[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 96 (Monday, June 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3639-S3640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2667. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Cornyn) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5515, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title XII, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. __. PARTICIPATION OF INDIA IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC 
                   COOPERATION REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (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.
       (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, 
     encourage economic and technical cooperation, enhance human 
     security, and facilitate a favorable and sustainable business 
     environment.
       (6) APEC held a moratorium on new membership from 1997 to 
     2010.
       (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;
       (2) work with the Government of India to ensure that such 
     government works to meet the best practices APEC espouses; 
     and
       (3) actively urge APEC member states to support such 
     membership status for India.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) In general.--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. The

[[Page S3640]]

     report shall be updated and submitted annually until such 
     time as India obtains membership in APEC.
       (2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (A) A description of the efforts the Secretary has made to 
     encourage APEC member states to promote India's bid to obtain 
     membership status.
       (B) Current actions taken by the Government of India to 
     ensure that India meets the best practices espoused by APEC.
       (C) The further steps the Secretary will take to assist 
     India in obtaining membership status for APEC.
                                 ______