July 22, 2025
Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Ricketts) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
To direct the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, to seek to establish an Economic Security Working Group within the Quad.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Quad Economic Security Act
.
Sec. 2. Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)
the United States, as a Pacific power, should strengthen cooperation with the Government of Australia, the Government of India, and the Government of Japan to address regional challenges and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region;
(2)
the United States should expand cooperation, through the Quad, with the Government of Australia, the Government of India, and the Government of Japan to address shared economic security challenges, including by seeking to create an Economic Security Working Group within the Quad; and
(3)
the reviving of the Quad by President Donald J. Trump and the elevation of the Quad to the leaders’ level by President Joseph R. Biden were critical to advancing shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Sec. 3. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2) Quad
The term Quad means the partnership among the Quad countries.
(3) Quad countries
The term Quad countries means Japan, Australia, India, and the United States.
(4) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce.
(5) Working Group
The term Working Group means the Economic Security Working Group described in section 4.
Sec. 4. Establishment of Economic Security Working Group
(a) In general
The Secretary shall seek to enter into negotiations with the governments of the other Quad countries with the goal of reaching an agreement to establish an Economic Security Working Group to secure critical supply chains, safeguard critical infrastructure, counter economic coercion, and address crises disrupting supply chains.
(b) Functions
In conducting negotiations described in subsection (a) to establish the Working Group, the Secretary shall seek to ensure the Working Group—
(1)
serves as a forum for the Quad countries to coordinate to secure critical infrastructure and bolster supply chain resiliency;
(2)
holds crisis simulation exercises to better prepare for potential economic coercion and disruptions to supply chains; and
(3)
serves as a collective emergency response mechanism in the case of economic coercion and disruptions to supply chains for sectors critical to national security to facilitate emergency communication and coordination.
(c) United States representation
The United States shall be represented on the Working Group by a United States official at the level of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State or the equivalent, in line with existing working groups of the Quad.
(d) Regional engagement
In conducting negotiations described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall encourage the Working Group to engage with the governments of regional partners to help bolster their economic security, such as by cooperating on capacity-building with regard to security of port infrastructure and undersea cables.
Sec. 5. Identification of supply chains and regional partners
(a) Supply chains
If negotiations are entered into under section 4, on the commencement of such negotiations, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report identifying supply chains for sectors critical to national security for purposes of section 4(b)(3).
(b) Regional partners
If negotiations are entered into under section 4, on the commencement of such negotiations, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report identifying which countries and jurisdictions in the Indo-Pacific region the Secretary considers to be regional partners for purposes of section 4(d).
Sec. 6. Annual reports
(a) In general
If negotiations are entered into under section 4, not later than one year after the date on which such negotiations commence, and annually thereafter until the date described in subsection (b), the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on efforts to establish the Working Group.
(b) Date described
The date described in this subsection is the date on which negotiations to establish the Working Group conclude, without regard to whether the Working Group is or is not established.
Sec. 7. No additional funds authorized
No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act. This Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated.