[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2697 Referred in House (RFH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2697
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2006
Referred to the Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the position of the United States Ambassador for ASEAN
Affairs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States Ambassador for ASEAN
Affairs Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (referred to
in this Act as ``ASEAN'') was established in 1967, with an
initial membership of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, and Thailand.
(2) ASEAN is committed to accelerating economic growth,
social progress, cultural development and regional peace and
stability.
(3) The membership of ASEAN has expanded to 10 countries
since its establishment in 1967.
(4) The United States seeks to maintain and further develop
a constructive and cordial relationship with ASEAN.
(5) The countries comprising ASEAN--
(A) constitute the 3rd largest export market for
United States products;
(B) have received nearly $90,000,000,000 in direct
investment from United States sources; and
(C) are developing an integrated free trade area.
(6) Trade between the United States and the countries
comprising ASEAN totals approximately $130,000,000,000.
(7) ASEAN continues to contribute to regional stability in
East Asia and has partnered with the United States to combat
global terror.
(8) In 2006, approximately 38,000 students from the
countries comprising ASEAN were studying in the United States.
(9) The countries comprising ASEAN share a common concern
with the United States regarding--
(A) the spread of avian influenza and other
diseases; and
(B) environmental issues, such as the preservation
of biodiversity and the prevention of illegal logging.
(10) It is in the long-term interest of the United States
to maintain and expand a relationship with ASEAN.
(11) The United States does not have an Ambassador to
ASEAN, which limits the ability of the United States and ASEAN
to respond quickly and appropriately to events of mutual
interest.
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR FOR ASEAN.
(a) Appointment.--There is established in the Department of State
the position of United States Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs, who shall
be appointed by the President, subject to the advice and consent of the
Senate.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that a Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific should be
designated as the Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs.
Passed the Senate September 7 (legislative day, September
6), 2006.
Attest:
EMILY J. REYNOLDS,
Secretary.