[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 84 (Monday, May 19, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H2119-H2121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1600
STRENGTHENING THE QUAD ACT
Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1263) to require a strategy for bolstering engagement and
cooperation between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and
to seek to establish a Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working Group to
facilitate closer cooperation on shared interests and values.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1263
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 ``Strengthening the Quad
Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) as a Pacific power, the United States should continue
to strengthen joint cooperation between the United States,
Australia, India, and Japan (commonly referred to as the
``Quadrilateral Dialogue'' or ``Quad'' and referred to as
such in this Act) to enhance and implement a shared vision to
meet regional challenges and to promote a free, open,
inclusive, resilient, and healthy Indo-Pacific, that is
characterized by respect for democratic norms, rule of law,
and market-driven economic growth, and is free from undue
influence and coercion;
(2) the United States should expand dialogue and
cooperation through the Quad with a range of partners to
support peace and prosperity, the rule of law, freedom of
navigation and overflight, the peaceful resolution of
disputes, and democratic resilience in the Indo-Pacific;
(3) the pledge from the first-ever Quad leaders meeting on
March 12, 2021, to address shared challenges, including in
public health, cyberspace, critical technologies,
counterterrorism, quality infrastructure investment, and
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as
maritime domains, laid the foundation for critical
cooperation among Quad countries;
(4) the Quad countries, working through institutions,
including the United States International Development Finance
Corporation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and
the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and through
partnerships with multilateral development banks such as the
World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, should finance
development and infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific
region that are competitive, transparent, and sustainable;
(5) President Biden's decision to elevate the Quad to the
leader level was critical to bolstering cooperation, and all
4 countries should work to ensure that the Quad Leaders'
Summit continues to take place regularly;
(6) the ambitious framework for ongoing cooperation laid
out by the 4 leaders at the fifth convening of the Quad
Leaders' Summit in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023, should
continue;
(7) Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the Quad Foreign
Ministers in Washington, DC on January 21, 2025--his first
day in office--underscoring the continued importance of
cooperation between the 4 democracies; and
(8) the formation of a Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working
Group will--
(A) sustain and deepen engagement between senior officials
of the Quad countries on a full spectrum of issues; and
(B) be modeled on the successful and long-standing
bilateral inter-parliamentary groups between the United
States and Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as
other formal and informal parliamentary exchanges.
SEC. 3. STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy
for bolstering engagement and cooperation with the Quad.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The strategy required by
subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A description of how the United States intends to
demonstrate democratic leadership in the Indo-Pacific through
quadrilateral engagement with Australia, India, and Japan on
shared interests and common challenges.
(2) A summary of--
(A) current and past Quad initiatives across the whole of
the United States Government, including to promote broad
based and inclusive economic growth and investment, and to
advance technology cooperation, energy innovation, climate
mitigation and adaptation, physical and digital
infrastructure development, education, disaster management,
resilient supply chains including in critical minerals, and
global health security;
(B) proposals agreed to by all Quad countries since January
2021 to deepen existing security cooperation, intelligence
sharing, economic partnerships, and multilateral
coordination; and
(C) initiatives and agreements undertaken jointly with Quad
countries, in addition to other like-minded partners in the
Indo-Pacific, on areas of shared interest since January 2021.
(3) A description of the diplomatic and bureaucratic
barriers and obstacles to implementing and expanding existing
streams of Quad cooperation.
(4) A list of recommendations on how Congress could assist
in addressing the barriers described in paragraph (3), as
well as--
(A) any new authorities needed to strengthen United States
leadership in and contribution to existing and proposed Quad
initiatives and programs; and
(B) additional resources needed to scale up and expand
successful Quad initiatives and programs.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
[[Page H2120]]
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUAD INTER-PARLIAMENTARY WORKING
GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
seek to enter into negotiations with the Governments of
Australia, India, and Japan (collectively, with the United
States, known as the ``Quad'') with the goal of reaching a
written agreement to establish a Quad Inter-Parliamentary
Working Group 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) to establish a Quad Inter-Parliamentary
Working Group, there shall be established a United States
Group, which shall represent the United States at the Quad
Inter-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, based on recommendations from the minority
leader, from among Members of the House, not fewer 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 fewer 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 Australia, India,
and Japan, 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) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) 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 at the end of each year that outlines the
group's activities that year, including a description of its
expenditures, and its recommendations for enhancing the Quad.
(8) Engagement with u.s. officials on the quad.--Senior
United States officials shall provide regular updates and
briefings to the United States Group, including leading up to
and after major Quadrilateral dialogues, to ensure close
coordination with Congress.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on this matter.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1263, the Strengthening
the Quad Act, introduced by my friend, Ranking Member Meeks, and the
chairwoman of the East Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee, Congresswoman
Young Kim.
This legislation is a strategic, forward-thinking step that
reinforces Congress' unwavering commitment to a free, open, and secure
Indo-Pacific.
At a time when the Chinese Communist Party is aggressively asserting
its influence, militarizing the South China Sea, threatening Taiwan,
coercing regional partners, and promoting authoritarianism, it is more
critical than ever for the United States to deepen cooperation with
like-minded democratic nations.
The Quad, comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia,
is not just another diplomatic forum. It is a powerful, strategic
alliance built on unyielding values: respect for sovereignty,
unwavering commitment to the rule of law, promotion of fair trade, and
a relentless defense of democratic governance. This partnership is a
force for stability and accountability in an increasingly turbulent
world.
The Strengthening the Quad Act takes this partnership to the next
level. It empowers this relationship by ensuring regular, high-level
engagement between the United States Congress and the legislatures of
the Quad nations, fostering deeper collaboration and mutual
understanding.
We have seen the power of early engagement. On day one of President
Trump's administration, Secretary Rubio convened the first-ever Quad
foreign ministers meeting, demonstrating our dedication to confronting
evolving geopolitical challenges alongside our democratic allies.
By strengthening our partnership with the Quad, we are not just
reinforcing alliances in the Indo-Pacific, we are drawing a clear line
in the sand, or maybe the ocean as, Mr. Speaker, democratic values and
the rule of law will, not might, shape the future of global power, not
authoritarian coercion.
Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the South and Central and Asia
Subcommittee, I support this legislation, and 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 support of H.R. 1263.
I am the proud sponsor of this bill, the Strengthening the Quad Act,
and I am grateful to Representative Young Kim for introducing it with
me alongside Representatives Bera, Huizenga, and Kamlager-Dove.
The Quad is a diplomatic dialogue the United States has established
with the Governments of Japan, Australia, and India. It is a timely
initiative with strong support in all four capitals and the support of
three successive U.S. administrations. President Trump helped relaunch
the Quad during his first term. President Biden elevated the Quad to
the leaders' level and operationalized it. In addition, the second
Trump administration has embraced the Quad, as well. In fact, as Mr.
Huizenga has said, Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first diplomatic
meeting was with the Quad foreign ministers.
The reason the Quad is so important today is very simple. Freedom and
democracy in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world are currently
under attack.
According to Freedom House, the world has experienced 19 consecutive
years of decline in global freedom. Given this global crisis, America
must lead with our values and harness regional diplomacy to bring
democracies together like never before to foster cooperation and find
solutions to complex challenges. In particular, in the Indo-Pacific,
one of the best tools we have to do that is the Quad.
The Quad allows us to work with three leading Indo-Pacific
democracies to showcase the heft of open markets and open societies. In
the face of the PRC's authoritarian model, we must demonstrate to the
region that democracies can and will deliver results.
On this, Republicans and Democrats agree that the Quad is integral
for a free and open Indo-Pacific. However, to ensure the Quad's success
and longevity, we need to identify and pursue clear objectives and
deepen political and institutional support in all four of the capitals.
This is why H.R. 1263 calls on the State Department to develop a
long-term strategy for the Quad. The strategy and report to Congress
will allow successive administrations to set ambitious benchmarks and
to partner with Congress to meet them.
My bill also establishes a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to
facilitate engagement and cooperation among the legislatures of the
four democracies. Inter-Parliamentary engagement will expand diplomatic
ties
[[Page H2121]]
and strengthen oversight of our respective governments in order to
enhance the Quad's effectiveness.
It will also help to sustain political support and resources for the
Quad in all four nations. It is simply a very important bill to further
democracy in the Indo-Pacific.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), who is the chair of the
Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific.
Mrs. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Huizenga for yielding,
and I thank our ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Representative Meeks, also for managing this on the House floor.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1263, the Strengthening
the Quad Act.
As you have heard, Mr. Speaker, the Quad comprises four nations: the
United States, Japan, India, and Australia. It is the cornerstone of
our strategy to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, counter the
Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, and maintain stability and U.S.
interests in what the Department of Defense has deemed the priority
theater.
Against the backdrop of the CCP's militarization of the South China
Sea, coercive economic practices, and territorial disputes, the Quad
amplifies our four democracies' deterrence and economic, defense, and
technological cooperation.
The Strengthening the Quad Act takes our alliance a step further by
creating a comprehensive Quad strategy and establishing a Quad Inter-
Parliamentary Working Group that reinforces America's commitment to our
allies in the region.
I have seen the benefit of inter-parliamentary working groups coming
together, having worked on one of those in the past, and I think this
is going to really bring all of our interested parties together to
really work on finding solutions to keep our strategic security
partnerships stronger.
Now is the time to ramp up the Quad's collaboration on maritime
security, cybersecurity, and efforts to counter disinformation to
protect our allies and friends, especially the Pacific Island nations.
They are counting on us to show up.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-lead this important legislation with
Representative Meeks, and I urge all my colleagues to support the
Strengthening the Quad Act.
Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, at this point, I have no further speakers,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to
close.
Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan bill. I thank Representative Young
Kim for her work on this bill along with Mr. Bera, Mr. Huizenga, and
Ms. Kamlager-Dove.
This bill passed the House in the last Congress and also the one
before that. With authoritarianism on the rise and our Indo-Pacific
allies and partners increasingly worried about the United States'
commitment to their region, passing this bill now and getting it signed
into law will reassure our allies that the United States will remain
engaged at the highest of levels.
This will help ensure that democracies in the region can continue to
deliver and that we stay committed and find success in our collective
endeavor to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Mr. Speaker, I hope all of my colleagues will join me and support
this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the ranking member's work on this
legislation, as well as the work of Chairwoman Kim, Mr. Bera, and Ms.
Kamlager-Dove. This is what can happen when we come together and have
our common interests as a nation be projected out to our allies.
I have been involved in a number of other inter-parliamentary groups,
IPGs, that really have allowed this body to build and foster
relationships with others. It is those critical relationships, not just
at the administrative level, but also at that legislative level, that
can work through some of the challenges that occur at times with our
allies.
Mr. Speaker, let's pass this bill, Strengthening the Quad Act, and
send an unmistakable message that the United States stands firm with
our allies, committed to peace through strength, prosperity through
unity, and an unbreakable defense of democracy against authoritarian
threats.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1263.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. HUIZENGA. 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.
____________________