US-Japan-ROK Trilateral Cooperation Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3429 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3429

   To establish an inter-parliamentary dialogue to facilitate closer
cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea
                    on shared interests and values.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 15, 2025

Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Connolly, Mr.
Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Castro of Texas, and Mr. Smith of Nebraska)
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
                            Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To establish an inter-parliamentary dialogue to facilitate closer
cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea
                    on shared interests and values.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``US-Japan-ROK Trilateral Cooperation
Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the United States should continue to strengthen
        trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan, and
        the Republic of Korea (in this Act referred to as the ``ROK'')
        to enhance and implement a shared vision to meet regional
        challenges and to promote a free, open, inclusive, resilient,
        and healthy Indo-Pacific region;
            (2) the historic Camp David summit on August 18, 2023,
        marked a new era of trilateral partnership between the United
        States, Japan, and the ROK, reaffirming their commitment to
        align collective efforts for regional security and prosperity;
            (3) the Spirit of Camp David, as outlined in the joint
        statement, should guide future trilateral cooperation,
        emphasizing shared values, strategic alignment, and commitment
        to regional peace and stability;
            (4) the United States, Japan, and the ROK should enhance
        Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation to promote stability
        and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region;
            (5) the United States, Japan, and the ROK should
        collaborate on countering foreign information manipulation and
        interference to protect democratic institutions and promote
        accurate information sharing;
            (6) President Biden's decision to elevate the US-Japan-ROK
        trilateral partnership to the leaders level was critical to
        bolstering cooperation, and all three countries should work to
        ensure that the Trilateral Leaders' Summit continues to take
        place regularly;
            (7) the ambitious framework for ongoing cooperation laid
        out by the three leaders at the historic Camp David summit on
        August 18, 2023, should continue and be strengthened; and
            (8) the formation of a regular US-Japan-ROK Inter-
        Parliamentary Dialogue will--
                    (A) sustain and deepen engagement between senior
                officials of the three 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 other allied nations.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF US-JAPAN-ROK INTER-PARLIAMENTARY DIALOGUE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with
Congress, shall seek to enter into negotiations with the Governments of
Japan and the ROK with the goal of reaching a written agreement to
establish a US-Japan-ROK Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue to facilitate
closer cooperation on shared interests and values.
    (b) United States Group.--
            (1) In general.--At such time as the governments of the
        United States, Japan, and ROK enter into a written agreement
        described in subsection (a) to establish a US-Japan-ROK Inter-
        Parliamentary Dialogue, there shall be established a United
        States Group, which shall represent the United States at the
        US-Japan-ROK Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue.
            (2) Membership.--
                    (A) In general.--The United States Group shall be
                comprised of not more than 8 Members of Congress.
                    (B) Appointment.--Of the Members of Congress
                appointed to the United States Group under subparagraph
                (A)--
                            (i) two shall be appointed by the Speaker
                        of the House of Representatives, from among
                        Members of the House, not fewer than one of
                        whom shall be a member of the Committee on
                        Foreign Affairs;
                            (ii) two shall be appointed by the House
                        Minority Leader, from among Members of the
                        House, not fewer than one of whom shall be a
                        member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs;
                            (iii) two shall be appointed by the Senate
                        Majority Leader, from among Members of the
                        Senate, not fewer than one of whom shall be a
                        member of the Committee on Foreign Relations;
                        and
                            (iv) two shall be appointed by the Senate
                        Minority Leader, from among Members of the
                        Senate, not fewer than one of whom shall be a
                        member of the Committee on Foreign Relations.
                    (C) Term.--Appointments to the United States Group
                shall be for the duration of two years.
            (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 and the ROK, and representatives
                and appropriate staff of any other country invited by
                mutual agreement of the three countries.
                    (B) Limitation.--A meeting described in
                subparagraph (A) may be held--
                            (i) in the United States;
                            (ii) in another country during periods when
                        Congress is not in session; or
                            (iii) virtually.
            (4) Chairperson and vice chairperson.--
                    (A) Rotation.--The positions of Chairperson and
                Vice Chairperson of the United States Group shall
                alternate between the House and Senate delegations
                every two years, coinciding with each new Congress.
                    (B) House delegation.--
                            (i) In Congresses with an odd number, the
                        Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
                        designate the Chairperson of the United States
                        Group from among members of the House
                        delegation who are also members of the
                        Committee on Foreign Affairs.
                            (ii) In Congresses with an even number, the
                        Speaker of the House of Representatives shall
                        designate the Vice Chairperson of the United
                        States Group from among members of the House
                        delegation who are also members of the
                        Committee on Foreign Affairs.
                    (C) Senate delegation.--
                            (i) In Congresses with an even number, the
                        President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall
                        designate the Chairperson of the United States
                        Group from among members of the Senate
                        delegation who are also members of the
                        Committee on Foreign Relations.
                            (ii) In Congresses with an odd number, the
                        President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall
                        designate the Vice Chairperson of the United
                        States Group from among members of the Senate
                        delegation who are also members of the
                        Committee on Foreign Relations.
                    (D) Term.--The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson
                shall serve for the duration one each Congress.
            (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, which shall include its
        expenditures under such appropriation and a description
        thereof.
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