[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 194 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7915-S7916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4398. Mr. COTTON 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. AUSTRALIA-UNITED STATES LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The People's Republic of China continues to assert its 
     regional ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.
       (2) The ideological aims driving the Chinese Communist 
     Party's foreign policy runs counter to aims of democracies 
     such as the United States and its allies.
       (3) Australia has been one of the United State's staunchest 
     allies for well over 100 years. This ``Mateship'' began with 
     the visit of the American Great White Fleet to Sydney Harbor 
     in 1908. The budding relationship was soon sealed through 
     American and Australian troops fighting and dying together in 
     the World War I.
       (4) Since the World War I, Australians and Americans--
       (A) have supported each other in every major military 
     conflict in which the United States was involved; and
       (B) have mutually supported each another in intelligence-
     sharing.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

[[Page S7916]]

       (1) the United States must continue to build and maintain 
     strong relationships with allies and partners in the Indo-
     Pacific region to successfully compete with the People's 
     Republic of China;
       (2) the Australia-United States relationship will continue 
     to be vital throughout the 21st century and beyond to compete 
     with and deter China;
       (3) as the Australia-United States alliance evolves, it is 
     vital to ensure that emerging leaders in both countries 
     develop a deep understanding of their ally's view of the 
     world; and
       (4) exchange programs between key legislative national 
     security staff from Congress and Australian Parliament will 
     further bind our nations together.
       (c) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--The Majority Leader of the Senate, the 
     Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of 
     Representatives, working through a designated nonprofit, such 
     as a think tank, a foundation, or another suitable 
     organization contracted by the Department of Defense 
     competitive award process, shall work with the leaders of the 
     Australian Parliament to establish the Australia-United 
     States Legislative Exchange Program (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Program'').
       (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Program shall be to 
     coordinate annual 1 to 2 week legislative exchanges between 
     United States congressional staff and the Australian 
     parliamentary staff that focus on national security, foreign 
     policy, and other issues of mutual interest between the 2 
     countries.
       (3) Selection of staff.--
       (A) Congressional staff.--In carrying out the Program, the 
     congressional leaders referred to in paragraph (1), in 
     consultation with the head of the nonprofit designated 
     pursuant to paragraph (1), shall jointly select a bipartisan, 
     bicameral group of congressional staff for each exchange 
     described in paragraph (2).
       (B) Parliamentary staff.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     leaders in the Australian Parliament will select a 
     politically balanced group of Australian parliamentary staff 
     who will participate in each exchange described in paragraph 
     (2).
       (4) Venues.--The exchanges described in paragraph (2) shall 
     take place primarily in Washington, D.C. and Canberra, 
     Australia, but may include opportunities for staff--
       (A) to engage in cultural immersion activities; and
       (B) to tour other key regions in each country in accordance 
     with the purposes of the Program.
       (5) Program activities.--Program participants, while 
     visiting the partner country, shall--
       (A) meet with senior executive and legislative branch 
     officials, think tank scholars, and nonprofit advocacy 
     groups; and
       (B) participate in specially designed courses covering the 
     politics and foreign policy issues in such country with the 
     intent to foster a deeper understanding of the political 
     environment in which their counterparts operate.
       (6) Consultation.--In managing the Program on behalf of the 
     congressional leaders referred to in paragraph (1), the head 
     of the nonprofit designated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 
     consult with, and accepting guidance from, senior staff of 
     the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Armed 
     Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
     on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (7) Alumni network.--The head of the nonprofit designated 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) shall establish an alumni network 
     program, in cooperation with a representative of the 
     Australian Parliament, that brings together past alumni of 
     the program for special events or programs that provide for 
     further exchanges and lasting relationships between 
     policymakers and leaders in both countries.
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