Asia-Pacific Defense Commission Act

Bill: 115-hr-2176
Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Introduced: 2017-04-26 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Alliances
Asia
China
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
International organizations and cooperation
Japan
Marine and inland water transportation
Military assistance, sales, and agreements
Military command and structure
Military education and training
Military operations and strategy
Military readiness
Navigation, waterways, harbors
North Korea
Pacific Ocean
Smuggling and trafficking
Terrorism
Transportation safety and security

Summary:
action_date: 2017-04-26
text: 

Asia-Pacific Defense Commission Act

 
This bill declares that it is U.S policy to continue to maintain a strong military posture in the Asia-Pacific region in order to reassure U.S. allies, deter aggression, and respond swiftly to crises.
 
The Department of Defense (DOD) shall shall seek opportunities to enhance military training and exercises with U.S. allies in such region.
 
 The bill authorizes the President to establish the Asia-Pacific Defense Commission to strengthen cooperation between the United States and its allies in such region to combat joint threats. 
 
The commission may undertake activities to: 
 
 
strengthen counterterrorism operations and building capacity to track, investigate, and prosecute individuals engaged in terrorist activities;
 
improve regional maritime security and capabilities to interdict illegal arms shipments;
 
bolster regional cybersecurity initiatives and protect critical infrastructure;
 
strengthen military preparedness;
 
facilitate defense-related transfers, subject to the requirements of the Arms Export Control Act;
 
facilitate efforts to enhance training, preparedness, and operations by allies to address North Korean maritime weapons transfers; and 
 
coordinate intelligence collected by the intelligence 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. 
 
 
Calls for the U.S. Navy to regularize freedom of navigation operations, in accordance with international law, in the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, in the South China Sea, and in regular ports of call at strategic ports in the Asia-Pacific region. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-05-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
action_date: 2017-04-26
text: 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 concerned.
action_date: 2017-04-26
text: 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 concerned.
action_date: 2017-04-26
text: 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 concerned.
action_date: 2017-04-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2852-2853)
action_date: 2017-04-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-04-26
text: Introduced in House