Federal

Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act

Source: Congress.gov · 639 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill creates a new position called the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords within the State Department. The envoy will work to expand and strengthen the Abraham Accords, which are agreements related to Israel. Congress states that U.S. policy on the Abraham Accords remains unchanged under existing law.

Who It Affects

The President (who appoints the envoy), the Senate (which must approve the appointment), the Secretary of State (who the envoy reports to), the State Department, regional ambassadors, nongovernmental organizations, and nation-states involved in discussions about the Abraham Accords.

Key Provisions

• The President appoints the Special Envoy with Senate approval, and the envoy reports directly to the Secretary of State. (Sec. 3) • If the President chooses to appoint someone already working at the State Department, that person cannot keep their previous job or responsibilities. (Sec. 3) • The Special Envoy must have high-level diplomatic experience and knowledge of the Islamic and Jewish worlds, economics, security, and human rights. (Sec. 3) • The Special Envoy holds the rank of ambassador and serves at the pleasure of the President, meaning the President can remove them at any time. (Sec. 3) • The Special Envoy must serve as the primary advisor on the Abraham Accords across all U.S. government agencies, talk with nation-states lacking official relations with Israel about the accords, and consult with nongovernmental organizations working on the accords. (Sec. 3)

What Changes

The State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 will be amended to add the Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords position.

Important Definitions

None defined in the bill text.

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1268 To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish the position of Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 28, 2023 Mr. TORRES of New York (for himself and Mr. LAWLER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish the position of Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Special Envoy for the 4 Abraham Accords Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds that the policy of the United States, 7 as enacted in section 104 of the Israel Relations Normal- 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:23 Mar 15, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1268.IH H1268 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1268 IH ization Act of 2022 (division Z of Public Law 117–103), 1 with respect to the Abraham Accords remains unchanged. 2 SEC. 3. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS. 3 Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act 4 of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is amended by adding 5 at the end the following new section: 6 ‘‘SEC. 64. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE ABRAHAM ACCORDS. 7 ‘‘(a) SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE ABRAHAM AC- 8 CORDS.—There is in the Department of State a Special 9 Envoy for the Abraham Accords (in this section referred 10 to as the ‘Special Envoy’). 11 ‘‘(b) NOMINATION.— 12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Special Envoy shall be 13 appointed by the President, by and with the advice 14 and consent of the Senate. The Special Envoy shall 15 report directly to the Secretary. 16 ‘‘(2) DETERMINATION.—If the President deter- 17 mines that such is appropriate, the President may 18 nominate the Special Envoy from among officers 19 and employees of the Department. Such officer or 20 employee may not retain the position (or the respon- 21 sibilities associated with such position) held by such 22 officer or employee prior to the nomination of such 23 officer or employee to the position of Special Envoy 24 under this paragraph. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:23 Mar 15, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1268.IH H1268 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 1268 IH ‘‘(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Special Envoy should be 1 a person of recognized distinction in the field high-level 2 diplomatic experience, and or knowledge of the Islamic 3 and Jewish worlds, knowledge of economics, security, and 4 human rights. 5 ‘‘(d) RANK AND STATUS OF AMBASSADOR.—The 6 Special Envoy who shall have the rank of ambassador and 7 shall hold the office at the pleasure of the President. 8 ‘‘(e) DUTIES.—The Special Envoy shall seek to ex- 9 pand and strengthen the Abraham Accords, in coordina- 10 tion with regional ambassadors, nongovernmental organi- 11 zations, and other stakeholders determined appropriate by 12 the Special Envoy. 13 ‘‘(f) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Special Envoy shall— 14 ‘‘(1) serve as the primary advisor to, and co- 15 ordinate efforts across, the United States Govern- 16 ment relating to expanding and strengthening the 17 Abraham Accords; 18 ‘‘(2) engage in discussions with nation-state of- 19 ficials lacking official diplomatic relations with Israel 20 regarding the Abraham Accords; and 21 ‘‘(3) consult with representatives of nongovern- 22 mental organizations that have attempted to expand 23 and strengthen the Abraham Accords.’’. 24 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:23 Mar 15, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1268.IH H1268 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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