Nashville Standard

WASHINGTON—United States Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) have introduced the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act of 2024 (PERA Act), a bill aimed at bolstering and modernizing the U.S.-Philippines alliance through increased U.S. security assistance.

Senator Hagerty emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation between the two nations, stating, “It’s critical for our two nations to deepen cooperation and raise our decades-long Alliance to even greater heights.”

Senator Kaine highlighted the threat posed by China's aggression towards the Philippines, saying, “China’s aggression towards the Philippines – a key U.S. ally – threatens the security and stability of the entire region.”

The bipartisan legislation comes in response to increased aggression by Beijing in the South China Sea and ahead of a leaders-level summit in Washington, D.C., involving the United States, Japan, and the Philippines.

Senator Hagerty expressed his satisfaction in working with Senator Kaine on the bill, noting, “I’m pleased to work with Senator Kaine to introduce this important bipartisan bill that would significantly increase U.S. security assistance to the Philippines and profoundly strengthen and modernize the defense and deterrence capabilities of our Alliance.”

Senator Kaine reaffirmed his commitment to supporting allies in the face of threats, stating, “As a member of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, I will continue to work to link arms with our allies and build a safe and stable future.”

The full text of the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act of 2024 can be accessed for further details on the proposed legislation.