[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 224 (Friday, January 1, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8009-S8011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THAT FOR 50 YEARS, THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN 
NATIONS (ASEAN) AND ITS TEN MEMBERS, BRUNEI, CAMBODIA, INDONESIA, LAOS, 
 MALAYSIA, MYANMAR, THE PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, AND VIETNAM, 
 HAVE WORKED WITH THE UNITED STATES TOWARD STABILITY, PROSPERITY, AND 
                        PEACE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 466, S. Res 406.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 406) recognizing that for 50 years, 
     the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its 
     ten members, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, 
     Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, 
     have worked with the United States toward stability, 
     prosperity, and peace in Southeast Asia, and expressing the 
     sense of the Senate that the United States will continue to 
     remain a strong, reliable, and active partner in the ASEAN 
     region.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution, which was reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
with an amendment to strike all after the resolving clause and insert 
the part printed in italic, and with an amendment to strike the 
preamble and insert the part printed in italic, as follows

                              S. Res. 406

       Whereas the 10 members of the Association of South East 
     Asian Nations (ASEAN) represent a variety of different 
     cultures and beliefs;
       Whereas an estimated 7,000,000 United States citizens 
     identify with an ethnicity represented in ASEAN;
       Whereas the United States and ASEAN have been cooperating 
     to advance our mutual interests for 40 years, having first 
     established dialogue relations on September 10, 1977, through 
     the 1977 Joint Communique of the First ASEAN-United States 
     Dialogue and the United States' accession to the Treaty of 
     Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) at the ASEAN 
     Post Ministerial Conference Session in Thailand on July 22, 
     2009;
       Whereas the United States was the first non-ASEAN country 
     to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN on April 29, 2008, and the 
     first non-member to establish a permanent mission to ASEAN in 
     2010;
       Whereas cooperation between the United States Government 
     and the governments and people of the ASEAN nations can help 
     realize our common goals of a free, open, peaceful, and 
     prosperous Indo-Pacific rooted in a rule-based order that 
     promotes security, opportunity, and dignity to all peoples;
       Whereas the member states of ASEAN are all vibrant 
     economies that have given rise to a flourishing middle class 
     and collectively are predicted to become the world's fourth-
     largest economy by 2050;
       Whereas, in 2019, ASEAN's 10 members represented the sixth 
     largest economy in the world and constitute the United States 
     fourth-largest export market, with total United States 
     exports to ASEAN countries reaching $116,200,000,000;
       Whereas ASEAN is the number one destination for United 
     States investment in the Indo-Pacific, with $329,000,000,000 
     in cumulative foreign direct investment;
       Whereas ASEAN nations surround critical global sea lanes, 
     with $5,300,000,000,000 of global trade and more than half of 
     the world's total shipped tonnage transiting through ASEAN 
     waters each year;
       Whereas the ultimate goal of the ASEAN Economic Community 
     (AEC) is to create one of the world's largest single market 
     economies and facilitate the free movement of goods, 
     services, and professionals;
       Whereas the United States-ASEAN Single Window custom 
     facilitation system expedites intra-ASEAN trade and enhances 
     the ability of United States businesses to operate in the 
     region;
       Whereas the United States-ASEAN Business Alliance for 
     Competitive Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) has 
     trained more than 4,600 small-to-medium size enterprises, 
     with nearly half of the participants being women 
     entrepreneurs;
       Whereas the Lower Mekong Initiative, established on July 
     23, 2009, promotes sustainable long-term economic development 
     throughout mainland Southeast Asia and fosters regional 
     cooperation, integration, and capacity building;
       Whereas the newly announced Japan-United States Mekong 
     Power Partnership aims to ``promote a more sustainable energy 
     sector and quality energy infrastructure development'' and 
     demonstrates the shared commitment of the United States and 
     other Indo-Pacific nations to strengthen ties with Mekong 
     countries;
       Whereas, in 2018 and 2019, the United States announced 
     several additional initiatives to enhance cooperation with 
     ASEAN, including the United States-ASEAN Smart Cities 
     Partnership, the ASEAN Policy Implementation Project, and the 
     United States-ASEAN Innovation Circle;
       Whereas the United States is cooperating with ASEAN member 
     states and providing emergency health assistance to enhance 
     their resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
     including through the recently announced United States-ASEAN 
     Health Futures program that builds on the over $3,500,000,000 
     the United States has invested in global health collaboration 
     with ASEAN nations over the last 20 years;
       Whereas the United States remains committed to working with 
     ASEAN to improve the promotion and protection of human rights 
     and fundamental dignity of the people of ASEAN countries, a 
     key ingredient to maintaining stability, promoting economic 
     growth, and advancing good governance;
       Whereas the United States opposes all actions and claims 
     that infringe upon the freedom and lawful use of the sea, and 
     has a national interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and 
     overflight, open access to the Indo-Pacific region's maritime 
     commons, and respect for international law in the South China 
     Sea;
       Whereas the United States is deeply concerned about recent 
     assertive and unsafe behavior by the People's Republic of 
     China in the South China Sea, and urges all claimants with 
     competing territorial claims to seek peaceful resolution of 
     disputes through collaborative diplomacy and, as necessary, 
     international arbitration mechanisms consistent with 
     international law;
       Whereas the United States supports the Philippines' 
     decision to use arbitration under the United Nations 
     Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), done at Montego 
     Bay December 10, 1982, to peacefully and lawfully address 
     competing claims;
       Whereas the United States supports development of a Code of 
     Conduct (COC) that represents the interests of all parties 
     and promotes peace and stability in the region, opposes 
     efforts by any nation to use a COC as a vehicle to limit 
     presence in or lawful use of the South China Sea, encourages 
     claimants not to undertake new or unilateral attempts to 
     change the status quo since the signing of the 2002 
     Declaration of Conduct, including reclamation activities or 
     administrative measures or controls in disputed areas in the 
     South China Sea, and encourages ASEAN countries to adopt a 
     unified position in negotiating the COC;
       Whereas the ASEAN-United States Maritime Exercise (AUXM), 
     which ran from September 2-6, 2019, and featured over 1,000 
     sailors from all 11 countries, built greater maritime 
     security on the strength of ASEAN, strengthened navy-to-navy 
     bonds, and exemplified our shared belief in a free and open 
     Indo-Pacific; and
       Whereas natural disasters in the ASEAN region over the past 
     four decades have resulted in major loss and damage, with a 
     disproportionate impact on developing countries, and the 
     United States will pursue initiatives that are consistent 
     with sustainable long-term economic development, including 
     the achievement of food security and poverty alleviation; 
     improvement of conservation and sustainable management of 
     forests, fish stocks, and oceanic resources; resilience to 
     extreme weather events that are increasing in frequency and 
     severity; and provision of sustainable livelihoods for local 
     communities throughout the ASEAN region: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports and affirms the full implementation of the 
     Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (Public Law 115-409) with 
     regard to elevating the United States relationship with 
     ASEAN;
       (2) stands with the nations of ASEAN as they respond to 
     COVID-19 and supports greater cooperation in building 
     capacity to prepare for and respond to pandemics and other 
     public health challenges;
       (3) expresses support for rescheduling the United States-
     ASEAN Special Summit at an appropriate time, and supports 
     high-level United States participation in the annual ASEAN 
     summit held each November;
       (4) reaffirms the importance of United States-ASEAN 
     economic engagement, including the elimination of barriers to 
     cross-border commerce, and supports the ASEAN Economic 
     Community's (AEC) goals, including strong, inclusive,

[[Page S8010]]

     and sustainable long-term economic growth and cooperation 
     with the United States that focuses on innovation and 
     capacity-building efforts in technology, education, disaster 
     management, food security, human rights, and trade 
     facilitation, particularly for ASEAN's poorest countries;
       (5) urges ASEAN to continue its efforts to foster greater 
     integration and unity within the ASEAN community, as well as 
     to foster greater integration and unity with non-ASEAN 
     economic, political, and security partners, including Japan, 
     the Republic of Korea, Australia, the European Union, Taiwan, 
     and India;
       (6) recognizes the value of strategic economic initiatives 
     like United States-ASEAN Connect, which demonstrates a 
     commitment to ASEAN and the AEC and builds upon economic 
     relationships in the region;
       (7) supports ASEAN nations in addressing maritime and 
     territorial disputes in a constructive manner and in pursuing 
     claims through peaceful, diplomatic, and, as necessary, 
     legitimate regional and international arbitration mechanisms, 
     consistent with international law, including through the 
     adoption of a code of conduct in the South China Sea that 
     represents the interests of all parties and promotes peace 
     and stability in the region;
       (8) urges all parties involved in the maritime and 
     territorial disputes in the Indo-Pacific region, including 
     the Government of the People's Republic of China--
       (A) to cease any current activities, and avoid undertaking 
     any actions in the future, that undermine stability, or 
     complicate or escalate disputes through the use of coercion, 
     intimidation, or military force;
       (B) to demilitarize islands, reefs, shoals, and other 
     features, and refrain from new efforts to militarize, 
     including the construction of new garrisons and facilities 
     and the relocation of additional military personnel, 
     material, or equipment;
       (C) to oppose actions by any country that prevent other 
     countries from exercising their sovereign rights to the 
     resources in their exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and 
     continental shelves by enforcing claims to those areas in the 
     South China Sea that lack support in international law; and
       (D) to oppose unilateral declarations of administrative and 
     military districts in contested areas in the South China Sea;
       (9) urges parties to refrain from unilateral actions that 
     cause permanent physical damage to the marine environment, 
     and supports the efforts of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration and ASEAN to implement guidelines 
     to address the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing 
     in the region;
       (10) supports efforts by United States partners and allies 
     in ASEAN--
       (A) to enhance maritime capability and maritime domain 
     awareness;
       (B) to protect unhindered access to and use of 
     international waterways in the Indo-Pacific region that are 
     critical to ensuring the security and free flow of commerce;
       (C) to counter piracy;
       (D) to disrupt illicit maritime trafficking activities such 
     as the trafficking of persons, goods, and drugs; and
       (E) to enhance the maritime capabilities of countries or 
     regional organizations to respond to emerging threats to 
     maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region;
       (11) urges ASEAN member states to develop a common approach 
     to reaffirm the decision of the Permanent Court of 
     Arbitration's 2016 ruling in favor of the Republic of the 
     Philippines in the case against the People's Republic of 
     China's excessive maritime claims;
       (12) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
     continue joint efforts with ASEAN to halt human smuggling and 
     trafficking in persons, and urges ASEAN to create and 
     strengthen regional mechanisms to provide assistance and 
     support to refugees and migrants;
       (13) supports the Lower Mekong Initiative, which has led to 
     significant progress in promoting sustainable long-term 
     economic development in mainland Southeast Asia and fostering 
     integrated sub-regional cooperation and capacity building;
       (14) urges ASEAN to build capacity for the promotion and 
     protection of human rights by ASEAN member states, and the 
     implementation of related priorities, programs, and 
     activities;
       (15) urges ASEAN governments to engage directly with 
     leaders of civil society and human rights, including 
     advocates of religious freedom, victims of human rights 
     abuses, and environmental groups, and to ensure these 
     stakeholders have a voice in constructing public policy;
       (16) encourages the President of the United States to 
     communicate to ASEAN leaders the importance of promoting the 
     rule of law and open and transparent government, 
     strengthening civil society, and protecting human rights, 
     including releasing political prisoners, ceasing politically 
     motivated prosecutions and arbitrary killings, safeguarding 
     freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of 
     religion, and freedom of speech and expression;
       (17) supports efforts by organizations in ASEAN that 
     address corruption in the public and private sectors, enhance 
     anti-bribery compliance, enforce bribery criminalization in 
     the private sector, and build beneficial ownership 
     transparency through the ASEAN-USAID PROSPECT project 
     partnered with the South East Asia Parties Against Corruption 
     (SEA-PAC);
       (18) supports the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative 
     as an example of a people-to-people partnership that provides 
     skills, networks, and leadership training to a new generation 
     who will create and fill jobs, foster cross-border 
     cooperation and partnerships, and rise to solve the regional 
     and global challenges of the future; and
       (19) applauds the ASEAN governments that have fully upheld 
     and implemented all United Nations Security Council 
     resolutions and international agreements with respect to 
     North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and 
     encourages all other ASEAN governments to do the same.

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported substitute be agreed to; that the resolution, as 
amended, be agreed to; that the committee-reported amendment to the 
preamble be considered; that the amendment at the desk be agreed to; 
that the committee-reported amendment to the preamble be agreed to; 
that the preamble, as amended, be agreed to; and that the motions to 
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 406), as amended, was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2735) was agreed to as follows

       (Purpose: To make a technical correction to the preamble)

       In the second whereas clause of the preamble, strike 
     ``70,000,000'' and insert ``7,000,000''.

  The committee-reported amendment to the preamble, in the nature of a 
substitute, was agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  On page S8010, January 1, 2021, second column, the following 
appears: The resolution (S. Res. 406), as amended, was agreed to. 
The committee-reported amendment to the preamble, in the nature of 
a substitute, was agreed to. The amendment (No. 2735) was agreed 
to as follows (Purpose: To make a technical correction to the 
preamble) In the second whereas clause of the preamble, strike 
``70,000,000'' and insert ``7,000,000''. The preamble, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: The resolution 
(S. Res. 406), as amended, was agreed to. The amendment (No. 2735) 
was agreed to as follows (Purpose: To make a technical correction 
to the preamble) In the second whereas clause of the preamble, 
strike ``70,000,000'' and insert ``7,000,000''. The committee-
reported amendment to the preamble, in the nature of a substitute, 
was agreed to. The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, as amended, reads as 
follows:

                              S. Res. 406

       Whereas the 10 members of the Association of South East 
     Asian Nations (ASEAN) represent a variety of different 
     cultures and beliefs;
       Whereas an estimated 7,000,000 United States citizens 
     identify with an ethnicity represented in ASEAN;
       Whereas the United States and ASEAN have been cooperating 
     to advance our mutual interests for 40 years, having first 
     established dialogue relations on September 10, 1977, through 
     the 1977 Joint Communique of the First ASEAN-United States 
     Dialogue and the United States' accession to the Treaty of 
     Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) at the ASEAN 
     Post Ministerial Conference Session in Thailand on July 22, 
     2009;
       Whereas the United States was the first non-ASEAN country 
     to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN on April 29, 2008, and the 
     first non-member to establish a permanent mission to ASEAN in 
     2010;
       Whereas cooperation between the United States Government 
     and the governments and people of the ASEAN nations can help 
     realize our common goals of a free, open, peaceful, and 
     prosperous Indo-Pacific rooted in a rule-based order that 
     promotes security, opportunity, and dignity to all peoples;
       Whereas the member states of ASEAN are all vibrant 
     economies that have given rise to a flourishing middle class 
     and collectively are predicted to become the world's fourth-
     largest economy by 2050;
       Whereas, in 2019, ASEAN's 10 members represented the sixth 
     largest economy in the world and constitute the United States 
     fourth-largest export market, with total United States 
     exports to ASEAN countries reaching $116,200,000,000;
       Whereas ASEAN is the number one destination for United 
     States investment in the Indo-Pacific, with $329,000,000,000 
     in cumulative foreign direct investment;
       Whereas ASEAN nations surround critical global sea lanes, 
     with $5,300,000,000,000 of global trade and more than half of 
     the world's total shipped tonnage transiting through ASEAN 
     waters each year;
       Whereas the ultimate goal of the ASEAN Economic Community 
     (AEC) is to create one of the world's largest single market 
     economies and facilitate the free movement of goods, 
     services, and professionals;
       Whereas the United States-ASEAN Single Window custom 
     facilitation system expedites intra-ASEAN trade and enhances 
     the ability of United States businesses to operate in the 
     region;
       Whereas the United States-ASEAN Business Alliance for 
     Competitive Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) has 
     trained more than 4,600 small-to-medium size enterprises, 
     with nearly half of the participants being women 
     entrepreneurs;
       Whereas the Lower Mekong Initiative, established on July 
     23, 2009, promotes sustainable long-term economic development 
     throughout mainland Southeast Asia and fosters regional 
     cooperation, integration, and capacity building;
       Whereas the newly announced Japan-United States Mekong 
     Power Partnership aims to ``promote a more sustainable energy 
     sector and quality energy infrastructure development'' and 
     demonstrates the shared commitment of the United States and 
     other Indo-Pacific nations to strengthen ties with Mekong 
     countries;
       Whereas, in 2018 and 2019, the United States announced 
     several additional initiatives to enhance cooperation with 
     ASEAN, including the United States-ASEAN Smart Cities 
     Partnership, the ASEAN Policy Implementation Project, and the 
     United States-ASEAN Innovation Circle;

[[Page S8011]]

       Whereas the United States is cooperating with ASEAN member 
     states and providing emergency health assistance to enhance 
     their resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
     including through the recently announced United States-ASEAN 
     Health Futures program that builds on the over $3,500,000,000 
     the United States has invested in global health collaboration 
     with ASEAN nations over the last 20 years;
       Whereas the United States remains committed to working with 
     ASEAN to improve the promotion and protection of human rights 
     and fundamental dignity of the people of ASEAN countries, a 
     key ingredient to maintaining stability, promoting economic 
     growth, and advancing good governance;
       Whereas the United States opposes all actions and claims 
     that infringe upon the freedom and lawful use of the sea, and 
     has a national interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and 
     overflight, open access to the Indo-Pacific region's maritime 
     commons, and respect for international law in the South China 
     Sea;
       Whereas the United States is deeply concerned about recent 
     assertive and unsafe behavior by the People's Republic of 
     China in the South China Sea, and urges all claimants with 
     competing territorial claims to seek peaceful resolution of 
     disputes through collaborative diplomacy and, as necessary, 
     international arbitration mechanisms consistent with 
     international law;
       Whereas the United States supports the Philippines' 
     decision to use arbitration under the United Nations 
     Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), done at Montego 
     Bay December 10, 1982, to peacefully and lawfully address 
     competing claims;
       Whereas the United States supports development of a Code of 
     Conduct (COC) that represents the interests of all parties 
     and promotes peace and stability in the region, opposes 
     efforts by any nation to use a COC as a vehicle to limit 
     presence in or lawful use of the South China Sea, encourages 
     claimants not to undertake new or unilateral attempts to 
     change the status quo since the signing of the 2002 
     Declaration of Conduct, including reclamation activities or 
     administrative measures or controls in disputed areas in the 
     South China Sea, and encourages ASEAN countries to adopt a 
     unified position in negotiating the COC;
       Whereas the ASEAN-United States Maritime Exercise (AUXM), 
     which ran from September 2-6, 2019, and featured over 1,000 
     sailors from all 11 countries, built greater maritime 
     security on the strength of ASEAN, strengthened navy-to-navy 
     bonds, and exemplified our shared belief in a free and open 
     Indo-Pacific; and
       Whereas natural disasters in the ASEAN region over the past 
     four decades have resulted in major loss and damage, with a 
     disproportionate impact on developing countries, and the 
     United States will pursue initiatives that are consistent 
     with sustainable long-term economic development, including 
     the achievement of food security and poverty alleviation; 
     improvement of conservation and sustainable management of 
     forests, fish stocks, and oceanic resources; resilience to 
     extreme weather events that are increasing in frequency and 
     severity; and provision of sustainable livelihoods for local 
     communities throughout the ASEAN region: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports and affirms the full implementation of the 
     Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (Public Law 115-409) with 
     regard to elevating the United States relationship with 
     ASEAN;
       (2) stands with the nations of ASEAN as they respond to 
     COVID-19 and supports greater cooperation in building 
     capacity to prepare for and respond to pandemics and other 
     public health challenges;
       (3) expresses support for rescheduling the United States-
     ASEAN Special Summit at an appropriate time, and supports 
     high-level United States participation in the annual ASEAN 
     summit held each November;
       (4) reaffirms the importance of United States-ASEAN 
     economic engagement, including the elimination of barriers to 
     cross-border commerce, and supports the ASEAN Economic 
     Community's (AEC) goals, including strong, inclusive, and 
     sustainable long-term economic growth and cooperation with 
     the United States that focuses on innovation and capacity-
     building efforts in technology, education, disaster 
     management, food security, human rights, and trade 
     facilitation, particularly for ASEAN's poorest countries;
       (5) urges ASEAN to continue its efforts to foster greater 
     integration and unity within the ASEAN community, as well as 
     to foster greater integration and unity with non-ASEAN 
     economic, political, and security partners, including Japan, 
     the Republic of Korea, Australia, the European Union, Taiwan, 
     and India;
       (6) recognizes the value of strategic economic initiatives 
     like United States-ASEAN Connect, which demonstrates a 
     commitment to ASEAN and the AEC and builds upon economic 
     relationships in the region;
       (7) supports ASEAN nations in addressing maritime and 
     territorial disputes in a constructive manner and in pursuing 
     claims through peaceful, diplomatic, and, as necessary, 
     legitimate regional and international arbitration mechanisms, 
     consistent with international law, including through the 
     adoption of a code of conduct in the South China Sea that 
     represents the interests of all parties and promotes peace 
     and stability in the region;
       (8) urges all parties involved in the maritime and 
     territorial disputes in the Indo-Pacific region, including 
     the Government of the People's Republic of China--
       (A) to cease any current activities, and avoid undertaking 
     any actions in the future, that undermine stability, or 
     complicate or escalate disputes through the use of coercion, 
     intimidation, or military force;
       (B) to demilitarize islands, reefs, shoals, and other 
     features, and refrain from new efforts to militarize, 
     including the construction of new garrisons and facilities 
     and the relocation of additional military personnel, 
     material, or equipment;
       (C) to oppose actions by any country that prevent other 
     countries from exercising their sovereign rights to the 
     resources in their exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and 
     continental shelves by enforcing claims to those areas in the 
     South China Sea that lack support in international law; and
       (D) to oppose unilateral declarations of administrative and 
     military districts in contested areas in the South China Sea;
       (9) urges parties to refrain from unilateral actions that 
     cause permanent physical damage to the marine environment, 
     and supports the efforts of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration and ASEAN to implement guidelines 
     to address the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing 
     in the region;
       (10) supports efforts by United States partners and allies 
     in ASEAN--
       (A) to enhance maritime capability and maritime domain 
     awareness;
       (B) to protect unhindered access to and use of 
     international waterways in the Indo-Pacific region that are 
     critical to ensuring the security and free flow of commerce;
       (C) to counter piracy;
       (D) to disrupt illicit maritime trafficking activities such 
     as the trafficking of persons, goods, and drugs; and
       (E) to enhance the maritime capabilities of countries or 
     regional organizations to respond to emerging threats to 
     maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region;
       (11) urges ASEAN member states to develop a common approach 
     to reaffirm the decision of the Permanent Court of 
     Arbitration's 2016 ruling in favor of the Republic of the 
     Philippines in the case against the People's Republic of 
     China's excessive maritime claims;
       (12) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
     continue joint efforts with ASEAN to halt human smuggling and 
     trafficking in persons, and urges ASEAN to create and 
     strengthen regional mechanisms to provide assistance and 
     support to refugees and migrants;
       (13) supports the Lower Mekong Initiative, which has led to 
     significant progress in promoting sustainable long-term 
     economic development in mainland Southeast Asia and fostering 
     integrated sub-regional cooperation and capacity building;
       (14) urges ASEAN to build capacity for the promotion and 
     protection of human rights by ASEAN member states, and the 
     implementation of related priorities, programs, and 
     activities;
       (15) urges ASEAN governments to engage directly with 
     leaders of civil society and human rights, including 
     advocates of religious freedom, victims of human rights 
     abuses, and environmental groups, and to ensure these 
     stakeholders have a voice in constructing public policy;
       (16) encourages the President of the United States to 
     communicate to ASEAN leaders the importance of promoting the 
     rule of law and open and transparent government, 
     strengthening civil society, and protecting human rights, 
     including releasing political prisoners, ceasing politically 
     motivated prosecutions and arbitrary killings, safeguarding 
     freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of 
     religion, and freedom of speech and expression;
       (17) supports efforts by organizations in ASEAN that 
     address corruption in the public and private sectors, enhance 
     anti-bribery compliance, enforce bribery criminalization in 
     the private sector, and build beneficial ownership 
     transparency through the ASEAN-USAID PROSPECT project 
     partnered with the South East Asia Parties Against Corruption 
     (SEA-PAC);
       (18) supports the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative 
     as an example of a people-to-people partnership that provides 
     skills, networks, and leadership training to a new generation 
     who will create and fill jobs, foster cross-border 
     cooperation and partnerships, and rise to solve the regional 
     and global challenges of the future; and
       (19) applauds the ASEAN governments that have fully upheld 
     and implemented all United Nations Security Council 
     resolutions and international agreements with respect to 
     North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and 
     encourages all other ASEAN governments to do the same.

                          ____________________