Young Oak Kim: “I thank Congresswoman Ann Wagner for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 406, the Providing…”

“I thank Congresswoman Ann Wagner for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 406, the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations, PARTNER, with ASEAN Act. This is a bill that I introduced with my colleague, Representative Castro. I thank Ranking Member Meeks, and my colleague, and chairwoman of one of our committees, Ann Wagner, but more importantly, for her leadership on the ASEAN Caucus. Mr. Speaker, much has been talked about with the importance of this legislation, but I think it is worth repeating that this bipartisan legislation extends the diplomatic privileges and immunities to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations under the International Organizations Immunities Act. Similar international organizations such as the European Union, the Organization of American States, and the African Union currently enjoy these diplomatic privileges, but not ASEAN. As chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, I believe this legislation is a step in the right direction for improving America's standing in the Indo-Pacific and addressing the economic and security threats posed to the region by the CCP and their Belt and Road Initiative. To counter the Belt and Road Initiative, we must prioritize trade, economic, and diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian countries. Without meaningful U.S.…”