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[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 349 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 349

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                     November 18, 2020.
Whereas the United States and Japan established diplomatic relations on March 
        31, 1854, with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity;
Whereas for more than the past 70 years, the partnership between the United 
        States and Japan has played a vital role in ensuring peace, stability, 
        and economic development in Asia and beyond;
Whereas the United States and Japan are deeply committed to the common values of 
        freedom, democracy, rule of law, and free market economies;
Whereas the current United States-Japan alliance, forged over six decades ago 
        with the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, is 
        the cornerstone for stability and prosperity of Japan and for the Indo-
        Pacific region, and plays a key role in global peace and stability;
Whereas the United States and Japan are indispensable partners in combating the 
        proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, improving global health, 
        countering human trafficking and promoting human rights, assisting the 
        victims of conflict and disaster worldwide, and contributing to global 
        economic development;
Whereas the United States and Japan have worked closely during the COVID-19 
        pandemic to safely repatriate our respective citizens home and to 
        strengthen our collaboration on global health research and development 
        through partnerships such as the United States-Japan Cooperative Medical 
        Science Program;
Whereas the United States and Japan are partnering to promote infrastructure 
        investments around the Indo-Pacific that ensure openness, transparency, 
        economic efficiency, and debt sustainability, including through the 
        United States-Japan Mekong Power partnership and the United States-Japan 
        Strategic Energy Partnership;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and Australia announced in November 2019 the 
        establishment of a Blue Dot Network that will promote transparent and 
        quality infrastructure projects that align with the G20 Principles for 
        Quality Infrastructure Investment;
Whereas the alliance is a testament to the ability of great nations to overcome 
        the past and jointly work to create a more secure and prosperous future;
Whereas approximately 54,000 United States troops are stationed in Japan and the 
        Japanese Government makes substantial financial commitments to the 
        maintenance of United States forces in Japan under the Special Measures 
        Agreement and other contributions that directly support operational 
        readiness of United States forces in Japan;
Whereas the current United States-Japan Special Measures Agreement is set to 
        expire in March 2021, and the two countries launched working-level 
        negotiations on a new cost-sharing agreement in October 2020;
Whereas, in October 2020, the United States, Australia, India, and Japan 
        continued their ongoing cooperation through the quad framework and 
        discussed collective efforts to collaborate on COVID-19 pandemic 
        response, maritime security, cybersecurity, quality infrastructure, 
        counterterrorism, and other areas;
Whereas our two countries, coming from different cultural backgrounds, have 
        created an active and dynamic relationship beneficial to both peoples; 
        and
Whereas cultural and people-to-people ties between the United States and Japan 
        are long-standing and deep, as exemplified by the gift of the beautiful 
        cherry trees that dot our nation's capital from the People of Japan to 
        the People of the United States in 1912, signifying the affection and 
        respect between the two nations: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms the vital role of the United States-Japan alliance in 
        promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region 
        and beyond;
            (2) supports the conclusion of an equitable, new United States-Japan 
        Special Measures Agreement that is negotiated based on our shared 
        national interests, prior to the expiration of the current agreement;
            (3) supports cooperation between the United States, Japan, and other 
        like-minded partners to promote high-quality infrastructure, energy, and 
        development projects that are open, transparent, and sustainable;
            (4) underscores the importance of the close people-to-people and 
        cultural ties between our two nations;
            (5) calls for the continued robust cooperation between the United 
        States and Japan in the global fight against COVID-19, and supports the 
        Japanese Government's commitment to hosting the Olympic Games in 2021;
            (6) calls for the strengthening and broadening of diplomatic, 
        economic, and security ties between the United States and Japan;
            (7) reaffirms the vital role of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue 
        as a platform to facilitate further collaboration between the United 
        States, Australia, India, and Japan on matters related to protecting 
        freedom of navigation and promoting democratic values in the Indo-
        Pacific; and
            (8) calls for the continued cooperation between the Governments of 
        the United States and Japan in addressing global challenges that 
        threaten the security of people everywhere in the ``Reiwa'' era of 
        Japan, which the Japanese Government translates as ``beautiful 
        harmony''.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.
```