February 12, 2025
Mr. Meeks (for himself, Mrs. Kim, Mr. Bera, Mr. Huizenga, and Ms. Kamlager-Dove) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
To require a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and to seek to establish a Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation on shared interests and values.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Strengthening the Quad Act
.
Sec. 2. 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 leader level was critical to bolstering cooperation, and all 4 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 4 leaders at the fifth convening of the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima on May 20, 2023, should continue;
(7)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the Quad Foreign Ministers in Washington, DC on January 21, 2025—his first day in office—underscoring the continued importance of cooperation between the 4 democracies; and
(8)
the formation of a Quad Inter-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 inter-parliamentary groups between the United States and Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as well as other formal and informal parliamentary exchanges.
Sec. 3. 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 Australia, India, and Japan 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 of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
Sec. 4. Establishment of quad inter-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 Australia, India, and Japan (collectively, with the United States, known as the Quad
) with the goal of reaching a written agreement to establish a Quad Inter-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 Inter-Parliamentary Working Group, there shall be established a United States Group, which shall represent the United States at the Quad Inter-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 4 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 4 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 Australia, India, and Japan, 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 at the end of each year that outlines the group’s activities that year, including a description of its expenditures, and its recommendations for enhancing the Quad.
(8) Engagement with U.S. 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.