[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.
____________________