S.Amdt. 5722

1. Adds SEC. 1214. AUSTRALIA-UNITED STATES LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM at the end of subtitle A of title XII

   Adds a section

   In S.Amdt. 5499 as proposed

   (b) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2022, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the assessment required by subsection (a).

   Inserted: SEC. 1214. AUSTRALIA-UNITED STATES LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM.

   Inserted: (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:

   Inserted: (1) The Indo-Pacific region is among the fastest-growing regions of the world and is the most important region for United States interests.

   Inserted: (2) The strategic challenges emerging from the Indo-Pacific region require collaboration and cooperative solutions between the United States and its allies and partners.

   Inserted: (3) Australia has been one of the United States' closest allies for well over 100 years. This "Mateship" began with the visit of the American Great White Fleet to Sydney Harbor in 1908. The United States-Australia bond was soon sealed as troops from both countries fought and died together in World War I.

   Inserted: (4) Since World War I, Australians and Americans--

   Inserted: (A) have supported each other in every major military conflict in which the United States was involved; and

   Inserted: (B) have mutually supported each another in intelligence-sharing.

   Inserted: (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--

   Inserted: (1) the United States must continue to build and maintain strong relationships with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region to successfully protect its vital interests and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region;

   Inserted: (2) the Australia-United States relationship will continue to be vital throughout the 21st century and beyond;

   Inserted: (3) as the Australia-United States alliance evolves, it is necessary that emerging leaders in both countries develop a deeper understanding of their ally's view of the world; and

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   Inserted: (4) exchange programs between foreign policy and national security staff from the United States Congress and the Australian Parliament will further bind our nations together.

   Inserted: (c) Establishment.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the minority leader of the House of Representatives, working through a designated nonprofit, such as a think tank, a foundation, or another suitable organization contracted by the Department of Defense competitive award process, shall work with appropriate leaders of the Australian Parliament to establish the Australia-United States Legislative Exchange Program (referred to in this section as the "Program").

   Inserted: (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Program shall be to coordinate annual 1 to 2 week legislative exchanges between United States congressional staff and Australian parliamentary staff that focus on foreign policy, national security, and other issues of mutual interest between both countries.

   Inserted: (3) Selection of staff.--

   Inserted: (A) Congressional staff.--In carrying out the Program, the congressional leaders referred to in paragraph (1), in consultation with the head of the nonprofit designated pursuant to paragraph (1), shall jointly select a bipartisan, bicameral group of congressional staff for each exchange described in paragraph (2).

   Inserted: (B) Parliamentary staff.--It is the sense of Congress that leaders in the Australian Parliament will select a politically balanced group of Australian parliamentary staff who will participate in each exchange described in paragraph (2).

   Inserted: (4) Venues.--The exchanges described in paragraph (2) shall take place primarily in Washington, D.C. and Canberra, Australia, but may include opportunities for staff--

   Inserted: (A) to engage in cultural immersion activities; and

   Inserted: (B) to tour other key regions in each country in accordance with the purposes of the Program.

   Inserted: (5) Program activities.--Program participants, while visiting the partner country, shall--

   Inserted: (A) meet with senior executive branch and legislative branch officials, think tank scholars, and nonprofit advocacy groups; and

   Inserted: (B) participate in specially-designed courses covering the politics and foreign policy issues in such country with the intent to foster a deeper understanding of the political environment in which their counterparts operate.

   Inserted: (6) Consultation.--In managing the Program on behalf of the congressional leaders referred to in paragraph (1), the head of the nonprofit designated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall consult with, and accepting guidance from, senior staff of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

   Inserted: (7) Alumni network.--The head of the nonprofit designated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall establish an alumni network program, in cooperation with a representative of the Australian Parliament, that brings together past alumni of the program for special events or programs that provide for further exchanges and lasting relationships between policymakers and leaders in both countries.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle A of title XII, add the following:

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As printed