[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9214-S9215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR FOR ASEAN AFFAIRS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to immediate consideration of S. 2697.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2697) to establish the position of the United 
     States Ambassador for ASEAN.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
bill which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
with amendments, as follows:

  (The parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in italic.)

                                S. 2697

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States Ambassador for 
     ASEAN Affairs Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (referred to 
     in this Act as ``ASEAN'') was established in 1967, with an 
     initial membership of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, 
     Singapore, and Thailand.
       (2) ASEAN is committed to accelerating economic growth, 
     social progress, cultural development and regional peace and 
     stability.
       (3) The membership of ASEAN has expanded to 10 countries 
     since its establishment in 1967.
       (4) The United States seeks to maintain and further develop 
     a constructive and cordial relationship with ASEAN.
       (5) The countries comprising ASEAN--
       (A) constitute the 3rd largest export market for United 
     States products;
       (B) have received nearly $90,000,000,000 in direct 
     investment from United States sources; and
       (C) are developing an integrated free trade area.
       (6) Trade between the United States and the countries 
     comprising ASEAN totals approximately $130,000,000,000.
       (7) ASEAN continues to contribute to regional stability in 
     East Asia and has partnered with the United States to combat 
     global terror.
       (8) In 2006, approximately 38,000 students from the 
     countries comprising ASEAN were studying in the United 
     States.
       (9) The countries comprising ASEAN share a common concern 
     with the United States regarding--
       (A) the spread of avian influenza and other diseases; and
       (B) environmental issues, such as the preservation of 
     biodiversity and the prevention of illegal logging.
       (10) It is in the long-term interest of the United States 
     to maintain and expand a relationship with ASEAN.
       (11) The United States does not have an Ambassador to 
     ASEAN, which limits the ability of the United States and 
     ASEAN to respond quickly and appropriately to events of 
     mutual interest.

     SEC. 3. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR FOR ASEAN.

       (a) Appointment.--There is established in the Department of 
     State the position of United States Ambassador for ASEAN 
     Affairs, who shall be appointed by the President, subject to 
     the advice and consent of the Senate.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the 
     Pacific should be designated as the Ambassador for ASEAN 
     Affairs.

       Amend the title so as to read: ``To establish the position 
     of the United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs.''.

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-
reported amendments be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read the 
third time and passed, the title amendment be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendments were agreed to.
  The bill (S. 2697), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

                                S. 2697

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States Ambassador for 
     ASEAN Affairs Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (referred to 
     in this Act as ``ASEAN'') was established in 1967, with an 
     initial membership of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, 
     Singapore, and Thailand.
       (2) ASEAN is committed to accelerating economic growth, 
     social progress, cultural development and regional peace and 
     stability.

[[Page S9215]]

       (3) The membership of ASEAN has expanded to 10 countries 
     since its establishment in 1967.
       (4) The United States seeks to maintain and further develop 
     a constructive and cordial relationship with ASEAN.
       (5) The countries comprising ASEAN--
       (A) constitute the 3rd largest export market for United 
     States products;
       (B) have received nearly $90,000,000,000 in direct 
     investment from United States sources; and
       (C) are developing an integrated free trade area.
       (6) Trade between the United States and the countries 
     comprising ASEAN totals approximately $130,000,000,000.
       (7) ASEAN continues to contribute to regional stability in 
     East Asia and has partnered with the United States to combat 
     global terror.
       (8) In 2006, approximately 38,000 students from the 
     countries comprising ASEAN were studying in the United 
     States.
       (9) The countries comprising ASEAN share a common concern 
     with the United States regarding--
       (A) the spread of avian influenza and other diseases; and
       (B) environmental issues, such as the preservation of 
     biodiversity and the prevention of illegal logging.
       (10) It is in the long-term interest of the United States 
     to maintain and expand a relationship with ASEAN.
       (11) The United States does not have an Ambassador to 
     ASEAN, which limits the ability of the United States and 
     ASEAN to respond quickly and appropriately to events of 
     mutual interest.

     SEC. 3. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR FOR ASEAN.

       (a) Appointment.--There is established in the Department of 
     State the position of United States Ambassador for ASEAN 
     Affairs, who shall be appointed by the President, subject to 
     the advice and consent of the Senate.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the 
     Pacific should be designated as the Ambassador for ASEAN 
     Affairs.

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