[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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