U.S.-ASEAN Center Act

HR 6181, the U.S.-ASEAN Center Act, establishes a public-private partnership to create a U.S.-ASEAN Center in the United States. The Center, managed by the Secretary of State, will support U.S. economic and cultural engagement with Southeast Asia through specific activities like funding research on U.S.-ASEAN partnerships, facilitating trade and investment, expanding technology cooperation, providing training programs, and developing educational initiatives. It will use existing State Department funding authorized under the Foreign Assistance Act and must avoid duplicating current U.S. government efforts. The bill directly affects U.S. government agencies, ASEAN nations, and U.S. businesses or citizens involved in Southeast Asian trade and cultural exchange.