A resolution recognizing the importance of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the "Quad") and welcoming the upcoming Quad Leaders Summit.

Bill: 118-sres-835
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Introduced: 2024-09-19
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S6226-6227)

Summaries:

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 835 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 19, 2024 Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Sullivan ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad ) and welcoming the upcoming Quad Leaders Summit.

Whereas Australia, India, Japan, and the United States are 4 leading maritime democracies representing nearly 2,000,000,000 people and over 1/3 of global gross domestic product; Whereas this grouping of countries, known as the Quad , was launched 20 years ago in response to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami; Whereas, since its inception, the Quad partners have demonstrated their commitment to the success of the Indo-Pacific region by supporting regional institutions and promoting cooperation, mutual respect for sovereignty, and a rules-based international order; Whereas Quad Foreign Ministers have met 8 times since 2019; Whereas Quad Leaders have met 5 times, including twice virtually, since 2021, including most recently in Sydney in 2023; Whereas Quad country representatives convene on a regular basis at all levels to exchange ideas and drive cooperation toward our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region; Whereas the United States has directed over $100,000,000 in foreign assistance to Quad-related programs, designed to build an Indo-Pacific region that is prosperous, secure, connected, and resilient; Whereas the Quad, through the Quad Vaccine Partnership, provided 400,000,000 COVID–19 vaccines and expanded vaccine production capacity in the Indo-Pacific region during the COVID–19 pandemic and has strengthened the Indo-Pacific’s ability to detect and respond to outbreaks of diseases with pandemic potential through the Health Security Partnership; Whereas, in 2022, the Quad established the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness to provide near-real-time, cost-effective, cutting-edge maritime domain awareness, enabling over 2 dozen countries to monitor their waters, counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, respond to climate change and natural disasters, and enforce their laws within their own territorial waters; Whereas the Quad continues to deliver quality, resilient infrastructure around the Indo-Pacific region to increase connectivity, build regional capacity, and meet critical needs; Whereas the Quad welcomed the 2023 launch of the Quad Investors Network, a nongovernmental network fostering private sector investment into critical and emerging technologies in Quad countries and across the Indo-Pacific region; Whereas the Quad has demonstrated leadership in promoting the development and governance of critical and emerging technologies, ensuring the protection of democratic values and human rights in the digital age; Whereas, in 2023, Quad Leaders launched the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience and have invested in trusted undersea cables to enhance digital connectivity and secure, sustainable, and resilient telecommunications infrastructure among the Pacific Islands; Whereas, in 2023, the Quad launched an Open RAN deployment in Palau to bring secure, trusted information and communications technology infrastructure, the first project of its kind in the Pacific; Whereas the Quad has fostered people-to-people exchanges between citizens of the United States, Japan, India, and Australia through exchange programs for infrastructure experts and STEM students, including the Quad Fellowship program; and Whereas, in September 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan will visit the United States for the fourth Quad Leaders Summit at the invitation of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) welcomes the Quad Leaders to the United States; (2) recognizes the Quad’s significant contributions to global health security, climate resilience, maritime security, technological cooperation, and economic development; (3) welcomes and encourages sustained cooperation among Quad countries; (4) stands ready to support efforts to strengthen the Quad and advance its objective of delivering tangible benefits for the Indo-Pacific region; (5) affirms the Quad as a centerpiece of United States foreign policy within the Indo-Pacific region; (6) views the Quad as an important mechanism for upholding the rules-based international order and a source of United States strength; (7) recognizes the importance of expanding people-to-people programs between the 4 Quad member countries, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands; (8) supports the annual provision of foreign assistance funding to facilitate Quad-related programs; and (9) commits its support for the enduring partnership among the Quad nations and their commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity.