[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 27, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2494-S2495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Warner):
  S. 2857. A bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a 
strategy to obtain membership status for India in the Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation (APEC), and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2857

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

     SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF INDIA IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC 
                   ECONOMIC COOPERATION REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Republic of India is the world's ninth largest 
     economy in nominal terms and the third largest economy based 
     on purchasing-power parity.
       (2) The United States-India partnership is vital to United 
     States strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region and 
     across the globe, and is an integral aspect to the 
     Administration's Rebalance to Asia.
       (3) United States-India bilateral trade and investment 
     continue to expand, supporting thousands of United States 
     jobs.
       (4) The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) regional 
     economic forum is the premier Asia-Pacific economic forum 
     with a goal to support sustainable economic growth and 
     prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
       (5) APEC works to champion free, open trade and investment, 
     to promote and accelerate regional economic integration, to 
     encourage economic and technical cooperation, to enhance 
     human security, and to facilitate a favorable and sustainable 
     business environment.
       (6) APEC held a moratorium on new membership from 1997 to 
     2010, which has since been lifted.
       (7) India has pursued membership in APEC for over 20 years, 
     and became an APEC observer in November 2011 at the 
     invitation of the United States, when the forum met in 
     Hawaii.
       (8) India enjoys a location within the Asia-Pacific region 
     which provides an avenue for continued trade and investment 
     partnerships with APEC member states.
       (9) India has been or is pursuing bilateral or multilateral 
     trade agreements with the majority of APEC member states.
       (10) India's ``Look East, Act East'' strategy to expand 
     economic engagement with East and Southeast Asia demonstrates 
     its effort to pursue external oriented, market-driven 
     economic policies.
       (b) Actions.--The Secretary of State shall--
       (1) develop a strategy to obtain membership status for 
     India in APEC, including participation in related meetings, 
     working groups, activities, and mechanisms; and
       (2) actively urge APEC member states to support such 
     membership status for India.

[[Page S2495]]

       (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to 
     Congress a report, in unclassified form, describing the 
     United States strategy to obtain membership status for India 
     in APEC. Such report shall be updated and submitted annually 
     until such time as India obtains membership in APEC. Each 
     such report shall include the following:
       (1) A description of the efforts the Secretary has made to 
     encourage APEC member states to promote India's bid to obtain 
     membership status.
       (2) The further steps the Secretary will take to assist 
     India in obtaining membership status for APEC.
                                 ______