[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6226-S6227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 835--RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE QUADRILATERAL 
   SECURITY DIALOGUE (THE ``QUAD'') AND WELCOMING THE UPCOMING QUAD 
                             LEADERS SUMMIT

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. Sullivan) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 835

       Whereas Australia, India, Japan, and the United States are 
     4 leading maritime democracies representing nearly 
     2,000,000,000 people and over \1/3\ of global gross domestic 
     product;
       Whereas this grouping of countries, known as the ``Quad'', 
     was launched 20 years ago in response to the devastating 2004 
     Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami;
       Whereas, since its inception, the Quad partners have 
     demonstrated their commitment to the success of the Indo-
     Pacific region by supporting regional institutions and 
     promoting cooperation, mutual respect for sovereignty, and a 
     rules-based international order;
       Whereas Quad Foreign Ministers have met 8 times since 2019;
       Whereas Quad Leaders have met 5 times, including twice 
     virtually, since 2021, including most recently in Sydney in 
     2023;
       Whereas Quad country representatives convene on a regular 
     basis at all levels to exchange ideas and drive cooperation 
     toward our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific 
     region;
       Whereas the United States has directed over $100,000,000 in 
     foreign assistance to Quad-related programs, designed to 
     build an Indo-Pacific region that is prosperous, secure, 
     connected, and resilient;
       Whereas the Quad, through the Quad Vaccine Partnership, 
     provided 400,000,000 COVID-19 vaccines and expanded vaccine 
     production capacity in the Indo-Pacific region during the 
     COVID-19 pandemic and has strengthened the Indo-Pacific's 
     ability to detect and respond to outbreaks of diseases with 
     pandemic potential through the Health Security Partnership;
       Whereas, in 2022, the Quad established the Indo-Pacific 
     Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness to provide near-
     real-time, cost-effective, cutting-edge maritime domain 
     awareness, enabling over 2 dozen countries to monitor their 
     waters, counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, 
     respond to climate change and natural disasters, and enforce 
     their laws within their own territorial waters;
       Whereas the Quad continues to deliver quality, resilient 
     infrastructure around the Indo-Pacific region to increase 
     connectivity, build regional capacity, and meet critical 
     needs;
       Whereas the Quad welcomed the 2023 launch of the Quad 
     Investors Network, a nongovernmental network fostering 
     private sector investment into critical and emerging 
     technologies in Quad countries and across the Indo-Pacific 
     region;
       Whereas the Quad has demonstrated leadership in promoting 
     the development and governance of critical and emerging 
     technologies, ensuring the protection of democratic values 
     and human rights in the digital age;
       Whereas, in 2023, Quad Leaders launched the Quad 
     Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience and have 
     invested in trusted undersea cables to enhance digital 
     connectivity and secure, sustainable, and resilient 
     telecommunications infrastructure among the Pacific Islands;
       Whereas, in 2023, the Quad launched an Open RAN deployment 
     in Palau to bring secure, trusted information and 
     communications technology infrastructure, the first project 
     of its kind in the Pacific;
       Whereas the Quad has fostered people-to-people exchanges 
     between citizens of the United States, Japan, India, and 
     Australia through exchange programs for infrastructure 
     experts and STEM students, including the Quad Fellowship 
     program; and
       Whereas, in September 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 
     of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and 
     Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan will visit the United 
     States for the fourth Quad Leaders Summit at the invitation 
     of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) welcomes the Quad Leaders to the United States;
       (2) recognizes the Quad's significant contributions to 
     global health security, climate resilience, maritime 
     security, technological cooperation, and economic 
     development;
       (3) welcomes and encourages sustained cooperation among 
     Quad countries;
       (4) stands ready to support efforts to strengthen the Quad 
     and advance its objective of delivering tangible benefits for 
     the Indo-Pacific region;
       (5) affirms the Quad as a centerpiece of United States 
     foreign policy within the Indo-Pacific region;
       (6) views the Quad as an important mechanism for upholding 
     the rules-based international order and a source of United 
     States strength;
       (7) recognizes the importance of expanding people-to-people 
     programs between the 4 Quad member countries, Southeast Asia, 
     South Asia, and the Pacific Islands;

[[Page S6227]]

       (8) supports the annual provision of foreign assistance 
     funding to facilitate Quad-related programs; and
       (9) commits its support for the enduring partnership among 
     the Quad nations and their commitment to promoting peace, 
     security, and prosperity.

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