US-ASEAN CENTER.

SEC. 6705. US-ASEAN CENTER.(a) Defined Term.—In this section, the term “ASEAN” means the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (b) Establishment.—The Secretary 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. (c) Functions.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the US-ASEAN Center established pursuant to subsection (b) may—(1) provide grants for research to support and elevate the importance of the US-ASEAN partnership; (2) facilitate activities to strengthen US-ASEAN trade and investment; (3) expand economic and technological relationships between ASEAN countries and the United States into new areas of cooperation; (4) provide training to United States citizens and citizens of ASEAN countries that improve people-to-people ties; (5) 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 (6) carry out other activities the Secretary considers necessary to strengthen ties between the United States and ASEAN countries and achieve the objectives of the US-ASEAN Center. (d) Parameters.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the activities of the US-ASEAN Center do not duplicate current lines of effort being conducted by the United States Government or its grantees.