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SOUTHEAST ASIA STRATEGIES ACT
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1083) to require a strategy for engagement with Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1083
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 ``Southeast Asia Strategy Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Southeast Asia is the fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific region, providing both a geographic and maritime link between East and South Asia.
(2) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional intergovernmental organization, remains central to the Indo-Pacific region's institutional architecture and to United States foreign policy toward the region.
(3) The United States has reaffirmed that the security and sovereignty of its Southeast Asian allies and partners, including a strong, independent ASEAN, remain vital to the prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
(4) The United States has committed to deepen longstanding alliances and partnerships with a range of Southeast Asian nations, including by promoting our shared values, democracy, human rights, and civil society.
(5) Since the end of the Second World War, United States investments in strengthening alliances and partnerships with Southeast Asian nations have yielded tremendous returns for United States interests, as working with and through these alliances and partnerships have increased the region's ability to address common challenges.
(6) ASEAN member states are critical United States security partners in protecting the freedom and openness of the maritime domain and preventing violent extremism and the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction.
(7) ASEAN member states have contributed significantly to regional disaster monitoring and management and emergency response through initiatives such as the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management, an inter-governmental organization that facilitates coordination and cooperation among ASEAN member states and international organizations in times of emergency.
(8) According to the 2018 ASEAN Business Outlook Survey, ASEAN member states are vital to the prosperity of the United States economy and exports to ASEAN economies support more than 500,000 jobs in the United States.
(9) The United States and ASEAN have established a new strategic partnership that will enhance cooperation across the economic, political-security, and people-to-people pillars of the relationship.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to--
(1) deepen cooperation with ASEAN and ASEAN member states in the interest of promoting peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region;
(2) affirm the importance of ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms in the evolving institutional architecture of the Indo-Pacific region; and
(3) establish and communicate a comprehensive strategy toward the Indo-Pacific region that articulates--
(A) the role and importance of Southeast Asia to the United States;
(B) the value of the United States-ASEAN relationship;
(C) the mutual interests of all parties;
(D) the concrete and material benefits all nations derive from strong United States engagement and leadership in Southeast Asia; and
(E) efforts to forge and maintain ASEAN consensus, especially on key issues of political and security concern to the region, such as the South China Sea.
SEC. 4. STRATEGY FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SOUTHEAST ASIA AND
ASEAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive strategy for engagement with Southeast Asia and ASEAN.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The strategy required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) A statement of enduring United States interests in Southeast Asia and a description of efforts to bolster the effectiveness of ASEAN.
(2) A description of efforts to--
(A) deepen and expand Southeast Asian alliances, partnerships, and multilateral engagements, including efforts to expand broad based and inclusive economic growth, security ties, security cooperation and interoperability, economic connectivity, and expand opportunities for ASEAN to work with other like-minded partners in the region; and
(B) encourage like-minded partners outside of the Indo-Pacific region to engage with ASEAN.
(3) A summary of initiatives across the whole of the United States Government to strengthen the United States partnership with Southeast Asian nations and ASEAN, including to promote broad based and inclusive economic growth, trade, investment, energy innovation and sustainability, public-private partnerships, physical and digital infrastructure development, education, disaster management, public health and global health security, and economic, political, and public diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
(4) A summary of initiatives across the whole of the United States Government to enhance the capacity of Southeast Asian nations with respect to enforcing international law and multilateral sanctions, and initiatives to cooperate with ASEAN as an institution in these areas.
(5) A summary of initiatives across the whole of the United States Government to promote human rights and democracy, to strengthen the rule of law, civil society, and transparent governance, to combat disinformation and to protect the integrity of elections from outside influence.
(6) A summary of initiatives to promote security cooperation and security assistance within Southeast Asian nations, including--
(A) maritime security and maritime domain awareness initiatives for protecting the maritime commons and supporting international law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea; and
(B) efforts to combat terrorism, human trafficking, piracy, and illegal fishing, and promote more open, reliable routes for sea lines of communication.
(c) Distribution of Strategy.--For the purposes of assuring allies and partners in Southeast Asia and deepening United States engagement with ASEAN, the Secretary of State shall direct each United States chief of mission to ASEAN and its member states to distribute the strategy required by subsection (a) to host governments.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Newman). Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) and the gentlewoman from Missouri
(Mrs. Wagner) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on H.R. 1083.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan Southeast Asia Strategy Act, of which I am a proud Democratic lead on the bill.
In 2017, Congresswoman Wagner and I cofounded the Congressional Caucus on ASEAN to strengthen our Nation's relationships in Southeast Asia. ASEAN and its member nations are of critical importance to the United States. Enduring organizations like ASEAN will be key to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The United States is already making key investments in the region alongside allies and partners like Japan, Australia, and India--
notably, the recent Quad commitment to fund, manufacture, and distribute vaccines across Southeast Asia.
The Southeast Asia Strategy Act will build on these investments by reinforcing ASEAN centrality as U.S. policy and directing the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive plan for engaging the institution and the region it represents.
This legislation comes at a crucial time for Southeast Asia, notably amidst the deteriorating situation in Myanmar following the recent military coup.
Given the significant and rapidly developing events in the region, Congress must send a message of the importance of the region by passing this bill.
It is also important that the administration nominates a U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN as quickly as possible. It is also imperative that the administration consistently sends senior officials to regional summits. Our Nation needs a voice in Southeast Asia now more than ever.
I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation and help build stronger ties between the United States and the peoples of Southeast Asia. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1083, the Southeast Asia Strategy Act, important legislation that I introduced to ensure the United States engages proactively and meaningfully in a critical region of the world.
This powerhouse region joins the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions and serves as a conduit for global trade. The Southeast Asian states are increasingly vital to the prosperity of the U.S. economy, generating hundreds of thousands of American jobs.
The People's Republic of China, eager to undermine U.S. interests in this key region, is aggressively working to expand its influence in Southeast Asia. It seeks to exploit its predatory investment, development, and trade policies; illegal military installations in the South China Sea; and disinformation campaigns to coerce countries to accept its agenda.
The United States has long enjoyed strong relations with Southeast Asia, and it must now fully realize this strategic partnership. The Southeast Asia Strategic Act will ensure the United States develops and communicates a coherent regional strategy that addresses all aspects of the relationship, from trade and humanitarian goals to diplomatic and security arrangements.
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 that share our grave concerns regarding China's belligerence and growing power.
I thank Representative Castro, with whom I co-chair the Congressional Caucus on ASEAN, for working with me on this legislation. Congress' strong bipartisan support for U.S. engagement in Southeast Asia sends an unmistakable message of American resolve and leadership to the region.
Madam Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1083, the Southeast Asia Strategy Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1945
Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.
H.R. 1083, the Southeast Asia Strategies Act, introduced by Mrs. Wagner, is important legislation that will recommit the United States to strengthening and deepening our ties to southeast Asia and the ASEAN economic union. This bill will reinforce the United States' cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and lay the groundwork for improved engagement and increased prosperity for America and its partner nations.
Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1083.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 67
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