I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2176 
To authorize the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Defense Commission to 
enhance defense cooperation between the United States and allies in 
the Asia-Pacific region, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 26, 2017 
Mrs. MURPHY of Florida (for herself, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. GALLEGO, Ms. 
HANABUSA, Ms. BORDALLO, and Mr. CASTRO of Texas) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To authorize the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Defense 
Commission to enhance defense cooperation between the 
United States and allies in the Asia-Pacific region, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Asia-Pacific Defense 
Commission Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States has worked cooperatively 
with its allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region 
for decades on issues of mutual concern having re-
gional and global strategic and economic importance, 
including— 
(A) deterring and confronting external ag-
gression against allies and partners; 
(B) ensuring the free flow of energy and 
commerce, and freedom of navigation in inter-
national waters; 
(C) dismantling terrorist networks that 
threaten the safety of the region; 
(D) preventing the development, use, and 
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; 
(E) adapting to climate change and severe 
weather events, including cooperation on hu-
manitarian assistance and disaster response; 
and 
(F) promoting respect for the international 
liberal order based on commonly respected 
norms and values. 
(2) The close security relationships between the 
United States and its five treaty allies in the Asia- 
Pacific region—Australia, Japan, the Philippines, 
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South Korea and Thailand—as well as the security 
relationships between the United States and its non- 
alliance security partners in the region remain vital 
to the United States national interest and a corner-
stone of regional stability. 
(3) The United States opposes North Korea’s 
illegal and reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons. 
(4) Countering North Korea’s destabilizing ac-
tivities in the region by diplomatic, economic, and 
defensive means is a top national security issue for 
the United States as the threat posed by North 
Korea endangers United States allies, threatens to 
destabilize the Asia-Pacific region, and if unchecked, 
poses a grave nuclear proliferation challenge to the 
world. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ASIA-PACIFIC DEFENSE COM-
MISSION. 
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—It is the policy of the United 
States to continue to maintain a strong military pos-
ture in the Asia-Pacific region in order to reassure 
United States allies, deter aggression, and respond 
swiftly to crises. 
(2) ENHANCED MILITARY TRAINING AND EXER-
CISES.—The Secretary of Defense, in consultation 
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with the Secretary of State, shall seek opportunities 
to enhance military training and exercises with 
United States allies in the Asia-Pacific region to 
deepen cooperation between the militaries of the 
United States and such allies, to expand operational 
capabilities, and to encourage respect for human 
rights and the rule of law. 
(b) JOINT DEFENSE COMMISSION.—The President 
may establish a regional joint defense commission to be 
known as the Asia-Pacific Defense Commission. The pur-
pose of the commission shall be to strengthen cooperation 
between the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific 
region to combat joint threats. The commission may un-
dertake the following activities: 
(1) Strengthening counterterrorism operations 
and building capacity to track, investigate, and pros-
ecute individuals engaged in terrorist activities. 
(2) Improving regional maritime security and 
capabilities to interdict illegal arms shipments. 
(3) Bolstering regional cybersecurity initiatives 
and protecting critical infrastructure. 
(4) Strengthening military preparedness. 
(5) Facilitating defense-related transfers, sub-
ject to the requirements of the Arms Export Control 
Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.). 
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(6) Facilitating efforts to enhance training, pre-
paredness, and operations by allies to address North 
Korean maritime weapons transfers. 
(7) Coordinating intelligence collected by the in-
telligence services of the countries participating in 
the commission, identify the most immediate threats 
to inform the security services of such countries, and 
create guidelines for the coordination of multilateral 
direct action against shared threats. 
(c) ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.—In this section, the term 
‘‘Asia-Pacific region’’ means the region corresponding to 
the area of responsibility of the United States Pacific 
Command, as defined by the Department of Defense uni-
fied command plan. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the United States Navy should regularize free-
dom of navigation operations, in accordance with inter-
national law, in the Japanese-administered Senkaku Is-
lands, in the South China Sea, and in regular ports of 
call at strategic ports in the Asia-Pacific region. 
Æ 
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