H.R. 5375House118th Congress (2023-2025)Passed House

Strengthening the Quad Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 11:12 AM UTC

The Strengthening the Quad Act directs the State Department to create a strategy for deeper U.S. engagement with the Quad partners—Australia, India, and Japan—and to set up a Quad Intra‑Parliamentary Working Group made up of up to 24 members of Congress. It aims to boost cooperation on shared security, economic, and democratic goals and involves U.S. legislators, the State Department, and the governments of the three partner nations.

Key Provisions

Requires the Secretary of State to submit a comprehensive Quad engagement strategy to designated congressional committees within 180 days, covering past initiatives, barriers, and congressional recommendations.
Mandates the State Department to negotiate a written agreement with Japan, Australia, and India within 60 days to establish a Quad Intra‑Parliamentary Working Group.
Creates a U.S. Group of no more than 24 members of Congress—half appointed by the House Speaker (with at least four from the Foreign Affairs Committee) and half by the Senate President Pro Tempore (with at least four from the Foreign Relations Committee).
Requires the U.S. Group to meet at least annually with legislative counterparts from the Quad countries, in the U.S., abroad, or virtually.
Designates chair and vice‑chair positions for the House and Senate delegations, drawn from the respective foreign affairs/relations committees.
Allows the Group to accept gifts subject to House and Senate ethics committee review, mandates certification of expenditures, and requires an annual report to the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations committees.
Specifies that no additional funding is authorized; all activities must be carried out using existing appropriations.

Legislative Activity

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12 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Foreign Relations Committee

February 26, 2024

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 8, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

September 8, 2023

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Foreign Affairs Committee

November 29, 2023

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 0.

Foreign Affairs Committee

November 29, 2023

HouseFloor

Mr. Self moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

February 14, 2024 • 3:45 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H610-612)

February 14, 2024 • 3:45 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5375.

February 14, 2024 • 3:45 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

February 14, 2024 • 3:55 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H662-663)

February 15, 2024 • 2:31 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 379 - 39 (Roll no. 54). (text: 2/14/2024 CR H610-611)

View vote Passed

February 15, 2024 • 2:38 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 379 - 39 (Roll no. 54). (text: 2/14/2024 CR H610-611)

View vote Passed

February 15, 2024 • 2:38 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

February 15, 2024 • 2:38 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Foreign Relations Committee

February 26, 2024

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

February 15, 2024 at 2:33 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

379 - 39

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 5375 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. Gregory W. MeeksD-NY-5 · Feb 14, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 5375, Strengthening the Quad Act, as amended. Mr. Speaker, in talking about the importance of this…

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of my bill, H.R. 5375, Strengthening the Quad Act, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, in talking about the importance of this very bill, just a few minutes ago before coming to the floor, I had a meeting with the Ambassador of Japan, Ambassador Yamada, who talked about the significance and the importance of inter-parliamentary conversation. We talked about how today

freedom and democracy around the world are under threat.

According to the organization Freedom House, the world has experienced 17 consecutive years of decline in global freedom as a result of war, coup d'etats, attacks on democratic institutions, and the rise of authoritarianism.

To stem this illiberal tide, America must lead with our values and harness diplomacy like never before. This is especially important in the Indo-Pacific region where America's presence, engagement, and alliance system have maintained peace and stability for decades.

In fact, the Ambassador also talked about how much he appreciated America being in the region and staying there and working collectively together.

Today, China's growing global influence and authoritarian model is serving to undermine freedom in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

We need to work with fellow democracies in the region to showcase the heft of open markets and open societies. We need to demonstrate to the region that democracies can deliver real results.

Consecutive U.S. administrations have utilized the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with Japan, Australia, and India to enhance our diplomatic and development efforts in the Indo-Pacific.

The Trump administration restarted the Quad, and President Biden elevated it to the leaders' level, supercharging Quad diplomacy.

Today, there is a strong bipartisan consensus--I worked very closely with my colleagues on the other side, especially Chairman McCaul--that the Quad is integral for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

To ensure the Quad's success and its longevity, we need a clear, long-term plan, as well as political and institutional support in all four capitals.

This is why H.R. 5375 calls on the State Department to develop a Quad strategy that focuses on building democratic coordination in the region for the long term.

The strategy and report to Congress will allow successive administrations to chart forward-looking objectives and partner with Congress to best meet them.

The bill also establishes a Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate engagement and cooperation among the legislatures of the four democracies.

Inter-parliamentary engagement will facilitate legislative input and strengthen oversight to enhance the Quad's effectiveness. It will also help to sustain political support and adequate resources for the Quad in all four countries.

Plain and simple, Mr. Speaker: The world has shrunk, and working collectively together, the four countries, sharing the values that we have here in the United States for the long term is better for the security of all of us, and I believe it will make the place that we call the planet Earth a better place, a safer place, for all.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

With growing instability in the Indo-Pacific and freedom under threat globally, the Quad is more important than ever for upholding regional rules and helping maintain stability.

Regional rules, high values, and standards--that is what this is all about. That is why I am thankful that we are able to work in a bipartisan manner, collectively together, speaking with one voice in the region and with our Quad partners.

I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. I am also thankful to President Biden for elevating the Quad to the leaders' level.

In less than 3 years, President Biden has held five Quad leaders summits with the leaders of Japan, Australia, and India.

In the past 3 years, the Quad has initiated cooperation in a whole host of new areas, from infrastructure development and critical and emerging technologies to maritime issues and climate change.

My bill, H.R. 5375, will ensure the Quad is effective and sustainable, not just for today, not just for tomorrow, but for the long term.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Keith SelfR-TX-3 · Feb 14, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5375) to require a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and to…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5375) to require a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and to seek to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation on shared interests and values, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5375.

The Chinese Communist Party is a generational threat and is becoming increasingly coercive toward its neighbors and other nations around the world.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue--commonly known as the Quad-- brings together the United States, Australia, Japan, and India, four nations that share democratic principles, respect for the rule of law, and a vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific.

In the face of growing CCP aggression, it is more important than ever to foster strong, resilient ties with our Quad partners to combat malign CCP influence and protect democracy in the Indo-Pacific.

That is why I support the Strengthening the Quad Act, introduced by my colleague from New York (Mr. Meeks).

This legislation will enhance Quad ties by ensuring regular engagement between the United States Congress and the legislatures of the Quad countries.

It also requires the administration to provide Congress with a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation with the Quad.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Together, we can more effectively counter coercion from any nation looking to dismantle democratic values and the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I will point out that the recently approved National Defense Authorization Act, indeed, pivoted our hard power, our military power, toward the Indo-Pacific.

This is a critical and important piece of building our alliances across the Indo-Pacific so that we can have a coherent, coordinated approach toward the CCP.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank both President Trump and President Biden for their vision of the importance of the Indo-Pacific.

I thank Ranking Member Meeks for introducing this bill, which was unanimously supported by the Foreign Affairs Committee at our markup.

I support its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Rep. Carlos A. GimenezR-FL-28 · Feb 15, 2024

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall vote No. 54 on H.R. 5375, I was not recorded because of an unexpected flight change forcing me to leave Washington, D.C. early. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued February 26, 2024

IIB

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5375

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 26, 2024

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

AN ACT

To require a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and to seek to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation on shared interests and values.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Strengthening the Quad Act.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

as a Pacific power, the United States should continue to strengthen joint cooperation between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan (commonly referred to as the Quadrilateral Dialogue or Quad and referred to as such in this Act) to enhance and implement a shared vision to meet regional challenges and to promote a free, open, inclusive, resilient, and healthy Indo-Pacific, that is characterized by respect for democratic norms, rule of law, and market-driven economic growth, and is free from undue influence and coercion;

(2)

the United States should expand dialogue and cooperation through the Quad with a range of partners to support peace and prosperity, the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and democratic resilience in the Indo-Pacific;

(3)

the pledge from the first-ever Quad leaders meeting on March 12, 2021, to address shared challenges, including in public health, cyberspace, critical technologies, counterterrorism, quality infrastructure investment, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as maritime domains, laid the foundation for critical cooperation among Quad countries;

(4)

the Quad countries, working through institutions, including the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and through partnerships with multilateral development banks such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, should finance development and infrastructure projects in the Indo-Pacific region that are competitive, transparent, and sustainable;

(5)

President Biden’s decision to elevate the Quad to the leaders level was critical to bolstering cooperation, and all four countries should work to ensure that the Quad Leaders’ Summit continues to take place regularly;

(6)

the ambitious framework for ongoing cooperation laid out by the four leaders at the fifth convening of the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023, should continue; and

(7)

the formation of a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group will—

(A)

sustain and deepen engagement between senior officials of the Quad countries on a full spectrum of issues; and

(B)

be modeled on the successful and long-standing bilateral intra-parliamentary groups between the United States and Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as other formal and informal parliamentary exchanges.

Strategy

(a)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation with the Quad.

(b)

Matters To be included

The strategy required by subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)

A description of how the United States intends to demonstrate democratic leadership in the Indo-Pacific through quadrilateral engagement with India, Japan, and Australia on shared interests and common challenges.

(2)

A summary of—

(A)

current and past Quad initiatives across the whole of the United States Government, including to promote broad based and inclusive economic growth and investment, and to advance technology cooperation, energy innovation, climate mitigation and adaptation, physical and digital infrastructure development, education, disaster management, resilient supply chains including in critical minerals, and global health security;

(B)

proposals agreed to by all Quad countries since January 2021 to deepen existing security cooperation, intelligence sharing, economic partnerships, and multilateral coordination; and

(C)

initiatives and agreements undertaken jointly with Quad countries, in addition to other like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific, on areas of shared interest since January 2021.

(3)

A description of the diplomatic and bureaucratic barriers and obstacles to implementing and expanding existing streams of Quad cooperation.

(4)

A list of recommendations on how Congress could assist in addressing the barriers described in paragraph (3), as well as—

(A)

any new authorities needed to strengthen United States leadership in and contribution to existing and proposed Quad initiatives and programs; and

(B)

additional resources needed to scale up and expand successful Quad initiatives and programs.

(c)

Appropriate congressional committees defined

In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—

(1)

the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and

(2)

the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.

Establishment of Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall seek to enter into negotiations with the Governments of Japan, Australia, and India (collectively, with the United States, known as the Quad) with the goal of reaching a written agreement to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation on shared interests and values.

(b)

United States group

(1)

In general

At such time as the governments of the Quad countries enter into a written agreement described in subsection (a) to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group, there shall be established a United States Group, which shall represent the United States at the Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group.

(2)

Membership

(A)

In general

The United States Group shall be comprised of not more than 24 Members of Congress.

(B)

Appointment

Of the Members of Congress appointed to the United States Group under subparagraph (A)—

(i)

half shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, based on recommendations from the minority leader, from among Members of the House, not fewer than four of whom shall be members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs; and

(ii)

half shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, based on recommendations of the majority leader and minority leader of the Senate, from among Members of the Senate, not fewer than four of whom shall be members of the Committee on Foreign Relations (unless the majority leader and minority leader determine otherwise).

(3)

Meetings

(A)

In general

The United States Group shall seek to meet not less frequently than annually with representatives and appropriate staff of the legislatures of Japan, Australia, and India, and any other country invited by mutual agreement of the Quad countries.

(B)

Limitation

A meeting described in subparagraph (A) may be held—

(i)

in the United States;

(ii)

in another Quad country during periods when Congress is not in session; or

(iii)

virtually.

(4)

Chairperson and vice chairperson

(A)

House delegation

The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate the chairperson or vice chairperson of the delegation of the United States Group from the House from among members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(B)

Senate delegation

The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall designate the chairperson or vice chairperson of the delegation of the United States Group from the Senate from among members of the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(5)

Private sources

The United States Group may accept gifts or donations of services or property, subject to the review and approval, as appropriate, of the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Ethics of the Senate.

(6)

Certification of expenditures

The certificate of the chairperson of the delegation from the House of Representatives or the delegation of the Senate of the United States Group shall be final and conclusive upon the accounting officers in the auditing of the accounts of the United States Group.

(7)

Annual report

The United States Group shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report for each fiscal year for which an appropriation is made for the United States Group, including a description of its expenditures under such appropriation.

(8)

Engagement with US officials on the quad

Senior United States officials shall provide regular updates and briefings to the United States Group, including leading up to and after major Quadrilateral dialogues, to ensure close coordination with Congress.

No additional funds authorized

No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.

Passed the House of Representatives February 15, 2024.

Kevin F. McCumber,

Clerk.