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Re "The U.S. Is Losing Its Military Edge in Asia, and China Knows It," by Ashley Townshend and James Crabtree (Opinion guest essay, nytimes.com, June 15):

Democratic and Republican lawmakers will next week introduce legislation to spur the White House to funnel more money to the Indo-Pacific region to help counter China.

Ami Bera, the Democratic chair of the House foreign affairs Asia subcommittee, and Steve Chabot, the top Republican on the panel, hope their Indo-Pacific Engagement Act will narrow the gap between the rhetoric about Asia being a priority region and funding levels.

When doctors take a pledge to do no harm, it means we have an obligation to not knowingly hurt people who come to us for help. It also means we have a duty to talk with our patients about their options and to make sure they're fully informed partners in their own care. That's why, as both a doctor and a member of the U.S. Congress, I'm so deeply disturbed by a 38-year-old American policy known as the global gag rule.

Representative Ami Bera, a California Democrat, discusses the tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Ukraine. He also talks about the U.S.'s bilateral relations with China. Bera, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has introduced a bipartisan legislation that would counter China's growing economic coercion against governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals. He speaks on "Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia." (Source: Bloomberg)

As members of Congress from different parties, we don't see eye-to-eye on President Biden's decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. We don't agree on timing, scope, or the rationale for leaving. But one belief we do share is that the United States should do everything in its power to support those Afghans who risked their lives serving alongside American servicemembers over the past two decades.

Like most Americans, the scope and scale of the damage caused by COVID-19 exceeded some of my deepest fears for the security of the United States. This virus doesn't know if we are Democratic or Republican, our religious preferences, or our country of origin. What it has done, however, is expose a grave national security vulnerability to biothreats. Our heightened awareness of potentially catastrophic biothreats has reshaped the national security landscape and the United States should be more prepared to prevent and respond to them in the future.

(Reuters) - Democratic U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday proposed an increase of $12 billion in the country's foreign affairs budget, hoping to prod President Joe Biden to boost funding for diplomacy after years of flat spending.

Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Van Hollen and Representatives David Cicilline and Ami Bera said the 20% spending increase would enhance the country's ability to compete with China, prevent another pandemic and fight climate change.