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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA
CHAIRMAN

Before the SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA, THE PACIFIC, AND THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT
US Foreign Policy Towards South Pacific Island Nations,
Including Australia and New Zealand
March 15, 2007

I have often said that the United States has a policy of benign neglect towards the South Pacific Island Nations. Too often we have relied on Australia and New Zealand to determine what US policy should be in the region.

Some suggest that our policy has been based on global security concerns like the Cold War and the War on Terrorism rather than the development of the needs of the region. Others have suggested that it is in the interest of the US to more aggressively support economic development in the region and this is what I have preached for years.

The Pacific Island nations have been strong allies of the US but it seems we have so quickly forgotten the sacrifices they have made for us, especially as many of them fought for our freedom during WWII. The US, for example, has failed to do right by the Marshall Islands which was used by the US as a nuclear testing ground. The US has neither cleaned up the aftermath nor compensated the people fairly for their exposure to radiation which has affected their health to this day and will for generations to come.

I recently returned from a visit to the South Pacific region where I met with the Commodore of Fiji, the King of Tonga, and Samoa's Prime Minister. I look forward to sharing with the Subcommittee their perspectives about the US as well.

But for now I want to say that as China continues to invest in the region and build local capacity, I think the US should do its part to act as a counterweight rather than relying on Australia to tell us how to interact with South Pacific Island nations.

I also want to point out that 14 Pacific Island leaders will be coming to Washington in May and the Subcommittee intends to hold a hearing at that time to hear their views. I would hope that President Bush will also welcome and host these leaders given that he has invited the PM of New Zealand to officially meet with him. I believe the 14 independent Pacific Island Nation leaders should be afforded this same courtesy and opportunity.

While I have more to say about US policy towards the region and while I want to also discuss the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), I do have a series of questions that I am hopeful that Secretary Davies will answer today including how the US justifies its relatively low level of assistance to the region outside the Freely Associated States.

For now, however, I would like to recognize our Ranking Member for any opening statement he may have.