[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1325 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                        Calendar No. 51
118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1325

 To establish a partnership with nations in the Western Hemisphere to 
promote economic competitiveness, democratic governance, and security, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 26, 2023

  Mr. Risch (for himself, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Rubio) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                           Foreign Relations

                              May 4, 2023

              Reported by Mr. Menendez, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a partnership with nations in the Western Hemisphere to 
promote economic competitiveness, democratic governance, and security, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Western Hemisphere 
Partnership Act of 2023''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY IN THE WESTERN 
              HEMISPHERE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    It is the policy of the United States to promote economic 
competitiveness, democratic governance, and security in the Western 
Hemisphere by--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) encouraging stronger economic relations, 
        respect for property rights, the rule of law, and enforceable 
        investment rules and labor and environmental 
        standards;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) advancing the principles and practices 
        expressed in the Charter of the Organization of American 
        States, the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of 
        Man, and the Inter-American Democratic Charter; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) enhancing the capacity and technical 
        capabilities of democratic partner nation government 
        institutions, including civilian law enforcement, the 
        judiciary, attorneys general, and security forces.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. PROMOTING SECURITY AND THE RULE OF LAW IN THE WESTERN 
              HEMISPHERE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
the United States should strengthen security cooperation with 
democratic partner nations in the Western Hemisphere to promote a 
secure hemisphere and to address the negative impacts of transnational 
criminal organizations and malign external state actors.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Collaborative Efforts.--The Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, should 
support the improvement of security conditions and the rule of law in 
the Western Hemisphere through collaborative efforts with democratic 
partners that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) enhance the institutional capacity and 
        technical capabilities of defense and security institutions in 
        democratic partner nations to conduct national or regional 
        security missions, including through regular bilateral and 
        multilateral engagements, foreign military sales and financing, 
        international military education, and training programs, and 
        other means;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) provide technical assistance and material 
        support (including, as appropriate, radars, vessels, and 
        communications equipment) to relevant security forces to 
        disrupt, degrade, and dismantle organizations involved in 
        illicit narcotics trafficking, transnational criminal 
        activities, illicit mining, and illegal, unreported, and 
        unregulated fishing, and other illicit activities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) enhance the institutional capacity and 
        technical capabilities of relevant civilian law enforcement, 
        attorneys general, and judicial institutions to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) strengthen the rule of law and 
                transparent governance; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) improve regional cooperation to 
                disrupt, degrade, and dismantle transnational organized 
                criminal networks and terrorist organizations, 
                including through training, anticorruption initiatives, 
                anti-money laundering programs, and strengthening cyber 
                capabilities and resources;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) enhance port management and maritime security 
        partnerships and airport management and aviation security 
        partnerships to disrupt, degrade, and dismantle transnational 
        criminal networks and facilitate the legitimate flow of people, 
        goods, and services;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) strengthen cooperation to improve border 
        security across the Western Hemisphere, dismantle human 
        smuggling and trafficking networks, and increase cooperation to 
        demonstrably strengthen migration management systems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) counter the malign influence of state and non-
        state actors and misinformation and disinformation 
        campaigns;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) disrupt illicit domestic and transnational 
        financial networks;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) foster mechanisms for cooperation on emergency 
        preparedness and rapid recovery from natural disasters, 
        including by--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) supporting regional preparedness, 
                recovery, and emergency management centers to 
                facilitate rapid response to survey and help maintain 
                planning on regional disaster anticipated needs and 
                possible resources; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) training disaster recovery officials 
                on latest techniques and lessons learned from United 
                States experiences; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) foster regional mechanisms for early warning 
        and response to pandemics in the Western Hemisphere, including 
        through--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) improved cooperation with and research 
                by the United States Centers for Disease Control and 
                Prevention through regional pandemic response 
                centers;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) personnel exchanges for technology 
                transfer and skills development; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) surveying and mapping of health 
                networks to build local health capacity.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Limitations on Use of Technologies.--Operational 
technologies transferred pursuant to subsection (b) to partner 
governments for intelligence, defense, or law enforcement purposes 
shall be used solely for the purposes for which the technology was 
intended. The United States shall take all necessary steps to ensure 
that the use of such operational technologies is consistent with United 
States law, including protections of freedom of expression, freedom of 
movement, and freedom of association.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. PROMOTING DIGITALIZATION AND CYBERSECURITY IN THE 
              WESTERN HEMISPHERE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
the United States should support digitalization and expand 
cybersecurity cooperation in the Western Hemisphere to promote regional 
economic prosperity and security.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Promotion of Digitalization and Cybersecurity.--The 
Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of other relevant 
Federal agencies, should promote digitalization and cybersecurity in 
the Western Hemisphere through collaborative efforts with democratic 
partners that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) promote digital connectivity and facilitate e-
        commerce by expanding access to information and communications 
        technology (ICT) supply chains that adhere to high-quality 
        security and reliability standards, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) to open market access on a national 
                treatment, nondiscriminatory basis; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) to strengthen the cybersecurity and 
                cyber resilience of partner countries;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) advance the provision of digital government 
        services (e-government) that, to the greatest extent possible, 
        promote transparency, lower business costs, and expand 
        citizens' access to public services and public information; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) develop robust cybersecurity partnerships to--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) promote the inclusion of components 
                and architectures in information and communications 
                technology (ICT) supply chains from participants in 
                initiatives that adhere to high-quality security and 
                reliability standards;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) share best practices to mitigate cyber 
                threats to critical infrastructure from ICT 
                architectures by technology providers with close ties 
                to, or that are susceptible to pressure from, 
                governments or security services without reliable legal 
                checks on governmental powers;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) effectively respond to cybersecurity 
                threats, including state-sponsored threats; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) to strengthen resilience against 
                cyberattacks and cybercrime.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. PROMOTING ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS IN THE 
              WESTERN HEMISPHERE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
the United States should enhance economic and commercial ties with 
democratic partners to promote prosperity in the Western Hemisphere by 
modernizing and strengthening trade capacity-building and trade 
facilitation initiatives, encouraging market-based economic reforms, 
strengthening labor and environmental standards, and encouraging 
transparency and adherence to the rule of law in investment 
dealings.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination 
with the United States Trade Representative, the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Development Finance Corporation, and the heads of other 
relevant Federal agencies, should support the improvement of economic 
conditions in the Western Hemisphere through collaborative efforts with 
democratic partners that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) facilitate a more open, transparent, and 
        competitive environment for United States businesses and 
        promote robust and comprehensive trade capacity-building and 
        trade facilitation by--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) reducing trade and nontariff barriers 
                between the countries in the region, establishing a 
                mechanism for pursuing Mutual Recognition Agreements 
                and Formalized Regulatory Cooperation Agreements in 
                priority sectors of the economy;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) establishing a forum for discussing 
                and evaluating technical and other assistance needs to 
                help establish streamlined ``single window'' processes 
                to facilitate movement of goods and common customs 
                arrangements and procedures to lower costs of goods in 
                transit and speed to destination;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) building relationships and exchanges 
                between relevant regulatory bodies in the United States 
                and democratic partners in the Western Hemisphere to 
                promote best practices and transparency in rulemaking, 
                implementation, and enforcement, and provide training 
                and assistance to help improve supply chain management 
                in the Western Hemisphere;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) establishing regional fora for 
                identifying, raising, and addressing supply chain 
                management issues, including infrastructure needs and 
                strengthening of investment rules and regulatory 
                frameworks;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) establishing a dedicated program of 
                trade missions and reverse trade missions to increase 
                commercial contacts and ties between the United States 
                and Western Hemisphere partner countries; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) strengthening labor and environmental 
                standards in the region;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) establish frameworks or mechanisms to review 
        and address the long-term financial sustainability and national 
        security implications of foreign investments in strategic 
        sectors or services;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) establish competitive and transparent 
        infrastructure project selection and procurement processes that 
        promote transparency, open competition, financial 
        sustainability, and robust adherence to global standards and 
        norms; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) advance robust and comprehensive energy 
        production and integration, including through a more open, 
        transparent, and competitive environment for United States 
        companies competing in the Western Hemisphere, including by--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) facilitating further development of 
                integrated regional energy markets;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) improving management of grids, 
                including technical capability to ensure the 
                functionality, safe and responsible management, and 
                quality of service of electricity providers, carriers, 
                and management and distribution systems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) facilitating private sector-led 
                development of reliable and affordable power generation 
                capacity;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) establishing a process for surveying 
                grid capacity and management focused on identifying 
                electricity service efficiencies and establishing 
                cooperative mechanisms for providing technical 
                assistance for--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) grid management, power 
                        pricing, and tariff issues;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) establishing and maintaining 
                        appropriate regulatory best practices; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) proposals to establish 
                        regional power grids for the purpose of 
                        promoting the sale of excess supply to 
                        consumers across borders;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) assessing the viability and 
                effectiveness of decentralizing power production and 
                transmission and building micro-grid power networks to 
                improve, when feasible, access to electricity, 
                particularly in rural and underserved communities where 
                centralized power grid connections may not be feasible 
                in the short to medium term; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) exploring opportunities to partner 
                with the private sector and multilateral institutions, 
                such as the World Bank and the Inter-American 
                Development Bank, to promote universal access to 
                reliable and affordable electricity in the Western 
                Hemisphere.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN 
              THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
the United States should support efforts to strengthen the capacity of 
democratic institutions and processes in the Western Hemisphere to 
promote a more transparent, democratic, and prosperous 
region.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination 
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development and heads of other relevant Federal agencies, should 
support transparent, accountable, and democratic governance in the 
Western Hemisphere through collaborative efforts with democratic 
partners that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) strengthen the capacity of national electoral 
        institutions to ensure free, fair, and transparent electoral 
        processes, including through pre-election assessment missions, 
        technical assistance, and independent local and international 
        election monitoring and observation missions;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) enhance the capabilities of democratically 
        elected national legislatures, parliamentary bodies, and 
        autonomous regulatory institutions to conduct 
        oversight;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) strengthen the capacity of subnational 
        government institutions to govern in a transparent, 
        accountable, and democratic manner, including through training 
        and technical assistance;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) combat corruption at local and national 
        levels, including through trainings, cooperation agreements, 
        and bilateral or multilateral anticorruption mechanisms that 
        strengthen attorneys general and prosecutors' offices; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) strengthen the capacity of civil society to 
        conduct oversight of government institutions, build the 
        capacity of independent professional journalism, facilitate 
        substantive dialogue with government and the private sector to 
        generate issue-based policies, and mobilize local resources to 
        carry out such activities.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEFINED.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act, the term ``Western Hemisphere'' does not 
include Cuba, Nicaragua, or Venezuela, except for purposes of section 
6.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Western Hemisphere Partnership Act 
of 2023''.

SEC. 2. UNITED STATES POLICY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

    It is the policy of the United States to promote economic 
competitiveness, democratic governance, and security in the Western 
Hemisphere by--
            (1) encouraging stronger economic relations, respect for 
        property rights, the rule of law, and enforceable investment 
        rules and labor and environmental standards;
            (2) advancing the principles and practices expressed in the 
        Charter of the Organization of American States, the American 
        Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, and the Inter-
        American Democratic Charter; and
            (3) enhancing the capacity and technical capabilities of 
        democratic partner nation government institutions, including 
        civilian law enforcement, the judiciary, attorneys general, and 
        security forces.

SEC. 3. PROMOTING SECURITY AND THE RULE OF LAW IN THE WESTERN 
              HEMISPHERE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States should strengthen security cooperation with democratic partner 
nations in the Western Hemisphere to promote a secure hemisphere and to 
address the negative impacts of transnational criminal organizations 
and malign external state actors.
    (b) Collaborative Efforts.--The Secretary of State, in coordination 
with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, should support the 
improvement of security conditions and the rule of law in the Western 
Hemisphere through collaborative efforts with democratic partners 
that--
            (1) enhance the institutional capacity and technical 
        capabilities of defense and security institutions in democratic 
        partner nations to conduct national or regional security 
        missions, including through regular bilateral and multilateral 
        engagements, foreign military sales and financing, 
        international military education and training programs, 
        expanding the National Guard State Partnership Programs, and 
        other means;
            (2) provide technical assistance and material support 
        (including, as appropriate, radars, vessels, and communications 
        equipment) to relevant security forces to disrupt, degrade, and 
        dismantle organizations involved in the illicit trafficking of 
        narcotics and precursor chemicals, transnational criminal 
        activities, illicit mining, and illegal, unreported, and 
        unregulated fishing, and other illicit activities;
            (3) enhance the institutional capacity, legitimacy, and 
        technical capabilities of relevant civilian law enforcement, 
        attorneys general, and judicial institutions to--
                    (A) strengthen the rule of law and transparent 
                governance;
                    (B) combat corruption and kleptocracy in the 
                region; and
                    (C) improve regional cooperation to disrupt, 
                degrade, and dismantle transnational organized criminal 
                networks and terrorist organizations, including through 
                training, anticorruption initiatives, anti-money 
                laundering programs, and strengthening cyber 
                capabilities and resources;
            (4) enhance port management and maritime security 
        partnerships and airport management and aviation security 
        partnerships to disrupt, degrade, and dismantle transnational 
        criminal networks and facilitate the legitimate flow of people, 
        goods, and services;
            (5) strengthen cooperation to improve border security 
        across the Western Hemisphere, dismantle human smuggling and 
        trafficking networks, and increase cooperation to demonstrably 
        strengthen migration management systems;
            (6) counter the malign influence of state and non-state 
        actors and disinformation campaigns;
            (7) disrupt illicit domestic and transnational financial 
        networks;
            (8) foster mechanisms for cooperation on emergency 
        preparedness and rapid recovery from natural disasters, 
        including by--
                    (A) supporting regional preparedness, recovery, and 
                emergency management centers to facilitate rapid 
                response to survey and help maintain planning on 
                regional disaster anticipated needs and possible 
                resources;
                    (B) training disaster recovery officials on latest 
                techniques and lessons learned from United States 
                experiences;
                    (C) making available, preparing, and transferring 
                on-hand nonlethal supplies, and providing training on 
                the use of such supplies, for humanitarian or health 
                purposes to respond to unforeseen emergencies; and
                    (D) conducting medical support operations and 
                medical humanitarian missions, such as hospital ship 
                deployments and base-operating services, to the extent 
                required by the operation;
            (9) foster regional mechanisms for early warning and 
        response to pandemics in the Western Hemisphere, including 
        through--
                    (A) improved cooperation with and research by the 
                United States Centers for Disease Control and 
                Prevention through regional pandemic response centers;
                    (B) personnel exchanges for technology transfer and 
                skills development; and
                    (C) surveying and mapping of health networks to 
                build local health capacity;
            (10) promote the meaningful participation of women across 
        all political processes, including conflict prevention and 
        conflict resolution and post-conflict relief and recovery 
        efforts; and
            (11) hold accountable actors that violate political and 
        civil rights.
    (c) Limitations on Use of Technologies.--Operational technologies 
transferred pursuant to subsection (b) to partner governments for 
intelligence, defense, or law enforcement purposes shall be used solely 
for the purposes for which the technology was intended. The United 
States shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the use of such 
operational technologies is consistent with United States law, 
including protections of freedom of expression, freedom of movement, 
and freedom of association.
    (d) Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
        coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, 
        shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a 5-year strategy to promote security and the 
        rule of law in the Western Hemisphere in accordance to this 
        Section.
            (2) Elements.--The strategy required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following elements:
                    (A) A detailed assessment of the resources required 
                to carry out such collaborative efforts.
                    (B) Annual benchmarks to track progress and 
                obstacles in undertaking such collaborative efforts.
                    (C) A public diplomacy component to engage the 
                people of the Western Hemisphere with the purpose of 
                demonstrating that the security of their countries is 
                enhanced to a greater extent through alignment with the 
                United States and democratic values rather than with 
                authoritarian countries such as the People's Republic 
                of China, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic 
                Republic of Iran.
            (3) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after submission of 
        the strategy required under paragraph (1), and annually 
        thereafter, the Secretary of State shall provide to the 
        Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee 
        on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a briefing 
        on the implementation of the strategy.

SEC. 4. PROMOTING DIGITALIZATION AND CYBERSECURITY IN THE WESTERN 
              HEMISPHERE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States should support digitalization and expand cybersecurity 
cooperation in the Western Hemisphere to promote regional economic 
prosperity and security.
    (b) Promotion of Digitalization and Cybersecurity.--The Secretary 
of State, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies, should promote digitalization and cybersecurity in the 
Western Hemisphere through collaborative efforts with democratic 
partners that--
            (1) promote digital connectivity and facilitate e-commerce 
        by expanding access to information and communications 
        technology (ICT) supply chains that adhere to high-quality 
        security and reliability standards, including--
                    (A) to open market access on a national treatment, 
                nondiscriminatory basis; and
                    (B) to strengthen the cybersecurity and cyber 
                resilience of partner countries;
            (2) advance the provision of digital government services 
        (e-government) that, to the greatest extent possible, promote 
        transparency, lower business costs, and expand citizens' access 
        to public services and public information; and
            (3) develop robust cybersecurity partnerships to--
                    (A) promote the inclusion of components and 
                architectures in information and communications 
                technology (ICT) supply chains from participants in 
                initiatives that adhere to high-quality security and 
                reliability standards;
                    (B) share best practices to mitigate cyber threats 
                to critical infrastructure from ICT architectures by 
                technology providers that supply equipment and services 
                covered under section 2 of the Secure and Trusted 
                Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601);
                    (C) effectively respond to cybersecurity threats, 
                including state-sponsored threats; and
                    (D) to strengthen resilience against cyberattacks 
                and cybercrime.

SEC. 5. PROMOTING ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS IN THE WESTERN 
              HEMISPHERE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States should enhance economic and commercial ties with democratic 
partners to promote prosperity in the Western Hemisphere by modernizing 
and strengthening trade capacity-building and trade facilitation 
initiatives, encouraging market-based economic reforms that enable 
inclusive economic growth, strengthening labor and environmental 
standards, addressing economic disparities of women, and encouraging 
transparency and adherence to the rule of law in investment dealings.
    (b) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
United States Trade Representative, the Chief Executive Officer of the 
Development Finance Corporation, and the heads of other relevant 
Federal agencies, should support the improvement of economic conditions 
in the Western Hemisphere through collaborative efforts with democratic 
partners that--
            (1) facilitate a more open, transparent, and competitive 
        environment for United States businesses and promote robust and 
        comprehensive trade capacity-building and trade facilitation 
        by--
                    (A) reducing trade and nontariff barriers between 
                the countries in the region, establishing a mechanism 
                for pursuing Mutual Recognition Agreements and 
                Formalized Regulatory Cooperation Agreements in 
                priority sectors of the economy;
                    (B) establishing a forum for discussing and 
                evaluating technical and other assistance needs to help 
                establish streamlined ``single window'' processes to 
                facilitate movement of goods and common customs 
                arrangements and procedures to lower costs of goods in 
                transit and speed to destination;
                    (C) building relationships and exchanges between 
                relevant regulatory bodies in the United States and 
                democratic partners in the Western Hemisphere to 
                promote best practices and transparency in rulemaking, 
                implementation, and enforcement, and provide training 
                and assistance to help improve supply chain management 
                in the Western Hemisphere;
                    (D) establishing regional fora for identifying, 
                raising, and addressing supply chain management issues, 
                including infrastructure needs and strengthening of 
                investment rules and regulatory frameworks;
                    (E) establishing a dedicated program of trade 
                missions and reverse trade missions to increase 
                commercial contacts and ties between the United States 
                and Western Hemisphere partner countries; and
                    (F) strengthening labor and environmental standards 
                in the region;
            (2) establish frameworks or mechanisms to review and 
        address the long-term financial sustainability and national 
        security implications of foreign investments in strategic 
        sectors or services;
            (3) establish competitive and transparent infrastructure 
        project selection and procurement processes that promote 
        transparency, open competition, financial sustainability, and 
        robust adherence to global standards and norms; and
            (4) advance robust and comprehensive energy production and 
        integration, including through a more open, transparent, and 
        competitive environment for United States companies competing 
        in the Western Hemisphere, including by--
                    (A) facilitating further development of integrated 
                regional energy markets;
                    (B) improving management of grids, including 
                technical capability to ensure the functionality, safe 
                and responsible management, and quality of service of 
                electricity providers, carriers, and management and 
                distribution systems;
                    (C) facilitating private sector-led development of 
                reliable and affordable power generation capacity;
                    (D) establishing a process for surveying grid 
                capacity and management focused on identifying 
                electricity service efficiencies and establishing 
                cooperative mechanisms for providing technical 
                assistance for--
                            (i) grid management, power pricing, and 
                        tariff issues;
                            (ii) establishing and maintaining 
                        appropriate regulatory best practices; and
                            (iii) proposals to establish regional power 
                        grids for the purpose of promoting the sale of 
                        excess supply to consumers across borders;
                    (E) assessing the viability and effectiveness of 
                decentralizing power production and transmission and 
                building micro-grid power networks to improve, when 
                feasible, access to electricity, particularly in rural 
                and underserved communities where centralized power 
                grid connections may not be feasible in the short to 
                medium term; and
                    (F) exploring opportunities to partner with the 
                private sector and multilateral institutions, such as 
                the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, 
                to promote universal access to reliable and affordable 
                electricity in the Western Hemisphere.

SEC. 6. PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN THE WESTERN 
              HEMISPHERE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the United 
States should support efforts to strengthen the capacity and legitimacy 
of democratic institutions and inclusive processes in the Western 
Hemisphere to promote a more transparent, democratic, and prosperous 
region.
    (b) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the 
Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development 
and heads of other relevant Federal agencies, should support 
transparent, accountable, and democratic governance in the Western 
Hemisphere through collaborative efforts with democratic partners 
that--
            (1) strengthen the capacity of national electoral 
        institutions to ensure free, fair, and transparent electoral 
        processes, including through pre-election assessment missions, 
        technical assistance, and independent local and international 
        election monitoring and observation missions;
            (2) enhance the capabilities of democratically elected 
        national legislatures, parliamentary bodies, and autonomous 
        regulatory institutions to conduct oversight;
            (3) strengthen the capacity of subnational government 
        institutions to govern in a transparent, accountable, and 
        democratic manner, including through training and technical 
        assistance;
            (4) combat corruption at local and national levels, 
        including through trainings, cooperation agreements, 
        initiatives aimed at dismantling corrupt networks, and 
        political support for bilateral or multilateral anticorruption 
        mechanisms that strengthen attorneys general and prosecutors' 
        offices;
            (5) strengthen the capacity of civil society to conduct 
        oversight of government institutions, build the capacity of 
        independent professional journalism, facilitate substantive 
        dialogue with government and the private sector to generate 
        issue-based policies, and mobilize local resources to carry out 
        such activities;
            (6) promote the meaningful and significant participation of 
        women in democratic processes, including in national and 
        subnational government and civil society; and
            (7) support the creation of procedures for the Organization 
        of American States (OAS) to create an annual forum for 
        democratically elected national legislatures from OAS member 
        States to discuss issues of hemispheric importance, as 
        expressed in section 4 of the Organization of American States 
        Legislative Engagement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-343).

SEC. 7. INVESTMENT, TRADE, AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA AND LATIN AMERICA 
              AND THE CARIBBEAN.

    (a) Strategy Required.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall establish a 
        comprehensive United States strategy for public and private 
        investment, trade, and development in Africa and Latin America 
        and the Caribbean.
            (2) Focus of strategy.--The strategy required by paragraph 
        (1) shall focus on increasing exports of United States goods 
        and services to Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean by 
        200 percent in real dollar value by the date that is 10 years 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (3) Consultations.--In developing the strategy required by 
        paragraph (1), the President shall consult with--
                    (A) Congress;
                    (B) each agency that is a member of the Trade 
                Promotion Coordinating Committee;
                    (C) the relevant multilateral development banks, in 
                coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the 
                respective United States Executive Directors of such 
                banks;
                    (D) each agency that participates in the Trade 
                Policy Staff Committee established;
                    (E) the President's Export Council;
                    (F) each of the development agencies;
                    (G) any other Federal agencies with responsibility 
                for export promotion or financing and development; and
                    (H) the private sector, including businesses, 
                nongovernmental organizations, and African and Latin 
                American and Caribbean diaspora groups.
            (4) Submission to congress.--
                    (A) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
                submit to Congress the strategy required by subsection 
                (a).
                    (B) Progress report.--Not later than 3 years after 
                the date of the enactment of this Act, the President 
                shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation 
                of the strategy required by paragraph (1).
    (b) Special Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean Export 
Strategy Coordinators.--The President shall designate an individual to 
serve as Special Africa Export Strategy Coordinator and an individual 
to serve as Special Latin America and the Caribbean Export Strategy 
Coordinator--
            (1) to oversee the development and implementation of the 
        strategy required by subsection (a); and
            (2) to coordinate developing and implementing the strategy 
        with--
                    (A) the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee;
                    (B) the Assistant United States Trade 
                Representative for African Affairs or the Assistant 
                United States Trade Representative for the Western 
                Hemisphere, as appropriate;
                    (C) the Assistant Secretary of State for African 
                Affairs or the Assistant Secretary of State for Western 
                Hemisphere Affairs, as appropriate;
                    (D) the Export-Import Bank of the United States;
                    (E) the United States International Development 
                Finance Corporation; and
                    (F) the development agencies.
    (c) Trade Missions to Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.--
It is the sense of Congress that, not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce and other 
high-level officials of the United States Government with 
responsibility for export promotion, financing, and development should 
conduct joint trade missions to Africa and to Latin America and the 
Caribbean.
    (d) Training.--The President shall develop a plan--
            (1) to standardize the training received by United States 
        and Foreign Commercial Service officers, economic officers of 
        the Department of State, and economic officers of the United 
        States Agency for International Development with respect to the 
        programs and procedures of the Export-Import Bank of the United 
        States, the United States International Development Finance 
        Corporation, the Small Business Administration, and the United 
        States Trade and Development Agency; and
            (2) to ensure that, not later than one year after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act--
                    (A) all United States and Foreign Commercial 
                Service officers that are stationed overseas receive 
                the training described in paragraph (1); and
                    (B) in the case of a country to which no United 
                States and Foreign Commercial Service officer is 
                assigned, any economic officer of the Department of 
                State stationed in that country receives that training.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Development agencies.--The term ``development 
        agencies'' means the United States Department of State, the 
        United States Agency for International Development, the 
        Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States 
        International Development Finance Corporation, the United 
        States Trade and Development Agency, the United States 
        Department of Agriculture, and relevant multilateral 
        development banks.
            (2) Multilateral development banks.--The term 
        ``multilateral development banks'' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 1701(c)(4) of the International Financial 
        Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)(4)) and includes the 
        African Development Foundation.
            (3) Trade policy staff committee.--The term ``Trade Policy 
        Staff Committee'' means the Trade Policy Staff Committee 
        established pursuant to section 2002.2 of title 15, Code of 
        Federal Regulations.
            (4) Trade promotion coordinating committee.--The term 
        ``Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee'' means the Trade 
        Promotion Coordinating Committee established under section 2312 
        of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727).
            (5) United states and foreign commercial service.--The term 
        ``United States and Foreign Commercial Service'' means the 
        United States and Foreign Commercial Service established by 
        section 2301 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 
        4721).

SEC. 8. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PRIORITIZING NOMINATION AND CONFIRMATION 
              OF QUALIFIED AMBASSADORS.

    It is the sense of Congress that it is critically important that 
both the President and the Senate play their respective roles to 
nominate and confirm qualified ambassadors as quickly as possible, 
especially for countries in the Western Hemisphere.

SEC. 9. WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEFINED.

    In this Act, the term ``Western Hemisphere'' does not include Cuba, 
Nicaragua, or Venezuela.

SEC. 10. REPORT ON EFFORTS TO CAPTURE AND DETAIN UNITED STATES CITIZENS 
              AS HOSTAGES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on efforts by 
the Maduro regime of Venezuela to detain United States citizens and 
lawful permanent residents.
    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall include, 
regarding the arrest, capture, detainment, and imprisonment of United 
States citizens and lawful permanent residents--
            (1) the names, positions, and institutional affiliation of 
        Venezuelan individuals, or those acting on their behalf, who 
        have engaged in such activities;
            (2) a description of any role played by transnational 
        criminal organizations, and an identification of such 
        organizations; and
            (3) where relevant, an assessment of whether and how United 
        States citizens and lawful permanent residents have been lured 
        to Venezuela.
    (c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but shall include a classified annex, 
which shall include a list of the total number of United States 
citizens and lawful permanent residents detained or imprisoned in 
Venezuela as of the date on which the report is submitted.
                                                        Calendar No. 51

118th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1325

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To establish a partnership with nations in the Western Hemisphere to 
promote economic competitiveness, democratic governance, and security, 
                        and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              May 4, 2023

                       Reported with an amendment