[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)] [House] [Pages H7875-H7877] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] SOUTHEAST ASIA STRATEGY ACT Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1632) to require a strategy for engagement with Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1632 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 security, prosperity, and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. (4) The United States has committed to continuing 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 capacity and capability to address common challenges. (6) ASEAN member states are critical United States security partners in preventing violent extremism and protecting the freedom and openness of the maritime domain and in preventing 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 recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of their ties and 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 and efforts to combat climate change, public-private partnerships, physical and digital infrastructure development, education, disaster management, public health and economic and political 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, 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) 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. [[Page H7876]] The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan. General Leave Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include in the Record extraneous material on H.R. 1632. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Michigan? There was no objection. Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me start by thanking the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro), and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) for introducing this legislation. Southeast Asian states and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, have been central to American policy in Asia for decades. They are key partners in advancing our interests in the Indo- Pacific. But at this point, the Trump administration still hasn't put together a comprehensive strategy on how to strengthen our engagement with these countries. This legislation would require such a strategy. It calls on the Secretary of State, working with the Secretaries of Defense and Commerce, to come up with a plan that will make sure the United States and our partners are working together on some of the most critical issues we are facing, from climate change and human rights to security cooperation, energy, and a growing global economy. A multiyear strategy for our engagement with ASEAN and its member states will help us build partnerships in the region focused on short- term challenges, as well as longer term opportunities. Many Southeast Asian countries face the same global challenges that we do, like terrorism and human trafficking. The United States can and should be their preferred partner to address these issues. This bill will help us take stock of our ongoing and planned efforts in these areas and determine what strategic personnel and funding resources are necessary to make these efforts successful. Mr. Speaker, this is a good, straightforward piece of legislation. I am glad the House is considering it today, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Congresswoman Wagner's Southeast Asia Strategy Act. This bill will promote U.S. cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and establish a comprehensive interagency strategy for engagement in Southeast Asia. ASEAN is the center of Asia's strategic and economic future and critical to the administration's Indo-Pacific strategy. Southeast Asia has been a critical global crossroads for hundreds of years, and it is growing even more important in the 21st century. Trillions in trade pass through regional sea-lanes, including vital energy supplies for U.S. allies and adversaries. China's territorial aggression in the South China Sea and its predatory Belt and Road Initiative are central to the region's geopolitics. Southeast Asia's rising economies are becoming important drivers of regional growth as its developed economies begin to slow. The Southeast Asia Strategy Act is a welcome step to ensure that this critical region receives the interagency focus that it deserves and that it requires. Mr. Speaker, therefore, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. {time} 1515 Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), the vice ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of the Southeast Asia Strategy Act. Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for yielding to me and for his strong support on this piece of legislation, along with the chairman of the full committee, Mr. Engel, for bringing H.R. 1632, the Southeast Asia Strategy Act, to a vote. I also thank Congressman Castro for his persistent support of U.S.- ASEAN relations, and I urge my colleagues to join us in passing this important, straightforward, and commonsense piece of legislation. Southeast Asia is of deep strategic and economic importance to the United States, and its global influence is, in fact, growing. In 2015, the United States and ASEAN elevated our relationship into a strategic partnership. To fully realize this partnership, the U.S. needs a proactive, coherent regional strategy that addresses all aspects of the relationship, from trade and humanitarian goals to diplomatic and security arrangements. The Southeast Asia Strategy Act ensures that it is the policy of the United States to coordinate with ASEAN and its member states in the interest of promoting peace, security, and stability. The legislation instructs the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy for engagement with the region, including information on alliances and partnerships, investment, development, security cooperation, energy security, human rights, and capacity building on enforcing international law and sanctions and creating more open, reliable routes for trade. I have had many opportunities to meet with ASEAN officials and foreign ministers, and one message I hear repeatedly is that the United States must demonstrate strength and leadership. Congress should listen closely to our allies demanding stronger leadership, and not just because China would be sure to fill any vacuum in power. ASEAN is a powerhouse and an end in itself, and this bill will ensure that U.S.-ASEAN engagement becomes ever more fruitful. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Southeast Asia Strategy Act. Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank Congresswoman Wagner, the vice ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for introducing the Southeast Asia Strategy Act. The administration's national security strategy has recommitted the United States to great power competition, and the People's Republic of China is our primary strategic competitor. The Indo-Pacific region is at the center of this competition, and Southeast Asia is at the center of the Indo-Pacific. Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank my colleagues who have taken part in this debate. I thank the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner) and the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for their leadership in this area. I want to just close by being clear with ourselves as a Congress, as the United States of America. If we are not engaged in the Indo-Pacific region, if we are not building bridges of friendship and cooperation, if we are not bringing American leadership and American values to this critical part of the world, who is going to fill the void? The answer is easy. It is China. We can't be muddling our way through when it comes to our policy. We need a smart, proactive approach that meets current challenges and builds the framework for successful, long-term engagement. Mr. Speaker, this bill will help us meet those goals. I am pleased to support it. I urge all Members to do the same, and 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. Levin) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1632, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. [[Page H7877]] A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________