S.Amdt. 2667

SA 2667. Mr. WARNER (for himself and Mr. Cornyn) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5515, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title XII, insert the
following:

SEC. __. PARTICIPATION OF INDIA IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC
COOPERATION REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM.

(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Republic of India is the world's ninth largest
economy in nominal terms and the third largest economy based
on purchasing-power parity.
(2) The United States-India partnership is vital to United
States strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific region and
across the globe.
(3) United States-India bilateral trade and investment
continue to expand, supporting thousands of United States
jobs.
(4) The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) regional
economic forum is the premier Asia-Pacific economic forum,
with a goal to support sustainable economic growth and
prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
(5) APEC works to champion free, open trade and investment,
to promote and accelerate regional economic integration,
encourage economic and technical cooperation, enhance human
security, and facilitate a favorable and sustainable business
environment.
(6) APEC held a moratorium on new membership from 1997 to
2010.
(7) India has pursued membership in APEC for over 20 years,
and became an APEC observer in November 2011 at the
invitation of the United States, when the forum met in
Hawaii.
(8) India enjoys a location within the Asia-Pacific region,
which provides an avenue for continued trade and investment
partnerships with APEC member states.
(9) India has been, or is pursuing, bilateral or
multilateral trade agreements with the majority of APEC
member states.
(10) India's ``Look East, Act East'' strategy to expand
economic engagement with East and Southeast Asia demonstrates
its effort to pursue external-oriented, market-driven
economic policies.
(b) Actions.--The Secretary of State shall--
(1) develop a strategy to obtain membership status for
India in APEC, including participation in related meetings,
working groups, activities, and mechanisms;
(2) work with the Government of India to ensure that such
government works to meet the best practices APEC espouses;
and
(3) actively urge APEC member states to support such
membership status for India.
(c) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to Congress a report, in unclassified form, describing
the United States strategy to obtain membership status for
India in APEC. The

[[Page S3640]]

report shall be updated and submitted annually until such
time as India obtains membership in APEC.
(2) Elements.--Each report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include the following elements:
(A) A description of the efforts the Secretary has made to
encourage APEC member states to promote India's bid to obtain
membership status.
(B) Current actions taken by the Government of India to
ensure that India meets the best practices espoused by APEC.
(C) The further steps the Secretary will take to assist
India in obtaining membership status for APEC.
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