[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 223 (Thursday, December 31, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H9170-H9172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT ACT OF 2020

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from

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the Speaker's table the bill (S. 1310) to strengthen the 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, and ask for its immediate consideration in the 
House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman 
from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1310

       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 ``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 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

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     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.

  The bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third 
time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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