[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 209 (Thursday, December 10, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7425-S7426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2700. Mr. CORNYN (for Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mr. Cardin))
proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1310, to strengthen participation
of elected national legislators in the activities of the Organization
of American States and reaffirm United States support for Organization
of American States human rights and anti-corruption initiatives, and
for other purposes; as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Organization of American
States Legislative Engagement Act of 2020''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Charter of the Organization of American States
establishes that ``representative democracy is an
indispensable condition for the stability, peace and
development of the region''.
(2) Article 2 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter of
the Organization of American States affirms that ``the
effective exercise of representative democracy is the basis
for the rule of law and of the constitutional regimes of the
member states of the Organization of American States''.
(3) Article 26 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter
states that ``the OAS will continue to carry out programs and
activities designed to promote democratic principles and
practices and strengthen a democratic culture in the
Hemisphere''.
(4) In accordance with the OAS Charter and the Inter-
American Democratic Charter, the OAS General Assembly, OAS
Permanent Council, and OAS Secretariat have established a
wide range of cooperative agreements with domestic and
international organizations, including national legislative
institutions.
(5) In 2004, OAS General Assembly Resolution 2044 (XXXIV-O/
04) appealed for the ``strengthening of legislatures, as well
as inter-parliamentary cooperation on key items of the inter-
American agenda, with a view, in particular, to generating
initiatives to fight corruption, poverty, inequality, and
social exclusion''.
(6) In 2005, OAS General Assembly Resolution 2095 (XXXV-O/
05) called on the OAS Secretariat to ``invite [. . .] the
presidents or speakers of the national legislative
institutions of the Americas, i.e., congresses, parliaments,
or national assemblies, [. . .] to attend a special meeting
of the Permanent Council [. . .] for the initiation of a
dialogue on topics on the hemispheric agenda''.
(7) In 2014 and 2015, the OAS Secretariat expanded its
engagement with elected national
[[Page S7426]]
legislators from OAS member states by convening two meetings
of presidents of national legislatures, first in Lima, Peru
and subsequently in Santiago, Chile.
(8) However, no permanent procedures exist to facilitate
the participation of elected national legislators from OAS
member states in OAS activities.
(9) The Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly has proven successful at
strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation among its
member states.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is that sense of Congress that--
(1) elected national legislators play an essential role in
the exercise of representative democracy in the Americas,
including by--
(A) promoting economic freedom and respect for property
rights;
(B) promoting the rule of law and combating corruption;
(C) defending human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
(D) advancing the principles and practices expressed in the
Charter of the Organization of American States, the American
Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, and the Inter-
American Democratic Charter;
(2) establishing procedures and mechanisms to facilitate
the participation of elected national legislators from OAS
member states in OAS activities could contribute to the
promotion of democratic principles and practices and
strengthen a democratic culture in the Western Hemisphere;
(3) increasing and strengthening the participation of
elected national legislators from OAS member states in OAS
activities could advance the principles and proposals
expressed in section 4 of the Organization of American States
Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-41; 127
Stat. 549);
(4) the OAS General Assembly, OAS Permanent Council, and
OAS Secretariat should take steps to facilitate greater
participation of elected national legislators from OAS member
states in OAS activities;
(5) the OAS Permanent Council resolutions titled
``Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society in OAS
Activities'' and ``Strategies for Increasing and
Strengthening Participation by Civil Society Organizations in
OAS Activities'' should serve as important references for
efforts to bolster the participation of elected national
legislators from OAS member states in OAS activities; and
(6) the successful experience of the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly
should serve as a model to the OAS in creating a similar
mechanism.
SEC. 4. STRENGTHENING PARTICIPATION OF ELECTED NATIONAL
LEGISLATORS AT THE OAS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, acting through the
United States Mission to the Organization of American States,
should use the voice and vote of the United States to support
the creation of procedures for the Organization of American
States that--
(1) enhance the participation of democratically elected
national legislators from OAS member state countries in OAS
activities that advance the principles of the Inter-American
Democratic Charter and the core values of the OAS consistent
with the principles and proposals expressed in section 4 of
the Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform
Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-41; 127 Stat. 549);
(2) create an annual forum for democratically elected
national legislatures from OAS member states to discuss
issues of hemispheric importance, including regional efforts
to defend human rights and combat transnational criminal
activities, corruption, and impunity;
(3) permit elected national legislators from OAS member
states to make presentations, contribute information, and
provide expert advice, as appropriate, to the OAS
Secretariat, OAS Permanent Council, and OAS General Assembly
about OAS activities on issues of hemispheric importance;
(4) lead to the creation of a mechanism to regularly
facilitate the participation of elected national legislators
in OAS activities; and
(5) reinforce OAS Secretariat programs that provide
technical assistance for the modernization and institutional
strengthening of national legislatures from OAS member
states.
(b) Expenses.--The Secretary of State, acting through the
United States Mission to the Organization of American States,
as appropriate, shall seek to ensure that expenses related to
the procedures set forth in this Act do not increase member
quotas, assessed fees, or voluntary contributions and that
the Secretariat of the OAS shall seek to ensure shared
financial responsibilities among the member states in
facilitating the financial support necessary to carry out
this initiative.
SEC. 5. SUPPORT FOR OAS HUMAN RIGHTS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
INITIATIVES.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the efforts of the OAS Secretary General and
Secretariat to combat corruption and impunity in the Americas
represent important contributions to strengthening the rule
of law and democratic governance in the Americas; and
(2) the United States should support efforts to ensure the
effectiveness and independence of OAS initiatives to combat
corruption and impunity in the Americas.
(b) Anti-corruption and Human Rights Promotion Strategy.--
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
the Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives a strategy
for supporting OAS anti-corruption and human rights promotion
efforts. The strategy should include--
(1) an assessment of United States programs, activities,
and initiatives with the OAS to support anti-corruption and
human rights promotion in the Americas;
(2) a summary of the steps taken by the United States
Mission to the OAS to strengthen anti-corruption and anti-
impunity efforts in the Americas;
(3) an assessment of necessary reforms and initiatives to
prioritize and reinforce the OAS Secretary General and
Secretariat's efforts to advance human rights and combat
corruption and impunity in the Americas;
(4) a detailed plan to facilitate increased OAS
collaboration, as appropriate, with relevant stakeholders,
including elected national legislators and civil society, in
support of an approach to promote human rights and combat
transnational criminal activities, corruption, and impunity
in the Americas; and
(5) a detailed plan for implementing the strategy set forth
in this section of the Act.
SEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on OAS processes, initiatives, and
reforms undertaken to implement section 4, actions taken to
implement the strategy required under section 5(b), and steps
taken to implement the Organization of American States
Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-41).
The report should include--
(1) an analysis of the progress made by the OAS to adopt
and effectively implement reforms and initiatives to advance
human rights and combat corruption and impunity in the
Americas; and
(2) a detailed assessment of OAS efforts to increase
stakeholder engagement to advance human rights and combat
corruption and impunity in the Americas.
(b) Briefings.--Not later than one year after the Secretary
of State submits the report required under subsection (a),
and annually thereafter for two additional years, the
Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Foreign Relations
of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives a briefing on the information
required to be included in such report.
SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ELECTED NATIONAL LEGISLATOR.
It is the sense of Congress that an elected national
legislator participating in the activities outlined in this
Act should be an individual that--
(1) was elected as a result of periodic, free and fair
elections; and
(2) is not known to be under investigation or convicted for
corruption or transnational criminal activities, including
trafficking of people, goods, or illicit narcotics, money-
laundering, terrorist financing, acts of terrorism, campaign
finance violations, bribery, or extortion.
______