ABBOTSFORD, Canada — The Blue Pacific Act or Boosting Long-Term U.S. Engagement In The Pacific Act are two short-term titles given to this Bill, which Representative of Hawai’i, District 1, Ed Case introduced on January 20th, 2025 alongside 14 other Cosponsors including the entire Pacific Islands Caucus. This Bill aims to strengthen the relations between the U.S. and the Pacific Islands countries.
Lack of Basic Life Facilities in Pacific Islands Countries
According to UNICEF’s Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) Report, the Pacific region is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which is to address clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. In fact, it needs an eight times faster rate of progress to meet the target. Many Pacific Island communities still lack access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, especially in rural and remote islands and are highly vulnerable to changing weather patterns and natural disasters (cyclones, droughts, floods), which often damage water and sanitation systems. This heightens the likelihood of malnutrition, outbreaks of diarrheal diseases and other health problems that particularly impact children.
Water and Sanitation Challenges in Pacific Island Nations
The Report suggests that although some Pacific Island Countries report more than 91.5% coverage of basic drinking water services, significant inequalities remain. Access to safe drinking water is still limited in countries such as Kiribati, where coverage stands at 76%, and the Solomon Islands, with only 67% access. Sanitation access is even lower, with only 45% of households in Kiribati, 35% in the Solomon Islands and 51% in Vanuatu having basic sanitation services. Open defecation rates in the Solomon Islands reached as high as 45%, while limited handwashing facilities in Kiribati and the Marshall Islands further increase the risk of preventable hygiene-related illnesses among children.
UNICEF
Some of the solutions that UNICEF has provided include a climate-resilient WASH infrastructure, and improved WASH in schools and healthcare facilities, hygiene behavior change programs and emergency preparedness and disaster response. It has also improved data collection and evidence-based policymaking while increasing funding and government collaboration.
Provisions of Blue Pacific Act
As per the Summary that Case’s office provided, the bill focuses on the issues discussed in UNICEF’s Report. This act aims to support broader regional growth by investing in key sectors such as public health, education, infrastructure development, climate resilience, adaptation efforts and other social development initiatives. It also covers what is often left out or seen in other endeavors, fostering stronger connections between people of both regions. Reinforcing existing regional organizations and partnerships, including collaboration with allied nations and partners of the United States, is also one of the goals of this act that emphasizes relationships between organizations like UNICEF and the U.S. government.
Latest Updates on Blue Pacific Act
The latest update on the bill was by the House of Representatives, which has sent it to the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. It was then referred it to the United States House Committee on Natural Resources for further review of provisions under its respective jurisdictions so the Speaker can determine a timeframe, says Congress Legislation.
Need of Support and Advocacy
Such bills require widespread support to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development targets for universal access to water and sanitation. Even though the progress is slow due to uneven funding as reported by UNICEF, both government and communal efforts have yielded amazing results in terms of WASH services. The Blue Pacific Act is ensuring that progress, which is slow now, becomes steady in the near future.
– Khushman Kaur
Khushman is based in Abbotsford, BC, Canada and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons