[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1313-H1314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROVIDING APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT NEEDED TO ENHANCE 
                        RELATIONS WITH ASEAN ACT

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 406) to provide for the treatment of the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations as an international organization for purposes 
of the International Organizations Immunities Act, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 406

       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 ``Providing Appropriate 
     Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations with 
     ASEAN Act'' or the ``PARTNER with ASEAN Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION TO THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN 
                   NATIONS.

       The provisions of the International Organizations 
     Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288 et seq.) may be extended to the 
     Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the same manner, to 
     the same extent, and subject to the same conditions as such 
     provisions may be extended to a public international 
     organization in which the United States participates pursuant 
     to any treaty or under the authority of any Act of Congress 
     authorizing such participation or making an appropriation for 
     such participation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is 
of immense strategic and economic importance to the United States of 
America.
  This powerhouse region joins the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions and 
serves as a conduit for global trade. Southeast Asian states are 
increasingly vital to the prosperity of the U.S. economy, generating 
hundreds of thousands of American jobs and investing more in our 
economy than China and India combined.
  Home to one of the world's largest and youngest populations and 
numerous key shipping routes, ASEAN represents the future of growth in 
the Indo-Pacific. It is an important region that cannot be forgotten 
and is certainly not forgotten by the People's Republic of China.
  The PRC is actively looking for ways to expand their footprint in 
ASEAN, whether it be through infrastructure projects, predatory 
lending, or police training. A growing number of Southeast Asian 
countries no longer believe that China's intentions are benign. Our 
partners are seeking assurance of U.S. support as they try to maintain 
economic independence from China and defend their territorial claims in 
the South China Sea.
  To strengthen our relationship with Southeast Asian Governments and 
counter PRC influence, we must find ways to deepen our relationship 
with the ASEAN.
  The United States has worked closely with ASEAN for more than four 
decades, and 15 years ago, we became the first nonmember to name an 
ambassador to ASEAN.
  This bill will build on that legacy of cooperation and will enhance 
ties between the United States and this critical region of the world. 
It will accord ASEAN representatives in the United States the same 
diplomatic immunities we provide other regional organizations, such as 
the EU or the Organization of American States. This is a tangible 
demonstration of our commitment to that organization.
  I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro). I would also thank my 
good friend from California, Young Kim, for introducing this important 
bill. I have the great privilege of being co-chair and cofounder with 
Mr. Castro of the ASEAN Caucus.
  I am very sorry that Mr. Castro is unable to join us on the floor 
today but want to convey our prayers and very best wishes for his full 
and speedy recovery, Mr. Speaker.
  This bill received unanimous bipartisan support during committee 
markup and deserves our full support today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 406, the PARTNER with 
ASEAN Act, introduced by Mr. Castro and Mrs. Kim.
  Of course, I join with Mrs. Wagner in wishing Mr. Castro a speedy 
recovery and return to this body very soon.
  This legislation will solidify this body's strong bipartisan 
commitment to deepening our longstanding cooperation with Southeast 
Asia and facilitate stronger people-to-people ties with this vast, 
diverse region.
  Southeast Asia is vital to the United States national interests and 
strategic priorities. The 10 Southeast Asian nations that comprise the 
important regional body of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, 
or ASEAN, have an outsized role in shaping crucial political, economic, 
and security developments in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
  The United States has long recognized ASEAN's central role in 
promoting peace, security, and stability in the region. This bill would 
allow us to deepen our collaboration and partnership on shared 
challenges.
  H.R. 406 underscores the importance of the United States and ASEAN's 
partnership by authorizing that ASEAN be designated as an international 
organization with diplomatic privileges and immunities consistent with 
the International Organizations Immunities Act.
  The IOIA, which was enacted in 1945, is how the United States extends 
the rights and treatment generally accorded to embassies of countries 
that have diplomatic relations with the United States to international 
organizations.
  This is a long-overdue change that our partners in ASEAN and the 
Biden administration strongly support. With the passage of this 
legislation, the United States would affirm our longstanding 
relationship and upgrade our capacity to collaborate with ASEAN. Robust 
and consistent engagement with Southeast Asia is critical to realizing 
our Indo-Pacific strategy. This measure ensures that America remains a 
Pacific power and a critical player in Southeast Asia as we address the 
challenge of China.
  We need to work collectively with ASEAN so that we can tackle shared 
challenges such as economic resiliency, global health, climate change, 
and attacks against the rules-based international order. Our 
partnership with ASEAN will be essential in delivering sustainable 
solutions to our combined 1 billion people.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
strong, bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs.

[[Page H1314]]

Kim), my good friend and colleague, who chairs the Foreign Affairs 
Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific and is the Republican coauthor of this 
bill.

  Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Ann Wagner 
for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 406, the Providing 
Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations, 
PARTNER, with ASEAN Act.
  This is a bill that I introduced with my colleague, Representative 
Castro. I thank Ranking Member Meeks, and my colleague, and chairwoman 
of one of our committees, Ann Wagner, but more importantly, for her 
leadership on the ASEAN Caucus.
  Mr. Speaker, much has been talked about with the importance of this 
legislation, but I think it is worth repeating that this bipartisan 
legislation extends the diplomatic privileges and immunities to the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations under the International 
Organizations Immunities Act.
  Similar international organizations such as the European Union, the 
Organization of American States, and the African Union currently enjoy 
these diplomatic privileges, but not ASEAN.
  As chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, I believe this 
legislation is a step in the right direction for improving America's 
standing in the Indo-Pacific and addressing the economic and security 
threats posed to the region by the CCP and their Belt and Road 
Initiative. To counter the Belt and Road Initiative, we must prioritize 
trade, economic, and diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian 
countries.
  Without meaningful U.S. engagement and presence in the region, we 
will leave the region little choice but to turn to the CCP, whose 
conditions for these countries are erosion in democratic institutions 
and threats to their sovereignty.
  This bill, while simple in scope, will signal to the region that the 
United States stands ready to engage in meaningful trade and have more 
discussions about security and human rights.
  I thank my colleague, Representative Castro, coauthor of this bill, 
for his work on this legislation.
  I join with my colleagues in saying that I am sorry that he could not 
be here to witness this legislation pass the House. I wish him a speedy 
recovery and look forward to getting back to work with him once he 
returns to the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for 
the purpose of closing.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 406 is a very important, bipartisan measure that 
affirms the importance of the United States and ASEAN's partnership by 
extending privileges and immunities under the International 
Organizations Immunities Act to ASEAN.
  In fact, Mr. Speaker, I recall myself going to Cambodia to attend the 
session with ASEAN where they extended the opportunity for us to be 
official observers at their annual meetings and conferences.
  This just emphasizes how the United States has long recognized and--
ASEAN also--appreciates our engagement with this diverse regional body 
and demonstrated strong support for ASEAN centrality. This measure 
demonstrates our commitment to this organization and pivotal region.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no better way to honor over 45 years of the 
United States-ASEAN's relations and build upon our partnership than 
passing this important bipartisan legislation so they know that jointly 
the United States Congress recognizes the significance and importance 
of our partnership.

                              {time}  1745

  Again, I thank Mr. Castro--we want him back here soon--and 
Representative Young Kim for their hard work on this bill to send the 
appropriate message. I hope that all of my colleagues will join us in 
support of this very important bipartisan bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, in closing, 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 who share our grave concerns regarding China's growing power, 
but we must demonstrate that these partnerships are a key U.S. 
priority.
  H.R. 406 sends an important message to the region: The United States 
values its important relationship with ASEAN, and we strongly support 
its mission to promote stability and growth in Southeast Asia.
  I urge my colleagues to join me, Representative Young Kim, 
Representative Castro, and Ranking Member Meeks, along with Chairman 
McCaul, in supporting H.R. 406.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 406.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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