I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1263 
To require a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation between 
the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and to seek to establish 
a Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer coopera-
tion on shared interests and values. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2025 
Mr. MEEKS (for himself, Mrs. KIM, Mr. BERA, Mr. HUIZENGA, and Ms. 
KAMLAGER-DOVE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To require a strategy for bolstering engagement and coopera-
tion between the United States, Australia, India, and 
Japan and to seek to establish a Quad Inter-Parliamen-
tary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation on 
shared interests and values. 
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 ‘‘Strengthening the 
Quad Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) as a Pacific power, the United States should 
continue to strengthen joint cooperation between the 
United States, Australia, India, and Japan (com-
monly referred to as the ‘‘Quadrilateral Dialogue’’ or 
‘‘Quad’’ and referred to as such in this Act) to en-
hance and implement a shared vision to meet re-
gional challenges and to promote a free, open, inclu-
sive, resilient, and healthy Indo-Pacific, that is char-
acterized by respect for democratic norms, rule of 
law, and market-driven economic growth, and is free 
from undue influence and coercion; 
(2) the United States should expand dialogue 
and cooperation through the Quad with a range of 
partners to support peace and prosperity, the rule of 
law, freedom of navigation and overflight, the peace-
ful resolution of disputes, and democratic resilience 
in the Indo-Pacific; 
(3) the pledge from the first-ever Quad leaders 
meeting on March 12, 2021, to address shared chal-
lenges, including in public health, cyberspace, critical 
technologies, counterterrorism, quality infrastructure 
investment, and humanitarian assistance and dis-
aster relief, as well as maritime domains, laid the 
foundation for critical cooperation among Quad 
countries; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(4) the Quad countries, working through insti-
tutions, including the United States International 
Development Finance Corporation, the Japan Inter-
national Cooperation Agency, and the Japan Bank 
for International Cooperation, and through partner-
ships with multilateral development banks such as 
the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, 
should finance development and infrastructure 
projects in the Indo-Pacific region that are competi-
tive, transparent, and sustainable; 
(5) President Biden’s decision to elevate the 
Quad to the leader level was critical to bolstering co-
operation, and all 4 countries should work to ensure 
that the Quad Leaders’ Summit continues to take 
place regularly; 
(6) the ambitious framework for ongoing co-
operation laid out by the 4 leaders at the fifth con-
vening of the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima 
on May 20, 2023, should continue; 
(7) Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the 
Quad Foreign Ministers in Washington, DC on Jan-
uary 21, 2025—his first day in office—underscoring 
the continued importance of cooperation between the 
4 democracies; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
06:33 Mar 13, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(8) the formation of a Quad Inter-Parliamen-
tary Working Group will— 
(A) sustain and deepen engagement be-
tween senior officials of the Quad countries on 
a full spectrum of issues; and 
(B) be modeled on the successful and long- 
standing bilateral inter-parliamentary groups 
between the United States and Mexico, Canada, 
and the United Kingdom, as well as other for-
mal and informal parliamentary exchanges. 
SEC. 3. STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation with 
the Quad. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The strategy re-
quired by subsection (a) shall include the following: 
(1) A description of how the United States in-
tends to demonstrate democratic leadership in the 
Indo-Pacific through quadrilateral engagement with 
Australia, India, and Japan on shared interests and 
common challenges. 
(2) A summary of— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(A) current and past Quad initiatives 
across the whole of the United States Govern-
ment, including to promote broad based and in-
clusive economic growth and investment, and to 
advance technology cooperation, energy innova-
tion, climate mitigation and adaptation, phys-
ical and digital infrastructure development, edu-
cation, disaster management, resilient supply 
chains including in critical minerals, and global 
health security; 
(B) proposals agreed to by all Quad coun-
tries since January 2021 to deepen existing se-
curity cooperation, intelligence sharing, eco-
nomic partnerships, and multilateral coordina-
tion; and 
(C) initiatives and agreements undertaken 
jointly with Quad countries, in addition to other 
like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific, on 
areas of shared interest since January 2021. 
(3) A description of the diplomatic and bureau-
cratic barriers and obstacles to implementing and 
expanding existing streams of Quad cooperation. 
(4) A list of recommendations on how Congress 
could assist in addressing the barriers described in 
paragraph (3), as well as— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(A) 
any 
new 
authorities 
needed 
to 
strengthen United States leadership in and con-
tribution to existing and proposed Quad initia-
tives and programs; and 
(B) additional resources needed to scale up 
and expand successful Quad initiatives and pro-
grams. 
(c) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congres-
sional committees’’ means— 
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives; and 
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF QUAD INTER-PARLIAMENTARY 
WORKING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
State shall seek to enter into negotiations with the Gov-
ernments of Australia, India, and Japan (collectively, with 
the United States, known as the ‘‘Quad’’) with the goal 
of reaching a written agreement to establish a Quad Inter- 
Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer coopera-
tion on shared interests and values. 
(b) UNITED STATES GROUP.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) IN GENERAL.—At such time as the govern-
ments of the Quad countries enter into a written 
agreement described in subsection (a) to establish a 
Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working Group, there 
shall be established a United States Group, which 
shall represent the United States at the Quad Inter- 
Parliamentary Working Group. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The United States 
Group shall be comprised of not more than 24 
Members of Congress. 
(B) APPOINTMENT.—Of the Members of 
Congress appointed to the United States Group 
under subparagraph (A)— 
(i) half shall be appointed by the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
based on recommendations from the minor-
ity leader, from among Members of the 
House, not fewer than 4 of whom shall be 
members of the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs; and 
(ii) half shall be appointed by the 
President Pro Tempore of the Senate, 
based on recommendations of the majority 
leader and minority leader of the Senate, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
from among Members of the Senate, not 
fewer than 4 of whom shall be members of 
the Committee on Foreign Relations (un-
less the majority leader and minority lead-
er determine otherwise). 
(3) MEETINGS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The United States 
Group shall seek to meet not less frequently 
than annually with representatives and appro-
priate staff of the legislatures of Australia, 
India, and Japan, and any other country in-
vited by mutual agreement of the Quad coun-
tries. 
(B) LIMITATION.—A meeting described in 
subparagraph (A) may be held— 
(i) in the United States; 
(ii) in another Quad country during 
periods when Congress is not in session; or 
(iii) virtually. 
(4) CHAIRPERSON AND VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
(A) HOUSE DELEGATION.—The Speaker of 
the House of Representatives shall designate 
the chairperson or vice chairperson of the dele-
gation of the United States Group from the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
House from among members of the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs. 
(B) SENATE DELEGATION.—The President 
Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate the 
chairperson or vice chairperson of the delega-
tion of the United States Group from the Sen-
ate from among members of the Committee on 
Foreign Relations. 
(5) PRIVATE
SOURCES.—The United States 
Group may accept gifts or donations of services or 
property, subject to the review and approval, as ap-
propriate, of the Committee on Ethics of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Ethics of 
the Senate. 
(6) CERTIFICATION
OF
EXPENDITURES.—The 
certificate of the chairperson of the delegation from 
the House of Representatives or the delegation of 
the Senate of the United States Group shall be final 
and conclusive upon the accounting officers in the 
auditing of the accounts of the United States Group. 
(7) ANNUAL
REPORT.—The United States 
Group shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report 
at the end of each year that outlines the group’s ac-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
tivities that year, including a description of its ex-
penditures, and its recommendations for enhancing 
the Quad. 
(8) ENGAGEMENT WITH U.S. OFFICIALS ON THE 
QUAD.—Senior United States officials shall provide 
regular updates and briefings to the United States 
Group, including leading up to and after major 
Quadrilateral dialogues, to ensure close coordination 
with Congress. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:26 Mar 10, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1263.IH
H1263
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB