[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3155-S3156]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1654. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to 
establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the 
National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub 
program, to require a strategy and report on economic security, 
science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to 
establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        Strike section 3202 and insert the following:

     SEC. 3202. UNITED STATES COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT FOR ALLIES 
                   AND PARTNERS IN THE INDO-PACIFIC.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the United States treaty alliances in the Indo-Pacific 
     provide a unique strategic advantage to the United States, 
     enabling the United States to advance its vital national 
     interests, defend its territory, expand its economy through 
     international trade and commerce, prevent the domination of 
     the Indo-Pacific and its surrounding maritime and air lanes 
     by a hostile power or powers, and deter potential aggressors;
       (2) the Governments of the United States, Japan, the 
     Republic of Korea, Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand 
     are critical allies in advancing a free and open order in the 
     Indo-Pacific region and tackling challenges with unity of 
     purpose, and have collaborated to advance specific efforts of 
     shared interest in areas such as defense and security, 
     economic prosperity, infrastructure connectivity, and 
     fundamental freedoms;
       (3) the United States greatly values other partnerships in 
     the Indo-Pacific region, including with India, Singapore, 
     Indonesia, Taiwan, New Zealand, and Vietnam as well as 
     regional architecture such as the Quad, the Association of 
     Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Asia-Pacific 
     Economic Community (APEC), which are essential to further 
     shared interests;
       (4) the security environment in the Indo-Pacific demands 
     consistent United States and allied commitment to 
     strengthening and advancing our alliances so that they are 
     postured to meet these challenges, and will require sustained 
     political will, concrete partnerships, economic, commercial, 
     and technological cooperation, consistent and tangible 
     commitments, high-level and extensive consultations on 
     matters of mutual interest, mutual and shared cooperation in 
     the acquisition of key capabilities important to allied 
     defenses, and unified mutual support in the face of 
     political, economic, or military coercion;
       (5) the United States must work with allies to prioritize 
     human rights throughout the Indo-Pacific region;
       (b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the 
     United States--
       (1) to deepen diplomatic, economic, and security 
     cooperation between and among the United States, Japan, the 
     Republic of Korea, Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand, 
     including through diplomatic engagement, regional 
     development, energy security and development, scientific and 
     health partnerships, educational and cultural exchanges, 
     missile defense, intelligence-sharing, space, cyber, and 
     other diplomatic and defense-related initiatives;
       (2) to strengthen and deepen the United States' bilateral 
     and regional partnerships, including with India, Taiwan, 
     ASEAN, and New Zealand;
       (3) to cooperate with Japan, the Republic of Korea, 
     Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand to promote human 
     rights bilaterally and through regional and multilateral fora 
     and pacts;
       (4) to strengthen and advance diplomatic, economic, and 
     security cooperation with regional partners, such as Taiwan, 
     Vietnam,

[[Page S3156]]

     Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and India; and
       (5) to assess both the risks and benefits posed to U.S. 
     security by multilateral and bilateral mutual defense treaty 
     obligations.
                                 ______