[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 192 (Tuesday, November 2, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 4175. Mr. MARKEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. Reed and intended to be proposed to
the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle E of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 1253. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUAD INTRA-PARLIAMENTARY WORKING
GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
seek to enter into negotiations with the governments of
Japan, Australia, and India (collectively, with the United
States, known as the ``Quad'') with the goal of reaching a
written agreement to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary
Working Group for the purpose of advancing initiatives of the
Quad and to facilitate closer cooperation on shared interests
and values.
(b) United States Group.--
(1) In general.--At such time as the governments of the
Quad countries enter into a written agreement described in
subsection (a), there shall be established a United States
Group, which shall represent the United States at the Quad
Intra-Parliamentary Working Group.
(2) Membership.--
(A) In general.--The United States Group shall be comprised
of not more than 24 Members of Congress.
(B) Appointment.--Of the Members of Congress appointed to
the United States Group under subparagraph (A)--
(i) half shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives from among Members of the House, not less
than 4 of whom shall be members of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs; and
(ii) half shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore
of the Senate, based on recommendations of the majority
leader and minority leader of the Senate, from among Members
of the Senate, not less than 4 of whom shall be members of
the Committee on Foreign Relations (unless the majority
leader and minority leader determine otherwise).
(3) Meetings.--
(A) In general.--The United States Group shall seek to meet
not less frequently than annually with representatives and
appropriate staff of the legislatures of Japan, Australia,
and India, and any other country invited by mutual agreement
of the Quad countries.
(B) Limitation.--A meeting described in subparagraph (A)
may be held--
(i) in the United States;
(ii) in another Quad country during periods when Congress
is not in session; or
(iii) virtually.
(4) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--
(A) House delegation.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives shall designate the chairperson or vice
chairperson of the delegation of the United States Group from
the House from among members of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
(B) Senate delegation.--The President Pro Tempore of the
Senate shall designate the chairperson or vice chairperson of
the delegation of the United States Group from the Senate
from among members of the Committee on Foreign Relations.
(5) Authorization of appropriations.--
(A) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$1,000,000 for each fiscal years 2022 through 2025 for the
United States Group.
(B) Distribution of appropriations.--
(i) In general.--For each fiscal year for which an
appropriation is made for the United States Group, half of
the amount appropriated shall be available to the delegation
from the House of Representatives and half of the amount
shall be available to the delegation from the Senate.
(ii) Method of distribution.--The amounts available to the
delegations of the House of Representatives and the Senate
under clause (i) shall be disbursed on vouchers to be
approved by the chairperson of the delegation from the House
of Representatives and the chairperson of the delegation from
the Senate, respectively.
(6) Private sources.--The United States Group may accept
gifts or donations of services or property, subject to the
review and approval, as appropriate, of the Committee on
Ethics of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Ethics of the Senate.
(7) Certification of expenditures.--The certificate of the
chairperson of the delegation from the House of
Representatives or the delegation of the Senate of the United
States Group shall be final and conclusive upon the
accounting officers in the auditing of the accounts of the
United States Group.
(8) Annual report.--The United States Group shall submit to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate a report for each fiscal year for which an
appropriation is made for the United States Group, which
shall include a description of its expenditures under such
appropriation.
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