WASHINGTON, USA — In a bipartisan effort to address the escalating security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, United States Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have introduced the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act of 2024 (PERA Act). This legislation aims to fortify and modernize the longstanding alliance between the United States and the Philippines by substantially augmenting U.S. security assistance. The move comes amidst heightened tensions spurred by Beijing’s increased assertiveness in the South China Sea. Coinciding with these developments, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines are set to convene a leaders-level summit in Washington, D.C., on April 11, 2024.
Senator Hagerty emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between the United States and the Philippines to tackle the evolving security and economic challenges in the West Philippine Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region. He underscored the significance of elevating the decades-old alliance to new levels of collaboration. Senator Hagerty expressed his satisfaction in partnering with Senator Kaine to introduce this pivotal bipartisan bill, which aims to significantly boost U.S. security assistance to the Philippines. He highlighted the timeliness of this legislation in light of the escalating aggression exhibited by Communist China in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, as well as the upcoming leaders-level summit among the United States, Japan, and the Philippines.
Senator Kaine echoed concerns over China’s aggressive actions towards the Philippines, emphasizing the consequential implications for regional security and stability. He stressed the imperative of equipping the Philippines with the necessary resources and support to counter these threats effectively. As a member of both the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, Senator Kaine reaffirmed his commitment to fostering solidarity with allies and cultivating a secure and stable future.
The Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act of 2024 includes the following provisions:
- Annual authorization of $500 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance to the Philippines for each fiscal year from 2025 through 2029, totaling $2.5 billion over five fiscal years.
- Mandates the submission of an annual spending plan to Congress by the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, outlining how the U.S. government intends to allocate FMF as security assistance to the Philippines.
- Requires the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and other relevant department/agency heads, to submit an annual report to Congress detailing efforts to enhance the defense relationship between the United States and the Philippines. This report should include:
- A comprehensive assessment of the capabilities required to modernize the defense capabilities of the Philippines, encompassing coastal defense, long-range fires, integrated air defenses, maritime security, manned and unmanned aerial systems, mechanized ground mobility vehicles, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, defensive cybersecurity, and any other defense capabilities deemed crucial to the defense of the Philippines by the Secretary of State, in conjunction with Philippine counterparts.
- A delineation of additional appropriations and/or authorization laws necessary to facilitate support for and collaboration with the Philippines in advancing these capabilities.
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