BLUE Pacific Act

Bill: 119-hr-562
Sponsor: Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
Introduced: 2025-01-20 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: 2025-01-20
text: 

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

This bill requires or authorizes activities to strengthen U.S. relations with Pacific Islands countries, which include the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.

The bill authorizes various activities in the Pacific Islands, including to

assist in improving public health outcomes and build public health capacity;

assist in promoting 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;

assist with workforce development;

build the capacity of local civilian and national security institutions;

expand trade and promote regional development;

enhance preparedness for and resilience to natural disasters and other emergencies;

support sustainable fisheries policies and marine biodiversity conservation;

support expanded access to broadband and telecommunications infrastructure; and

support cybersecurity, including by assisting with development and implementation of incident response plans.

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 prioritize efforts 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 service officers in the Pacific Islands.

The President may extend certain diplomatic privileges, exemptions, and immunities to the Pacific Islands Forum, an international organization of 18 countries in the Pacific.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-01-20
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: 2025-01-20
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: 2025-01-20
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: 2025-01-20
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2025-01-20
text: Introduced in House