[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1651 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 369
118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1651

 To encourage increased trade and investment between the United States 
   and the countries in the Western Balkans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2023

Mrs. Shaheen (for herself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Van 
 Hollen, and Mr. Welch) introduced the following bill; which was read 
        twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

                              May 7, 2024

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To encourage increased trade and investment between the United States 
   and the countries in the Western Balkans, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Western 
Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
is as follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
<DELETED>Sec. 2. Findings.
<DELETED>Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
<DELETED>Sec. 4. Definitions.
<DELETED>Sec. 5. Codification of sanctions relating to the Western 
                            Balkans.
<DELETED>Sec. 6. Congressional review of certain actions relating to 
                            sanctions imposed with respect to the 
                            Western Balkans.
<DELETED>Sec. 7. Democratic and economic development and prosperity 
                            initiatives.
<DELETED>Sec. 8. Countering malign influence and promoting cross-
                            cultural engagement.
<DELETED>Sec. 9. Peace Corps in the Western Balkans.
<DELETED>Sec. 10. Balkans Youth Leadership Initiative.
<DELETED>Sec. 11. Supporting cybersecurity and cyber resilience in the 
                            Western Balkans.
<DELETED>Sec. 12. Sense of Congress regarding an interim agreement.
<DELETED>Sec. 13. Sunset.

<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Congress finds the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The Western Balkans countries (the Republic of 
        Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Kosovo, 
        Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, and the Republic 
        of Serbia) form a pluralistic, multi-ethnic region in the heart 
        of Europe that is critical to the peace, stability, and 
        prosperity of Europe.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Continued peace, stability, and prosperity in 
        the Western Balkans is directly tied to opportunities for 
        democratic and economic advancement available to the citizens 
        and residents of those 6 countries.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) It is in the mutual interest of the United 
        States and the 6 countries of the Western Balkans to promote 
        stable and sustainable economic growth and development in the 
        region.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) The reforms and integration with the European 
        Union pursued by countries in the Western Balkans have led to 
        significant democratic and economic progress in the 
        region.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Despite economic progress, rates of poverty 
        and unemployment in the Western Balkans remain higher than in 
        neighboring European Union countries.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Out-migration, particularly of youth, is 
        affecting demographics in each Western Balkans country, 
        resulting in negative population growth in all 6 
        countries.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Creating an enabling environment for 
        transparent, accountable, and market-oriented investment and 
        creating employment opportunities in the Western Balkans, 
        especially for youth, can provide powerful tools for economic 
        development and for encouraging broader participation in a 
        political process that increases prosperity for all.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) Offering opportunities for inclusive, 
        transparent economic growth and merit-based employment to 
        people living in the Western Balkans will encourage higher 
        levels of trade and direct investment and support positive 
        economic and political developments occurring throughout the 
        region.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) Existing regional economic efforts, such as 
        the Common Regional Market and the Open Balkan initiative, when 
        aligned with European Union standards, norms, and regulations, 
        have the potential to improve the economic conditions in the 
        Western Balkans, while promoting inclusion and 
        transparency.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) The Department of Commerce, through its 
        Foreign Commercial Service, plays an important role in 
        promoting and facilitating opportunities for United States 
        trade and investment.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) Corruption continues to plague the Western 
        Balkans and represents one of the greatest impediments to 
        further economic and political development in the 
        region.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (12) Disinformation campaigns targeting the 
        Western Balkans threaten the credibility of Western democratic 
        institutions.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (13) Vulnerabilities to corrosive capital, malign 
        economic influence, interference, and economic coercion are 
        acutely present in Western Balkans economies.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (14) Vulnerability to cyberattacks or attacks on 
        information and communication technology infrastructure 
        increases risks to the functioning of government and the 
        delivery of public services.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (15) United States Cyber Command plays a critical 
        role in defending the national security interests of the United 
        States.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (16) Securing domestic and international cyber 
        networks and electronic infrastructure is a national security 
        priority for the United States, which is exemplified by offices 
        and programs across the Federal Government that support cyber 
        security, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Department of Homeland Security's 
                Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security 
                Agency;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Department of State's Bureau of 
                Cyberspace and Digital Policy;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the United States Agency for 
                International Development's Digital Strategy; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the Department of Energy's CyberForce 
                Program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (17) Corruption and disinformation proliferate in 
        political environments marked by autocratic control or partisan 
        conflict.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (18) Dependence on Russian sources of oil and 
        natural gas for the countries of the Western Balkans ties their 
        economies and politics to the Russian Federation and inhibits 
        their aspirations for European integration.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (19) The reliance of the Western Balkans on fossil 
        fuels for energy sources causes damage to the environment and 
        to human health, while inhibiting economic development in the 
        region.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (20) Reducing the reliance of the Western Balkans 
        on Russian natural gas supplies is in the national interest of 
        the United States.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (21) The growing influence of China in the Western 
        Balkans could also have a deleterious impact on strategic 
        competition, democracy, and economic integration with 
        Europe.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (22) The United States International Development 
        Finance Corporation plays an important role in the pursuit of 
        United States policy goals focused on economic 
        development.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (23) In March 2022, President Biden launched the 
        European Democratic Resilience Initiative to bolster democratic 
        resilience, advance anti-corruption efforts, and defend human 
        rights in Ukraine and its neighbors in response to Russia's war 
        of aggression.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    It is a sense of Congress that the United States should--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) encourage increased trade and investment 
        between the United States and allies and partners in the 
        Western Balkans;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) expand United States assistance to regional 
        integration efforts in the Western Balkans;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) strengthen and expand regional economic 
        integration in the Western Balkans, especially enterprises 
        owned by and employing women and youth;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) work with allies and partners committed to 
        improving the rule of law, energy resource diversification, 
        democratic and economic reform, and the eradication of poverty 
        in the Western Balkans;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) increase United States trade and investment 
        with the Western Balkans, particularly in ways that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) decrease dependence on Russian energy 
                sources and fossil fuels;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) increase energy diversification, 
                efficiency, and conservation; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) facilitate the transition to cleaner 
                and more reliable sources of energy, including 
                renewables;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) support the efforts of countries of the 
        Western Balkans to develop--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) strong civil societies;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) public-private partnerships and 
                dialogue in policy development;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) independent media;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) transparent, accountable, citizen-
                responsive governance, including expanded 
                representation for women and youth in democratic 
                spaces; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) political stability;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) support the expeditious accession of the 
        Western Balkans countries to the European Union and to the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to in this section 
        as ``NATO'') for those that desire and meet the criteria for 
        membership;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) support--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) maintaining the full European Union 
                Force (EUFOR) mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina as 
                being in the national security interests of the United 
                States;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) encouraging NATO and the European 
                Union to review their mission mandates and posture in 
                Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure they are playing a 
                proactive role in establishing a safe and secure 
                environment, particularly the defense 
                environment;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) using the voice of the United States 
                in NATO to encourage alliance planning and support of 
                an international military force to maintain a safe and 
                secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
                especially if Russia blocks reauthorization of the 
                mission in the United Nations; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) a strengthened NATO headquarters in 
                Sarajevo;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) continue security cooperation with the 
        Republic of Albania, Montenegro, and the Republic of North 
        Macedonia through the auspices of NATO and through continued 
        bilateral cooperation;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) continue to support Montenegro's ongoing 
        accession negotiations with the European Union, including by 
        providing assistance to Montenegro to help the country promptly 
        meet European Union membership criteria;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) continue to support the applications of the 
        Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Albania for 
        European Union membership by supporting improvement of their 
        respective abilities to meet democracy benchmarks required for 
        accession;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (12) continue to support the overarching mission 
        of the Open Balkan initiative provided the initiative remains 
        inclusive of all Western Balkans countries and remains aligned 
        with the objectives and standards laid out by the European 
        Union for requirements for accession to the European 
        Union;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (13) continue to support the pursuit by Bosnia and 
        Herzegovina of European Union candidate status by encouraging 
        meaningful advancement of its reform agenda;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (14) continue to support the cultural heritage, 
        and recognize the languages of the Western Balkans;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (15) coordinate closely with the European Union, 
        the United Kingdom, and other allies and partners on sanctions 
        designations and work to align efforts as much as possible to 
        demonstrate a clear commitment to upholding democratic 
        values;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (16) expand bilateral security cooperation with 
        NATO-aspirant Western Balkan countries, particularly efforts 
        focused on regional integration and cooperation, including 
        through the Adriatic Charter, done at Tirana May 2, 
        2003;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (17) increase efforts to combat Russian 
        disinformation campaigns and any other malign, destabilizing, 
        or disruptive activities targeting the Western Balkans through 
        engagement with government institutions, political 
        stakeholders, journalists, civil society organizations, and 
        industry leaders;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (18) develop a series of cyber resilience 
        standards, consistent with the Enhanced Cyber Defense Policy 
        and Readiness Action Plan endorsed at the 2014 Wales Summit of 
        the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to expand cooperation 
        with partners and allies, including in the Western Balkans, on 
        cyber security and ICT infrastructure defenses;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (19) articulate clearly and unambiguously the 
        United States commitment to supporting democratic values and 
        respect for international law as the sole path forward for the 
        countries of the Western Balkans; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (20) support the mission of the Peace Corps to 
        promote world peace and friendship by helping the people of 
        interested countries to meet their need for trained men and 
        women, which provides an invaluable opportunity to connect the 
        American people with the people of the Western 
        Balkans.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The 
        term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
                the Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
                the House of Representatives; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                House of Representatives.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Western balkans.--The term ``Western Balkans'' 
        means the region comprised of the following 
        countries:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) The Republic of Albania.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Bosnia and Herzegovina.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Montenegro.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) The Republic of Kosovo.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) The Republic of North 
                Macedonia.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) The Republic of Serbia.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Western balkans country.--The term ``Western 
        Balkan country'' means any country listed in subparagraphs (A) 
        through (F) of paragraph (2).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. CODIFICATION OF SANCTIONS RELATING TO THE WESTERN 
              BALKANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Each sanction imposed through Executive 
orders described in subsection (b), including each sanction imposed 
with respect to a person under such an Executive order, as of the date 
of the enactment of this Act, shall remain in effect, except as 
provided in subsection (c).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Executive Orders Specified.--The Executive orders 
specified in this subsection are--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Executive Order 13219 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; 
        relating to blocking property of persons who threaten 
        international stabilization efforts in the Western Balkans), as 
        in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Executive Order 14033 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; 
        relating to blocking property and suspending entry into the 
        United States of certain persons contributing to the 
        destabilizing situation in the Western Balkans), as in effect 
        on such date of enactment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Termination of Sanctions.--The President may terminate 
the application of a sanction described in subsection (a) with respect 
to a person if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional 
committees that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) such person--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) is not engaging in the activity that 
                was the basis for such sanctions; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) has taken significant verifiable steps 
                toward stopping such activity; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the President has received reliable assurances 
        that such person will not knowingly engage in activity subject 
        to such sanctions in the future.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF CERTAIN ACTIONS RELATING TO 
              SANCTIONS IMPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE WESTERN 
              BALKANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Definitions.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Covered congressional committees and 
        leadership.--In this section, the term ``covered congressional 
        committees and leadership'' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
                Urban Affairs of the Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
                the Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the Majority Leader of the 
                Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) the Minority Leader of the 
                Senate;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) the Committee on Financial Services of 
                the House of Representatives;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
                the House of Representatives;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) the Speaker of the House of 
                Representatives;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) the Majority Leader of the House of 
                Representatives; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) the Minority Leader of the House of 
                Representatives.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Joint resolution of approval.--The term 
        ``joint resolution of approval'' means only a joint resolution 
        of either House of Congress--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the title of which is as follows: ``A 
                joint resolution approving the President's proposal to 
                take an action relating to the application of certain 
                sanctions with respect to the Western Balkans.''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the sole matter after the resolving 
                clause of which is the following: ``Congress approves 
                of the action relating to the application of sanctions 
                imposed with respect to the Western Balkans proposed by 
                the President in the report submitted to Congress under 
                section 6(b)(1) of the Western Balkans Democracy and 
                Prosperity Act on _____ relating to ______.'', with the 
                first blank space being filled with the appropriate 
                date and the second blank space being filled with a 
                short description of the proposed action.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Joint resolution of disapproval.--The term 
        ``joint resolution of disapproval'' means only a joint 
        resolution of either House of Congress--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the title of which is as follows: ``A 
                joint resolution disapproving the President's proposal 
                to take an action relating to the application of 
                certain sanctions with respect to the Western 
                Balkans.''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the sole matter after the resolving 
                clause of which is the following: ``Congress 
                disapproves of the action relating to the application 
                of sanctions imposed with respect to the Western 
                Balkans proposed by the President in the report 
                submitted to Congress under section 6(b)(1) of the 
                Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act on _____ 
                relating to ______.'', with the first blank space being 
                filled with the appropriate date and the second blank 
                space being filled with a short description of the 
                proposed action.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Submission to Congress of Proposed Action.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, before taking any action described in 
        paragraph (2)(A), the President shall submit a report to the 
        covered congressional committees and leadership that includes--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) a description of the proposed action; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) a justification for the proposed 
                action.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Actions and sanctions described.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Actions described.--An action 
                described in this subparagraph is--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) an action to terminate the 
                        application of any sanction described in 
                        subparagraph (B);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) with respect to a sanction 
                        described in subparagraph (B) imposed by the 
                        President with respect to a person, an action 
                        to waive the application of such sanction with 
                        respect to that person; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) a licensing action that 
                        significantly alters the foreign policy of the 
                        United States with respect to the Western 
                        Balkans.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Sanctions described.--A sanction 
                described in this subparagraph is a sanction imposed 
                under--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) Executive Order 13219 (50 
                        U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property 
                        of persons who threaten international 
                        stabilization efforts in the Western Balkans), 
                        as in effect on the date of the enactment of 
                        this Act; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) Executive Order 14033 (50 
                        U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property 
                        and suspending entry into the United States of 
                        certain persons contributing to the 
                        destabilizing situation in the Western 
                        Balkans), as in effect on the date of enactment 
                        of this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Type of action.--Each report submitted 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) with respect to an action described 
        in paragraph (2)(A) shall include a description of whether the 
        action--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) is not intended to significantly alter 
                the foreign policy of the United States with respect to 
                the Western Balkans; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) is intended to significantly alter the 
                foreign policy of the United States with respect to the 
                Western Balkans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Inclusion of additional matters.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Additional matters.--Each report 
                submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) that relates to an 
                action that is intended to significantly alter United 
                States foreign policy with respect to the Western 
                Balkans, as determined pursuant to paragraph (3)(B), 
                shall include a description of--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) the intended significant 
                        alteration to such foreign policy;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the anticipated effect of the 
                        action on the national security interests of 
                        the United States; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) the policy objectives for 
                        which the sanctions affected by the action were 
                        initially imposed.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Requests from banking and financial 
                services committees.--The Committee on Banking, 
                Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate or the 
                Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
                Representatives may request the submission to such 
                committee of the matters specified in clauses (ii) and 
                (iii) of subparagraph (A) with respect to a report 
                submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) that relates to an 
                action that is not intended to significantly alter 
                United States foreign policy with regard to the Western 
                Balkans, as determined pursuant to paragraph 
                (3)(A).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Period for Review by Congress.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (2), during the 90-legislative day period beginning on the date 
        on which the President submits a report pursuant to subsection 
        (b)(1)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in the case of a report that relates 
                to an action that is not intended to significantly 
                alter United States foreign policy with regard to the 
                Western Balkans, as determined pursuant to subsection 
                (b)(3)(A), the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
                Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial 
                Services of the House of Representatives should, as 
                appropriate, hold hearings and briefings and otherwise 
                obtain information in order to fully review the report; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in the case of a report that relates 
                to an action that is intended to significantly alter 
                United States foreign policy with regard to the Western 
                Balkans, as determined pursuant to subsection 
                (b)(3)(B), the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
                House of Representatives should, as appropriate, hold 
                hearings and briefings and otherwise obtain information 
                in order to fully review the report.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Exception.--The period for congressional 
        review under paragraph (1) of a report submitted pursuant to 
        subsection (b)(1) shall be 120 calendar days if the report is 
        submitted on or after July 10 and on or before September 7 in 
        any calendar year.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Limitation on actions during initial 
        congressional review period.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, during the congressional review period 
        described in paragraph (1) of a report submitted pursuant to 
        subsection (b)(1) proposing an action described in subsection 
        (b)(2), including any additional period for such review as 
        applicable under the exception provided in paragraph (2), the 
        President may not take that action unless a joint resolution of 
        approval with respect to such action has been enacted in 
        accordance with subsection (d).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Limitation on actions during presidential 
        consideration of a joint resolution of disapproval.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a joint 
        resolution of disapproval relating to a report submitted 
        pursuant to subsection (b)(1) proposing an action described in 
        subsection (b)(2) passes both Houses of Congress in accordance 
        with subsection (d), the President may not take such action 
        until the date that is 12 days after the date on which such 
        joint resolution of disapproval has been passed by both Houses 
        of Congress.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Limitation on actions during congressional 
        reconsideration of a joint resolution of disapproval.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a joint 
        resolution of disapproval relating to a report submitted 
        pursuant to subsection (b)(1) proposing an action described in 
        subsection (b)(2) passes both Houses of Congress in accordance 
        with subsection (d), and the President vetoes such joint 
        resolution, the President may not take such action until 10 
        days after the date of the President's veto.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Effect of enactment of a joint resolution of 
        disapproval.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a 
        joint resolution of disapproval relating to a report submitted 
        pursuant to subsection (b)(1) proposing an action described in 
        subsection (b)(2) is enacted in accordance with subsection (d), 
        the President may not take such action.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Joint Resolutions of Disapproval or Approval.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Introduction.--During the 90-legislative day 
        period described in subsection (c)(1), including any additional 
        period applicable under the exception provided in subsection 
        (c)(2), a joint resolution of approval or joint resolution of 
        disapproval may be introduced--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in the Senate, by the Majority Leader 
                (or designee) or the Minority Leader (or designee); 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in the House of Representatives, by 
                the Majority Leader or the Minority Leader.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Floor consideration in house of 
        representatives.--If a committee of the House of 
        Representatives to which a joint resolution of approval or 
        joint resolution of disapproval has been referred does not 
        report the joint resolution to the House of Representatives 
        within 10 days after the date of referral, such committee shall 
        be discharged from further consideration of the joint 
        resolution.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Consideration in senate.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Committee referral.--A joint 
                resolution of approval or joint resolution of 
                disapproval introduced in the Senate shall be--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) referred to the Committee on 
                        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
                        Senate if the joint resolution relates to a 
                        report submitted pursuant to subsection (b)(1) 
                        that relates to an action that is not intended 
                        to significantly alter United States foreign 
                        policy with regard to the Russian Federation, 
                        as determined pursuant to subsection (b)(3)(A); 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) referred to the Committee on 
                        Foreign Relations of the Senate if the joint 
                        resolution relates to a report submitted 
                        pursuant to subsection (b)(1) that relates to 
                        an action that is intended to significantly 
                        alter United States foreign policy with respect 
                        to the Russian Federation, as determined 
                        pursuant to subsection (b)(3)(B).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Reporting and discharge.--If the 
                committee to which a joint resolution of approval or 
                joint resolution of disapproval was referred does not 
                report the joint resolution to the Senate within 10 
                days after the date of referral of the joint 
                resolution, such committee shall be discharged from 
                further consideration of the joint resolution and the 
                joint resolution shall be placed on the appropriate 
                calendar.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Proceeding to consideration.--
                Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the 
                Senate, it is in order at any time after the Committee 
                on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate or 
                the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, as 
                the case may be, reports a joint resolution of approval 
                or joint resolution of disapproval to the Senate or has 
                been discharged from consideration of such a joint 
                resolution (even though a previous motion to the same 
                effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the 
                consideration of the joint resolution, and all points 
                of order against the joint resolution (and against 
                consideration of the joint resolution) are waived. The 
                motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is not 
                subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider 
                the vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed 
                to shall not be in order.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--
                Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the 
                application of the rules of the Senate, as the case may 
                be, to the procedure relating to a joint resolution of 
                approval or joint resolution of disapproval shall be 
                decided without debate.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) Consideration of veto messages.--
                Debate in the Senate of any veto message with respect 
                to a joint resolution of approval or joint resolution 
                of disapproval, including all debatable motions and 
                appeals in connection with the joint resolution, shall 
                be limited to 10 hours, to be equally divided between, 
                and controlled by, the Majority Leader of the Senate 
                and the Minority Leader of the Senate, or their 
                designees.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Rules relating to senate and house of 
        representatives.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Treatment of senate joint resolution 
                in house of representatives.--In the House of 
                Representatives, the following procedures shall apply 
                to a joint resolution of approval or a joint resolution 
                of disapproval received from the Senate (unless the 
                House has already passed a joint resolution relating to 
                the same proposed action):</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) The joint resolution shall be 
                        referred to the appropriate 
                        committees.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) If a committee to which a 
                        joint resolution has been referred has not 
                        reported the joint resolution within 2 days 
                        after the date of referral, such committee 
                        shall be discharged from further consideration 
                        of the joint resolution.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) Beginning on the third 
                        legislative day after each committee to which a 
                        joint resolution has been referred reports the 
                        joint resolution to the House of 
                        Representatives or has been discharged from 
                        further consideration thereof, it shall be in 
                        order to move to proceed to consider the joint 
                        resolution in the House of Representatives. All 
                        points of order against the motion are waived. 
                        Such a motion shall not be in order after the 
                        House has disposed of a motion to proceed on 
                        the joint resolution. The previous question 
                        shall be considered as ordered on the motion to 
                        its adoption without intervening motion. The 
                        motion shall not be debatable. A motion to 
                        reconsider the vote by which the motion is 
                        disposed of shall not be in order.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) The joint resolution shall be 
                        considered as read. All points of order against 
                        the joint resolution and against its 
                        consideration are waived. The previous question 
                        shall be considered as ordered on the joint 
                        resolution to final passage without intervening 
                        motion except 2 hours of debate equally divided 
                        and controlled by the sponsor of the joint 
                        resolution (or a designee) and an opponent. A 
                        motion to reconsider the vote on passage of the 
                        joint resolution shall not be in 
                        order.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Treatment of house of representatives 
                joint resolution in senate.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) If, before the passage by the 
                        Senate of a joint resolution of approval or 
                        joint resolution of disapproval, the Senate 
                        receives an identical joint resolution from the 
                        House of Representatives, the following 
                        procedures shall apply:</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) That joint resolution 
                                shall not be referred to a 
                                committee.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) With respect to that 
                                joint resolution--</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    (aa) the procedure 
                                        in the Senate shall be the same 
                                        as if no joint resolution had 
                                        been received from the House of 
                                        Representatives; but</DELETED>
                                        <DELETED>    (bb) the vote on 
                                        passage shall be on the joint 
                                        resolution from the House of 
                                        Representatives.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) If, following passage of a 
                        joint resolution of approval or joint 
                        resolution of disapproval in the Senate, the 
                        Senate receives an identical joint resolution 
                        from the House of Representatives, that joint 
                        resolution shall be placed on the appropriate 
                        Senate calendar.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) If a joint resolution of 
                        approval or a joint resolution of disapproval 
                        is received from the House of Representatives, 
                        and no companion joint resolution has been 
                        introduced in the Senate, the Senate procedures 
                        under this subsection shall apply to the House 
                        of Representatives joint resolution.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Application to revenue measures.--The 
                provisions of this paragraph shall not apply in the 
                House of Representatives to a joint resolution of 
                approval or joint resolution of disapproval that is a 
                revenue measure.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Rules of house of representatives and 
        senate.--This subsection is enacted by Congress--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) as an exercise of the rulemaking power 
                of the Senate and the House of Representatives, 
                respectively, and as such is deemed a part of the rules 
                of each House, respectively, and supersedes other rules 
                only to the extent that it is inconsistent with such 
                rules; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) with full recognition of the 
                constitutional right of either House to change the 
                rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that 
                House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same 
                extent as in the case of any other rule of that 
                House.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY 
              INITIATIVES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Anti-Corruption Initiative.--The Secretary of State, 
through ongoing and new programs, shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) seek to expand technical assistance in each 
        Western Balkans country to develop new national anti-corruption 
        strategies, or to strengthen existing national anti-corruption 
        strategies focused on priorities, including good governance, 
        election administration, and transparent economic investments, 
        taking into account local conditions and contingent on the 
        agreement of the host country government;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) seek to share best practices with, and provide 
        training to, civilian law enforcement agencies and judicial 
        institutions, and other relevant administrative bodies, of the 
        Western Balkans countries, to improve the efficiency, 
        transparency, and accountability of such agencies and 
        institutions on priorities, including the promotion of human 
        rights;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) provide to the Western Balkans countries 
        support to combat corruption, particularly in the judiciary, 
        independent election oversight bodies, and public procurement 
        processes, and to strengthen regulatory and legislative 
        oversight of critical governance areas, such as freedom of 
        information and public procurement, including by strengthening 
        cyber defenses and ICT infrastructure networks; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) include the Western Balkans countries in the 
        European Democratic Resilience Initiative of the Department of 
        State, or any successor initiative, and considers the Western 
        Balkans as a recipient of anti-corruption funding for such 
        initiative.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Prioritizing Cyber Resilience, Regional Trade, and 
Economic Competitiveness.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of 
        Congress that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) promoting stronger economic, civic, 
                and political relationships among Western Balkans 
                countries will enable such countries to better utilize 
                existing resources and maximize their economic security 
                and democratic resilience by reinforcing cyber defenses 
                and increasing trade in goods and services among other 
                countries in the region; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) United States investments in and 
                assistance toward creating a more integrated region 
                ensures political stability and security for the 
                region.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) 5-year strategy for economic development and 
        democratic resilience in western balkans.--Not later than 180 
        days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
        of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
        International Development, in coordination with the Secretary 
        of the Treasury, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Chief 
        Executive Officer of the United States International 
        Development Finance Corporation, shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a regional economic 
        development and democratic resilience strategy for the Western 
        Balkans that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) considers the full set of tools and 
                resources available from the agencies overseen by such 
                Federal officials;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) includes efforts to ensure 
                coordination with multilateral and bilateral partners, 
                such as the European Union, the World Bank, and other 
                relevant assistance frameworks;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) includes an initial public assessment 
                of--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) economic opportunities for 
                        which United States businesses, or those of 
                        other like-minded partner countries, would be 
                        competitive;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) legal, economic, governance, 
                        infrastructural, or other barriers limiting 
                        United States trade and investment in the 
                        Western Balkans;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) the effectiveness of 
                        existing regional cooperation initiatives, such 
                        as the Open Balkan initiative and the Western 
                        Balkans Common Regional Market; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) ways to increase United 
                        States trade and investment in the Western 
                        Balkans;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) develops human and institutional 
                capacity and infrastructure across multiple sectors of 
                economies, including clean energy, energy efficiency, 
                agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprise 
                development, health, and cyber security;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) assists with the development and 
                implementation of regional and international trade 
                agreements;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) supports women-owned enterprises and 
                gender equality;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) promotes government and civil society 
                policies and programs that combat corruption and 
                encourage transparency, free and fair competition, 
                sound governance, judicial reform, environmental 
                protection, and business environments conducive to 
                sustainable and inclusive economic growth; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) includes a public diplomacy strategy 
                that describes the actions that will be taken by 
                relevant agencies to ensure that populations in the 
                Western Balkans are aware of the development activities 
                of the United States Government.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
        provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees 
        that describes the progress made towards developing the 
        strategy required under paragraph (2).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Regional Trade and Development Initiative.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Authorization.--The Secretary of State and the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
        Development, in coordination with the Chief Executive Officer 
        of the United States International Development Finance 
        Corporation and the Secretary of Commerce, shall coordinate a 
        regional trade and development initiative for the region 
        comprised of each Western Balkans country and any European 
        Union member country that shares a border with a Western 
        Balkans country (referred to in this subsection as the 
        ``Western Balkans region'') in accordance with this 
        subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Initiative elements.--The initiative 
        authorized under paragraph (1) shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) promote private sector growth and 
                competitiveness and increase the capacity of 
                businesses, particularly small and medium-sized 
                enterprises, in the Western Balkans region;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) seek to increase intraregional exports 
                to countries in the Balkans and European Union member 
                states;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) advance opportunities to increase 
                United States exports to, and investments in, countries 
                in the Balkans;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) support startup companies in the 
                Western Balkans region by--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) providing training in business 
                        skills and leadership;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) providing opportunities to 
                        connect to sources of capital; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) encouraging startup 
                        companies that are led by youth or 
                        women;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) encourage and promote inward and 
                outward trade and investment through engagement with 
                the Western Balkans diaspora community in the United 
                States and abroad;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) provide assistance to the governments 
                and civil society organizations of Western Balkans 
                countries, through an inclusive process incorporating 
                the input of local private sector and civil society 
                stakeholders, to develop--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) regulations to ensure fair, 
                        transparent, and effective investment; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) economic security policies, 
                        such as foreign direct investment screening 
                        mechanisms and anti-coercion initiatives, to 
                        identify and counter corrosive and malign 
                        investments and use of economic coercion by 
                        foreign countries potentially in the areas of 
                        critical infrastructure, critical technologies, 
                        dual use items, media, supply of critical 
                        inputs, and access to sensitive information and 
                        data;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) review existing assistance programming 
                relating to the Western Balkans across Federal 
                agencies--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) to eliminate duplication; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) to identify areas of 
                        coordination within the Western Balkans 
                        region;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) identify areas where application of 
                additional resources could expand successful programs 
                to 1 or more countries in the Western Balkans region by 
                building on the existing experience and program 
                architecture;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) compare existing single-country sector 
                analyses to determine areas of focus that would benefit 
                from a regional approach with respect to the Western 
                Balkans region; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) promote intraregional trade throughout 
                the Western Balkans region through--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) programming, including grants, 
                        cooperative agreements, and other forms of 
                        assistance;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) expanding awareness of the 
                        availability of loans and other financial 
                        instruments from the United States Government, 
                        including from the United States International 
                        Development Finance Corporation and the Export-
                        Import Bank of the United States; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) coordinating access to 
                        existing trade instruments available through 
                        allies and partners in the Western Balkans 
                        region, including the European Union and 
                        international financial institutions.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Support for regional infrastructure 
        projects.--The initiative authorized under paragraph (1), 
        consistent with the BUILD Act of 2018 (division F of Public Law 
        115-254) and the European Energy Security and Diversification 
        Act of 2019 (title XX of division P of Public Law 116-94), 
        should facilitate and prioritize support for regional 
        infrastructure projects, including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) transportation projects that build 
                roads, bridges, railways and other physical 
                infrastructure to facilitate travel of goods and people 
                throughout the Western Balkans region, particularly 
                international travel;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) technical support and investments 
                needed to meet United States and European Union 
                standards for air travel, including screening and 
                information sharing;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the development of telecommunications 
                networks from trusted providers;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) infrastructure projects that connect 
                Western Balkan countries to each other and to countries 
                with which they share a border;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) the effective analysis of tenders and 
                transparent procurement processes;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) investment transparency programs that 
                will help countries in the Western Balkans analyze gaps 
                and establish institutional and regulatory reforms 
                necessary--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) to create an enabling 
                        environment for trade and investment; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) to strengthen protections 
                        against suspect investments through public 
                        procurement and privatization and through 
                        foreign direct investments;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) sharing best practices learned from 
                the United States and other international partners to 
                ensure that institutional and regulatory mechanisms for 
                addressing these issues are fair, nonarbitrary, 
                effective, and free from corruption;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) projects that reduce reliance on 
                fossil fuels and facilitate the transition to clean 
                sources of energy;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) technical assistance and generating 
                private investment in projects that promote 
                connectivity and energy-sharing in the Western Balkans 
                region;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) technical assistance to support 
                regional collaboration on environmental protection that 
                includes governmental, political, civic, and business 
                stakeholders; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (K) technical assistance to develop 
                financing options and help create linkages with 
                potential financing institutions and 
                investors.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Loans.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--Amounts appropriated 
                under the headings economic support fund and assistance 
                for europe, eurasia and central asia in any Act making 
                appropriations for the Department of State, foreign 
                operations, and related programs may be made available 
                for the costs (as defined in section 502 of the 
                Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a)), of 
                loan guarantees, including the cost of modifying loans 
                and loan guarantees, for programs, projects, or 
                activities in any Western Balkans country, which are 
                authorized to be provided.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Classification of loans and loan 
                guarantees.--Amounts made available under subparagraph 
                (A) for the costs of loans and loan guarantees, 
                including the cost of modifying loans and loan 
                guarantees, shall not be considered assistance for the 
                purposes of any provisions of law limiting assistance 
                to a country.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Consultation and notification.--
                Amounts made available under this subsection shall be 
                subject to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) prior consultation with the 
                        appropriate congressional committees; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the regular notification 
                        procedures of the Committee on Appropriations 
                        of the Senate and the Committee on 
                        Appropriations of the House of 
                        Representatives.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Requirements.--All programming under the 
        initiative authorized under paragraph (1) shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) be open to the participation of each 
                Western Balkan country;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) be consistent with European Union 
                accession requirements;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) be focused on retaining talent within 
                the Western Balkans;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) promote government policies in Western 
                Balkan countries that encourage free and fair 
                competition, sound governance, environmental 
                protection, and business environments that are 
                conducive to sustainable and inclusive economic 
                growth;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) include gender analysis and efforts to 
                promote gender equity;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) include a public diplomacy strategy to 
                inform local and regional audiences in the Western 
                Balkans region about the initiative, including specific 
                programs and projects; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) support the Western Balkans countries 
                in meeting international commitments agreed to by the 
                European Union on clean energy and energy security 
                goals.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) United States International Development Finance 
Corporation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Appointments.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, subject to the availability 
        of appropriations, the Chief Executive Officer of the United 
        States International Development Finance Corporation, in 
        collaboration with the Secretary of State, should take steps to 
        ensure that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) a regional office of the United States 
                International Development Finance Corporation with 
                responsibilities for the Western Balkans is established 
                and operational in the Western Balkans region; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) sufficient full-time employees of the 
                United States International Development Finance 
                Corporation, including at least 1 permanent hire from 
                the United States, are stationed in the regional office 
                to serve United States interests in the Western 
                Balkans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer 
        of the United States International Development Finance 
        Corporation shall submit a report to the appropriate 
        congressional committees that includes--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) a summary of the steps that have been 
                taken to fulfill the requirements under paragraph 
                (1);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) an account of any additional resources 
                and authorities needed to complete the requirements 
                under paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) a description of the initial outreach 
                plan for the new regional office of the United States 
                International Development Finance 
                Corporation.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Joint report.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive 
        Officer of the United States International Development Finance 
        Corporation, the Secretary of State, and the Administrator of 
        the United States Agency for International Development shall 
        submit a joint report to the appropriate congressional 
        committees that includes--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) an assessment of the benefits of 
                providing sovereign loan guarantees to countries in the 
                Western Balkans to support infrastructure and energy 
                diversification projects;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) an outline of additional resources, 
                such as tools, funding, and personnel, which may be 
                required to offer sovereign loan guarantees; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) an assessment of how the United States 
                International Development Finance Corporation can 
                deploy its insurance products in support of bonds or 
                other instruments issued to raise capital through 
                United States financial markets.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. COUNTERING MALIGN INFLUENCE AND PROMOTING CROSS-
              CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) promoting university partnerships in the 
        Western Balkans, particularly in traditionally under-served 
        communities, advances United States foreign policy goals and 
        requires a whole of government approach, including the 
        utilization of public-private partnerships;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) such university partnerships would provide 
        opportunities for exchanging academic ideas, technical 
        expertise, research, and cultural understanding for the benefit 
        of the United States; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the 6 countries in the Western Balkans meet 
        the requirements under section 105(c)(4) of the Foreign 
        Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c(c)(4)).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) University Partnerships.--The President, working 
through the Secretary of State, is authorized to provide assistance, 
consistent with section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2151c), to promote the establishment of university partnerships 
between the United States and the Western Balkans, including--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) supporting research and analysis on foreign 
        policy, cyber resilience, economic resilience, and 
        disinformation;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) working with partner governments to reform 
        policies, improve curricula, strengthen data systems, train 
        teachers, and provide quality, inclusive learning 
        materials;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) providing individuals, particularly at-risk 
        youth, women, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable, 
        marginalized, or underserved communities, with relevant 
        education, training, and skills for meaningful 
        employment;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) removing barriers to entering formal education 
        for out-of-school individuals, assisting such individuals to 
        stay in school, and providing an opportunity for any 
        individuals left behind to catch up on schooling;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) promoting teaching and research exchanges 
        between institutions of higher education in the Western Balkans 
        and in the United States; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) encouraging alliances and exchanges with like-
        minded institutions of education within the Western Balkans and 
        the larger European continent.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. PEACE CORPS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Peace Corps should be reinstated in the 
        Western Balkans by reopening Peace Corps programs in as many 
        Western Balkans countries as safely possible, including where 
        the Peace Corps had previously operated, or has suspended 
        operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Peace Corps should reopen its programs in 
        as many of the Western Balkans countries as possible, including 
        where the Peace Corps operated previously, but later suspended 
        operations; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the Peace Corps, whose mission is to promote 
        world peace and friendship, in part by helping the people of 
        interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and 
        women, provides an invaluable opportunity to connect the people 
        of the United States with the people of the Western 
        Balkans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps shall submit a 
report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) an analysis of current opportunities for Peace 
        Corps expansion in the Western Balkans region; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) a plan and timeline for implementing the 
        outcomes described in subsection (a) to facilitate expansion of 
        Peace Corps presence in the Western Balkans region, as 
        appropriate.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 10. BALKANS YOUTH LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
regular people-to-people exchange programs that bring religious 
leaders, journalists, civil society members, politicians, and other 
individuals from the Western Balkans to the United States will 
strengthen existing relationships and advance United States interests 
and shared values in the Western Balkans region.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Authorization.--The Secretary of State shall further 
develop and implement a program, which shall be known as the ``Balkans 
Youth Leadership Initiative'' (referred to in this section as ``BOLD'') 
that promotes educational and professional development for young adult 
leaders and professionals in the Western Balkans who have demonstrated 
a passion to contribute to the continued development of the Western 
Balkans region.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Conduct of Initiative.--The goals of BOLD shall be--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to build the capacity of young Balkan leaders 
        in the Western Balkans in the areas of business and information 
        technology, cyber security and digitization, agriculture, civic 
        engagement, and public administration;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) to support young Balkan leaders by offering 
        professional development, training, and networking 
        opportunities, particularly in the areas of leadership, 
        innovation, civic engagement, elections, human rights, 
        entrepreneurship, good governance, and public 
        administration;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) to support young political, parliamentary, and 
        civic Balkan leaders in collaboration on regional initiatives 
        related to good governance, environmental protection, 
        government ethics, and minority inclusion; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) to provide increased economic and technical 
        assistance to young Balkan leaders to promote economic growth 
        and strengthen ties between businesses in the United States and 
        in the Western Balkans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Fellowships.--Under BOLD, the Secretary of State shall 
award fellowships to young leaders from the Western Balkans who--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) are between 25 and 35 years of age;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) have demonstrated strong capabilities in 
        entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and 
        leadership;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) have had a positive impact in their 
        communities, organizations, or institutions, including by 
        promoting cross-regional and multiethnic cooperation; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) represent a cross-section of gender, regional, 
        and ethnic diversity.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Public Engagement Center.--Under BOLD, the Secretary 
of State may seek to procure space, hire staff, and develop programming 
for the establishment of a flagship public engagement and leadership 
center in the Western Balkans that seeks--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to counter disinformation and malign 
        influence;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) to promote cross-cultural 
        engagement;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) to provide training for young leaders from the 
        Western Balkans described in subsection (d); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) to harmonize the efforts of existing venues 
        throughout the Western Balkans established by the Office of 
        American Spaces.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Briefing on Certain Exchange Programs.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 
        acting through the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational 
        and Cultural Affairs, shall provide a briefing to the 
        appropriate congressional committees that describes the status 
        of exchange programs involving the Western Balkans 
        region.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Elements.--The briefing required under 
        paragraph (1) shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) assess the factors constraining the 
                number and frequency of participants from Western 
                Balkans countries in the International Visitor 
                Leadership Program of the Department of 
                State;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) identify the resources that are 
                necessary to address the factors described in 
                subparagraph (A); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) describe a strategy for connecting 
                alumni and participants of professional development 
                exchange programs of the Department of State in the 
                Western Balkans with alumni and participants from other 
                countries in Europe, to enhance inter-region and intra-
                region people-to-people ties.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 11. SUPPORTING CYBERSECURITY AND CYBER RESILIENCE IN THE 
              WESTERN BALKANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) United States support for cyber security, 
        cyber resilience, and secure ICT infrastructure in Western 
        Balkans countries will strengthen the region's ability to 
        defend itself from and respond to malicious cyber activity 
        conducted by nonstate actors and foreign actors, including 
        foreign governments that seek to influence the 
        region;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) insecure ICT networks that are vulnerable to 
        manipulation can increase opportunities for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the spread of disinformation; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) disrupting or disabling critical 
                infrastructure, including energy, telecommunications, 
                water, health, finance, and other infrastructure that 
                provides essential services to citizens;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the spread of disinformation is a 
        transnational threat; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) it is in the national security interest of the 
        United States to support the cyber security and cyber 
        resilience of Western Balkans countries.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Report on Digital Ecosystems.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the 
United States Agency for International Development shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a Digital Ecosystem Country 
Assessment for each Western Balkans country that did not undergo a 
Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment before the date of the enactment 
of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Interagency Report on Cyber Security and Cyber 
Resilience in Western Balkans Countries.--Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, and other relevant Federal Government agencies, shall submit 
a report to the appropriate congressional committees that contains--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) an overview of interagency efforts to 
        strengthen cyber security and cyber resilience efforts in 
        Western Balkans countries;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) a strategy to better strengthen the cyber 
        security and cyber resilience of each Western Balkans 
        country;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) a review of existing United States Government 
        cyber security initiatives that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) counter disinformation in Western 
                Balkans countries;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) strengthen ICT infrastructure and 
                cyber security capacity in the Western Balkans; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) support democracy and internet freedom 
                in Western Balkans countries;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) an assessment of cyber threat information 
        sharing between the United States and Western Balkans 
        countries;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) an assessment of options for the United States 
        to better support cyber security and cyber resilience in 
        Western Balkans countries, including the posting of cyber 
        professionals to United States diplomatic posts in Western 
        Balkans countries and providing relevant training, such as 
        technical capacity building and response and recovery efforts 
        to Foreign Service Officers; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) a determination of United States additional 
        support needed for the cyber security and cyber resilience 
        Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Croatia, which are 
        NATO allies.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 12. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AN INTERIM 
              AGREEMENT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    It is the sense of Congress that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of 
        Relations, which was agreed to by Kosovo and Serbia on February 
        27, 2023, with the facilitation of the European Union, is a 
        positive step forward in advancing normalization between the 2 
        countries;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Serbia and Kosovo should seek to make 
        immediate progress on the Implementation Annex to the agreement 
        referred to in paragraph (1);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the Department of State shall provide to the 
        appropriate congressional committees an evaluation of each 
        country's progress on the Implementation Annex referred to in 
        paragraph (2);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) the United States should not consider 
        advancing the initiatives referred to in this Act to such 
        country until sufficient progress has been made on the 
        Implementation Annex;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) once sufficient progress has been made on the 
        Implementation Annex, the United States should consider 
        advancing additional initiatives to strengthen bilateral 
        relations with both countries, which could include--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) establishing bilateral strategic 
                dialogues; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) advancing concrete initiatives to 
                deepen trade and investment with both countries; 
                and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) the United States should continue to support a 
        comprehensive final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia based 
        on mutual recognition.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 13. SUNSET.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Sections 5 and 6 of this Act shall cease to be effective 
on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.--

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Western Balkans 
Democracy and Prosperity Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. Codification of sanctions relating to the Western Balkans.
Sec. 6. Democratic and economic development and prosperity initiatives.
Sec. 7. Promoting cross-cultural and educational engagement.
Sec. 8. Peace Corps in the Western Balkans.
Sec. 9. Young Balkan Leaders Initiative.
Sec. 10. Supporting cybersecurity and cyber resilience in the Western 
                            Balkans.
Sec. 11. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
Sec. 12. Reports on Russian and Chinese malign influence operations and 
                            campaigns in the Western Balkans.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Western Balkans countries (the Republic of Albania, 
        Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic 
        of Kosovo, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and the 
        Republic of Serbia) form a pluralistic, multi-ethnic region in 
        the heart of Europe that is critical to the peace, stability, 
        and prosperity of that continent.
            (2) Continued peace, stability, and prosperity in the 
        Western Balkans is directly tied to the opportunities for 
        democratic and economic advancement available to the citizens 
        and residents of those seven countries.
            (3) It is in the mutual interest of the United States and 
        the seven countries of the Western Balkans to promote stable 
        and sustainable economic growth and development in the region.
            (4) The reforms and integration with the European Union 
        pursued by countries in the Western Balkans have led to 
        significant democratic and economic progress in the region.
            (5) Despite economic progress, rates of poverty and 
        unemployment in the Western Balkans remain higher than in 
        neighboring European Union countries.
            (6) Out-migration, particularly of youth, is affecting 
        demographics in each Western Balkans country, resulting in 
        population decline in all seven countries.
            (7) Implementing critical economic and governance reforms 
        could help enable investment and employment opportunities in 
        the Western Balkans, especially for youth, and can provide 
        powerful tools for economic development and for encouraging 
        broader participation in a political process that increases 
        trade and prosperity for all.
            (8) Existing regional economic efforts, such as the Common 
        Regional Market, the Berlin Process, and the Open Balkan 
        Initiative, could have the potential to improve the economic 
        conditions in the Western Balkans, while promoting inclusion 
        and transparency.
            (9) The Department of Commerce, through its Foreign 
        Commercial Service, plays an important role in promoting and 
        facilitating opportunities for United States trade and 
        investment.
            (10) Corruption, including among key political leaders, 
        continues to plague the Western Balkans and represents one of 
        the greatest impediments to further economic and political 
        development in the region.
            (11) Disinformation campaigns targeting the Western Balkans 
        undermine the credibility of its democratic institutions, 
        including the integrity of its elections.
            (12) Vulnerability to cyberattacks or attacks on 
        information and communication technology infrastructure 
        increases risks to the functioning of government and the 
        delivery of public services.
            (13) United States Cyber Command, the Department of State, 
        and other Federal agencies play a critical role in defending 
        the national security interests of the United States, including 
        by deploying cyber hunt forward teams at the request of partner 
        nations to reinforce their cyber defenses.
            (14) Securing domestic and international cyber networks and 
        ICT infrastructure is a national security priority for the 
        United States, which is exemplified by offices and programs 
        across the Federal Government that support cybersecurity.
            (15) Corruption and disinformation proliferate in political 
        environments marked by autocratic control or partisan conflict.
            (16) Dependence on Russian sources of fossil fuels and 
        natural gas for the countries of the Western Balkans ties their 
        economies and politics to the Russian Federation and inhibits 
        their aspirations for European integration.
            (17) Reducing the reliance of the Western Balkans on 
        Russian natural gas supplies and fossil fuels is in the 
        national interest of the United States.
            (18) The growing influence of China in the Western Balkans 
        could also have a deleterious impact on strategic competition, 
        democracy, and economic integration with Europe.
            (19) In March 2022, President Biden launched the European 
        Democratic Resilience Initiative to bolster democratic 
        resilience, advance anti-corruption efforts, and defend human 
        rights in Ukraine and its neighbors in response to Russia's war 
        of aggression.
            (20) The parliamentary and local elections held in Serbia 
        on December 17, 2023, and their immediate aftermath are cause 
        for deep concern about the state of Serbia's democracy, 
        including due to the final report of the Organization for 
        Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic 
        Institutions and Human Rights, which--
                    (A) found ``unjust conditions'' for the election;
                    (B) found ``numerous procedural deficiencies, 
                including inconsistent application of safeguards during 
                voting and counting, frequent instances of 
                overcrowding, breaches in secrecy of the vote, and 
                numerous instances of group voting''; and
                    (C) asserted that ``voting must be repeated'' in 
                certain polling stations.
            (21) The Organization for Security and Co-operation in 
        Europe also noted that Serbian officials accused primarily 
        peaceful protestors, opposition parties, and civil society of 
        ``attempting to destabilize the government'', a concerning 
        allegation that threatens the safety of important elements of 
        Serbian society.
            (22) Democratic countries whose values are in alignment 
        with the United States make for stronger and more durable 
        partnerships.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is a sense of Congress that the United States should--
            (1) encourage increased trade and investment between the 
        United States and allies and partners in the Western Balkans;
            (2) expand United States assistance to regional integration 
        efforts in the Western Balkans;
            (3) strengthen and expand regional economic integration in 
        the Western Balkans, especially enterprises owned by and 
        employing women and youth;
            (4) work with allies and partners committed to improving 
        the rule of law, energy resource diversification, democratic 
        and economic reform, and the reduction of poverty in the 
        Western Balkans;
            (5) increase United States trade and investment with the 
        Western Balkans, particularly in ways that support countries' 
        efforts--
                    (A) to decrease dependence on Russian energy 
                sources and fossil fuels;
                    (B) to increase energy diversification, efficiency, 
                and conservation; and
                    (C) to facilitate the transition to cleaner and 
                more reliable sources of energy, including renewables, 
                as appropriate;
            (6) continue to assist in the development, within the 
        Western Balkans, of--
                    (A) strong civil societies;
                    (B) public-private partnerships;
                    (C) independent media;
                    (D) transparent, accountable, citizen-responsive 
                governance, including equal representation for women 
                and youth;
                    (E) political stability; and
                    (F) modern, free-market based economies.
            (7) support the expeditious accession of those Western 
        Balkans countries that are not already members to the European 
        Union and to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred 
        to in this section as ``NATO'') for countries that desire and 
        are eligible for such membership;
            (8) support--
                    (A) maintaining the full European Union Force 
                (EUFOR) mandate in Bosnia and Herzegovina as being in 
                the national security interests of the United States;
                    (B) encouraging NATO and the European Union to 
                review their mission mandates and posture in Bosnia and 
                Herzegovina to ensure they are playing a proactive role 
                in establishing a safe and secure environment, 
                particularly in the realm of defense;
                    (C) working within NATO to encourage contingency 
                planning for an international military force to 
                maintain a safe and secure environment in Bosnia and 
                Herzegovina, especially if Russia blocks 
                reauthorization of the mission in the United Nations; 
                and
                    (D) a strengthened NATO headquarters in Sarajevo;
            (9) continue to support the European Union membership 
        aspirations of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North 
        Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia by supporting meeting the 
        benchmarks required for their accession;
            (10) continue to support the overarching mission of the 
        Berlin Process and locally-driven initiatives that are 
        inclusive of all Western Balkans countries and remains aligned 
        with the objectives and standards laid out by the European 
        Union as requirements for accession to the European Union;
            (11) continue to support the cultural heritage, and 
        recognize the languages, of the Western Balkans;
            (12) coordinate closely with the European Union, the United 
        Kingdom, and other allies and partners on sanctions 
        designations in Western Balkans countries and work to align 
        efforts as much as possible to demonstrate a clear commitment 
        to upholding democratic values;
            (13) expand bilateral security cooperation with non-NATO 
        member Western Balkans countries, particularly efforts focused 
        on regional integration and cooperation, including through the 
        Adriatic Charter, which was launched at Tirana on May 2, 2003;
            (14) increase efforts to combat Russian malign influence 
        campaigns and any other destabilizing or disruptive activities 
        targeting the Western Balkans through engagement with 
        government institutions, political stakeholders, journalists, 
        civil society organizations, and industry leaders;
            (15) develop a series of cyber resilience standards, 
        consistent with the Enhanced Cyber Defence Policy and Readiness 
        Action Plan endorsed at the 2014 Wales Summit of the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization to expand cooperation with 
        partners and allies, including in the Western Balkans, on cyber 
        security and ICT infrastructure;
            (16) articulate clearly and unambiguously the United States 
        commitment to supporting democratic values and respect for 
        international law as the sole path forward for the countries of 
        the Western Balkans; and
            (17) prioritize partnerships and programming with Western 
        Balkan countries that demonstrate commitment toward 
        strengthening their democracies and show respect for human 
        rights.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
                Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
                of Representatives; and
                    (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) ICT.--The term ``ICT'' means information and 
        communication technology.
            (3) Western balkans.--The term ``Western Balkans'' means 
        the region comprised of the following countries:
                    (A) The Republic of Albania.
                    (B) Bosnia and Herzegovina.
                    (C) The Republic of Croatia.
                    (D) The Republic of Kosovo.
                    (E) Montenegro.
                    (F) The Republic of North Macedonia.
                    (G) The Republic of Serbia.
            (4) Western balkans country.--The term ``Western Balkans 
        country'' means any country listed in subparagraphs (A) through 
        (G) of paragraph (3).

SEC. 5. CODIFICATION OF SANCTIONS RELATING TO THE WESTERN BALKANS.

    (a) In General.--Each person listed or designated for the 
imposition of sanctions under an executive order described in 
subsection (c) as of the date of the enactment of this Act shall remain 
so designated, except as provided in subsections (d) and (e).
    (b) Continuation of Sanctions Authorities.--Each authority to 
impose sanctions provided for under an executive order described in 
subsection (c) shall remain in effect.
    (c) Executive Orders Specified.--The executive orders specified in 
this subsection are--
            (1) Executive Order 13219, as amended by Executive Order 
        13304 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property of 
        persons who threaten international stabilization efforts in the 
        Western Balkans); and
            (2) Executive Order 14033 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to 
        blocking property and suspending entry into the United States 
        of certain persons contributing to the destabilizing situation 
        in the Western Balkans), as in effect on such date of 
        enactment.
    (d) Termination of Sanctions.--The President may terminate the 
application of a sanction described in subsection (a) with respect to a 
person if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional 
committees that such person--
            (1) has not engaged in the activity that was the basis for 
        such sanctions, if applicable, during the two-year period 
        immediately preceding such termination date; or
            (2) otherwise no longer meets the criteria that was the 
        basis for such sanctions.
    (e) Waiver.--
            (1) In general.--The President may waive the application of 
        sanctions under this section for renewable periods not to 
        exceed 180 days if the President--
                    (A) determines that such a waiver is in the 
                national security interests of the United States; and
                    (B) not less than 15 days before the granting of 
                the waiver, submits to the appropriate congressional 
                committees a notice of and justification for the 
                waiver.
            (2) Form.--The waiver described in paragraph (1) may be 
        transmitted in classified form.
    (f) Exceptions.--
            (1) Humanitarian assistance.--Sanctions under this Act 
        shall not apply to--
                    (A) the conduct or facilitation of a transaction 
                for the provision of agricultural commodities, food, 
                medicine, medical devices, humanitarian assistance, or 
                for humanitarian purposes; or
                    (B) transactions that are necessary for, or related 
                to, the activities described in subparagraph (A).
            (2) Compliance with international obligations and law 
        enforcement activities.--Sanctions under this Act shall not 
        apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling such 
        alien is necessary--
                    (A) to comply with United States obligations 
                under--
                            (i) the Agreement between the United 
                        Nations and the United States of America 
                        regarding the Headquarters of the United 
                        Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, 
                        and entered into force November 21, 1947;
                            (ii) the Convention on Consular Relations, 
                        done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into 
                        force March 19, 1967; or
                            (iii) any other international agreement; or
                    (B) to carry out or assist law enforcement activity 
                in the United States.
            (3) Exception for intelligence activities.--Sanctions under 
        this Act shall not apply to--
                    (A) any activity subject to the reporting 
                requirements under title V of the National Security Act 
                of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.); or
                    (B) any authorized intelligence activities of the 
                United States.
            (4) Exception relating to importation of goods.--
                    (A) In general.--The requirement to block and 
                prohibit all transactions in all property and interests 
                in property under this Act shall not include the 
                authority or a requirement to impose sanctions on the 
                importation of goods.
                    (B) Defined term.--In this paragraph, the term 
                ``good'' means any article, natural or manmade 
                substance, material, supply or manufactured product, 
                including inspection and test equipment, and excluding 
                technical data.
    (g) Rulemaking.--The President is authorized to promulgate such 
rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this section (which may include regulatory exceptions), including 
under section 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
(50 U.S.C. 1704)).
    (h) Sunset.--This section shall cease to have force or effect 
beginning on the date that is 8 years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act.

SEC. 6. DEMOCRATIC AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY INITIATIVES.

    (a) Anti-corruption Initiative.--The Secretary of State, through 
ongoing and new programs, shall develop an initiative that--
            (1) seeks to expand technical assistance in each Western 
        Balkans country, taking into account local conditions and 
        contingent on the agreement of the host country government to 
        develop new national anti-corruption strategies;
            (2) seeks to share best practices with, and provide 
        training to, civilian law enforcement agencies and judicial 
        institutions, and other relevant administrative bodies, of the 
        Western Balkans countries, to improve the efficiency, 
        transparency, and accountability of such agencies and 
        institutions;
            (3) strengthens existing national anti-corruption 
        strategies--
                    (A) to combat political corruption, particularly in 
                the judiciary, independent election oversight bodies, 
                and public procurement processes; and
                    (B) to strengthen regulatory and legislative 
                oversight of critical governance areas, such as freedom 
                of information and public procurement, including by 
                strengthening cyber defenses and ICT infrastructure 
                networks;
            (4) includes the Western Balkans countries in the European 
        Democratic Resilience Initiative of the Department of State, or 
        any equivalent successor initiative, and considers the Western 
        Balkans as a recipient of anti-corruption funding for such 
        initiative; and
            (5) seeks to promote the important role of an independent 
        media in countering corruption through engagements with 
        governments of Western Balkan countries and providing training 
        opportunities for journalists on investigative reporting.
    (b) Prioritizing Cyber Resilience, Regional Trade, and Economic 
Competitiveness.--
            (1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
                    (A) promoting stronger economic, civic, and 
                political relationships among Western Balkans countries 
                will enable countries to better utilize existing 
                resources and maximize their economic security and 
                democratic resilience by reinforcing cyber defenses and 
                increasing trade in goods and services among other 
                countries in the region; and
                    (B) United States investments in and assistance 
                toward creating a more integrated region ensures 
                political stability and security for the region.
            (2) 5-year strategy for economic development and democratic 
        resilience in western balkans.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State 
        and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
        International Development, in coordination with the heads of 
        other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit 
        to the appropriate congressional committees a regional economic 
        development and democratic resilience strategy for the Western 
        Balkans that complements the efforts of the European Union, 
        European nations, and other multilateral financing 
        institutions--
                    (A) to consider the full set of tools and resources 
                available from the relevant agencies;
                    (B) to include efforts to ensure coordination with 
                multilateral and bilateral partners, such as the 
                European Union, the World Bank, and other relevant 
                assistance frameworks;
                    (C) to include an initial public assessment of--
                            (i) economic opportunities for which United 
                        States businesses, or those of other like-
                        minded partner countries, would be competitive;
                            (ii) legal, economic, governance, 
                        infrastructural, or other barriers limiting 
                        United States trade and investment in the 
                        Western Balkans;
                            (iii) the effectiveness of all existing 
                        regional cooperation initiatives, such as the 
                        Open Balkan initiative and the Western Balkans 
                        Common Regional Market; and
                            (iv) ways to increase United States trade 
                        and investment within the Western Balkans;
                    (D) to develop human and institutional capacity and 
                infrastructure across multiple sectors of economies, 
                including clean energy, energy efficiency, agriculture, 
                small and medium-sized enterprise development, health, 
                and cyber-security;
                    (E) to assist with the development and 
                implementation of regional and international trade 
                agreements;
                    (F) to support women-owned enterprises;
                    (G) to promote government and civil society 
                policies and programs that combat corruption and 
                encourage transparency (including by supporting 
                independent media by promoting the safety and security 
                of journalists), free and fair competition, sound 
                governance, judicial reform, environmental stewardship, 
                and business environments conducive to sustainable and 
                inclusive economic growth; and
                    (H) to include a public diplomacy strategy that 
                describes the actions that will be taken by relevant 
                agencies to increase support for the United States 
                relationship by citizens of Western Balkans countries.
            (3) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide a 
        briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that 
        describes the progress made towards developing the strategy 
        required under paragraph (2).
    (c) Regional Trade and Development Initiative.--
            (1) Authorization.--The Secretary of State and the 
        Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
        Development, in coordination with the heads of other relevant 
        Federal departments and agencies, may coordinate a regional 
        trade and development initiative for the region comprised of 
        each Western Balkans country and any European Union member 
        country that shares a border with a Western Balkans country 
        (referred to in this subsection as the ``Western Balkans 
        region'') in accordance with this subsection.
            (2) Initiative elements.--The initiative authorized under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) promote private sector growth and 
                competitiveness and increase the capacity of 
                businesses, particularly small and medium-sized 
                enterprises, in the Western Balkans region;
                    (B) aim to increase intraregional exports to 
                countries in the Balkans and European Union member 
                states;
                    (C) aim to increase United States exports to, and 
                investments in, countries in the Balkans;
                    (D) support startup companies, including companies 
                led by youth or women, in the Western Balkans region 
                by--
                            (i) providing training in business skills 
                        and leadership; and
                            (ii) providing opportunities to connect to 
                        sources of capital;
                    (E) encourage and promote inward and outward trade 
                and investment through engagement with the Western 
                Balkans diaspora communities in the United States and 
                abroad;
                    (F) provide assistance to the governments and civil 
                society organizations of Western Balkans countries to 
                develop--
                            (i) regulations to ensure fair and 
                        effective investment; and
                            (ii) screening tools to identify and deter 
                        malign investments and other coercive economic 
                        practices;
                    (G) review existing assistance programming relating 
                to the Western Balkans across Federal agencies--
                            (i) to eliminate duplication; and
                            (ii) to identify areas of potential 
                        coordination within the Western Balkans region;
                    (H) identify areas where application of additional 
                resources could expand successful programs to 1 or more 
                countries in the Western Balkans region by building on 
                the existing experience and program architecture;
                    (I) compare existing single-country sector analyses 
                to determine areas of focus that would benefit from a 
                regional approach with respect to the Western Balkans 
                region; and
                    (J) promote intraregional trade throughout the 
                Western Balkans region through--
                            (i) programming, including grants, 
                        cooperative agreements, and other forms of 
                        assistance;
                            (ii) expanding awareness of the 
                        availability of loans and other financial 
                        instruments from the United States Government; 
                        and
                            (iii) coordinating access to existing trade 
                        instruments available through allies and 
                        partners in the Western Balkans region, 
                        including the European Union and international 
                        financial institutions.
            (3) Support for regional infrastructure projects.--The 
        initiative authorized under paragraph (1) should facilitate and 
        prioritize support for regional infrastructure projects, 
        including--
                    (A) transportation projects that build roads, 
                bridges, railways and other physical infrastructure to 
                facilitate travel of goods and people throughout the 
                Western Balkans region;
                    (B) technical support and investments needed to 
                meet United States and European Union standards for air 
                travel, including screening and information sharing;
                    (C) the development of telecommunications networks 
                with trusted providers;
                    (D) infrastructure projects that connect Western 
                Balkans countries to each other and to countries with 
                which they share a border;
                    (E) the effective analysis of tenders and 
                transparent procurement processes;
                    (F) investment transparency programs that will help 
                countries in the Western Balkans analyze gaps and 
                establish institutional and regulatory reforms 
                necessary--
                            (i) to create an enabling environment for 
                        trade and investment; and
                            (ii) to strengthen protections against 
                        suspect investments through public procurement 
                        and privatization and through foreign direct 
                        investments;
                    (G) sharing best practices learned from the United 
                States and other international partners to ensure that 
                institutional and regulatory mechanisms for addressing 
                these issues are fair, nonarbitrary, effective, and 
                free from corruption;
                    (H) projects that support regional energy security 
                and reduce dependence on Russian energy;
                    (I) technical assistance and generating private 
                investment in projects that promote connectivity and 
                energy-sharing in the Western Balkans region;
                    (J) technical assistance to support regional 
                collaboration on environmental protection that includes 
                governmental, political, civic, and business 
                stakeholders; and
                    (K) technical assistance to develop financing 
                options and help create linkages with potential 
                financing institutions and investors.
            (4) Requirements.--All programming under the initiative 
        authorized under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) be open to the participation of Albania, Bosnia 
                and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, 
                and Serbia;
                    (B) be consistent with European Union accession 
                requirements;
                    (C) be focused on retaining talent within the 
                Western Balkans;
                    (D) promote government policies in Western Balkans 
                countries that encourage free and fair competition, 
                sound governance, environmental protection, and 
                business environments that are conducive to sustainable 
                and inclusive economic growth; and
                    (E) include a public diplomacy strategy to inform 
                local and regional audiences in the Western Balkans 
                region about the initiative, including specific 
                programs and projects.
    (d) United States International Development Finance Corporation.--
            (1) Appointments.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Chief Executive Officer of the United 
        States International Development Finance Corporation, in 
        collaboration with the Secretary of State, should consider 
        including a regional office with responsibilities for the 
        Western Balkans within the Corporation's plans to open new 
        regional offices.
            (2) Joint report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of 
        the United States International Development Finance Corporation 
        and the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
        International Development shall submit a joint report to the 
        appropriate congressional committees that includes--
                    (A) an assessment of the benefits of providing 
                sovereign loan guarantees to countries in the Western 
                Balkans to support infrastructure and energy 
                diversification projects;
                    (B) an outline of additional resources, such as 
                tools, funding, and personnel, which may be required to 
                offer sovereign loan guarantees in the Western Balkans; 
                and
                    (C) an assessment of how the United States 
                International Development Finance Corporation can 
                deploy its insurance products in support of bonds or 
                other instruments issued to raise capital through 
                United States financial markets in the Western Balkans.

SEC. 7. PROMOTING CROSS-CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) promoting partnerships between United States 
        universities and universities in the Western Balkans, 
        particularly universities in traditionally under-served 
        communities, advances United States foreign policy goals and 
        requires a whole-of-government approach, including the 
        utilization of public-private partnerships;
            (2) such university partnerships would provide 
        opportunities for exchanging academic ideas, technical 
        expertise, research, and cultural understanding for the benefit 
        of the United States; and
            (3) the seven countries in the Western Balkans meet the 
        requirements under section 105(c)(4) of the Foreign Assistance 
        Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151c(c)(4)).
    (b) University Partnerships.--The President, working through the 
Secretary of State, is authorized to provide assistance, consistent 
with section 105 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2151c), to promote the establishment of partnerships between United 
States universities and universities in the Western Balkans, 
including--
            (1) supporting research and analysis on foreign policy, 
        cyber resilience, and disinformation;
            (2) working with partner governments to reform policies, 
        improve curricula, strengthen data systems, train teachers and 
        students, including English language teaching, and to provide 
        quality, inclusive learning materials;
            (3) encouraging knowledge exchanges to help provide 
        individuals, particularly at-risk youth, women, people with 
        disabilities, and other vulnerable, marginalized, or 
        underserved communities, with relevant education, training, and 
        skills for meaningful employment;
            (4) promoting teaching and research exchanges between 
        institutions of higher education in the Western Balkans and in 
        the United States; and
            (5) encouraging alliances and exchanges with like-minded 
        institutions of education within the Western Balkans and the 
        larger European continent.

SEC. 8. PEACE CORPS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Peace 
Corps, whose mission is to promote world peace and friendship, in part 
by helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for 
trained men and women, provides an invaluable opportunity to connect 
the people of the United States with the people of the Western Balkans.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Peace Corps should submit a 
report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes an 
analysis of current opportunities for Peace Corps expansion in the 
Western Balkans region.

SEC. 9. YOUNG BALKAN LEADERS INITIATIVE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that regular 
people-to-people exchange programs that bring religious leaders, 
journalists, civil society members, politicians, and other individuals 
from the Western Balkans to the United States will strengthen existing 
relationships and advance United States interests and shared values in 
the Western Balkans region.
    (b) BOLD Leadership Program for Young Balkans Leaders.--
            (1) Sense of congress.--The Department of State, through 
        BOLD, a leadership program for young leaders in certain Western 
        Balkans countries, plays an important role to develop young 
        leaders in improving civic engagement and economic development 
        in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.
            (2) Expansion.--BOLD should be expanded, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, to the entire Western Balkans 
        region.
    (c) Authorization.--The Secretary of State should further develop 
and implement BOLD, which shall hereafter be known as the ``Young 
Balkan Leaders Initiative'', to promote educational and professional 
development for young adult leaders and professionals in the Western 
Balkans who have demonstrated a passion to contribute to the continued 
development of the Western Balkans region.
    (d) Conduct of Initiative.--The goals of the Young Balkan Leaders 
Initiative shall be--
            (1) to further build the capacity of young Balkan leaders 
        in the Western Balkans in the areas of business and information 
        technology, cyber security and digitization, agriculture, civic 
        engagement, and public administration;
            (2) to support young Balkan leaders by offering 
        professional development, training, and networking 
        opportunities, particularly in the areas of leadership, 
        innovation, civic engagement, elections, human rights, 
        entrepreneurship, good governance, public administration, and 
        journalism;
            (3) to support young political, parliamentary, and civic 
        Balkan leaders in collaboration on regional initiatives related 
        to good governance, environmental protection, government 
        ethics, and minority inclusion;
            (4) to provide increased economic and technical assistance 
        to young Balkan leaders to promote economic growth and 
        strengthen ties between businesses, investors, and 
        entrepreneurs in the United States and in Western Balkans 
        countries;
            (5) to tailor such assistance to advance the particular 
        objectives of each United States mission in the Western Balkans 
        within the framework outlined in this subsection; and
            (6) to secure funding for such assistance from existing 
        funds available to each United States Mission in the Western 
        Balkans.
    (e) Fellowships.--Under the Young Balkan Leaders Initiative, the 
Secretary of State shall award fellowships to young leaders from the 
Western Balkans who--
            (1) are between 18 and 35 years of age;
            (2) have demonstrated strong capabilities in 
        entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership;
            (3) have had a positive impact in their communities, 
        organizations, or institutions, including by promoting cross-
        regional and multiethnic cooperation; and
            (4) represent a cross-section of geographic, gender, 
        political, and cultural diversity.
    (f) Public Engagement and Leadership Center.--Under the Young 
Balkan Leaders Initiative, the Secretary of State shall take advantage 
of existing and future public diplomacy facilities (commonly known as 
``American Spaces'') to hire staff and develop programming for the 
establishment of a flagship public engagement and leadership center in 
the Western Balkans that seeks--
            (1) to counter disinformation and malign influence;
            (2) to promote cross-cultural engagement;
            (3) to provide training for young leaders from Western 
        Balkans countries described in subsection (e);
            (4) to harmonize the efforts of existing venues throughout 
        Western Balkans countries established by the Office of American 
        Spaces; and
            (5) to annually bring together participants from the Young 
        Balkans Leaders Initiative to provide platforms for regional 
        networking.
    (g) Briefing on Certain Exchange Programs.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide 
        a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees that 
        describes the status of exchange programs involving the Western 
        Balkans region.
            (2) Elements.--The briefing required under paragraph (1) 
        shall--
                    (A) assess the factors constraining the number and 
                frequency of participants from Western Balkans 
                countries in the International Visitor Leadership 
                Program of the Department of State;
                    (B) identify the resources that are necessary to 
                address the factors described in subparagraph (A); and
                    (C) describe a strategy for connecting alumni and 
                participants of professional development exchange 
                programs of the Department of State in the Western 
                Balkans with alumni and participants from other 
                countries in Europe, to enhance inter-region and intra-
                region people-to-people ties.

SEC. 10. SUPPORTING CYBERSECURITY AND CYBER RESILIENCE IN THE WESTERN 
              BALKANS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) United States support for cybersecurity, cyber 
        resilience, and secure ICT infrastructure in Western Balkans 
        countries will strengthen the region's ability to defend itself 
        from and respond to malicious cyber activity conducted by 
        nonstate and foreign actors, including foreign governments, 
        that seek to influence the region;
            (2) insecure ICT networks that are vulnerable to 
        manipulation can increase opportunities for--
                    (A) the compromise of cyber infrastructure, 
                including data networks, electronic infrastructure, and 
                software systems; and
                    (B) the use of online information operations by 
                adversaries and malign actors to undermine United 
                States allies and interests; and
            (3) it is in the national security interest of the United 
        States to support the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of 
        Western Balkans countries.
    (b) Interagency Report on Cybersecurity and the Digital Information 
Environment in Western Balkans Countries.--Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall 
submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that 
contains--
            (1) an overview of interagency efforts to strengthen 
        cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans 
        countries;
            (2) a review of the information environment in each Western 
        Balkans country;
            (3) a review of existing United States Government cyber and 
        digital initiatives that--
                    (A) counter influence operations and safeguard 
                elections and democratic processes in Western Balkans 
                countries;
                    (B) strengthen ICT infrastructure and cybersecurity 
                capacity in the Western Balkans;
                    (C) support democracy and internet freedom in 
                Western Balkans countries; and
                    (D) build cyber capacity of governments who are 
                allies or partners of the United States;
            (4) an assessment of cyber threat information sharing 
        between the United States and Western Balkans countries;
            (5) an assessment of--
                    (A) options for the United States to better support 
                cybersecurity and cyber resilience in Western Balkans 
                countries through changes to current assistance 
                authorities; and
                    (B) the advantages or limitations, such as funding 
                or office space, of posting cyber professionals from 
                other Federal departments and agencies to United States 
                diplomatic posts in Western Balkans countries and 
                providing relevant training to Foreign Service 
                Officers; and
            (6) any additional support needed from the United States 
        for the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of the following 
        NATO Allies: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Croatia.

SEC. 11. RELATIONS BETWEEN KOSOVO AND SERBIA.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of 
        Relations, which was agreed to by Kosovo and Serbia on February 
        27, 2023, with the facilitation of the European Union, is a 
        positive step forward in advancing normalization between the 
        two countries;
            (2) Serbia and Kosovo should seek to make immediate 
        progress on the Implementation Annex to the agreement referred 
        to in paragraph (1);
            (3) once sufficient progress has been made on the 
        Implementation Annex, the United States should consider 
        advancing initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations with 
        both countries, which could include--
                    (A) establishing bilateral strategic dialogues with 
                Kosovo and Serbia; and
                    (B) advancing concrete initiatives to deepen trade 
                and investment with both countries; and
            (4) the United States should continue to support a 
        comprehensive final agreement between Kosovo and Serbia based 
        on mutual recognition.
    (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States 
Government that--
            (1) it shall not pursue any policy that advocates for land 
        swaps, partition, or other forms of redrawing borders along 
        ethnic lines in the Western Balkans as a means to arbitrate 
        disputes between nation states in the region; and
            (2) it should support pluralistic democracies in countries 
        in the Western Balkans as a means to prevent a return to the 
        ethnic strife that once characterized the region.

SEC. 12. REPORTS ON RUSSIAN AND CHINESE MALIGN INFLUENCE OPERATIONS AND 
              CAMPAIGNS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS.

    (a) Reports Required..--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and every two years thereafter, the 
Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, the 
Director of National Intelligence, and the heads of other Federal 
departments or agencies, as appropriate, shall submit a report to the 
appropriate congressional committees regarding Russian and Chinese 
malign influence operations and campaigns carried out with respect to 
Balkan countries that seek--
            (1) to undermine democratic institutions;
            (2) to promote political instability; and
            (3) to harm the interests of the United States and North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization member and partner states in the 
        Western Balkans.
    (b) Elements.--Each report submitted pursuant to subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) an assessment of the objectives of the Russian 
        Federation and the People's Republic of China regarding malign 
        influence operations and campaigns carried out with respect to 
        Western Balkans countries--
                    (A) to undermine democratic institutions, including 
                the planning and execution of democratic elections;
                    (B) to promote political instability; and
                    (C) to manipulate the information environment;
            (2) the activities and roles of the Department of State and 
        other relevant Federal agencies in countering Russian and 
        Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns;
            (3) a comprehensive list identifying--
                    (A) each network, entity and individual, to the 
                extent such information is available, of Russia, China, 
                or any other country with which Russia or China may 
                cooperate, that is supporting such Russian or Chinese 
                malign influence operations or campaigns, including the 
                provision of financial or operational support to 
                activities in a Western Balkans country that may limit 
                freedom of speech or create barriers of access to 
                democratic processes, including exercising the right to 
                vote in a free and fair election; and
                    (B) the role of each such entity in providing such 
                support;
            (4) the identification of the tactics, techniques, and 
        procedures used in Russian or Chinese malign influence 
        operations and campaigns in Western Balkans countries;
            (5) an assessment of the effect of previous Russian or 
        Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns that targeted 
        alliances and partnerships of the United States Armed Forces in 
        the Western Balkans, including the effectiveness of such 
        operations and campaigns in achieving the objectives of Russia 
        and China, respectively;
            (6) the identification of each Western Balkans country with 
        respect to which Russia or China has conducted or attempted to 
        conduct a malign influence operation or campaign;
            (7) an assessment of the capacity and efforts of NATO and 
        of each individual Western Balkans country to counter Russian 
        or Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns carried 
        out with respect to Western Balkans countries;
            (8) the efforts by the United States to combat such malign 
        influence operations in the Western Balkans, including through 
        the Countering Russian Influence Fund and the Countering 
        People's Republic of China Malign Influence Fund;
            (9) an assessment of the tactics, techniques, and 
        procedures that the Secretary of State, in consultation with 
        the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of 
        Defense, determines are likely to be used in future Russian or 
        Chinese malign influence operations and campaigns carried out 
        with respect to Western Balkans countries; and
            (10) recommended authorities or activities that the 
        Department of State and other relevant Federal agencies could 
        enact to increase the United States Government's capacity to 
        counter Russian and Chinese malign influence operations and 
        campaigns in Western Balkans countries.
    (c) Form.--Each report required under subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.
                                                       Calendar No. 369

118th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1651

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To encourage increased trade and investment between the United States 
   and the countries in the Western Balkans, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                              May 7, 2024

                       Reported with an amendment