S.Amdt. 6263

SA 6263, submitted by Mr. Schatz, aims to add a section to bill S. 4784 called the Initiative for Enhanced Cooperation with Japan and the Philippines. The purpose is to have the Secretary of State create an initiative to improve trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines.

The amendment adds requirements for the following:

• Scope of the Initiative: It must address economic security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, digital, cyber, and technology cooperation, and maritime cooperation and information sharing. The Secretary of State can also include other appropriate matters.

• Management: The Secretary of State must designate an employee to be responsible for the initiative and seek to create a trilateral working group at the United States Embassy in Manila with representatives from the Embassy of Japan in Manila and the Government of the Philippines.

• Accountability: Within 180 days of the Act's enactment, the Secretary of State must notify the appropriate committees of Congress about the designated official and make that official available for briefings.

• Reporting: The Secretary of State, coordinating with relevant Federal department or agency heads, must submit an annual report to the appropriate committees of Congress. This report must describe trilateral engagements and initiatives, detail the results of cooperation, and explain any barriers to cooperation.