[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5882-H5883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REAFFIRMING VITAL ROLE OF UNITED STATES-JAPAN ALLIANCE

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 349) reaffirming the vital role of the United 
States-Japan alliance in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in 
the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 349

       Whereas the United States and Japan established diplomatic 
     relations on March 31, 1854, with the signing of the Treaty 
     of Peace and Amity;
       Whereas for more than the past 70 years, the partnership 
     between the United States and Japan has played a vital role 
     in ensuring peace, stability, and economic development in 
     Asia and beyond;
       Whereas the United States and Japan are deeply committed to 
     the common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and 
     free market economies;
       Whereas the current United States-Japan alliance, forged 
     over six decades ago with the signing of the Treaty of Mutual 
     Cooperation and Security, is the cornerstone for stability 
     and prosperity of Japan and for the Indo-Pacific region, and 
     plays a key role in global peace and stability;
       Whereas the United States and Japan are indispensable 
     partners in combating the proliferation of weapons of mass 
     destruction, improving global health, countering human 
     trafficking and promoting human rights, assisting the victims 
     of conflict and disaster worldwide, and contributing to 
     global economic development;
       Whereas the United States and Japan have worked closely 
     during the COVID-19 pandemic to safely repatriate our 
     respective citizens home and to strengthen our collaboration 
     on global health research and development through 
     partnerships such as the United States-Japan Cooperative 
     Medical Science Program;
       Whereas the United States and Japan are partnering to 
     promote infrastructure investments around the Indo-Pacific 
     that ensure openness, transparency, economic efficiency, and 
     debt sustainability, including through the United States-
     Japan Mekong Power partnership and the United States-Japan 
     Strategic Energy Partnership;
       Whereas the United States, Japan, and Australia announced 
     in November 2019 the establishment of a Blue Dot Network that 
     will promote transparent and quality infrastructure projects 
     that align with the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure 
     Investment;
       Whereas the alliance is a testament to the ability of great 
     nations to overcome the past and jointly work to create a 
     more secure and prosperous future;
       Whereas approximately 54,000 United States troops are 
     stationed in Japan and the Japanese Government makes 
     substantial financial commitments to the maintenance of 
     United States forces in Japan under the Special Measures 
     Agreement and other contributions that directly support 
     operational readiness of United States forces in Japan;
       Whereas the current United States-Japan Special Measures 
     Agreement is set to expire in March 2021, and the two 
     countries launched working-level negotiations on a new cost-
     sharing agreement in October 2020;
       Whereas, in October 2020, the United States, Australia, 
     India, and Japan continued their ongoing cooperation through 
     the quad framework and discussed collective efforts to 
     collaborate on COVID-19 pandemic response, maritime security, 
     cybersecurity, quality infrastructure, counterterrorism, and 
     other areas;
       Whereas our two countries, coming from different cultural 
     backgrounds, have created an active and dynamic relationship 
     beneficial to both peoples; and
       Whereas cultural and people-to-people ties between the 
     United States and Japan are long-standing and deep, as 
     exemplified by the gift of the beautiful cherry trees that 
     dot our nation's capital from the People of Japan to the 
     People of the United States in 1912, signifying the affection 
     and respect between the two nations: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) reaffirms the vital role of the United States-Japan 
     alliance in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the 
     Indo-Pacific region and beyond;
       (2) supports the conclusion of an equitable, new United 
     States-Japan Special Measures Agreement that is negotiated 
     based on our shared national interests, prior to the 
     expiration of the current agreement;
       (3) supports cooperation between the United States, Japan, 
     and other like-minded partners to promote high-quality 
     infrastructure, energy, and development projects that are 
     open, transparent, and sustainable;
       (4) underscores the importance of the close people-to-
     people and cultural ties between our two nations;
       (5) calls for the continued robust cooperation between the 
     United States and Japan in the global fight against COVID-19, 
     and supports the Japanese Government's commitment to hosting 
     the Olympic Games in 2021;
       (6) calls for the strengthening and broadening of 
     diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the United 
     States and Japan;
       (7) reaffirms the vital role of the Quadrilateral Security 
     Dialogue as a platform to facilitate further collaboration 
     between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan on 
     matters related to protecting freedom of navigation and 
     promoting democratic values in the Indo-Pacific; and
       (8) calls for the continued cooperation between the 
     Governments of the United States and Japan in addressing 
     global challenges that threaten the security of people 
     everywhere in the ``Reiwa'' era of Japan, which the Japanese 
     Government translates as ``beautiful harmony''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. 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. Res. 349, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Castro for authoring this measure 
reaffirming our partnership with Japan, a longstanding U.S. ally and an 
indispensable partner for advancing peace, stability, and prosperity in 
Asia and beyond.
  The United States and Japan share a commitment to upholding human 
rights, the rule of law, and democratic values and freedoms. In 
challenging times like these, it is all the more important that we work 
with like-minded friends to defend and promote our shared interests.
  One of those shared priorities is strengthening our alliances. This 
is more important than ever as China's behavior becomes increasingly 
aggressive and Kim Jong-un in North Korea remains unchecked in his 
challenge to regional security and stability.
  H. Res. 349 expresses the bipartisan support in Congress for an 
equitable agreement with Japan regarding Host Nation Support for our 
troops before

[[Page H5883]]

the current one expires. This is a critical way to shore up a key 
ally's defenses and protect U.S. national interests.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution reaffirming our 
commitment to the United States' partnership with Japan, and I urge all 
my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 349, a 
resolution to reaffirm the vital role of the U.S.-Japan alliance in 
promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
  For over six decades, the U.S.-Japan alliance has served as a 
cornerstone for security in the Indo-Pacific region and will continue 
to be fundamental to the protection of our shared interests.
  Our two democratic nations maintain close cooperation on a multitude 
of issues, including nonproliferation, global health, and maritime 
security. In recent years, our alliance has stood as a crucial check to 
China's increasing regional aggression and North Korea's continued 
nuclear ambitions.
  As the security environment in the Indo-Pacific continues to become 
more complex, our alliance will prove to be more significant than ever. 
This resolution reaffirms the importance of this longstanding strategic 
relationship in the face of the new threats and challenges that impact 
both U.S. and Japan.
  Mr. Speaker, as we face what some would consider the greatest threat 
in our generation, the Chinese Communist Party, the CCP, the United 
States must reaffirm support for our alliance with like-minded nations 
like Japan. It is only through mutual cooperation that we can continue 
to protect democratic values and freedoms around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as certain actors continue their aggressive behavior and 
destabilize the Indo-Pacific region, it is critical that we continue to 
strengthen our allies and friends.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 349, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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