- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The bill, cleared by a roll call vote of 379 to 39, enables the Joe Biden administration to set up a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group.
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly cleared the Quad Bill that mandates the Joe Biden administration to set up a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group that aims at facilitating closer cooperation between the four members of the grouping — the US, Australia, India and Japan.
The Quad is a plurilateral framework consisting of the four nations and is dedicated to maintaining a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, particularly in response to China’s assertive actions in the strategically significant South China Sea.
Approved by a roll call vote of 379 to 39, the ‘Strengthen US-Australia-India-Japan Cooperation’ bill, also known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) bill, emphasizes the need to bolster joint efforts among the US, Australia, India, and Japan.
It directs the US state department to present to Congress, within 180 days of enactment, a strategy to enhance engagement and collaboration within the Quad framework. Additionally, within 60 days of enactment, negotiations are mandated with Japan, Australia, and India to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to foster closer ties.
Read: US deepened ties with India through Quad: Antony Blinken
It also would establish a US group, which would have a maximum of 24 members of Congress, to represent the US in the working group. It also would establish guidelines for annual meetings and group leadership.
Under the bill, the group would be required to submit an annual report to the congressional foreign affairs committees.
Two Democratic lawmakers voted against the bill. One of them being Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from Minneapolis.
Introduced by Congressman Gregory Meeks, the bill requires the state department to report to Congress a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation with the Quad. The strategy shall address cooperation on issues including (1) preparing for the next pandemic, (2) co-developing new innovative technologies, and (3) deepening economic engagement and integration.
Meeks, a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the US, Japan, Australia and India has been integral to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific and advancing the US interests in the region.
China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.
“I am proud to have advanced my legislation, the Strengthening the Quad Act, through the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue between the United States, Japan, Australia and India has been integral to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, advancing US interests in the region, and bolstering our national security,” Meeks said.
(With PTI inputs)
