Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations with Asean Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Ann Wagner for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 406, the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations, PARTNER, with ASEAN Act.

This is a bill that I introduced with my colleague, Representative Castro. I thank Ranking Member Meeks, and my colleague, and chairwoman of one of our committees, Ann Wagner, but more importantly, for her leadership on the ASEAN Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, much has been talked about with the importance of this legislation, but I think it is worth repeating that this bipartisan legislation extends the diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations under the International Organizations Immunities Act.

Similar international organizations such as the European Union, the Organization of American States, and the African Union currently enjoy these diplomatic privileges, but not ASEAN.

As chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, I believe this legislation is a step in the right direction for improving America's standing in the Indo-Pacific and addressing the economic and security threats posed to the region by the CCP and their Belt and Road Initiative. To counter the Belt and Road Initiative, we must prioritize trade, economic, and diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian countries.

Without meaningful U.S. engagement and presence in the region, we will leave the region little choice but to turn to the CCP, whose conditions for these countries are erosion in democratic institutions and threats to their sovereignty.

This bill, while simple in scope, will signal to the region that the United States stands ready to engage in meaningful trade and have more discussions about security and human rights.

I thank my colleague, Representative Castro, coauthor of this bill, for his work on this legislation.

I join with my colleagues in saying that I am sorry that he could not be here to witness this legislation pass the House. I wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to getting back to work with him once he returns to the House.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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