BLUE Pacific Act

Bill: 118-hr-4538
Sponsor: Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
Introduced: 2023-07-11 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Economic development
Emergency planning and evacuation
Fiji
Foreign aid and international relief
Infrastructure development
International organizations and cooperation
Internet, web applications, social media
Marshall Islands
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Telephone and wireless communication
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
Vanuatu
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: 

Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act or the BLUE Pacific Act

 
This bill requires and authorizes activities related to U.S. foreign policy in the Pacific Islands, which includes the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.
 
The bill authorizes various activities in the Pacific Islands, including to 
 
 
assist the Pacific Islands to improve public health outcomes and build public health capacity;
 
assist efforts to promote the dissemination of free and accurate information; 
 
promote educational and professional development for young adult leaders and professionals;
 
provide assistance to promote sustainable and quality basic education in the Pacific Islands;
 
build the capacity of local civilian and national security institutions;
 
expand trade capacity and promote regional development;
 
help enhance preparedness for and resilience to natural disasters and other emergencies, including by improving critical infrastructure;
 
support sustainable fisheries policies and marine biodiversity conservation;
 
support efforts to expand access to broadband and improve telecommunications infrastructure; and
 
help improve cybersecurity, including by providing assistance to develop and implement incident response plans and risk management frameworks. 
 
 
The bill also requires (1) the Department of State to help Pacific Island countries access development support from international organizations, (2) the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to seek to enter into investment incentive agreements with Pacific Islands countries, and (3) the Department of Commerce to expand the presence of the U.S. Commercial Service and increase the number foreign commercial officers in the Pacific Islands. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E656-657)
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2023-07-11
text: Introduced in House