[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 209 (Thursday, December 11, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1186]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING THE PROSPER IN THE PACIFIC ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 11, 2025

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my Promoting 
Regional Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity and Economic 
Resilience in the Pacific Act, or PROSPER in the Pacific Act, to 
advance the U.S.-Pacific Islands relationship to include an economic 
partnership built on shared values and principles.
  The Pacific Islands, spread across the vast Pacific Ocean, have a 
collective maritime area that exceeds the land area of Russia and China 
combined. These jurisdictions are key partners in maintaining a free 
and open Indo-Pacific and meeting vital security and economic 
challenges. It is imperative that we develop, maintain, and grow these 
relationships.
  Recognizing this, successive administrations have committed to 
deepening U.S. engagement in the region, including through trade and 
investment. Most recently, the 2025 National Security Strategy asserts 
that ``the Indo-Pacific is already and will continue to be among the 
next century's key economic and geopolitical battlegrounds,'' reaffirms 
our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and prioritizes winning 
the economic competition over the long term in the region. 
Additionally, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission's 
2025 Annual Report to Congress recommended that we strengthen economic 
assistance to Pacific Island countries to support U.S. national 
security interests and the priorities of partner countries.
  However, our economic toolkit for achieving our goals in the Pacific 
Islands needs to be strengthened, Many Pacific Island countries enjoyed 
preferential treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences 
(GSP) when it was authorized, but the program lapsed in 2020. Some of 
the Pacific Islands' top exports to the U.S., including tuna, cane 
sugar, ginger and taro, would be eligible for duty-free treatment under 
GSP but for this lapse.
  The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the leading multinational political 
organization for the Pacific Islands region, has prioritized the 
region's need to build trade capacity and infrastructure and has 
specifically advocated for preferential trade agreements given its lack 
of competitiveness due to its small national markets, isolation from 
the global market, and high cost of operating and land and labor 
constraints. The PIF has encouraged the U.S. to extend duty-free 
treatment under the GSP beyond preferences for Least Developed 
Beneficiary Developing Countries.
  Implementing such a program would come at a low cost to the U.S. 
while delivering a high strategic return, especially given the People's 
Republic of China's (PRC) increased focus on expanding its influence in 
the region. My bill, PROSPER in the Pacific, would provide a visible 
alternative to the PRC by emphasizing economic partnership over debt-
trap diplomacy, all while encouraging private-sector-led development, 
market-based economies, and goodwill towards the U.S.
  The PROSPER in the Pacific Act would authorize the President to 
designate certain articles imported from eligible Pacific Island 
countries for duty-free treatment, extending to them the same 
preferential access that is afforded to least developed beneficiary 
developing countries under GSP. By doing so, my legislation aims to 
stimulate export opportunities for Pacific Island economies while 
encouraging U.S. businesses to source more goods from the region. In 
addition to expanding market access, the bill would direct the 
President to develop a comprehensive plan for negotiating free trade 
agreements with Pacific Island countries that express interest, laying 
the groundwork for deeper, long-term economic integration. Finally, my 
bill would create a dedicated trade facilitation and capacity-building 
program for the Pacific Islands to help partner governments strengthen 
customs procedures, meet U.S. product standards, and improve overall 
export readiness, ensuring they can fully realize the benefits of 
enhanced trade ties.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation to 
sustain and expand U.S. economic and security engagement in this 
critical region.

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