Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I also want to echo Chairman Royce's support of H. Res. 311, and I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Engel; my colleagues, Mr. Castro and Mrs. Wagner, for bringing this resolution up, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Association of South East Asian Nations and the 40th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN ties. As chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the block of 10 ASEAN members, we had a meeting earlier in the year. They said the primary reason ASEAN is successful is because of U.S. involvement. I think that speaks highly of U.S. foreign policy. The 10 members of ASEAN are some of the most dynamic nations in the world, and Southeast Asia's economic and strategic importance grows every day. As the chairman noted, ASEAN is our fourth largest trading partner and is the second fastest growing in Asia. With a combined population of over 600 million people and an economy of $2.5 trillion, the opportunity for U.S. industry is immense. As a security partner, ASEAN also is invaluable, recognizing that for the 50 years the Association of South East Asian Nations, ASEAN, has worked towards stability, prosperity, and peace in Southeast Asia. The grouping is strategically located astride some of the world's most critical sea lanes and shares the U.S. pursuit of regional stability through rules, order, and peaceful dispute settlements. This resolution rightly highlights enduring U.S.…”