[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 7, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3459-H3461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





      CHAMPIONING AMERICAN BUSINESS THROUGH DIPLOMACY ACT OF 2019

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1704) to foster commercial relations with foreign countries and 
support United States economic and business interests abroad in the 
conduct of foreign policy, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1704

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Championing American 
     Business Through Diplomacy Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) According to the 2017 National Security Strategy of the 
     United States of America, ``Retaining our position as the 
     world's preeminent economic actor strengthens our ability to 
     use the tools of economic diplomacy for the good of Americans 
     and others.''.
       (2) A November 7, 2018, cable from Secretary of State 
     Michael R. Pompeo to all diplomatic and consular posts--
     ``Boosting Commercial Diplomacy Around the World''--stated 
     that ``helping American companies is a foreign policy 
     priority . . . Promoting broad-based, responsible, and 
     sustainable economic growth helps to stabilize regions and 
     creates new and growing markets for U.S. companies. A 
     transparent and level playing field for U.S. investment in 
     these countries counters real and growing challenges such as 
     China's Belt and Road initiative.''.
       (3) In the January-February 2019 issue of The Foreign 
     Service Journal, Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, the President 
     of the American Foreign Service Association, wrote ``Foreign 
     Service support for American business . . . is a major reason 
     why the U.S. Foreign Service was created.''.

     SEC. 3. ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

       Subsection (c) of section 1 of the State Department Basic 
     Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(3) Assistant secretary for economic and business 
     matters.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to the numerical limitation 
     specified in paragraph (1), there is authorized to be 
     established in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary 
     of State who shall be responsible to the Secretary of State 
     for matters pertaining to international economics and 
     business matters in the conduct of foreign policy.
       ``(B) Matters contemplated.--The matters referred to in 
     subparagraph (A) include the following:
       ``(i) International trade and investment policy.
       ``(ii) International finance, economic development, and 
     debt policy.
       ``(iii) Economic sanctions and combating terrorist 
     financing.
       ``(iv) International transportation policy.
       ``(v) Support for United States businesses.
       ``(vi) Economic policy analysis and private sector 
     outreach.
       ``(vii) International data privacy and innovation policies.
       ``(viii) Such other related duties as the Secretary may 
     from time to time designate.''.

     SEC. 4. CHIEF OF MISSION RESPONSIBILITIES.

       Section 207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
     3927) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(d) Promotion of United States Economic Interests.--Each 
     chief of mission to a foreign country shall have as a 
     principal duty the promotion of United States economic and 
     commercial interests in such country.''.

     SEC. 5. INCREASED TRAINING IN ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL 
                   DIPLOMACY.

       Section 708 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
     4028) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(d) Economic and Commercial Diplomacy.--The Secretary of 
     State, with the assistance of other relevant officials and 
     the private sector, shall establish as part of the standard 
     training provided for economic and commercial officers of the 
     Foreign Service, chiefs of mission, and deputy chiefs of 
     mission, training on matters related to economic and 
     commercial diplomacy, with particular attention to market 
     access and other elements of an enabling framework for United 
     States businesses, commercial advocacy, and United States 
     foreign economic policy, in addition to awareness about the 
     support of the United States Government available to United 
     States businesses, including support provided by the 
     Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the 
     Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Millennium 
     Challenge Corporation, the Trade and Development Agency, the 
     Department of the Treasury, the United States Agency for 
     International Development, and the United States 
     International Development Finance Corporation.''.

     SEC. 6. REPORT FROM EACH MISSION ON MATTERS OF COMMERCIAL 
                   RELATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the chief 
     of mission at each bilateral diplomatic mission of the United 
     States and the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan 
     shall submit to the Secretary of State the following:
       (1) Data and other information regarding actions taken by 
     each such mission or Institute during the previous year to 
     foster commercial relations and safeguard United States 
     economic and business interests in the country or region in 
     which each such chief of mission and the Director serves.
       (2) Each such mission's and Institute's anticipated 
     economic and commercial priorities for the coming year.
       (b) Report to Congress.--The Secretary of State, after 
     receiving the information required under subsection (a), 
     shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
     the Senate a report, disaggregated by country or region, on 
     activities and initiatives, including with appropriate 
     examples, to create an enabling environment and otherwise 
     promote United States economic and business interests in each 
     such country or region, as well as information about 
     significant foreign competition to United States businesses 
     in the relevant country or region, including state-directed 
     investments by foreign governments and United States 
     strategic competitors in such country or region.

     SEC. 7. REPORT ON UNIFIED INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT AND 
                   COUNTRY COMMERCIAL GUIDE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of State and the Secretary 
     of Commerce shall jointly produce and make publicly available 
     on a United States Government internet website an annual 
     country- and region-specific report regarding commercial 
     relations with foreign countries and regions and safeguarding 
     United States economic and business interests abroad, 
     including with regard to United States exports and 
     investments, including by small- and medium-size enterprises.
       (b) Matters To Be Included.--Each report required under 
     subsection (a) shall include the following with respect to 
     each country or region covered by each such report:
       (1) Information about doing business in each country or 
     region.
       (2) Background information about each country's or region's 
     political environment.
       (3) Information about selling United States products and 
     services in each country or region.
       (4) Leading sectors for United States exports and 
     investment in each country or region.
       (5) Information about trade regulations, customs, and 
     standards in each country or region, such as--
       (A) information on import tariffs; and
       (B) documentation about which United States businesses 
     should be aware when exporting, including any prohibited 
     items or temporary entry procedures.
       (6) Investment climate statements describing each country's 
     or region's openness to foreign investments, such as 
     information relating to each country's or region's--
       (A) investment policies;
       (B) market barriers;
       (C) business risks;
       (D) legal and regulatory system, including dispute 
     resolution;
       (E) level of public and private sector corruption;
       (F) level of political violence and instability;
       (G) adherence to internationally recognized core labor 
     standards; and
       (H) protection of property rights.
       (7) Information about trade and project financing in each 
     country or region, such as each country's or region's--
       (A) banking and financial system, and how United States 
     businesses typically get paid;
       (B) foreign exchange controls; and
       (C) important sources of funding for project financing.
       (8) Relevant business travel information and business 
     customs in each country or region.
       (9) Information about services and personnel of the 
     diplomatic mission of the United States available to United 
     States businesses to support their activities in each country 
     or region.
       (10) Any significant trade or commercial agreement that 
     exists between the United States and each country or region.
       (11) A point of contact at the diplomatic or consular 
     mission of the United States in each country or region for 
     United States businesses.

     SEC. 8. IMPROVING AWARENESS OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TOOLS 
                   AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT UNITED STATES 
                   BUSINESSES OVERSEAS.

       The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce shall 
     take actions to improve United States businesses' awareness 
     of United States Government tools and services to assist such 
     businesses overseas, especially small and medium-sized 
     enterprises, including by coordinating with State trade 
     agencies, Export Assistance Centers, and Small Businesses 
     Development Centers.

     SEC. 9. NEGOTIATIONS TO ESTABLISH INTERNATIONAL QUALITY 
                   INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT STANDARDS.

       (a) In General.--The President, acting through the 
     Secretary of State, and in coordination with other relevant 
     Federal agency heads, shall initiate and pursue negotiations 
     with countries to establish international standards for 
     government-supported

[[Page H3460]]

     quality infrastructure investment overseas, including with 
     respect to the following:
       (1) Respect for the sovereignty of countries in which 
     infrastructure investments are made.
       (2) Anti-corruption.
       (3) Fiscal and debt sustainability.
       (4) Environmental, social and governance safeguards.
       (5) Local labor.
       (6) Transparency.
       (b) Report on Progress of Negotiations.--Not later than one 
     year after the date of enactment of this Act, the President 
     shall provide a briefing to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations of the Senate on the progress of any negotiations 
     described in subsection (a).

     SEC. 10. REPORT BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on United States 
     economic and commercial diplomacy.
       (b) Matters To Be Included.--The report required under 
     subsection (a) shall include an assessment of the following:
       (1) What is known about the effectiveness of United States 
     economic and commercial diplomacy in influencing foreign 
     governments and supporting United States businesses abroad.
       (2) Coordination between the Department of State and the 
     Department of Commerce with respect to United States economic 
     and commercial diplomacy.
       (3) The effectiveness of training provided pursuant to 
     subsection (d) of section 708 of the Foreign Service Act of 
     1980 (as added by section 4 of this Act) on matters relating 
     to economic and commercial diplomacy.
       (4) The status and effectiveness of actions taken by the 
     Secretary of State under section 7 of this Act regarding 
     commercial relations with foreign countries and regions and 
     safeguarding United States economic and business interests 
     abroad.
       (5) Recommendations to improve United States economic and 
     commercial diplomacy.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Sires) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1704, the Championing American 
Business Through Diplomacy Act of 2019.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank first Mr. McCaul for his hard work 
on this legislation.
  I am proud to be supporting this legislation, this bipartisan 
measure, which makes better use of State Department resources to 
increase exports of American-made goods and American-provided services 
and, in turn, creates more jobs for American workers.
  This important bill supports the 277,000 small and medium-sized 
businesses that are trying to sell U.S.-origin goods and services 
across the globe.
  They need help understanding the overseas market, locating customers 
for U.S.-origin products, dealing with local imports and customs rules, 
and arranging financing for their export sales. All these efforts 
support U.S. jobs. Economic officers in our embassies and at the State 
Department in Washington can help exporters deal with these challenges.
  This piece of legislation improves the State Department's training 
program for economic officers, affirms a long-standing directive to 
U.S. Ambassadors to include commercial and economic issues in their 
portfolios, and strengthens coordination between the State Department 
and the Commerce Department by consolidating data on overseas markets.
  These efforts fortify the key role of our State Department, provides 
critical confirmation to U.S. exporters, and makes more efficient use 
of public funds.
  H.R. 1704 is a critical bill that will not only spur exports and job 
growth but will ultimately improve the lives of the American people.
  Our sponsors and I would also like to clarify the requirements under 
section 9 of H.R. 1704 to ``initiate and pursue negotiations with 
countries to establish international standards for government-supported 
quality infrastructure investment overseas'' are intended to be 
fulfilled within the Organization of Economic Cooperation and 
Development.
  This bill does not direct or authorize the Secretary of State to 
initiate or pursue negotiations in the World Trade Organization or 
amend any multilateral or plurilateral WTO agreements.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my Championing American 
Business Through Diplomacy Act, which I was pleased to introduce with 
the support of my good friend, Chairman Engel.
  Promoting American business abroad means promoting American 
leadership, prosperity, and our values. It has always been, and should 
remain, a key component of global diplomacy.
  The very first edition of the Foreign Service Journal, then called 
American Consular Bulletin, published in March of 1919, included a 
letter from the editor that stated: ``The Consular Service was 
organized by our Government for the purpose of furthering the interests 
of American businesses abroad.''
  This legislation makes the promotion of U.S. economic interests a 
principal duty of our missions abroad and requires economic and 
commercial training for our diplomats.
  It also directs our foreign missions to promote trade agreements and 
establish points of contact who can assist American businesses 
interested in entering those foreign markets.
  Promotion of American businesses abroad has never been more 
important. As transitioning economies work to expand their wealth and 
capacity, they look to America to bring expertise, financing, and 
ingenuity.
  If America does not step up its economic engagement in the world, 
this vacuum will be filled by others, with a potentially devastating 
impact on American national security.
  While I speak, China is aggressively filling that void. However, its 
approach does not respect the rights of workers, the environment, or 
even the sovereignty of other nations.
  China's Belt and Road Initiative is ensnaring developing nations into 
Chinese debt traps from which they may never escape. This effort is 
also leading to a new Chinese adventurism, complete with military 
outposts and expanded leverage in various countries.
  Ground zero for this competition in the developing world is Africa. I 
have spent much time with African Governments and business leaders. All 
have told me that America is just not there to compete. I applaud the 
administration for its new Prosper Africa efforts and know that this 
legislation is key to its success.
  I can think of no better antidote to combat this predatory influence 
than unleashing the vitality of American values through our private 
sector. I naturally think of the world-class tech and energy companies 
in my own district and home State of Texas.
  Creating more international opportunities for American businesses 
will help push back on growing Chinese influence across the globe.
  It is time for America to fully wake up and get on the field, or we 
may ask ourselves later why we did not do more to contain the Chinese 
threat.
  For these reasons, the Championing American Business Through 
Diplomacy Act is a critical initiative that deserves our unanimous 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to just, again, thank Chairman Engel 
for his support of this bipartisan bill, which was adopted unanimously 
at our committee markup last month.
  American businesses represent ingenuity, industry, and opportunity. 
Unlike our strategic competitors, they do not go overseas pushing 
large, government-subsidized construction projects that involve massive 
debt or giving up control of strategic infrastructure.
  They seek only access to markets and a fair playing field, which 
allows the kind of win-win partnerships that are the genius of the free 
enterprise system.
  In this era of strategic competition, supporting their access to 
these economies abroad should be a priority of American diplomacy. The 
stability that we help provide with our enterprise will help bring us 
and the world security as well. That is the aim of this bill.

[[Page H3461]]

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
important measure, H.R. 1704, to fully and efficiently use the 
resources we already have to increase exports and create jobs and, in 
turn, improve the lives of the American people.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1704.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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