Federal

A bill to establish an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region.

Source: Congress.gov · 712 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill creates a new position called the Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region within the State Department. The ambassador will represent the United States in Arctic-related matters and work with other government agencies on policies affecting the Arctic.

Who It Affects

The President and Senate (who appoint the ambassador), the Secretary of State (who supervises the ambassador), other federal agencies working on Arctic issues, and Arctic countries and indigenous peoples whose affairs the ambassador will coordinate with.

Key Provisions

• The President appoints the Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region with Senate approval (Sec. 64(b)) • The ambassador represents the United States in Arctic affairs and answers to the Secretary of State for all Arctic-related programs and activities (Sec. 64(c)) • The ambassador monitors and coordinates matters involving energy, environment, trade, infrastructure, law enforcement and military affairs in the Arctic, as directed by the Secretary of State (Sec. 64(d)) • The ambassador's responsibilities include national security, cooperation among Arctic countries, natural resource management, environmental protection, Arctic indigenous peoples, and scientific research (Sec. 64(d)(1-6))

What Changes

If this becomes law, the State Department will have a new ambassador position dedicated exclusively to Arctic issues. This person will coordinate Arctic policy across multiple federal agencies and represent the United States in Arctic matters.

Important Definitions

"Arctic region" means the area north of a specific latitude line, U.S. territory north and west of certain rivers, surrounding seas including the Arctic Ocean, and the Aleutian Chain (Sec. 64(f)(1)) "Arctic countries" means the eight permanent members of the Arctic Council: the United States, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia (Sec. 64(f)(2))

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 821 To establish an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 15, 2023 Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. KING, Mr. GRAHAM, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. COONS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and Mr. SULLIVAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To establish an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR THE ARCTIC RE- 3 GION. 4 Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act 5 of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is amended by adding 6 at the end the following new section: 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Mar 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S821.IS S821 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 821 IS ‘‘SEC. 64. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR 1 THE ARCTIC REGION. 2 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is authorized within 3 the Department of State an Ambassador-at-Large for the 4 Arctic Region, appointed under subsection (b). 5 ‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT.—The Ambassador shall be ap- 6 pointed by the President, by, and with the advice and con- 7 sent of the Senate. 8 ‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Ambassador is authorized to rep- 9 resent the United States in matters and cases relevant to 10 Arctic affairs and shall be responsible to the Secretary of 11 State for all matters, programs, and related activities per- 12 taining to the Arctic region in the conduct of foreign policy 13 by the Department, including, as appropriate, leading the 14 coordination of programs carried out by United States 15 Government agencies abroad, and such other related du- 16 ties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. 17 ‘‘(d) AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.—The Ambassador- 18 at-Large for the Arctic Region is authorized to maintain 19 continuous observation and coordination of all matters in- 20 dicated by the Secretary of State, including those per- 21 taining to energy, environment, trade, and infrastructure 22 development and maintenance, and, in consultation with 23 the heads of other relevant departments and agencies, 24 those pertaining to law enforcement and political-military 25 affairs in the conduct of foreign policy in the Arctic, in- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Mar 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S821.IS S821 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •S 821 IS cluding programs carried out by other United States Gov- 1 ernment agencies when such programs pertain to the fol- 2 lowing matters, to the extent directed by the Secretary of 3 State: 4 ‘‘(1) National security. 5 ‘‘(2) Strengthening cooperation among Arctic 6 countries. 7 ‘‘(3) The promotion of responsible natural re- 8 source management and economic development. 9 ‘‘(4) Protecting the Arctic environment and 10 conserving its biological resources. 11 ‘‘(5) Arctic indigenous peoples, including by in- 12 volving them in decisions that affect them. 13 ‘‘(6) Scientific monitoring and research. 14 ‘‘(e) ADDITIONAL DUTIES.—In addition to the duties 15 and responsibilities specified in subsections (c) and (d), 16 the Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region shall also 17 carry out such other relevant duties as the Secretary may 18 assign. 19 ‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 20 ‘‘(1) ARCTIC REGION.—The term ‘Arctic region’ 21 means— 22 ‘‘(A) the geographic region north of the 23 66.56083 parallel latitude north of the equator; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Mar 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S821.IS S821 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •S 821 IS ‘‘(B) all the United States territory north 1 and west of the boundary formed by the Porcu- 2 pine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; 3 ‘‘(C) all contiguous seas, including the Arc- 4 tic Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and 5 Chukchi Seas; and 6 ‘‘(D) the Aleutian Chain. 7 ‘‘(2) ARCTIC COUNTRIES.—The term ‘Arctic 8 countries’ means the permanent members of the 9 Arctic Council, namely the United States, Canada, 10 Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and 11 Russia.’’. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Mar 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S821.IS S821 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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