,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #babc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #h1 #bjai ,mr4 ,wilson of ,south ,carolina 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,sherman1 ,mr4 ,holding1 ,ms4 ,gabbard1 ,mr4 ,yoho1 and ,mr4 ,bera7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to provide for ,united ,states actions to advance the ,united ,states-,india strategic relationship4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,united ,states-,india ,enhanced ,cooperation ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the turmoil in the world poses a serious threat to ,united ,states national security interests and requires cooperation with allies and friendly nations that are willing to work with the ,united ,states in pursuit of shared objectives4 7#b7 ,the ,june #g1 #bjaf1 paragraph #ag of the ,india-,united ,states ,joint ,statement entitled ,the ,united ,states and ,india3 ,enduring ,global ,partners in the #bast ,century1 notes that the ,united ,states-,india defense relationship can be an anchor of stability1 and given the increasingly strengthened cooperation in defense1 the ,united ,states recognized ,india as a ,major ,defense ,partner4 7#c7 ,as such1 the ,united ,states committed to continue to work toward facilitating technology sharing with and transfer of advanced strategic military capability to ,india on a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners4 ,the leaders of the two countries reached an understanding under which ,india would receive license-free access to a wide range of dual-use technologies in conjunction with steps that ,india has committed to take to advance its export control objectives4 7#d7 ,as such1 in support of ,india's initiative to develop a domestic defense industrial capability and to support integration into the global supply chain1 the ,united ,states committed to continuing to facilitate the export of goods and technologies1 consistent with ,united ,states law1 for projects1 programs and joint ventures in support of official ,united ,states-,india defense and security cooperation4 7#e7 ,section #abib of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjag 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bgea note71 relating to enhancing defense and security cooperation with ,india1 requests that the ,secretary of ,defense and ,secretary of ,state jointly take such actions as may be necessary to recognize ,india's status as a major defense partner of the ,united ,states1 consistent with the ,june #g1 #bjaf1 ,india-,united ,states ,joint ,statement4 7#f7 ,on ,july #cj1 #bjah1 ,secretary of ,commerce ,wilbur ,ross announced that ,india1 because of its status as a major defense partner1 would be moved to the ,department of ,commerce's ,strategic ,trade ,authorization ,tier #a license designation list which enables greater availability for exports and reexports to1 and transfers within1 ,india for articles under the ,export ,administration ,regulations4 ,in its final rule issued on ,august #c1 #bjah1 the ,department of ,commerce's ,bureau of ,industry and ,security stated that the rule1 which enabled ,india to be moved to the ,tier #a list1 befits ,india's status as a ,major ,defense ,partner4 7#g7 ,the ,asia ,reassurance ,initiative ,act of #bjah 7,public ,law #aae-dji7 recognizes the vital role of the strategic partnership between the ,united ,states and ,india1 and finds that the designation of ,india as a major defense partner elevates defense trade and technology cooperation between the ,united ,states and ,india to a level commensurate with the closest allies and partners of the ,united ,states4 #c4 ,statement of policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to-- 7#a7 approve and facilitate the transfer of advanced technology and strategic capability1 consistent with ,united ,states conventional arms transfer policy1 to support combined military planning with ,india for missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief1 counter piracy1 freedom of navigation1 and maritime domain awareness missions1 and to promote weapons systems interoperability2 7#b7 reassure ,india that the ,united ,states recognizes the importance of security of supply for major defense capabilities acquired from the ,united ,states and its industries1 and as such will endeavor1 consistent with ,united ,states law1 to not disrupt such supply2 7#c7 collaborate with the ,government of ,india in developing mutually agreeable mechanisms to verify the security of defense articles1 defense services1 and related technology1 such as appropriate cyber security and end-use monitoring arrangements1 consistent with ,united ,states export control laws and policy2 7#d7 promote policies that will encourage the efficient review and authorization of defense sales and export to ,india2 and 7#e7 continue to enhance defense and security cooperation with ,india in order to advance ,united ,states interests in the ,south ,asia and greater ,indo-,asia-,pacific regions4 #d4 ,united ,states actions to advance the ,united ,states-,india strategic relationship 7a7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states should take the following actions to advance the ,united ,states-,india strategic relationship3 7#a7 ,seek to enhance the capabilities of the ,united ,states and ,india to address emerging common threats1 increase security cooperation1 and expand joint military exercises4 7#b7 ,encourage and facilitate the role as priority partners in the ,south ,asia and greater ,indo-,asia-,pacific regions4 7#c7 ,support the mutual interest in maritime security and maritime domain awareness1 as well as enhanced military cooperation in joint exercises1 training1 and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief4 7#d7 ,conduct a joint assessment1 led by the ,secretary of ,state in partnership with the ,secretary of ,defense1 of the extent to which ,india possesses capabilities to support and carry out military operations of mutual interest to the ,united ,states and ,india1 including an assessment of the defense export control regulations and policies that need appropriate modification1 in recognition of ,india's capabilities and its status as a major defense partner4 7b7 ,report ,subparagraph 7,b7 of section #abib7;a77#b7 of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjag 7,public ,law #aad-cbh2 #acj ,stat4 #beei2 #bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bgea note7 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7iv71 by striking and after the semicolon at the end2 7#b7 in clause 7v71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new clause3 7vi7 a description in the progress made in implementing existing agreements between the ,united ,states and ,india1 including the ,communications ,compatibility and ,security ,agreement 7,,comcasa7 signed at the ,u4,s4-,india #bb ,ministerial ,dialogue in ,september #bjah1 the ,defense ,technology and ,trade ,initiative 7,,dtti71 and the ,memorandum of ,intent between the ,u4,s4 ,defense ,innovation ,unit 7,,diu7 and the ,indian ,defence ,innovation ,organization--,innovation for ,defence ,excellence 7,,dio-i,d,e,x74 4 7c7 ,foreign military sales and export status under ,arms ,export ,control ,act ,the ,arms ,export ,control ,act 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bgea et seq47 is amended-- 7#a7 in section #c7;b77#b71 by inserting the ,government of ,india1 before or the ,government of ,new ,zealand2 7#b7 in sections #c7;d77#b77;,b71 #c7;d77#c77;,a77i71 #c7;d77#e71 #ba7;e77#b77;,a71 #cf7;b77#a71 #cf7;b77#b71 #cf7;b77#f71 #cf7;c77#b77;,a71 #cf7;c77#e71 #cf7;d77#b77;,a71 #fb7;c77#a71 and #fc7;a77#b71 by inserting ,india1 before or ,new ,zealand each place it appears2 and 7#c7 in sections #ba7;h77#a77;,a7 and #ba7;h77#b71 by inserting ,india1 before or ,israel each place it appears4