[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7875-H7877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SOUTHEAST ASIA STRATEGY ACT

  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1632) to require a strategy for engagement with 
Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1632

       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 ``Southeast Asia Strategy 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Southeast Asia is the fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific 
     region, providing both a geographic and maritime link between 
     East and South Asia.
       (2) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a 
     regional intergovernmental organization, remains central to 
     the Indo-Pacific region's institutional architecture and to 
     United States foreign policy toward the region.
       (3) The United States has reaffirmed that the security and 
     sovereignty of its Southeast Asian allies and partners, 
     including a strong, independent ASEAN, remain vital to the 
     security, prosperity, and stability of the Indo-Pacific 
     region.
       (4) The United States has committed to continuing to deepen 
     longstanding alliances and partnerships with a range of 
     Southeast Asian nations, including by promoting our shared 
     values, democracy, human rights, and civil society.
       (5) Since the end of the Second World War, United States 
     investments in strengthening alliances and partnerships with 
     Southeast Asian nations have yielded tremendous returns for 
     United States interests, as working with and through these 
     alliances and partnerships have increased the region's 
     capacity and capability to address common challenges.
       (6) ASEAN member states are critical United States security 
     partners in preventing violent extremism and protecting the 
     freedom and openness of the maritime domain and in preventing 
     the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction.
       (7) ASEAN member states have contributed significantly to 
     regional disaster monitoring and management and emergency 
     response through initiatives such as the ASEAN Coordinating 
     Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, an 
     inter-governmental organization that facilitates coordination 
     and cooperation among ASEAN member states and international 
     organizations in times of emergency.
       (8) According to the 2018 ASEAN Business Outlook Survey, 
     ASEAN member states are vital to the prosperity of the United 
     States economy and exports to ASEAN economies support more 
     than 500,000 jobs in the United States.
       (9) The United States and ASEAN have recently celebrated 
     the 40th anniversary of their ties and established a new 
     strategic partnership that will enhance cooperation across 
     the economic, political-security, and people-to-people 
     pillars of the relationship.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to--
       (1) deepen cooperation with ASEAN and ASEAN member states 
     in the interest of promoting peace, security, and stability 
     in the Indo-Pacific region;
       (2) affirm the importance of ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led 
     mechanisms in the evolving institutional architecture of the 
     Indo-Pacific region; and
       (3) establish and communicate a comprehensive strategy 
     toward the Indo-Pacific region that articulates--
       (A) the role and importance of Southeast Asia to the United 
     States;
       (B) the value of the United States-ASEAN relationship;
       (C) the mutual interests of all parties;
       (D) the concrete and material benefits all nations derive 
     from strong United States engagement and leadership in 
     Southeast Asia; and
       (E) efforts to forge and maintain ASEAN consensus, 
     especially on key issues of political and security concern to 
     the region, such as the South China Sea.

     SEC. 4. STRATEGY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SOUTHEAST ASIA AND 
                   ASEAN.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     consultation with the heads of other Federal departments and 
     agencies as appropriate, shall develop and submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive strategy 
     for engagement with Southeast Asia and ASEAN.
       (b) Matters To Be Included.--The strategy required by 
     subsection (a) shall include the following:
       (1) A statement of enduring United States interests in 
     Southeast Asia and a description of efforts to bolster the 
     effectiveness of ASEAN.
       (2) A description of efforts to--
       (A) deepen and expand Southeast Asian alliances, 
     partnerships, and multilateral engagements, including efforts 
     to expand broad based and inclusive economic growth, security 
     ties, security cooperation and interoperability, economic 
     connectivity, and expand opportunities for ASEAN to work with 
     other like-minded partners in the region; and
       (B) encourage like-minded partners outside of the Indo-
     Pacific region to engage with ASEAN.
       (3) A summary of initiatives across the whole of the United 
     States Government to strengthen the United States partnership 
     with Southeast Asian nations and ASEAN, including to promote 
     broad based and inclusive economic growth, trade, investment, 
     energy and efforts to combat climate change, public-private 
     partnerships, physical and digital infrastructure 
     development, education, disaster management, public health 
     and economic and political diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
       (4) A summary of initiatives across the whole of the United 
     States Government to enhance the capacity of Southeast Asian 
     nations with respect to enforcing international law and 
     multilateral sanctions, and initiatives to cooperate with 
     ASEAN as an institution in these areas.
       (5) A summary of initiatives across the whole of the United 
     States Government to promote human rights and democracy, to 
     strengthen the rule of law, civil society, and transparent 
     governance, and to protect the integrity of elections from 
     outside influence.
       (6) A summary of initiatives to promote security 
     cooperation and security assistance within Southeast Asian 
     nations, including--
       (A) maritime security and maritime domain awareness 
     initiatives for protecting the maritime commons and 
     supporting international law and freedom of navigation in the 
     South China Sea; and
       (B) efforts to combat terrorism, human trafficking, piracy, 
     and illegal fishing, and promote more open, reliable routes 
     for sea lines of communication.
       (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the Senate.


[[Page H7876]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Levin) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include in the Record extraneous material on H.R. 1632.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, let me start by thanking the gentlewoman from Missouri 
(Mrs. Wagner), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro), and the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Yoho) for introducing this legislation.
  Southeast Asian states and the Association of Southeast Asian 
Nations, or ASEAN, have been central to American policy in Asia for 
decades. They are key partners in advancing our interests in the Indo-
Pacific.
  But at this point, the Trump administration still hasn't put together 
a comprehensive strategy on how to strengthen our engagement with these 
countries. This legislation would require such a strategy.
  It calls on the Secretary of State, working with the Secretaries of 
Defense and Commerce, to come up with a plan that will make sure the 
United States and our partners are working together on some of the most 
critical issues we are facing, from climate change and human rights to 
security cooperation, energy, and a growing global economy.
  A multiyear strategy for our engagement with ASEAN and its member 
states will help us build partnerships in the region focused on short-
term challenges, as well as longer term opportunities. Many Southeast 
Asian countries face the same global challenges that we do, like 
terrorism and human trafficking. The United States can and should be 
their preferred partner to address these issues.
  This bill will help us take stock of our ongoing and planned efforts 
in these areas and determine what strategic personnel and funding 
resources are necessary to make these efforts successful.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good, straightforward piece of legislation. I 
am glad the House is considering it today, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Congresswoman Wagner's 
Southeast Asia Strategy Act.
  This bill will promote U.S. cooperation with the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations and establish a comprehensive interagency 
strategy for engagement in Southeast Asia.
  ASEAN is the center of Asia's strategic and economic future and 
critical to the administration's Indo-Pacific strategy. Southeast Asia 
has been a critical global crossroads for hundreds of years, and it is 
growing even more important in the 21st century. Trillions in trade 
pass through regional sea-lanes, including vital energy supplies for 
U.S. allies and adversaries.
  China's territorial aggression in the South China Sea and its 
predatory Belt and Road Initiative are central to the region's 
geopolitics. Southeast Asia's rising economies are becoming important 
drivers of regional growth as its developed economies begin to slow.
  The Southeast Asia Strategy Act is a welcome step to ensure that this 
critical region receives the interagency focus that it deserves and 
that it requires.
  Mr. Speaker, therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), the vice ranking member of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs and the author of the Southeast Asia Strategy Act.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for 
yielding to me and for his strong support on this piece of legislation, 
along with the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Engel, for bringing 
H.R. 1632, the Southeast Asia Strategy Act, to a vote.
  I also thank Congressman Castro for his persistent support of U.S.-
ASEAN relations, and I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this 
important, straightforward, and commonsense piece of legislation.
  Southeast Asia is of deep strategic and economic importance to the 
United States, and its global influence is, in fact, growing.
  In 2015, the United States and ASEAN elevated our relationship into a 
strategic partnership. To fully realize this partnership, the U.S. 
needs a proactive, coherent regional strategy that addresses all 
aspects of the relationship, from trade and humanitarian goals to 
diplomatic and security arrangements.
  The Southeast Asia Strategy Act ensures that it is the policy of the 
United States to coordinate with ASEAN and its member states in the 
interest of promoting peace, security, and stability.
  The legislation instructs the Secretary of State to develop a 
comprehensive strategy for engagement with the region, including 
information on alliances and partnerships, investment, development, 
security cooperation, energy security, human rights, and capacity 
building on enforcing international law and sanctions and creating more 
open, reliable routes for trade.
  I have had many opportunities to meet with ASEAN officials and 
foreign ministers, and one message I hear repeatedly is that the United 
States must demonstrate strength and leadership.
  Congress should listen closely to our allies demanding stronger 
leadership, and not just because China would be sure to fill any vacuum 
in power.
  ASEAN is a powerhouse and an end in itself, and this bill will ensure 
that U.S.-ASEAN engagement becomes ever more fruitful.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Southeast Asia 
Strategy Act.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank 
Congresswoman Wagner, the vice ranking member of the Foreign Affairs 
Committee, for introducing the Southeast Asia Strategy Act.
  The administration's national security strategy has recommitted the 
United States to great power competition, and the People's Republic of 
China is our primary strategic competitor.
  The Indo-Pacific region is at the center of this competition, and 
Southeast Asia is at the center of the Indo-Pacific.
  Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support the 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume for the purpose of closing.
  Mr. Speaker, let me first thank my colleagues who have taken part in 
this debate. I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) and 
the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for their leadership in this area.
  I want to just close by being clear with ourselves as a Congress, as 
the United States of America. If we are not engaged in the Indo-Pacific 
region, if we are not building bridges of friendship and cooperation, 
if we are not bringing American leadership and American values to this 
critical part of the world, who is going to fill the void? The answer 
is easy. It is China.
  We can't be muddling our way through when it comes to our policy. We 
need a smart, proactive approach that meets current challenges and 
builds the framework for successful, long-term engagement.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will help us meet those goals. I am pleased to 
support it. I urge all Members to do the same, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1632, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.

[[Page H7877]]

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________