Strengthening the Quad Act
Strengthening the Quad Act would formalize and expand the United States’ engagement with the Quad partners—Australia, India, and Japan—through a designated strategy and a new inter-parliamentary forum. The bill requires the Secretary of State to submit a comprehensive strategy within 180 days describing how the U.S. will demonstrate democratic leadership and advance shared Quad objectives (e.g., security cooperation, economic growth, infrastructure, technology, climate resilience, health, and rule of law) and to identify barriers and potential congressional actions or authorities needed to scale Quad initiatives. It also directs the creation of a Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working Group, to be formed through negotiations among the four governments. The U.S. group would be a 24-member congressional delegation (split evenly between the House and Senate) that meets at least annually with Quad counterparts, with a formal leadership structure, reporting requirements, and potential for private funding. The act frames the Quad as a core mechanism for promoting a free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific and reinforces ongoing Quad high-level engagement, including annual leaders’ and foreign ministers meetings.
Key Points
- 1Sense of Congress establishing Quad as a framework for democratic leadership, cooperation on shared challenges, and support for a free, open Indo-Pacific with emphasis on democratic norms and the rule of law.
- 2Requirement for a comprehensive U.S. Quad strategy due within 180 days, detailing current and past Quad initiatives, proposals to deepen cooperation, diplomatic/bureaucratic barriers, and congressional recommendations for new authorities and resources.
- 3Authorization for a Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation between Quad lawmakers and their peers, modeled on existing U.S. inter-parliamentary groups.
- 4Establishment process for the Quad Inter-Parliamentary Working Group: negotiations to form a written agreement, creation of a U.S. Group of up to 24 Members of Congress, with balanced House/Senate representation and required Committee participation.
- 5Operational provisions for the U.S. Group: at least annual meetings with Quad counterparts (in person in the U.S. or other Quad country, or virtual), chairing and vice-chair roles designated by the respective chambers, acceptance of private gifts with ethics oversight, finality of expenditure certification, and an annual report detailing activities and recommendations.
- 6Reporting and coordination requirements: annual reporting to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and ongoing briefings by senior U.S. officials to ensure coordination with Congress before and after major Quad dialogues.