S2725-118

1. US-ASEAN Center In this Act, the term ASEAN means the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Secretary of State is authorized to enter into a public-private partnership for the purposes of establishing a US-ASEAN Center in the United States to support United States economic and cultural engagement with Southeast Asia. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the US-ASEAN Center established pursuant to subsection (b) may— provide grants for research to support and elevate the importance of the US-ASEAN partnership; facilitate activities to strengthen US-ASEAN trade and investment; expand economic and technological relationships between ASEAN countries and the United States into new areas of cooperation; provide training to United States citizens and citizens of ASEAN countries that improve people-to-people ties; develop educational programs to increase awareness for the United States and ASEAN countries on the importance of relations between the United States and ASEAN countries; and carry out other activities the Secretary of State considers necessary to strengthen ties between the United States and ASEAN countries and achieve the objectives of the US-ASEAN Center.