The U.S House of representatives passed a measure aimed at increasing U.S engagement with Pacific partners on Monday.
The House Resolution 7159, also known as the Pacific Partnership Act, was sponsored by U.S representative Ed Case, D-Hawaii, who served as co-chair and founding member of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus. Case co-introduced the measure with 25 other bipartisan colleagues.
“Our country’s Indo-Pacific Strategy states in no uncertain terms that no region is of more consequence to the world and to everyday Americans than the Indo-Pacific,” said Case, during a 40-minute discussion on the House floor prior to the voice vote.
“The United States and our allies and partners around the world who are aligned with an international rules-based order share the common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific whose governance, priorities, goals and prosperity are determined by the countries of the Indo-Pacific without manipulation and dominance by malicious actors.
“This is especially true of the Pacific Islands themselves, in the heart of the Pacific, which today face the challenges of increased natural disasters and human and drug trafficking, economic sustainability, threats to democracy and more,” he continued.
“It is crucial that the United States continue to extend our hand of full partnership in assisting the countries of the Pacific to meet these challenges, as we have for generations.”
The Pacific Partnership Act would require the president to each year develop and submit to Congress a Strategy for Pacific Partnership that would include overarching goals for U.S engagement in the Pacific region.
According to the bill, the annual strategy would assess “threats and pressures” to the region and a plan for addressing them. The strategy would be developed in consultation with the governments of Pacific Islands nations. The president would be required to report to Congress on the implementation of the strategy.
The measure would also extend certain diplomatic immunities to members of the Pacific Islands Forum. It further expresses that the president should consult and coordinate with Pacific partners and allies regarding assistance programmes.
“As a Pacific nation, the United States has a responsibility to engage and strengthen the partnerships that have ensured the region’s security and prosperity for decades,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which unanimously approved the bill.
“This legislation will ensure future administrations build on President Biden’s leadership to maintain our focus on the Pacific Islands.”
House Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, representative -American Samoa, said the measure is an important step in more fully engaging with Pacific Island nations.
“While Congress has extended the Compacts of Free Association for another 20 years for three Pacific Island countries, there are 11 other nations who need our attention, Radewagen said.
“The United States has enduring cultural, historic, economic, and people-to-people connections with the Pacific Islands. The Pacific Partnership Act will go far in providing better focus for U.S engagement with Pacific Island nations.”
Representative Ted Lieu, D-Calif, said the measure also puts the United States in a better position to address growing threats from China.
“We must counter ongoing aggression from the (People’s Republic of China) by building effective relationships with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region,” Lieu said
“The Pacific Partnership Act would support diplomatic, strategic and economic relationships in the Indo-Pacific and strengthen our defences against (Chinese Communist Party) aggression.”
The Pacific Partnership Act now moves to the Senate for further review and approval.
