The bill states that joint cooperation between the United States, Australia, India and Japan should be strengthened.
Washington:
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Quad” bill, instructing the Biden administration to establish a “Quad” intra-parliamentary working group to promote closer cooperation between the United States, Australia, India and Japan.
The “Strengthening Cooperation between the United States, Australia, India and Japan” or the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) bill was passed by a roll call of 379 votes to 39, saying that joint cooperation between the United States, Australia, India and Japan should be strengthened.
It directs the State Department to submit to Congress a strategy for enhancing engagement and cooperation with the Quad within 180 days of the bill’s enactment, and to enter into negotiations with Japan, Australia, and India within 60 days of the bill’s enactment to establish an intra-parliamentary Quad effort group promotes closer collaboration.
It would also establish a U.S. panel of up to 24 members of Congress to represent the United States on the task force. It will also establish guidelines for annual meetings and group leadership. Under the bill, the organization would be required to submit an annual report to the congressional Foreign Affairs Committee.
Two Democratic lawmakers voted against the bill. One of them is Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from Minneapolis.
The bill, introduced by Congressman Gregory Meeks, would require the State Department to report to Congress on its strategy for increasing engagement and cooperation with the Quad.
The strategy should address cooperation on: (1) preparing for the next pandemic; (2) jointly developing new innovative technologies; and (3) deepening economic engagement and integration.
Meeks, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India is critical to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific and advancing U.S. interests in the region.
“I am proud to advance my legislation, the Strengthening Quad Act, through the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. The Quad Security Dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India is essential to promoting a free and open India Indispensable. -Pacific, advancing U.S. interests in the region and strengthening our national security.
“My legislation works to ensure the success and longevity of the Quad by calling on the State Department to develop a strategy to strengthen democratic coordination in the Indo-Pacific region and to establish a Quad intraparliamentary working group to promote greater engagement and cooperation among the Quad legislative bodies, “Meeks said in a statement.
“As authoritarianism rises around the world, our democracies must work together to demonstrate the success of open societies and markets, promote democratic governance and international rules, and achieve real results,” he said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
