[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 67 (Monday, April 19, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H1944-H1945]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SOUTHEAST ASIA STRATEGIES ACT
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1083) to require a strategy for engagement with
Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1083
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
prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
(4) The United States has committed 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
ability to address common challenges.
(6) ASEAN member states are critical United States security
partners in protecting the freedom and openness of the
maritime domain and preventing violent extremism and 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 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 innovation and sustainability, public-private
partnerships, physical and digital infrastructure
development, education, disaster management, public health
and global health security, and economic, political, and
public 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, to combat disinformation 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) Distribution of Strategy.--For the purposes of assuring
allies and partners in Southeast Asia and deepening United
States engagement with ASEAN, the Secretary of State shall
direct each United States chief of mission to ASEAN and its
member states to distribute the strategy required by
subsection (a) to host governments.
(d) 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Newman). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) and the gentlewoman from Missouri
(Mrs. Wagner) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and to include any extraneous material on H.R. 1083.
[[Page H1945]]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan Southeast Asia
Strategy Act, of which I am a proud Democratic lead on the bill.
In 2017, Congresswoman Wagner and I cofounded the Congressional
Caucus on ASEAN to strengthen our Nation's relationships in Southeast
Asia. ASEAN and its member nations are of critical importance to the
United States. Enduring organizations like ASEAN will be key to
maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The United States is already making key investments in the region
alongside allies and partners like Japan, Australia, and India--
notably, the recent Quad commitment to fund, manufacture, and
distribute vaccines across Southeast Asia.
The Southeast Asia Strategy Act will build on these investments by
reinforcing ASEAN centrality as U.S. policy and directing the Secretary
of State to develop a comprehensive plan for engaging the institution
and the region it represents.
This legislation comes at a crucial time for Southeast Asia, notably
amidst the deteriorating situation in Myanmar following the recent
military coup.
Given the significant and rapidly developing events in the region,
Congress must send a message of the importance of the region by passing
this bill.
It is also important that the administration nominates a U.S.
Ambassador to ASEAN as quickly as possible. It is also imperative that
the administration consistently sends senior officials to regional
summits. Our Nation needs a voice in Southeast Asia now more than ever.
I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation and help build stronger
ties between the United States and the peoples of Southeast Asia. I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1083, the Southeast Asia
Strategy Act, important legislation that I introduced to ensure the
United States engages proactively and meaningfully in a critical region
of the world.
This powerhouse region joins the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean
regions and serves as a conduit for global trade. The Southeast Asian
states are increasingly vital to the prosperity of the U.S. economy,
generating hundreds of thousands of American jobs.
The People's Republic of China, eager to undermine U.S. interests in
this key region, is aggressively working to expand its influence in
Southeast Asia. It seeks to exploit its predatory investment,
development, and trade policies; illegal military installations in the
South China Sea; and disinformation campaigns to coerce countries to
accept its agenda.
The United States has long enjoyed strong relations with Southeast
Asia, and it must now fully realize this strategic partnership. The
Southeast Asia Strategic Act will ensure the United States develops and
communicates a coherent regional strategy that addresses all aspects of
the relationship, from trade and humanitarian goals to diplomatic and
security arrangements.
We have a national interest in sustaining U.S. leadership in
Southeast Asia, supporting human rights and respect for democratic
freedoms, and articulating our strategic priorities.
We will find willing partners in our many friends and allies in the
region that share our grave concerns regarding China's belligerence and
growing power.
I thank Representative Castro, with whom I co-chair the Congressional
Caucus on ASEAN, for working with me on this legislation. Congress'
strong bipartisan support for U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia sends
an unmistakable message of American resolve and leadership to the
region.
Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1083, the
Southeast Asia Strategy Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1945
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume for the purpose of closing.
H.R. 1083, the Southeast Asia Strategies Act, introduced by Mrs.
Wagner, is important legislation that will recommit the United States
to strengthening and deepening our ties to southeast Asia and the ASEAN
economic union. This bill will reinforce the United States' cooperation
with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and lay the groundwork for
improved engagement and increased prosperity for America and its
partner nations.
Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1083.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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