[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15278]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ASEAN-UNITED STATES DIALOGUE AND RELATIONSHIP

  Mr. KENNEDY. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 177, S. Res. 110.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 110) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate regarding the 30th Anniversary of the ASEAN-United 
     States dialogue and relationship.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. KENNEDY. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and any statements relating to the resolution be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 110) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 110

       Whereas the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
     (referred to in this resolution as ``ASEAN''), was 
     established in 1967, with Indonesia, Malaysia, the 
     Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand as the initial members;
       Whereas the membership of ASEAN has expanded to 10 
     countries since its establishment in 1967, and now includes 
     Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the 
     Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam;
       Whereas the United States-ASEAN dialogue and relationship 
     began in 1977;
       Whereas the countries of ASEAN constitute the 3rd largest 
     export market for the United States, have received 
     approximately $90,000,000,000 in direct investment from the 
     United States, and are developing an integrated free trade 
     area;
       Whereas trade between the United States and the countries 
     of ASEAN totals nearly $170,000,000,000 annually;
       Whereas ASEAN is committed to accelerated economic growth, 
     social progress, cultural development, and regional peace and 
     stability;
       Whereas ASEAN is committed to developing a regional energy 
     security strategy;
       Whereas nearly 40,000 students from ASEAN countries are 
     studying in the United States;
       Whereas ASEAN countries share common concerns with the 
     United States, including the spread of avian influenza and 
     other diseases, and environmental issues, such as the 
     preservation of biodiversity and illegal logging;
       Whereas ASEAN countries continue to partner with the United 
     States against global terrorism;
       Whereas the Senate passed legislation authorizing the 
     establishment of the position of United States Ambassador for 
     ASEAN Affairs; and
       Whereas United States officials announced in August of 2006 
     that an Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs will be appointed: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (A) the United States and the ASEAN countries should 
     continue implementing the ASEAN-United States Enhanced 
     Partnership, with emphasis on the agreed upon specific 
     priority measures for cooperation in 2007;
       (B) the United States should proceed with appointing a 
     United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs;
       (C) the United States should work with the countries of 
     ASEAN in developing a regional energy strategy;
       (D) the United States should provide greater emphasis and 
     support toward encouraging students from ASEAN countries to 
     study in the United States, and American students to study in 
     ASEAN countries; and
       (E) the United States should continue to support the work 
     of multilateral financial institutions, including the Asian 
     Development Bank and the World Bank in ASEAN countries, and 
     to encourage additional transparency and anticorruption 
     efforts by those institutions, for the benefit of the ASEAN 
     countries where they operate;
       (2) the Senate welcomes the initiation of a Fulbright 
     Program for ASEAN scholars; and
       (3) the Senate welcomes and encourages planning by the 
     countries of ASEAN and the United States for an ASEAN-United 
     States Summit in 2007.

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