[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13] [Senate] [Pages 17548-17549] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR FOR ASEAN AFFAIRS Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of S. 2697. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report the bill by title. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2697) to establish the position of the United States Ambassador for ASEAN. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with amendments, as follows: (The parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in italic.) S. 2697 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 ``United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (referred to in this Act as ``ASEAN'') was established in 1967, with an initial membership of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. (2) ASEAN is committed to accelerating economic growth, social progress, cultural development and regional peace and stability. (3) The membership of ASEAN has expanded to 10 countries since its establishment in 1967. (4) The United States seeks to maintain and further develop a constructive and cordial relationship with ASEAN. (5) The countries comprising ASEAN-- (A) constitute the 3rd largest export market for United States products; (B) have received nearly $90,000,000,000 in direct investment from United States sources; and (C) are developing an integrated free trade area. (6) Trade between the United States and the countries comprising ASEAN totals approximately $130,000,000,000. (7) ASEAN continues to contribute to regional stability in East Asia and has partnered with the United States to combat global terror. (8) In 2006, approximately 38,000 students from the countries comprising ASEAN were studying in the United States. (9) The countries comprising ASEAN share a common concern with the United States regarding-- (A) the spread of avian influenza and other diseases; and (B) environmental issues, such as the preservation of biodiversity and the prevention of illegal logging. (10) It is in the long-term interest of the United States to maintain and expand a relationship with ASEAN. (11) The United States does not have an Ambassador to ASEAN, which limits the ability of the United States and ASEAN to respond quickly and appropriately to events of mutual interest. SEC. 3. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR FOR ASEAN. (a) Appointment.--There is established in the Department of State the position of United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, who shall be appointed by the President, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific should be designated as the Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs. Amend the title so as to read: ``To establish the position of the United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs.''. Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported amendments be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the title amendment be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The committee amendments were agreed to. The bill (S. 2697), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed. S. 2697 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 ``United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (referred to in this Act as ``ASEAN'') was established in 1967, with an initial membership of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. (2) ASEAN is committed to accelerating economic growth, social progress, cultural development and regional peace and stability. (3) The membership of ASEAN has expanded to 10 countries since its establishment in 1967. (4) The United States seeks to maintain and further develop a constructive and cordial relationship with ASEAN. (5) The countries comprising ASEAN-- (A) constitute the 3rd largest export market for United States products; (B) have received nearly $90,000,000,000 in direct investment from United States sources; and (C) are developing an integrated free trade area. (6) Trade between the United States and the countries comprising ASEAN totals approximately $130,000,000,000. (7) ASEAN continues to contribute to regional stability in East Asia and has partnered with the United States to combat global terror. (8) In 2006, approximately 38,000 students from the countries comprising ASEAN were studying in the United States. (9) The countries comprising ASEAN share a common concern with the United States regarding-- (A) the spread of avian influenza and other diseases; and (B) environmental issues, such as the preservation of biodiversity and the prevention of illegal logging. (10) It is in the long-term interest of the United States to maintain and expand a relationship with ASEAN. (11) The United States does not have an Ambassador to ASEAN, which limits the ability of the United States and ASEAN to respond quickly and appropriately to events of mutual interest. SEC. 3. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR FOR ASEAN. (a) Appointment.--There is established in the Department of State the position of United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, who shall be appointed by the President, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a Deputy Assistant Secretary [[Page 17549]] of State for East Asia and the Pacific should be designated as the Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs. ____________________