I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 6597 

To establish a Task Force on the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 5, 2023 

Mr. LAWLER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

To establish a Task Force on the Indo-Pacific Treaty 

Organization, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Indo-Pacific Treaty 

5 Organization Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) For years, the People’s Republic of China 

9 (‘‘China’’), has repeatedly exhibited aggressive and 

10 irresponsible behavior towards the United States and 


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1 its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. This in2 cludes establishing overseas military bases in the 

3 South China Sea, deploying ships and planes near 

4 Japan’s Senkaku Islands, invading Taiwan’s air 

5 space, and sending a high-altitude surveillance bal6 loon over the United States. 

7 (2) For years, the Democratic People’s Repub8 lic of Korea (‘‘North Korea’’) has repeatedly exhib9 ited aggressive and erratic behavior towards the 

10 United States and its allies and partners in the 

11 Indo-Pacific. This includes conducting missile tests 

12 dangerously close to South Korea and Japan as well 

13 as deepening ties with the Chinese Communist Party 

14 and other hostile regimes. 

15 (3) Both China and North Korea pose signifi16 cant risks to regional security in the Indo-Pacific, to 

17 United States security, and to international security. 

18 (4) It is critical that the United States work 

19 with allies and partners to proactively deter further 

20 aggression from China and North Korea to preserve 

21 peace, ensure prosperity, and advance democracy. 

22 SEC. 3. TASK FORCE. 

23 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

24 the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 

25 establish a task force, to be known as the ‘‘Task Force 


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1 on the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization’’ (in this section 

2 referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’) to— 

3 (1) analyze the conduct of China and North 

4 Korea, as well as the security situation in the Indo5 Pacific; and 

6 (2) determine whether a collective security 

7 agreement between the United States and Indo-Pa8 cific allies and partners could serve as an effective 

9 deterrent to further aggression. 

10 (b) ALLIES AND PARTNERS.—The Indo-Pacific allies 

11 and partners described in subsection (a)(2) may include 

12 Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand, 

13 New Zealand, India, and any other country in the Indo14 Pacific region the Task Force determines appropriate. 

15 (c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Task Force established pur16 suant to subsection (a) shall be— 

17 (1) chaired by the Secretary of State; and 

18 (2) consist of the Secretary of Defense, Sec19 retary of the Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, the 

20 Director of National Intelligence, the Assistant Sec21 retary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, 

22 and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pa23 cific Security Affairs. 

24 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

25 of the establishment of the Task Force, the Secretary of 


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1 State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

2 and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 

3 Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations 

4 and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a 

5 report that contains the results of the analysis described 

6 in subsection (a) and any recommendations of the Task 

7 Force with respect to the terms of such a collective secu8 rity agreement. 

Æ 


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