Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018

Bill: 115-s-2736
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2018-04-24 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Agricultural conservation and pollution
Agricultural practices and innovations
Alliances
Arms control and nonproliferation
Asia
Australia
Aviation and airports
Burma
Cambodia
China
Computer security and identity theft
Conflicts and wars
Congressional oversight
Defense spending
Department of Defense
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Due process and equal protection
Ecology
Electric power generation and transmission
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign property
Forests, forestry, trees
Freedom of information
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
HIV/AIDS
Historical and cultural resources
Human rights
Human trafficking
India
Indonesia
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Infrastructure development
Intellectual property
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International exchange and broadcasting
International law and treaties
International organizations and cooperation
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Japan
Land use and conservation
Law enforcement administration and funding
Malaysia
Marine and inland water transportation
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military education and training
Military operations and strategy
Military readiness
Multilateral development programs
Nauru
Navigation, waterways, harbors
Nepal
New Zealand
News media and reporting
North Korea
Nuclear power
Nuclear weapons
Oceania
Oil and gas
Pacific Ocean
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Political movements and philosophies
Religion
Rule of law and government transparency
Russia
Sanctions
Singapore
Small business
Smuggling and trafficking
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
South Korea
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Taiwan
Technology transfer and commercialization
Terrorism
Thailand
Tibet
Tonga
Trade agreements and negotiations
Trade restrictions
Tuvalu
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
U.S. and foreign investments
United Nations
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Visas and passports
Water use and supply
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Women in business
Women's rights
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-04-24
text: 

Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018

 
This bill provides for the promotion of U.S. values and diplomatic, security, and economic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. It includes statements of policy and measures concerning
 
 
security assistance and alliances;
 
the U.S. relationship with China, India, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
 
the U.S. military presence in the region, as well as the pursuit of arms control;
 
security partnerships in southeast Asia;
 
the commitment to Taiwan;
 
a strategy regarding North Korea;
 
trade agreements and facilitation; and
 
the promotion of human rights and democracy in the region. 
 

action_date: 2018-12-31
text: 
 
Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018
 
This bill lays out strategies for promoting U.S. security and economic interests and values in the Indo-Pacific region, which spans from the west coast of India to the west coast of the United States. It authorizes funds to be appropriated for implementing such strategies and cites China's actions and claims in the South China Sea, North Korea's development of nuclear capabilities, and the increased presence of international terrorist organizations in Southeast Asia as particular concerns.
 
The bill authorizes to be appropriated $1.5 billion each fiscal year from 2019 to 2023 for the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of Defense. Appropriated funds shall be used for various goals, including to:
 
 
advance U.S. foreign policy interests in the region;
 
improve the defense capacity and resiliency of partner nations; 
 
build new counterterrorism partnership programs in Southeast Asia;
 
strengthen partner nations' democratic systems; and
 
ensure that regulatory environments in partner nations are transparent, open, and free of corruption.
 
 
Appropriated funds shall also be used to counter China's attempts to undermine the international system. The funds shall not be used for various programs, such as training programs for the armed forces of Burma (Myanmar).
 
The bill authorizes to be appropriated $100 million for each fiscal year from 2019 to 2023 to work with nations in the region to counter cybersecurity threats.
 
The bill authorizes to be appropriated funds for various economic-related goals, including to develop a comprehensive economic engagement framework with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to strengthen intellectual property protections in the region, and to encourage countries to implement national energy strategies. 
 
The bill authorizes to be appropriated $210 million each fiscal year from 2019 to 2023 for activities to promote democracy, strengthen civil society, human rights, rule of law, and accountability in the region. Appropriated funds shall be made available for efforts to promote democracy and human rights in China and to support cultural preservation and development activities in Tibet. 
 
The bill affirms the United States' commitment to its partnerships with various countries, as well as Taiwan. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-12-31
text: Became Public Law No: 115-409.
action_date: 2018-12-31
text: Became Public Law No: 115-409.
action_date: 2018-12-31
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-12-31
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-12-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-12-27
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-12-19
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-12-19
text: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2736 by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7865)
action_date: 2018-12-19
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 2736 by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7865)
action_date: 2018-12-13
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H10130-10136)
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H10130-10136)
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2736.
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10130-10138)
action_date: 2018-12-12
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2018-12-06
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-12-04
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7285-7291)
action_date: 2018-12-04
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S7285-7291)
action_date: 2018-12-04
text: The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S7278-7284)
action_date: 2018-12-04
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7278-7291)
action_date: 2018-10-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 616.
action_date: 2018-10-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-10-03
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Corker with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2018-09-26
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2018-04-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2018-04-24
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 115-409