BLUE Pacific Act
- house
- senate
- president
Last progress January 20, 2025 (10 months ago)
Introduced on January 20, 2025 by Ed Case
Sponsors (15)
House Votes
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.
Senate Votes
Presidential Signature
AI Summary
This bill sets a long-term U.S. plan to work with Pacific Island countries. It focuses on everyday needs: better health care, quality schooling, job skills, and honest, local news. It supports youth exchanges and small community grants, invests in radio and other media, and funds training for jobs like construction, tourism, boat repair, and fishing so people can find good work close to home .
It also strengthens safety, the economy, and the environment. It helps local police and coast guards stop illegal fishing and trafficking; expands U.S. commercial support to connect island businesses with investment; and pushes the U.S. development finance agency to sign investment deals with more island governments . To prepare for disasters and climate change, it improves early warnings, evacuation plans, and climate‑ready infrastructure like hospitals, communications, and clean energy, and it supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and responses to sea level rise .
It also works to expand broadband access and strengthen cybersecurity, including help to set up or improve national and regional incident‑response teams.
- Who is affected: People in Pacific Island countries such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu; local communities, journalists, and young professionals; police and coast guards; and local workers and businesses .
- What changes: New or expanded efforts for health services, basic education, youth leadership and exchanges, free and accurate news, and workforce training; stronger disaster readiness and climate‑resilient infrastructure; ocean and fisheries protection; more broadband and better cybersecurity; more trade and investment support in the region .
- When: Several plans and reports are due within 180 days of becoming law, including on civil society, media, and “American Spaces” cultural centers; a workforce‑training report is due within one year; a long‑term strategy is due by 2027 with regular progress updates after that .
- Money set aside: $4 million a year for media support (2026–2033); $10 million a year for workforce training (2026–2033); $650,000 a year for community small grants (2026–2033); and $250,000 to support a new State Department official to manage the Compacts of Free Association work .