[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 206 (Monday, December 7, 2020)] [House] [Pages H6862-H6864] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] REAFFIRMING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND MONGOLIA Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1100) reaffirming the strategic partnership between the United States and Mongolia and observing the 30th anniversary of democracy in Mongolia, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 1100 Whereas the United States and Mongolia established diplomatic relations in January 1987, and since that time the relationship has grown stronger based on shared strategic interests, security cooperation, democratic values, good governance, and respect for human rights; Whereas, since its peaceful democratic revolution in 1989, Mongolia has charted, through a series of initiatives, a successful path to multiparty democracy and a free market economy; Whereas, in 1990, the Government of Mongolia declared an end to a one-party, authoritarian, political system and adopted democratic and free market reforms; Whereas, in 1992, Mongolia adopted a constitution establishing a parliamentary democracy, becoming the first country in Asia to transition from communism to democracy; Whereas, in 1999, the Government of Mongolia invited the Peace Corps to establish its program in the country and has since hosted 1,437 volunteers in English and health education; Whereas Mongolia has shown its commitment to a ``third neighbor'' relationship with the United States by sending troops to support United States operations in Iraq from 2003 through 2008 and Afghanistan since 2009, and Mongolia has a strong record of troop contributions to international peacekeeping missions; Whereas successive Mongolian governments have taken notable steps to strengthen civil society, battle corruption, and spur economic development; [[Page H6863]] Whereas the Parliament of Mongolia, the State Great Khural, has engaged with Congress, including through the House Democracy Partnership, thereby promoting responsive and effective governance through peer-to-peer cooperation; Whereas Mongolia began as a partner to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2004, graduated to become a participating state in 2012, and participates actively in the work of the OSCE for stability, peace, and democracy; Whereas Mongolia has regularly invited the OSCE and other organizations to send monitoring teams to its Presidential and parliamentary elections; Whereas Mongolia has also been an active member of the Community of Democracies (CoD), a global coalition of countries that support adherence to common democratic values and standards, and Mongolia has not only remained active since the founding of the CoD in 2000 but also successfully chaired the CoD from 2011 through 2013; Whereas, in addition to supporting the OSCE and CoD, Mongolia supports democratic initiatives while participating in a wide range of other global institutions; Whereas most recently, on June 24, 2020, Mongolia successfully organized parliamentary elections, strengthening its commitment to democracy and the rule of law; Whereas the success of Mongolia as a democracy and its strategic location, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and ability to pursue an independent foreign policy are highly relevant to the national security of the United States; Whereas climate change in Mongolia has contributed to severe droughts, higher temperatures, and extreme winter weather conditions, resulting in mass deaths of livestock and economic hardship for people living in rural communities, especially the nomadic population; Whereas the United States has provided support to Mongolia through the Millennium Challenge Corporation through an initial compact signed in 2007 designed to increase economic growth and reduce poverty and a second compact signed in 2018 involving investments in water infrastructure, including supply and wastewater recycling, as well as water sector sustainability; Whereas, on September 20, 2018, the United States and Mongolia signed a joint statement and the Roadmap for Expanded Economic Partnership, outlining the intent to deepen the bilateral commercial relationship through full implementation of the obligations under the Agreement on Transparency in Matters Related to International Trade and Investment between the United States of America and Mongolia, signed at New York, September 24, 2013 (in this preamble referred to as the ``United States-Mongolia Transparency Agreement''), and to collaborate in supporting Mongolian small- and medium-sized enterprises through various programs and projects; Whereas according to the Bureau of the Census, trade between the United States and Mongolia is modest but growing, with a total value of trade in 2019 between the two countries of approximately $217,500,000, including $192,700,000 in United States exports to Mongolia and $24,800,000 in United States imports from Mongolia; Whereas Mongolia is a beneficiary country under the Generalized System of Preferences program, but its use of the program remains low, as in 2018 only $3,300,000 of exports from Mongolia to the United States entered were under the program; and Whereas, on July 31, 2019, the United States and Mongolia declared the bilateral relationship a ``Strategic Partnership'' and noted the shared desire-- (1) to intensify cooperation as strong democracies based on the rule of law through safeguarding and promoting democratic values and human rights, including the freedoms of religion or belief, expression, including internet and media freedom, assembly, and association, anticorruption and fiscal transparency, and youth and emerging leader development; (2) to cooperate in promoting national security and stability across the Indo-Pacific region so that all countries, secure in their sovereignty, are able to pursue economic growth consistent with international law and principles of fair competition; (3) to deepen national security and law-enforcement ties through collaboration on bilateral and multilateral security, judicial, and law enforcement efforts in the region; (4) to strengthen cooperation in multilateral engagements such as peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and disaster preparedness and relief operations; (5) to expand trade and investment relations on a fair and reciprocal basis, support private sector-led growth, fully implement the United States-Mongolia Transparency Agreement, promote women's entrepreneurship, and continue to explore support for infrastructure under the new United States International Development Finance Corporation with the new tools provided under the BUILD Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.); (6) to strengthen border security, prevent illegal transshipment and trafficking, expand cooperation on civil aviation safety and oversight, and efficiently facilitate legitimate travel between Mongolia and the United States; (7) to increase cooperation in addressing transnational threats such as terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cyberattacks, transnational organized crime, pandemics, and other emerging nontraditional security threats; (8) to continue to develop an environment in which civil society, social media, and a free and independent media can flourish; and (9) to maintain high-level official dialogues, encourage bilateral exchanges at all levels of government, and further develop people-to-people exchanges to deepen engagement on issues of mutual interest and concern: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) underscores the importance of the relationship between the United States and Mongolia and remains committed to advancing this Strategic Partnership in the future; (2) encourages the United States Government to help Mongolia use its benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences program and other relevant programs to increase trade between the United States and Mongolia; (3) urges the United States International Development Finance Corporation to expand activities in Mongolia to support economic development, diversification of the economy of Mongolia, and women-owned small- and medium-sized enterprises; (4) urges Mongolia to address climate change and continue to work with the UN Environment Programme, the Global Climate Fund, and other global institutions to strengthen climate change resilience; (5) urges private and public support to help diversify the economy of Mongolia through increased cooperation and investments, as well as infrastructure and other vital projects; (6) supports the resumption of the Peace Corps program in Mongolia once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided; (7) urges the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, and other relevant agencies to continue to support Mongolia's democratic and economic development and efforts on anticorruption; (8) calls for the continued engagement of Mongolia in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Community of Democracies, congressional-parliamentary partnerships, including continued high-level parliamentary exchange, and other institutions that promote democratic values, which reinforces the commitment of the people and the Government of Mongolia to those values and standards; (9) reaffirms the importance of civil society to the continued democratic development of Mongolia; (10) encourages the Government of Mongolia to build a regulatory system that supports and encourages the growth and operation of independent nongovernmental organizations and continues to pursue policies of transparency that uphold democratic values; (11) urges Mongolia to continue their commitment to free, fair and credible elections; and (12) encourages the Government of Mongolia to continue legal reform, build institutional capacity, and improve the independence of other democratic institutions. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland. GENERAL LEAVE Mr. RASKIN. 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. Res. 1100, as amended. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Maryland? There was no objection. Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this year marks 30 years since Mongolia's democratic transition. Mongolia is a true success story, a landlocked country squeezed between two huge neighbors, China and Russia, that has nonetheless become a shining democratic breakthrough story in Asia. As Mongolia's so-called third neighbor, the U.S. should continue to build upon our shared interests and commitment to democratic values and further advance our strategic partnership. From national security to economic stability, Mongolia has demonstrated its commitment to our partnership by hosting annual peacekeeping exercises and participating in U.S.-led programs like the House Democracy Partnership and the Open World Leadership Center. Our countries must also continue to partner closely on global warming. Climate change is a pressing concern for all the world and has already gravely affected the livelihood and well-being of the Mongolian people, who now face widespread livestock and crop losses, as well as escalating extreme-weather events. [[Page H6864]] {time} 1215 This resolution urges the expansion of U.S.-Mongolia economic ties and encourages the Mongolian Government to continue to increase transparency, freedom, and good governance. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Titus for her work on this bipartisan resolution. I urge all Members to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, December 7, 2020. Hon. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H. Res. 1100, Reaffirming the strategic partnership between the United States and Mongolia and observing the 30th anniversary of democracy in Mongolia, the Committee on Ways and Means agrees to waive formal consideration of the resolution as to provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the resolution or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letter on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H. Res. 1100. Sincerely, Hon. Richard E. Neal, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, December 1, 2020. Hon. Richard E. Neal, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Neal: I am writing to you concerning H. Res. 1100, Reaffirming the strategic partnership between the United States and Mongolia and observing the 30th anniversary of democracy in Mongolia. I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation. I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means under House Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H. Res. 1100 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters contained in the bill that fall within your jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of Committee on Ways and Means conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation. Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel, Chairman. Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the United States and Mongolia have a robust relationship, distinguished by our shared democratic ideals and strengthened by close economic and diplomatic cooperation. This year marks the 30th anniversary of democracy in Mongolia. Mongolia was the first nation in Asia to transition from communism to democracy, marking an important juncture in the continent's history. Years later, Mongolia remains an important democratic partner in the Indo-Pacific but finds itself in a challenging location, sandwiched entirely between Russia and China. What happens in Mongolia has direct implications for the United States. If malign actors compromise Mongolia's territorial integrity or ability to pursue independent foreign policy, the security of the United States is also at risk. I have consistently warned about the Chinese Communist Party's malign activity around the world as the former chairman and current ranking member of the House Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee. I was also encouraged to see the recommendations released this year by the China Task Force. After months of classified and unclassified briefings, the China Task Force released a report with 82 key findings and more than 400 forward- looking recommendations. Many of these focus on the CCP's predatory Belt and Road Initiative, which is infamous for its debt trap diplomacy. Mongolia is a formal participant in this initiative, and China currently supplies the largest portion of their foreign investment. This is why it is essential that the U.S. continue to develop our strategic partnership with Mongolia. We must be their most meaningful third neighbor, and that term describes the Mongolian relationship with countries other than China and Russia. One of the ways we can do this is by strengthening Mongolia from within by supporting small and medium enterprises and industries like the cashmere production. This past year, I reintroduced the Mongolia Third Neighbor Trade Act, which would allow duty-free entry of Mongolian cashmere into the United States. This one bill would create over 50,000 jobs, it is estimated, in Mongolia, primarily women jobs, at a cost less than $1 million over a 10-year period to the American taxpayers. The cashmere wool industry is particularly important to Mongolia's economy; but while Mongolia produces over one-third of the world's cashmere, almost all finished products are processed and exported from China. Duty-free entry for the United States' imports of Mongolian cashmere would benefit the United States by facilitating increased trade with Mongolia and reducing U.S. imports of Chinese cashmere products. The measure would likewise benefit Mongolia by reducing Mongolia's economic dependence on China and promoting the development of Mongolia's garment industry, an industry in which 90 percent of workers are women. We must also offer a better alternative through initiatives like the Third Neighbor Trade Act and this resolution. That is exactly what this bill does by reaffirming our relationship with our like-minded partner, Mongolia. We will never allow adversaries to undermine peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Mr. Speaker, in closing, for over three decades, the relationship between the United States and Mongolia has continued to grow and strengthen. Mongolia is a strong democratic partner in the Indo- Pacific, and the United States has become an important third neighbor. I would like to congratulate the Mongolian people on their 30th anniversary of democracy and look forward to continuing to build our partnership. Mongolia's success as a democracy and continued sovereignty is extremely relevant to the security of the United States, the Indo- Pacific region, and the world. For this reason, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to strongly support H. Res. 1100, which recognizes Mongolia's commitment to democracy, security, cooperation, and respect for human rights and reaffirms the important growing partnership between our two nations. Mr. Speaker, I would like to, once again, thank Ms. Titus and Mr. Yoho for their leadership on this resolution. I urge all Members to join us in supporting it, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1100, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to. The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``A resolution reaffirming the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and Mongolia.''. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________