2025

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-HI-01), joined by several members of his Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, have re-introduced an expanded version of their Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific (BLUE Pacific) Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“The lands and waters of the jurisdictions spread across Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia comprise an area larger than the land areas of China and Russia combined and represent a major portion of the vast Pacific Ocean and our Earth’s surface,” said Congressman Case.

“The peoples of these islands have developed their own proud cultures and identity over millennia, and for centuries now have shared common values and visions and historic, cultural, economic and strategic ties with the United States. Our presents and futures are entwined; they are being and will be determined jointly.”

The BLUE Pacific Act, first introduced in July 2020 during the 116th Congress, and re-introduced in the 117th Congress and 118th Congress, lays out an expanded vision and framework for U.S. foreign policy in the Pacific Islands over the coming generation. While much of the BLUE Pacific Act has been incorporated into other legislation and/or funded in appropriations measures over the past three Congresses, this renewed version builds on developments in both Pacific Islands communities and in the policies of the United States and its partners in the last years.

Joining Case in introducing the BLUE Pacific Act are fellow Members of the U.S. House of Representatives James Moylan (R-Guam), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Zachary Nunn (R-IA-03), and Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01). 

Updated from the measure introduced in the last Congress, the BLUE Pacific Act advances a comprehensive, long-term U.S. strategy in the Pacific Islands region. A summary of the updates is here.

The updated measure especially reflects the Pacific Island Forum‘s 2022 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and requires continued support for and quadrennial updates to the Pacific Partnership Strategy, released at the 2022 U.S.-Pacific Islands Summit in Washington, D.C.

“As a Pacific-based territory, Guam faces many of the same challenges that Pacific Island nations suffer through,” said Congressman Moylan. “That’s why I can say with certainty that the BLUE Pacific Act seeks to create positive change in our relationship with the Pacific Islands. The passage of this act would ensure that the United States is not only committed to aiding these nations, but our commitment is long-lasting.”

“Deterring aggression in the Indo-Pacific and restoring America’s leadership on the global stage – as President Trump has declared in his ‘America First’ agenda – means more than just putting our interests above everyone else’s,” said Congresswoman Tokuda.

“We cannot lead and succeed without our allies and partners, especially those in the Pacific Islands region who tell us time and again that their greatest threat is climate change and what it means for their people. Failing to meet our allies and partners on something so existential is a sure-fire way to turn them away, and we simply cannot afford that if we are serious about national security.

“That’s why I’m proud to once again join my colleague Representative Case in introducing the BLUE Pacific Act to recenter our foreign policy in the Pacific Islands on the issues they care most about: regionalism and sovereignty, people-centered development, democracy and human rights, and yes, climate change and the environment.

“I hope the Administration takes note of this bill and continues to direct greater attention and resourcing to meeting the allies and partners who are part of our Pacific ‘ohana where they are at.”

“As a Pacific country, the United States is safer and more competitive when it engages with friends in Pacific Island nations,” said Congressman Larsen. “By advancing a comprehensive, long-term strategy for the Pacific, the United States can continue to strengthen its partnerships in the region which benefit regional security, economic leadership and global stability.”

In February 2022, the U.S. House passed the bulk of the BLUE Pacific Act as part of the America COMPETES Act, and several provisions were included in the Fiscal Year 2023 House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. In 2024, Case also introduced the Pacific Partnership Act, which passed the House but did not pass the Senate before the end of the 118th Congress.

The updated version of the BLUE Pacific Act in the 119th Congress includes those provisions that have not been implemented yet, provisions from other Pacific Islands bills Congressman Case and his colleagues have introduced in the past, including the Pacific Partnership Act and the Engage the Pacific Act; and new provisions that have been added to reflect various developments in the Pacific Islands over the last few years. 

Attachments:

·         Text of the measure is here.

·         Section-by-section of the measure is here.

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