[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 67 (Monday, April 19, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2013-S2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION

      By Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. 
        Shaheen, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Kaine, Mr. 
        Markey, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Van Hollen):
  S. 1201. A bill to restore the United States' international 
leadership on climate change and clean energy, and for other purposes; 
to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the United 
States Climate Leadership on International Mitigation, Adaptation, and 
Technology Enhancement Act of 2021--the U.S. CLIMATE Act. Mr. 
President, climate change represents a clear and present threat to the 
stability, security and prosperity of nations around the world, 
including the United States. The cost of climate-induced disasters 
becomes more indisputable and devastating with every passing year. 
Barring swift and ambitious action, the situation will only worsen.
  We've all seen the devastating impacts of climate change. For years, 
unprecedented tropical storms have destroyed communities in Mozambique, 
Central America, and the United States, including communities in my 
home state of New Jersey. This past February, incredibly abnormal and 
brutal winter weather, exacerbated by climatic disruption to the 
Arctic's polar vortex, killed eleven people and left thousands in Texas 
without power and water. Less than a year prior, deadly wildfires, 
exacerbated by climate change engulfed California, killing 31 people, 
and Australia, killing 34 people, and forced thousands to flee their 
homes and lose their livelihoods. And yet, while hurricanes and storm 
surges are horrific, climate change is also increasing the intensity, 
length and geographic expanse of droughts around the world contributing 
to food insecurity, natural resource scarcity and desertification.
  Likewise, intensifying effects of climate change pose an existential 
threat to hundreds of millions of people and exacerbate global forced 
migration. Nations like Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia are incredibly 
vulnerable to mass displacement due to rising sea levels. Island 
nations like Tuvalu, Seychelles, the Republic of the Marshall Islands 
and Kiribati are already managing internal migration due to climate 
change induced sea-level rise. Without ambitious action to both keep 
global leverage temperatures well below an increase of two degrees 
Celsius above preindustrial levels it is forecasted that the entirety 
of certain nations may become uninhabitable within my grandchildren's 
lifetime. It is a moral imperative for the Senators in this body, and 
humanity, to act to ensure that is not the world we leave for the 
generations that will come after us. Today's generations are the first 
people to personally and regularly experience the effects of climate 
change on the natural world and its impact on humanity . . . and we are 
also the last generations that can, and must, act to prevent the worst 
forecasts from becoming reality.
  Changing climate and weather patterns intensification of global food 
insecurity and resource scarcity especially threaten the lives and 
security of the world's most vulnerable populations. For months, heavy 
rainfall and warmer temperatures have triggered a locust plague in East 
Africa that has lasted more than an entire year. This historic locust 
plague--triggered by conditions exacerbated by climate change--has 
threatened agricultural and pastoral livelihoods and worsened already 
acute food insecurity in the region. At the same time, similar extreme 
weather patterns are expected to expand and shift the ranges of life-
threatening diseases like malaria, West Nile Virus, cholera, and 
others. Beyond the palpable destruction and devastation of climate-
induced crises, climate change is a ``threat multiplier,'' a term 
coined by the CNA Corporation's Military Advisory Board in 2007 to 
express the way in which climate change exacerbates instability; 
conflict and subsequent displacement; terrorism; and other vital 
security matters.
  Clearly, climate change does not begin nor end at any nation's 
borders. No one is immune to the effects of climate change--which is 
why we must not only work with the rest of the

[[Page S2014]]

world to combat this crisis, but lead the charge. It is simply not 
enough to enact robust domestic policies--this is a global problem that 
requires internationally collaborative solutions. What's more, our 
leadership and renewed international engagement can generate 
opportunities for Americans. By committing to international agreements 
and adhering to emerging international production norms, we are opening 
the global markets for the innovation, ingenuity, and leadership of the 
American private sector.
  I commend the Biden administration's commitment to returning the 
United States to the global stage, thereby granting us the capacity to 
reengage and lead the international community in tackling the greatest 
threat of our time. President Biden's Executive Order on Tackling the 
Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad has designated climate action as a 
core tenant of U.S. diplomacy and national security planning. He has 
appointed former Secretary of State John Kerry as Special Presidential 
Envoy for Climate, ensuring that climate considerations have a strong 
advocate where important decisions are being made. And, under the 
leadership of President Biden, the United States has officially 
rejoined the Paris Agreement.
  The time for debate and discussion on why and how we must tackle this 
crisis is over. The science is clear: we must achieve net zero 
emissions by 2050 in order to ensure a safe and prosperous future for 
ourselves and our posterity. Now is the time for action and 
implementation of crucial efforts to save our planet.
  Congress can and must do more to support the restoration of the 
United States' climate diplomacy and leadership. That is why I am 
introducing the United States Climate Leadership in International 
Mitigation, Adaptation, and Technological Enhancement Act, or the U.S. 
CLIMATE Act, of 2021, a comprehensive piece of legislation to bolster 
President Biden's bold commitment to U.S. climate leadership by 
providing resources, programs and policy to support and expedite the 
realization of United States action that will be essential to regaining 
the international community's trust and partnership with the U.S. in 
the global climate fight. It represents a bold course of action that 
Congress should take to support forward-looking leadership in the White 
House in their commitment to preventing the worst-case scenarios of 
climate change from becoming reality.
  Title I of the bill establishes climate change as a cross-cutting 
imperative at the State Department. It also calls for the integration 
of climate models and forecasting into national security planning 
across all federal agencies and features directives on protecting our 
security and environmental interests in the Arctic.
  Title II declares support for U.S. cooperation and engagement in 
international agreements. This includes directives on re-entry into the 
Paris Agreements; ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal 
Protocols; compliance with environmental initiatives of the 
International Civil Aviation Organization; and the establishment of new 
international efforts to mitigate transportation sector and greenhouse 
gas emissions.
  Title III integrates climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts 
into a range of tools and initiatives at USAID, the Department of the 
Treasury, the Department of State, the DFC, and the United Nations.
  Title IV incorporates a clean energy mandate into the United States' 
diplomatic and development efforts, thereby protecting our own energy 
security interests and promoting responsible global energy production.
  Title V of the bill addresses the United States' bilateral and 
multilateral engagement on climate change, encouraging U.S. cooperation 
with China, India, the European Union and other key partners.
  Title VI of the U.S. CLIMATE Act integrates our colleague from 
Hawai'i, Senator Hirono's Women and Climate Change Act, which 
acknowledges and addresses the disproportionate effects of climate 
change on women and girls around the world.
  The science is clear: we are running out of time to stave off the 
most devastating effects of climate change that will directly impact 
our children and our children's children. After four years of being 
absent from the conversation, it is time for the United States to not 
only return to the table, but lead the charge to protect our shared 
home. We cannot solve this crisis alone--this is not an American 
problem, this is a global crisis that can only be combatted with 
coordinated, international action. The U.S. CLIMATE Act of 2021 
provides the essential resources, programs, and support for the United 
States to lead the world forward in the existential fight to save our 
planet. Mr. President I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the 
legislation be printed in the Record following my remarks, I yield the 
floor and note the absence of a quorum.
  So ordered.

                                S. 1201

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``United 
     States Climate Leadership in International Mitigation, 
     Adaptation, and Technology Enhancement Act of 2021''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings; sense of Congress.
Sec. 3. Purpose.
Sec. 4. Definitions.

                 TITLE I--CLIMATE AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Sec. 101. Climate diplomacy.
Sec. 102. Enhancing United States security considerations for global 
              climate disruptions.
Sec. 103. Arctic diplomacy.

           TITLE II--INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND CONVENTIONS

Sec. 201. Sense of Congress in support of the United States returning 
              to the Paris Agreement.
Sec. 202. Enhanced United States commitment to the Paris Agreement.
Sec. 203. Sense of Congress regarding ratification of the Kigali 
              Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
Sec. 204. Compliance with the carbon offset and reduction scheme for 
              international aviation.
Sec. 205. Short-lived climate pollutants.
Sec. 206. International cooperation regarding clean transportation and 
              sustainable land use and community development.
Sec. 207. Sense of Congress on United States reengagement with the 
              Group of Seven and the Group of Twenty on climate action.

       TITLE III--CLIMATE CHANGE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AND SUPPORT

Sec. 301. International Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and 
              Security Program.
Sec. 302. United States contributions to the Green Climate Fund.
Sec. 303. Sense of Congress on United States engagements at the World 
              Economic Forum.
Sec. 304. Clean energy and the United States International Development 
              Finance Corporation.
Sec. 305. Consistency in United States policy on development finance 
              and climate change.

     TITLE IV--CLEAN ENERGY DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 401. Energy diplomacy and security within the Department of State.
Sec. 402. Department of State primacy for energy diplomacy.
Sec. 403. Reports on United States participation in Mission Innovation 
              and the Clean Energy Ministerial.
Sec. 404. Reduced deforestation.

  TITLE V--BILATERAL AND REGIONAL MULTILATERAL CLIMATE DIPLOMACY AND 
                              COOPERATION

Sec. 501. North American Strategy.
Sec. 502. Accountability and cooperation with China.
Sec. 503. United States and European Union cooperation on climate 
              finance for developing countries.
Sec. 504. Sense of Congress on clean energy cooperation with India.
Sec. 505. Power Africa.
Sec. 506. Caribbean Energy Initiative.
Sec. 507. Sense of Congress on conservation of the Amazon River basin.
Sec. 508. Sense of Congress regarding renewable energy in Indonesia.

                 TITLE VI--WOMEN AND CLIMATE CHANGE ACT

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Findings.
Sec. 603. Definitions.
Sec. 604. Statement of policy.
Sec. 605. Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and Climate 
              Change.
Sec. 606. Development and implementation of strategy and policies to 
              prevent and respond to the effects of climate change on 
              women globally.
Sec. 607. Climate Change within the Office of Global Women's Issues.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:

[[Page S2015]]

       (1) The Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5C, published 
     by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on October 
     8, 2018, and the Fourth National Climate Assessment, first 
     published by the United States Global Change Research Program 
     in 2018, concluded that--
       (A) the release of greenhouse gas emissions, most notably 
     the combustion of fossil fuels and the degradation of natural 
     resources that absorb atmospheric carbon from human activity, 
     are the dominant causes of climate change during the past 
     century;
       (B) changes in the Earth's climate are--
       (i) causing sea levels to rise;
       (ii) increasing the global average temperature of the 
     Earth;
       (iii) increasing the incidence and severity of wildfires; 
     and
       (iv) intensifying the severity of extreme weather, 
     including hurricanes, cyclones, typhoons, flooding, droughts, 
     and other disasters that threaten human life, healthy 
     communities, and critical infrastructure.
       (2) An increase in the global average temperature of 2 
     degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrialized levels would 
     cause--
       (A)(i) the displacement, and the forced internal migration, 
     of an estimated 143,000,000 people in Latin America, South 
     Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa by 2050 if insufficient action 
     is taken (according to the World Bank); and
       (ii) the displacement of an average of 17,800,000 people 
     worldwide by floods every year (according to the Internal 
     Displacement Monitoring Centre) because of the exacerbating 
     effects of climate change;
       (B)(i) more than $500,000,000,000 in lost annual economic 
     output in the United States (a 10 percent contraction from 
     2018 levels) by 2100 (according to the Fourth National 
     Climate Assessment); and
       (ii) an additional 100,000,000 people worldwide to be 
     driven into poverty by 2030 (according to the World Bank);
       (C)(i) greater food insecurity and decreased agricultural 
     production due to climate change's effects on the increased 
     frequency and intensity of extreme weather events; and
       (ii) the proliferation of agricultural pests and crop 
     diseases, loss of biodiversity, degrading ecosystems, and 
     water scarcity (according to the United Nations Food and 
     Agriculture Organization); and
       (D) more than 350,000,000 additional people worldwide to be 
     exposed to deadly heat stress by 2050.
       (3) According to the International Monetary Fund, a 
     persistent annual increase in average global temperature of 
     .04 degrees Celsius would reduce global real gross domestic 
     product per capita by 7.22 percent by 2100.
       (4) According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 
     climate change is exacerbating unusual regional weather 
     conditions, which is driving the current and prolonged desert 
     locust outbreak that is threatening food security across East 
     Africa and Southeast Asia.
       (5) According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy 
     Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services--
       (A) an increase in the global average temperature of 
     between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius will result in a 
     significant reduction in the worldwide number of land 
     species;
       (B) an increase in the global average temperature of 2 
     degrees Celsius--
       (i) will place 5 percent of world's species at risk of 
     extinction; and
       (ii) will result in the destruction of more than 99 percent 
     of all coral reefs worldwide; and
       (C) an increase in the global average temperature of 4.3 
     degrees Celsius will place 16 percent of world's terrestrial 
     species at risk of extinction.
       (6) According to the International Energy Agency, the 
     United States, China, India, and the European Union 
     (including the United Kingdom) account for more than 58 
     percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
       (7) China, which is the world's top greenhouse gases 
     emitter and has an outsized impact on the United States' core 
     interest in climate stability--
       (A) is likely to achieve its carbon emissions mitigation 
     pledge to the Paris Agreement, contained in its 2015 
     nationally determined contribution, to ``peak'' emissions 
     around 2030 ahead of schedule;
       (B) announced, on September 22, 2020, a pledge to achieve 
     carbon neutrality by 2060; and
       (C) has yet to announce an updated nationally determined 
     contribution.
       (8) On October 26, 2020, Japan, the world's third largest 
     economy and fifth greatest carbon emitter, announced a pledge 
     to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Despite apprehension 
     about growing nuclear energy sources, Japan aims to increase 
     its share of renewable and nuclear energy following new 
     targets unveiled next year.
       (9) India has met its growing energy demands by becoming a 
     global leader in renewable energy generation. Despite 
     significant investments in renewable energy, and the 
     implementation of strong national greenhouse gas mitigation 
     policies, India continues to operate some of the world's 
     dirtiest fossil fuel power plants and has high emissions 
     generated from its transportation sector. India is a critical 
     market for foreign investment and will be a major competitor 
     in international clean energy development futures.
       (10) India's leadership within the Clean Energy 
     Ministerial, the Mission Innovation initiative, and the 
     International Solar Alliance has put India at the forefront 
     of renewable energy development and helped India achieve a 
     top 5 global rank among clean energy producers. Installed 
     electricity capacity from renewables in India grew by 144 
     percent between 2014 and 2020. Approximately $42,000,000,000 
     was invested into India's renewable energy sector between 
     2014 and 2019.
       (11) The European Union demonstrated its strong commitment 
     to climate action by making the ambitious pledge to reduce 
     the collective greenhouse gas emissions of its 27 member 
     nations by at least 55 percent by 2030 (compared to 1990 
     levels) and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The 
     European Parliament went even further, voting to reduce its 
     collective economy wide greenhouse gas emissions by 60 
     percent by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels). These commitments 
     represent substantial improvements from the previous goal of 
     a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
       (12) The European Union's member nations have also provided 
     the equivalent of approximately $120,000,000,000 between 2014 
     and 2020 in support and financing to build climate change 
     resilience and develop low carbon energy capacity throughout 
     the developing world.
       (13) The European Union has traditionally been a steadfast 
     partner with United States in the United Nation's Framework 
     Convention on Climate Change by pushing for improved 
     accountability, transparency, and shared responsibility among 
     parties in mitigating global greenhouse gas emissions. As the 
     United State Government's executive branch has pulled away 
     from climate action commitments, the European Union has 
     increased its cooperation with coalitions of States through 
     partnerships such as the United States Climate Alliance.
       (14) Among the world's top greenhouse gas emitters, the 
     United States is the only country that--
       (A) has rescinded national policies to reduce greenhouse 
     gas emissions;
       (B) has advanced policies aimed at bolstering fossil fuel 
     consumption and extraction, including through the removal of 
     Federal protections of public lands that are critical 
     wilderness areas vital to maintaining healthy natural 
     ecosystems; and
       (C) has abstained or withdrawn itself from several global 
     cooperative efforts acknowledging and addressing the climate 
     crisis.
       (15) United States leadership during deliberations over the 
     Paris Agreement--
       (A) was exemplified by--
       (i) its commitment to reduce national emissions by 26 to 28 
     percent below 2005 levels;
       (ii) its leadership in the ``Umbrella Group'' and its role 
     as cofounder of the ``High Ambition Coalition'';
       (iii) its co-facilitation of the UNFCCC;
       (iv) its work with the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris 
     Agreement on agenda item 5: Modalities, procedures and 
     guidelines for the transparency framework for action; and
       (v) its support for the enhanced transparency framework for 
     action and support referred to in Article 13 of the Paris 
     Agreement;
       (vi) its pledge of $3,000,000,000 to the Green Climate Fund 
     (of which the United States still owed $2,000,000,000) in 
     support of developing countries' efforts to adapt to climate 
     change and to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions; and
       (vii) the development of critical bilateral climate action 
     cooperation initiatives with China and India; and
       (B) established the United States as essential to uniting 
     the world in climate action cooperation.
       (16) The United States' reversal on nearly all climate 
     action policies since 2017, including repealing the Clean 
     Power Plan (announced by President Obama in August 2015), 
     cancelling contributions to the United Nation's Green Climate 
     Fund, abstaining from all G7 and G20 climate action 
     communiques, and withdrawing the United States from the Paris 
     Agreement--
       (A) undermines the viability of the Paris Agreement;
       (B) harms American diplomacy;
       (C) disadvantages the ability of the United State private 
     sector to compete in a clean energy global economy, for which 
     the International Finance Corporation estimates that 
     investments spurred by the Paris Agreement will creates up to 
     $23,000,000,000,000 in new investment opportunities;
       (D) erodes the United States' leadership, standing, and 
     trust within the international community; and
       (E) concedes leadership and economic opportunity to foreign 
     governments keen on taking advantage of the United States' 
     absence from international climate action initiatives.
       (17) The Paris Agreement's central aim is--
       (A) to strengthen the global response to the threat of 
     climate change by maintaining the global temperature rise 
     well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels; and
       (B) to pursue efforts to further limit the temperature 
     increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
       (18) The Paris Agreement--
       (A) specifies the need for a strong global response to 
     climate change;
       (B) acknowledges that all ``[p]arties should, when taking 
     action to address climate change, respect, promote and 
     consider their respective obligations on human rights, the 
     right to health, the rights of indigenous

[[Page S2016]]

     peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with 
     disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the 
     right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment 
     of women and intergenerational equity'';
       (C) notes the importance of ``climate justice'' when 
     mitigating and adapting to climate change;
       (D) recognizes ``the need for an effective and progressive 
     response to the urgent threat of climate change'';
       (E) requires all parties to put forward their best efforts 
     through nationally determined contributions and to strengthen 
     these efforts in the future;
       (F) requires each party to update its nationally determined 
     contribution every 5 years, with each successive nationally 
     determined contribution representing a progression beyond the 
     previous nationally determined contribution, and reflecting 
     the party's highest possible ambition;
       (G) recognizes that marine ecosystems covering more than 70 
     percent of the Earth's surface have an integral role in 
     climate balance; and
       (H) was developed under the UNFCCC, an international 
     environmental treaty which the United States ratified, with 
     the advice and consent of the Senate on October 15, 1992.
       (19) Seventy percent of the Paris Agreement signatories' 
     nationally determined contributions in support of the goals 
     of the Paris Agreement are ocean-inclusive, and 39 Paris 
     Agreement signatories are focused on the inclusion of ocean 
     action in nationally determined contributions through the 
     Because the Ocean initiative.
       (20) The United States communicated its nationally 
     determined contribution--
       (A) to achieve, by 2025, an economy-wide target of reducing 
     its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below its 
     2005 level; and
       (B) to make best efforts to reduce its emissions by 28 
     percent.
       (21) A thriving clean energy industry in the United States, 
     which employs more than 500,000 Americans, is essential in 
     achieving these targets.
       (22) A number of existing laws and regulations in the 
     United States also are relevant to achieving this target, 
     including--
       (A) the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.);
       (B) the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-486); and
       (C) the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 
     (Public Law 110-140).
       (23) On November 4, 2020, the United States withdrawal from 
     the Paris Agreement became effective, which at the time 
     resulted in the United States being the only state party (out 
     of 197 parties) to the UNFCCC that is not a party to the 
     Paris Agreement.
       (24) On January 20, 2021, President Biden initiated the 
     process for reentering the United States into the Paris 
     Agreement. On February 19, 2021, the United States officially 
     rejoined the Paris Agreement.
       (25) Article 8 of the Paris Agreement states, ``Parties 
     recognize the importance of averting, minimizing and 
     addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse 
     effects of climate change, including extreme weather events 
     and slow onset events, and the role of sustainable 
     development in reducing the risk of loss and damage.'' Such 
     adverse effects include strong winds from hurricanes and 
     tropical storms, and flooding from storm surges and heavy 
     rain, that inflict losses on various sectors of the United 
     States economy.
       (26) The Paris Agreement requires that parties ``should 
     strengthen their cooperation on enhancing action on 
     adaptation, taking into account the Cancun Adaptation 
     Framework'', which includes measures to enhance 
     understanding, coordination and cooperation with regard to 
     climate change induced displacement, migration and planned 
     relocation, where appropriate, at the national, regional and 
     international levels.
       (27) The Paris Agreement is an example of the multilateral, 
     international cooperation needed to overcome climate change-
     related challenges facing the global community, such as 
     reducing emissions, promoting economic growth, and deploying 
     clean energy technologies.
       (28) The Paris Agreement recognizes ``the fundamental 
     priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and 
     the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to 
     the adverse impacts of climate change.''.
       (29) The Paris Agreement recognizes that--
       (A) adaptation is a global challenge facing all countries, 
     with local, subnational, national, regional, and 
     international dimensions; and
       (B) adapting to the effects of climate change is a key 
     component of the long-term global response to climate change 
     to protect people, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
       (30) American leadership during the Paris Agreement 
     negotiations encouraged widespread international 
     participation in the Paris Agreement.
       (31) American States, cities, and businesses are stepping 
     up and pledging to meet the Paris Agreement goals in the wake 
     of absent and uncertain leadership by the President.
       (32) The Paris Agreement--
       (A) has driven innovation in developing cleaner, more 
     reliable, and more affordable forms of energy;
       (B) has demonstrated that addressing climate change and 
     providing affordable energy to American consumers are not 
     mutually exclusive; and
       (C) has encouraged the United States to develop the Mid-
     Century Strategy for Deep Decarbonization, which--
       (i) was released on November 16, 2016; and
       (ii) states, ``Energy efficiency improvements enable the 
     energy system to provide the services we need with fewer 
     resources and emissions. Over the past several years, the 
     United States has demonstrated that programs and standards to 
     improve the energy efficiency of buildings, appliances and 
     vehicles can cost-effectively cut carbon pollution and lower 
     energy bills, while maintaining significant support from U.S. 
     industry and consumers.''.
       (33) Global temperatures must be kept below 1.5 degrees 
     Celsius above pre-industrialized levels to avoid the most 
     severe impacts of a changing climate, which will require--
       (A) global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from 
     human sources of 40 to 60 percent from 2010 levels by 2030; 
     and
       (B) net-zero global emissions by 2050;
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) when the United States proffers a strong commitment and 
     focused leadership on climate action, the rest of the world 
     will likely follow its example;
       (2) when the United States abdicates leadership on such 
     matters, other countries are likely to waiver on their 
     commitments to action and retract to insular posturing on 
     matters that require cooperation; and
       (3) in order to avert the worst impacts of climate change, 
     which is in the core national interest of the United States, 
     the United States should--
       (A) prioritize climate change in its foreign policy, and 
     ensure that climate change is taken into account in all 
     foreign policy decision making;
       (B) set the standard for ambition on climate action;
       (C) use its diplomatic leverage to create incentives for 
     other countries to take strong action on climate change;
       (D) broker, with other world powers, bilateral commitments 
     on emissions reductions and climate finance and support for 
     developing countries, which are critical for--
       (i) building trust and consensus around global cooperation 
     on climate action; and
       (ii) sending important investment signals to private 
     finance and private industry on investment and development 
     trends;
       (E) be transparent in how the United States is delivering 
     on its commitments;
       (F) ensure it is adopting and implementing consistent 
     policies and practices with respect to climate change across 
     bilateral and multilateral development finance institutions;
       (G) hold other world powers accountable for making and 
     meeting strong commitments;
       (H) call for reciprocal standards of transparency; and
       (I) support developing countries, in an inclusive manner--
       (i) to expand deployment and access to clean energy;
       (ii) to plan and invest in climate change adaptation 
     solutions;
       (iii) to improve climate change resilience capacities; and
       (iv) to promote--

       (I) sustainable agriculture practices;
       (II) food security; and
       (III) natural resource conservation.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to provide authorities, 
     resources, policies, and recommended administrative actions--
       (1) to restore United States global leadership on 
     addressing the climate crisis and make United States climate 
     action and climate diplomacy a more central tenet of United 
     States foreign policy;
       (2) to improve the United States' commitment to taking more 
     ambitious action to help mitigate global greenhouse gas 
     emission and improve developing countries' resilience and 
     adaptation capacities to the effects of climate change;
       (3) to reclaim, accept, and fully engage diplomacy within a 
     variety of current and outstanding multilateral institutions 
     that the United States has withdrawn, withheld support, or 
     diminished meaningful engagement from in recent years;
       (4) to encourage the pursuit of new bilateral cooperation 
     agreements with other world powers on initiatives to advance 
     global clean energy innovation and deployment and other 
     measures to mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions and 
     improve climate change adaptation capacities;
       (5) to ensure that the United States' national security 
     apparatus integrates critically important data on the 
     compounding effects that climate change is having on global 
     security risks by enhancing our understanding of how, where, 
     and when such effects are destabilizing countries and regions 
     in ways that may motivate conflict, displacement, and other 
     drivers of insecurity; and
       (6) to authorize funding and programs to support a 
     reaffirmation of the United States' commitments to 
     international cooperation and support for developing and 
     vulnerable countries to take climate action.

     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;

[[Page S2017]]

       (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) Clean energy.--The term ``clean energy'' means--
       (A) renewable energy and energy from systems;
       (B) energy production processes that emit zero greenhouse 
     gas emissions, including nuclear power;
       (C) systems and processes that capture and permanently 
     store greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel production 
     and electricity generation units;
       (D) products, processes, facilities, or systems designed to 
     retrofit and improve the energy efficiency and electricity 
     generated from electrical generation units, while using less 
     fuel, less or fewer power production resources, or less 
     feedstocks; and
       (E) zero emission vehicles.
       (3) Climate action.--The term ``climate action'' means 
     enhanced efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 
     strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-
     induced impacts, including--
       (A) climate-related hazards in all countries;
       (B) integrating climate change measures into national 
     policies, strategies and planning; and
       (C) improving education, awareness-raising, and human and 
     institutional capacity with respect to climate change 
     mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
       (4) Climate crisis.--The term ``climate crisis'' means the 
     social, economic, health, safety, and security impacts on 
     people, and the threats to biodiversity and natural ecosystem 
     health, which are attributable to the wide-variety of effects 
     on global environmental and atmospheric conditions as a 
     result of disruptions to the Earth's climate from 
     anthropogenic activities that generate greenhouse gas 
     emissions or reduce natural resource capacities to absorb and 
     regulate atmospheric carbon.
       (5) Climate diplomacy.--The term ``climate diplomacy'' 
     means methods of influencing the decisions and behavior of 
     foreign governments and peoples through dialogue, 
     negotiation, cooperation and other measures short of war or 
     violence around issues related to addressing global climate 
     change, including--
       (A) the mitigation of global greenhouse gas emissions;
       (B) discussion, analysis, and sharing of scientific data 
     and information on the cause and effects of climate change;
       (C) the security, social, economic, and political 
     instability risks associated with the effects of climate 
     change;
       (D) economic cooperation efforts and trade matters that are 
     related to or associated with climate change and greenhouse 
     gas mitigation from the global economy;
       (E) building resilience capacities and adapting to the 
     effects of change;
       (F) sustainable land use and natural resource conservation;
       (G) accounting for loss and damage attributed to the 
     effects of climate change;
       (H) just transition of carbon intense economies to low or 
     zero carbon economies and accounting for laborers within 
     affected economies; and
       (I) technological innovations that reduce or eliminate 
     carbon emissions.
       (6) Climate security.--The term ``climate security'' means 
     the effects of climate change on--
       (A) United States national security concerns and 
     subnational, national, and regional political stability; and
       (B) overseas security and conflict situations that are 
     potentially exacerbated by dynamic environmental factors and 
     events, including--
       (i) the intensification and frequency of droughts, floods, 
     wildfires, tropical storms, and other extreme weather events;
       (ii) changes in historical severe weather, drought, and 
     wildfire patterns;
       (iii) the expansion of geographical ranges of droughts, 
     floods, and wildfires into regions that had not regularly 
     experienced such phenomena;
       (iv) global sea level rise patterns and the expansion of 
     geographical ranges affected by drought; and
       (v) changes in marine environments that effect critical 
     geostrategic waterways, such as the Arctic Ocean, the South 
     China Sea, the South Pacific Ocean, the Barents Sea, and the 
     Beaufort Sea.
       (7) Nationally determined contribution.--The term 
     ``nationally determined contribution'' means a country's 
     pledged efforts to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions 
     and adapt to the effects of climate change, which may include 
     a financial pledge of support or financing to assist 
     developing countries achieve their climate action goals, in 
     accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 4 of the Paris 
     Agreement, which requires each Party--
       (A) to ``prepare, communicate and maintain successive 
     nationally determined contributions that it intends to 
     achieve''; and
       (B) to ``pursue domestic mitigation measures, with the aim 
     of achieving the objectives of such contributions''.
       (8) Natural climate solutions.--The term ``natural climate 
     solutions'' mean actions to protect, sustainably manage, and 
     restore natural or modified ecosystems that--
       (A) address climate change effectively and adaptively; and
       (B) simultaneously provide human well-being and 
     environmental benefits.
       (9) Natural resources.--The term ``natural resources'' 
     means the terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, and marine 
     fish, wildlife, plants, land, air, water, habitats, and 
     ecosystems.
       (10) Net zero greenhouse gas emissions.--The term ``net 
     zero greenhouse gas emissions'' means that any anthropogenic 
     greenhouse gas emissions are balanced or offset by deliberate 
     activities that absorb or capture and permanently store 
     equivalent amounts of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
       (11) Paris agreement.--The term ``Paris Agreement'' means 
     the international agreement adopted by parties to the United 
     Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's 21st 
     Conference of Parties in Paris, France on December 12, 2015.
       (12) Renewable energy.--The term ``renewable energy'' means 
     all forms of energy produced from sources that naturally 
     occur or are replenished in nature in a sustainable manner, 
     including bioenergy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean 
     energy, solar energy, and wind energy.
       (13) Resilience.--The term ``resilience'' means the ability 
     of human made and natural systems (including their component 
     parts) to anticipate, absorb, cope, accommodate, or recover 
     from the effects of a hazardous event in a timely and 
     efficient manner, including through ensuring the 
     preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential 
     basic structures and functions.
       (14) UNFCCC.--The term ``UNFCCC'' means the United Nations 
     Framework Convention on Climate Change, done at New York May 
     9, 1992, and entered into force March 21, 1994.
       (15) United states-mexico-canada agreement; usmca.--The 
     terms ``United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement'' and ``USMCA'' 
     mean the Agreement between the United States of America, the 
     United Mexican States, and Canada, done at Buenos Aires 
     November 30, 2018.

                 TITLE I--CLIMATE AND NATIONAL SECURITY

     SEC. 101. CLIMATE DIPLOMACY.

       (a) In General.--The President and the Secretary of State 
     shall prioritize climate action and climate diplomacy in 
     United States foreign policy by--
       (1) ensuring diplomacy, support, and interagency 
     coordination for bilateral and multilateral actions to 
     address the climate crisis; and
       (2) improving coordination and integration of climate 
     action across all bureaus and United States missions abroad.
       (b) Climate Action Integration.--The Secretary of State, 
     through the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, 
     Energy, and the Environment and any other designees, shall--
       (1) prioritize climate action and clean energy within the 
     bureaus and offices under the leadership of the Under 
     Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment;
       (2) ensure that such bureaus and offices are coordinating 
     with other bureaus of the Department of State regarding the 
     integration of climate action and climate diplomacy as a 
     cross-cutting imperative across the Department of State;
       (3) encourage all Under Secretaries of State--
       (A) to assess how issues related to climate change and 
     United States climate action are integrated into their 
     operations and programs;
       (B) to coordinate crosscutting actions and diplomatic 
     efforts that relate to climate action; and
       (C) to make available the technical assistance and 
     resources of the bureaus and offices with relevant expertise 
     to provide technical assistance and expert support to other 
     bureaus within the Department of State regarding climate 
     action, clean energy development, and climate diplomacy;
       (4) manage the integration of scientific data on the 
     current and anticipated effects of climate change into 
     applied strategies and diplomatic engagements across 
     programmatic and regional bureaus of the Department of State 
     and into the Department of State's decision making processes;
       (5) ensure that the relevant bureaus and offices provide 
     appropriate technical support and resources--
       (A) to the President, the Secretary of State, and their 
     respective designees charged with addressing climate change 
     and associated issues;
       (B) to United States diplomats advancing United States 
     foreign policy related to climate action; and
       (C) for the appropriate engagement and integration of 
     relevant domestic agencies in international climate change 
     affairs, including United States participation in 
     multilateral fora; and
       (6) carry out other activities, as directed by the 
     Secretary of State, that advance United States climate-
     related foreign policy objectives, including global 
     greenhouse gas mitigation, climate change adaptation 
     activities, and global climate security.
       (c) Responsibilities of the Under Secretary of State for 
     Political Affairs.--The Under Secretary of State for 
     Political Affairs shall ensure that all foreign missions 
     are--
       (1) advancing United States bilateral climate diplomacy;

[[Page S2018]]

       (2) engaging strategically on opportunities for bilateral 
     climate action cooperation with foreign governments; and
       (3) utilizing the technical resources and coordinating 
     adequately with the bureaus reporting to the Under Secretary 
     of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 200 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of State for 
     Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, in cooperation 
     with the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, 
     shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional 
     committees that--
       (1) assesses how climate action and United States climate 
     diplomacy is integrated across the Bureaus of the Department 
     of State; and
       (2) includes recommendations on strategies to improve cross 
     bureau coordination and understanding of United States 
     climate action and climate diplomacy.
       (e) Effect of Elimination of Positions.--If the positions 
     of Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and 
     the Environment and the Under Secretary of State for 
     Political Affairs are eliminated or undergo name changes, the 
     responsibilities of such Under Secretaries under this section 
     shall be reassigned to other Under Secretaries of State, as 
     appropriate.
       (f) Climate Change Experts in Key Embassies.--Not later 
     than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that--
       (1) identifies the number of personnel of the Department of 
     State and the United States Agency for International 
     Development who--
       (A) dedicate a significant portion of their work to climate 
     change mitigation, climate change adaptation, food security, 
     or clean energy matters; and
       (B) are stationed at United States missions in countries 
     that are highly vulnerable to the effects or major greenhouse 
     gas emitters;
       (2) analyzes the need for Federal climate change policy 
     specialist personnel in United States embassies, United 
     States Agency for International Development missions, and 
     other United States diplomatic and international development 
     missions; and
       (3) includes--
       (A) recommendations for increasing climate change expertise 
     within United States missions abroad among foreign service 
     officers; and
       (B) options for assigning to such missions climate change 
     attaches from the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
     Department of Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Department 
     of Interior, or other relevant Federal agencies.
       (g) Climate Change Advisors.--The Secretary of State, or 
     the Secretary's designee, shall have primary responsibility 
     for the management and execution of United States climate 
     diplomacy and related foreign policy and shall make 
     appropriate arrangements with the Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development, the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
     Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Agriculture, the 
     Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration, and other relevant Federal agencies 
     and departments to assign personnel from such agencies and 
     departments to serve as dedicated advisors on climate change 
     matters in embassies of the United States or in other United 
     States diplomatic or international development missions.
       (h) Climate Change Support and Financing.--The Secretary of 
     State shall facilitate the coordination among the Department 
     of State and other relevant departments and agencies, 
     including the United States Agency for International 
     Development, the Department of the Treasury, the United 
     States Trade and Development Agency, and the United States 
     International Development Finance Corporation, of 
     contributing development finance or foreign assistance 
     relevant to United States international climate action and in 
     support of United States climate diplomacy.
       (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this section.

     SEC. 102. ENHANCING UNITED STATES SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR 
                   GLOBAL CLIMATE DISRUPTIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in consultation 
     with other relevant agencies, shall conduct biennial 
     comprehensive evaluations of present and ongoing disruptions 
     to the global climate system, including--
       (1) the intensity, frequency, and range of natural 
     disasters;
       (2) the scarcity of global natural resources, including 
     fresh water;
       (3) global food, health, and energy insecurities;
       (4) conditions that contribute to--
       (A) intrastate and interstate conflicts;
       (B) foreign political and economic instability;
       (C) international migration of vulnerable and underserved 
     populations;
       (D) the failure of national governments; and
       (E) gender-based violence; and
       (5) United States and allied military readiness, 
     operations, and strategy.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the evaluations conducted 
     under subsection (a) are--
       (1) to support the practical application of scientific data 
     and research on climate change's dynamic effects around the 
     world to improve resilience, adaptability, security, and 
     stability despite growing global environmental risks and 
     changes;
       (2) to ensure that the strategic planning and mission 
     execution of United States international development and 
     diplomatic missions adequately account for heightened and 
     dynamic risks and challenges associated with the effects of 
     climate change;
       (3) to improve coordination between United States science 
     agencies conducting research and forecasts on the causes and 
     effects of climate change and United States national security 
     agencies;
       (4) to better understand the disproportionate effects of 
     global climate disruptions on women, girls, indigenous 
     communities, and other historically marginalized populations; 
     and
       (5) to inform the development of the climate security 
     strategy described in subsection (d).
       (c) Scope.--The evaluations conducted under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       (1) examine developing countries' vulnerabilities and risks 
     associated with global, regional, and localized effects of 
     climate change; and
       (2) assess and make recommendations on necessary measures 
     to mitigate risks and reduce vulnerabilities associated with 
     effects, including--
       (A) sea level rise;
       (B) freshwater resource scarcity;
       (C) wildfires; and
       (D) increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather 
     conditions and events, such as flooding, drought, and extreme 
     storm events, including tropical cyclones.
       (d) Climate Security Strategy.--The Secretary shall use the 
     evaluations required under subsection (a)--
       (1) to inform the development and implementation of a 
     climate security strategy for the Bureau of Conflict and 
     Stabilization Operations, the Bureau of Political-Military 
     Affairs, embassies, consulates, regional bureaus, and other 
     offices and programs operating chief of mission authority, 
     including those with roles in conflict avoidance, prevention 
     and security assistance, or humanitarian disaster response, 
     prevention, and assistance; and
       (2) in furtherance of such strategy, to assess, develop, 
     budget for, and (upon approval) implement plans, policies, 
     and actions--
       (A) to account for the impacts of climate change to global 
     human health, safety, governance, oceans, food production, 
     fresh water and other critical natural resources, 
     settlements, infrastructure, marginalized groups, and 
     economic activity;
       (B) to evaluate the climate change vulnerability, security, 
     susceptibility, and resiliency of United States interests and 
     non-defense assets abroad.;
       (C) to coordinate the integration of climate change risk 
     and vulnerability assessments into all foreign policy and 
     security decision-making processes, including awarding 
     foreign assistance;
       (D) to evaluate specific risks to certain regions and 
     countries that are--
       (i) vulnerable to the effects of climate change; and
       (ii) strategically significant to the United States;
       (E) to enhance the resilience capacities of foreign 
     countries to the effects of climate change as a means of 
     reducing the risks of conflict and instability;
       (F) to advance principles of good governance by encouraging 
     foreign governments, particularly nations that are least 
     capable of coping with the effects of climate change--
       (i) to conduct climate security evaluations; and
       (ii) to facilitate the development of climate security 
     action plans to ensure stability and public safety in 
     disaster situations in a humane and responsible fashion;
       (G) to evaluate the vulnerability, security, 
     susceptibility, and resiliency of United States interests and 
     nondefense assets abroad;
       (H) to build international institutional capacity to 
     address climate security implications and to advance United 
     States interests, regional stability, and global security; 
     and
       (I) other activities that advance -
       (i) the utilization and integration of climate science in 
     national security planning; and
       (ii) the clear understanding of how the effects of climate 
     change can exacerbate security risks and threats.

     SEC. 103. ARCTIC DIPLOMACY.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the rapidly changing Arctic environment--
       (A) creates new national and regional security challenges 
     due to increased military activity in the Arctic;
       (B) heightens the risks of potential conflicts spilling 
     over into the Arctic region from interventions and theaters 
     of tension in other regions of the world;
       (C) threatens maritime safety due to inadequate regional 
     resource capacity to patrol the increase in vessel traffic 
     this remote region is experiencing from the growing expanses 
     of open Arctic water from diminished annual levels of sea 
     ice;

[[Page S2019]]

       (D) impacts public safety due to increased human activity 
     in the Arctic region where search and rescue capacity remains 
     very limited; and
       (E) threatens the health of the Arctic's fragile and 
     historically pristine environment and the unique and highly 
     sensitive species found in the Arctic's marine and 
     terrestrial ecosystems; and
       (2) the United States should reduce the consequences 
     outlined in paragraph (1) by--
       (A) carefully evaluating the wide variety and extremely 
     dynamic set of security and safety risks unfolding in the 
     Arctic;
       (B) developing policies and making preparations for 
     mitigating and responding to threats and risks in the Arctic;
       (C) adequately funding the National Earth System Prediction 
     Capability to substantively improve weather, ocean, and ice 
     predictions on time scales necessary for ensuring regional 
     security and trans-Arctic shipping;
       (D) investing in resources, including a significantly 
     expanded icebreaker fleet, to ensure that the United States 
     has adequate capacity to prevent and respond to security 
     threats in the Arctic region; and
       (E) pursuing diplomatic engagements with all nations in the 
     Arctic region to reach an agreement for--
       (i) maintaining peace and stability in the Arctic region; 
     and
       (ii) fostering cooperation on stewardship and safety 
     initiatives in the Arctic region.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Arctic nations.--The term ``Arctic Nations'' means the 
     8 nations with territory or exclusive economic zones that 
     extend north of the 66.56083 parallel latitude north of the 
     equator, namely Russia, Canada, the United States, Norway, 
     Denmark (including Greenland), Finland, Sweden, and Iceland.
       (2) Arctic region.--The term ``Arctic Region'' means the 
     geographic region north of the 66.56083 parallel latitude 
     north of the equator.
       (c) Designation.--The Assistant Secretary of State for 
     Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs 
     shall designate a deputy assistant secretary serving within 
     the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and 
     Scientific Affairs as ``Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arctic 
     Affairs'', who shall be responsible for affairs in the Arctic 
     Region.
       (d) Duties.-- The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arctic 
     Affairs shall--
       (1) facilitate the development and coordination of United 
     States foreign policy in the Arctic Region relating to--
       (A) meeting national security needs;
       (B) protecting the Arctic environment and conserving its 
     biological resources;
       (C) promoting environmentally sustainable natural resource 
     management and economic development;
       (D) strengthening institutions for cooperation among the 
     Arctic Nations;
       (E) involving Arctic indigenous people in decisions that 
     affect them; and
       (F) enhancing scientific monitoring and research on local, 
     regional, and global environmental issues;
       (2) coordinate the diplomatic objectives, and, as 
     appropriate, represent the United States within multilateral 
     fora that address international cooperation and foreign 
     policy matters in the Arctic Region;
       (3) help inform transnational commerce and commercial 
     maritime transit in the Arctic Region;
       (4) coordinate the integration of scientific data on the 
     current and projected effects of climate change on the Arctic 
     Region and ensure that such data is applied to the 
     development of security strategies for the Arctic Region;
       (5) make available the methods and approaches on the 
     integration of climate science to other regional security 
     planning programs in the Department of State to better ensure 
     that broader decision making processes may more adequately 
     account for the effects of climate change;
       (6) serve as a key point of contact for other Federal 
     agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department 
     of the Interior, the Department of Homeland Security, and the 
     Intelligence Community, on Arctic Region security issues;
       (7) develop and facilitate the implementation of an Arctic 
     Region Security Policy in accordance with subsection (f);
       (8) use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States 
     to encourage other countries and international multilateral 
     organizations to support the principles of the Arctic Region 
     Security Policy implemented pursuant to subsection (f); and
       (9) perform such other duties and exercise such powers as 
     the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International 
     Environmental and Scientific Affairs and the Secretary of 
     State shall prescribe.
       (e) Rank and Status.--The Secretary of State may change the 
     title of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Arctic Affairs 
     designated under subsection (c) to Special Representative or 
     Special Envoy with the rank of Ambassador if--
       (1) the President nominates the person so designated to 
     that rank and status; and
       (2) the Senate confirms such person to such rank and 
     status.
       (f) Arctic Region Security Policy.--The Arctic Region 
     Security Policy shall include requirements for the Bureau of 
     Conflict and Stabilization Operations, the Bureau of 
     Political-Military Affairs, embassies, regional bureaus, and 
     other offices with a role in conflict avoidance, prevention 
     and security assistance, or humanitarian disaster response, 
     prevention, and assistance to assess, develop, budget for, 
     and implement plans, policies, and actions--
       (1) to enhance the resilience capacities of Arctic Nations 
     to the effects of climate change and increased civilian and 
     military activity from Arctic Nations and other nations that 
     may result from increased accessibility of the Arctic Region 
     due to decreased sea ice, warmer ambient air temperatures and 
     other effects of climate change, as a means of reducing the 
     risk of conflict and instability;
       (2) to assess specific added risks to the Arctic Region and 
     Arctic Nations that--
       (A) are vulnerable to the effects of climate change; and
       (B) are strategically significant to the United States;
       (3) to account for the impacts on human health, safety, 
     stresses, reliability, food production, fresh water and other 
     critical natural resources, and economic activity;
       (4) to coordinate the integration of climate change risk 
     and vulnerability assessments into the decision making 
     process on foreign assistance awards to Arctic Nations;
       (5) to advance principles of good governance by encouraging 
     and cooperating with Arctic Nations on collaborative 
     approaches--
       (A) to sustainably manage natural resources in the Arctic 
     Region;
       (B) to share the burden of ensuring maritime safety in the 
     Arctic Region;
       (C) to prevent the escalation of security tensions by 
     mitigating against the militarization of the Arctic Region;
       (D) to develop mutually agreed upon multilateral policies 
     among Arctic Nations on the management of maritime transit 
     routes through the Arctic Region and work cooperatively on 
     the transit policies for access to and transit in the Arctic 
     Region by non-Arctic Nations; and
       (E) to facilitate the development of Arctic Region Security 
     Action Plans to ensure stability and public safety in 
     disaster situations in a humane and responsible fashion; and
       (6) to evaluate the vulnerability, security, 
     susceptibility, and resiliency of United States interests and 
     nondefense assets in the Arctic Region.

           TITLE II--INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND CONVENTIONS

     SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES 
                   RETURNING TO THE PARIS AGREEMENT.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) President Trump's decision to withdraw the United 
     States from the Paris Agreement was a mistake that harmed the 
     leadership, economic, national security, and diplomatic 
     interests of the United States; and
       (2) the United States' expeditious return to the Paris 
     Agreement is a critical first step to restoring United States 
     leadership among, and in cooperation with, the international 
     community;
       (3) resuming United States' global leadership in the Paris 
     Agreement's implementation process is critical to ensuring 
     that the rules and procedures for implementing the Paris 
     Agreement achieve maximum benefits for the United States;
       (4) prioritizing the immediate preparation and 
     communication of an updated United States' nationally 
     determined contribution in support of the Paris Agreement 
     will demonstrate a renewed and increasingly ambitious United 
     States' commitment to climate action, which should 
     incorporate--
       (A) strategies for achieving domestic greenhouse gas 
     emissions reductions that achieve the United States' 2015 
     national determined contribution to the Paris Agreement;
       (B) an ambitious 2030 mitigation target representing a mid-
     term goal that signifies the emission reductions trajectory 
     the United States needs to be on to achieve net-zero 
     greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
       (C) commitments to engage constructively with parties to 
     the Paris Agreement regarding the development of strategies 
     to secure ambitious commitments from all parties and to 
     ensure adequate progress on mitigating greenhouses 
     sufficiently to prevent 1.5 degree Celsius increase of 
     warming;
       (D) announced intentions of the United States' to accept 
     and fulfill United States obligations to other international 
     agreements to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, 
     including the International Civil Aviation Organization's 
     Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation 
     and the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol;
       (E) an intention to resume the United States' cooperation 
     and support for cooperative climate action detailed and 
     announced in various climate change communiques produced by 
     the G7, the G20, the Arctic Council, the United Nations, and 
     others for which the United States has recently abstained;
       (F) a platform and policy incentives for the United States 
     private sector, and State and local governments to accurately 
     account for their contributions to reduce greenhouse gas 
     emissions;
       (G) a new, increased contribution pledge to the Green 
     Climate Fund, and contributions to other complementary 
     multilateral funds;
       (H) a commitment to resume a leadership role within the 
     Green Climate Fund to achieve accountability, transparency, 
     and management reforms; and

[[Page S2020]]

       (I) other activities that advance United States climate-
     related foreign policy objectives, including global 
     greenhouse gas mitigation, climate change adaptation 
     activities, and global climate security;
       (5) United States collaboration with other nations, 
     especially developing countries most impacted by the need to 
     transition carbon intensive industrial sectors, and the 
     workforces of these affected industries, on the global 
     transition to environmentally sustainable economies and 
     societies to ensure workers benefit from opportunities that 
     arise in a transition to economies powered by clean energy, 
     including engagements on--
       (A) realizing the potential to create significant net gains 
     in employment opportunities through increases in the number 
     of decent jobs through investments in environmentally 
     sustainable production and consumption and management of 
     natural resources;
       (B) improving the quality of jobs and increased incomes on 
     a large scale from more productive processes, and 
     environmentally sustainable products and services in sectors 
     such as agriculture, renewable energy, transport, 
     construction, recycling, and tourism;
       (C) social inclusion through improved access to affordable, 
     environmentally sustainable energy and payments for 
     environmental services, which are of particular relevance to 
     women and residents in rural areas who face more economic 
     challenges;
       (D) protections from the effects of economic restructuring 
     that would otherwise result in the displacement of workers 
     and possible job losses;
       (E) training and access to new job opportunities 
     attributable to new environmentally sustainable and clean 
     energy powered enterprises and workplaces;
       (F) attracting new environmentally sustainable and clean 
     energy powered enterprises and workplaces to communities 
     transitioning to low carbon economies and assist with 
     adapting to climate change to avoid loss of assets and 
     livelihoods and involuntary migration; and
       (G) avoiding adverse effects on the incomes of poor 
     households from higher energy and commodity prices; and
       (6) the United States should communicate its intention to 
     achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

     SEC. 202. ENHANCED UNITED STATES COMMITMENT TO THE PARIS 
                   AGREEMENT.

       (a) Sense of Congress Regarding Need for Updated United 
     States Nationally Determined Contribution.--It is the sense 
     of Congress that--
       (1) all parties determine their voluntary contributions to 
     the Paris Agreement, in accordance with Article 4.2 of the 
     Paris Agreement;
       (2) the development and submission of a new United States' 
     nationally determined contribution should be prioritized, in 
     accordance with Article 4.9 of the Paris Agreement;
       (3) the new United States' nationally determined 
     contribution should--
       (A) represent an ambitious 2030 target, in accordance with 
     Articles 4.2 and 4.3 of the Paris Agreement; and
       (B) put the United States on an appropriate trajectory 
     towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; 
     and
       (4) the plan required under subsection (b) should--
       (A) be developed in accordance with Article 4.13 of the 
     Paris Agreement;
       (B) inform United States' obligations under Article 13.7 of 
     the Paris Agreement; and
       (C) clearly demonstrate how the United States will achieve 
     the target referred to in paragraph (3).
       (b) Plan for Developing the United States' Nationally 
     Determined Contribution.--At least 20 days before the United 
     States submits a new or provisional nationally determined 
     contribution, the President shall consult with, and provide 
     embargoed drafts of the nationally determined contribution 
     to, the appropriate congressional committees.
       (c) Public Transparency.--The President shall make 
     available to the public a plan for the United States to meet 
     its nationally determined contribution, which shall include--
       (1) ambitious, economy-wide, short-term greenhouse gas 
     emissions reductions targets for 2025 and 2030, with relevant 
     addenda to the plan following its initial submission;
       (2) considerations made for populations, regions, 
     industries, and constituencies that could be affected by 
     actions to meet the targets described in paragraph (1) and 
     the failure to meet such targets, including the effect of 
     such actions on--
       (A) United States' jobs, wages, and pay;
       (B) the cost of energy (such as electricity and gasoline) 
     for consumers; and
       (C) the ability to develop and deploy new, innovative, 
     domestically produced technologies;
       (3) a description of how the United States may use--
       (A) multilateral and bilateral diplomatic tools, in 
     addition to the expert committee established under Article 15 
     of the Paris Agreement, to encourage and assist other parties 
     to the Paris Agreement to fulfill their announced 
     contributions; and
       (B) the mechanisms under Articles 12 and 13 of the Paris 
     Agreement to urge enhanced actions from other parties to 
     achieve the overall objectives of the Paris Agreement;
       (4) a description of how the Paris Agreement's loss and 
     damage provisions would affect infrastructure resiliency in 
     the United States;
       (5) a coherent and stable policy framework for sustainable 
     enterprise development and decent work opportunities for all 
     United States residents that--
       (A) is developed through engagement in social dialogue, 
     particularly in--
       (i) communities that have historically experienced 
     environmental injustice; and
       (ii) communities with economies that are heavily dependent 
     on fossil fuel production or consumption; and
       (B) maintains such social dialogue, in line with 
     international labor standards--
       (i) at all stages, from policy design to implementation and 
     evaluation; and
       (ii) at all levels, from the national level to the 
     enterprise; and
       (6) an accounting of other relevant activities that advance 
     United States foreign policy objectives of--
       (A) advancing global greenhouse gas mitigation;
       (B) supporting climate change adaptation activities; and
       (C) improving global climate security.
       (d) Education and Public Awareness.--
       (1) In general.--The plan developed under subsection (c) 
     shall be consistent with Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, 
     which states ``Parties shall cooperate in taking measures, as 
     appropriate, to enhance climate change education, training, 
     public awareness, public participation and public access to 
     information, recognizing the importance of these steps with 
     respect to enhancing actions under this Agreement.''.
       (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this Act may be 
     construed to require or prohibit the President from including 
     in the plan developed under subsection (b), consistent with 
     the prohibition described in section 438 of the General 
     Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232a), recommendations 
     to support State and local educational agencies, in 
     integrating instruction on human-caused climate change and 
     the societal, environmental, and economic effects of such 
     climate change into curricula taught in elementary and 
     secondary schools under the control of such State and local 
     educational agencies, in order to meet the goals and 
     ambitions of the Paris Agreement to ensure climate education 
     and awareness in schools.
       (e) Sense of Congress Regarding the Accountability of 
     Parties to the Paris Agreement.--It is the sense of Congress 
     that the United States shall use its diplomatic leverage and 
     the mechanisms of the Paris Agreement that promote 
     transparency, reporting, and accountability among parties to 
     seek to play critical leadership roles on the Paris 
     Agreement's critical working groups, subsidiary bodies, and 
     constituted bodies--
       (1) to maximize the United States' ability to hold other 
     parties accountable for meeting the commitments to the Paris 
     Agreement; and
       (2) to ensure that all parties commit to and meet ambitious 
     greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets.

     SEC. 203. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING RATIFICATION OF THE 
                   KIGALI AMENDMENT TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The chemical refrigerant alternative, hydrofluorocarbon 
     (HFC), and its chemical derivatives identified in Annex F of 
     the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone 
     Layer, done at Montreal September 16, 1987, which replaced 
     hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), 
     are short-lived and highly potent greenhouse gases.
       (2) Some HFCs are 4,000 times more potent greenhouse gases 
     than carbon dioxide. The expansion of mass production and 
     worldwide use of HFCs have significantly contributed to the 
     recent worsening of the global climate crisis.
       (3) In October 15, 2016, the parties at the 28th Meeting of 
     Parties to the Montreal Protocol, with the support of the 
     United States, adopted an amendment (referred to in the Act 
     as the ``Kigali Amendment'') to the Montreal Protocol to 
     globally phase down the production and application of 
     hydrofluorocarbons, most commonly used as refrigerants in air 
     conditioners and for cold storage.
       (4) The Kigali Amendment calls for parties to cut the 
     production and consumption of HFCs by more than 80 percent 
     during a 30-year period--
       (A) to eliminate an estimated 80,000,000,000 metric tons of 
     carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 2050; and
       (B) to avoid up to 0.5 degree Celsius warming by the end of 
     the century, while continuing to protect the ozone layer.
       (5) United States' ratification of the Kigali Amendment 
     will require the advice and consent of the Senate. There is 
     broad bipartisan support for the Kigali Amendment in the 
     Senate, as evidenced by a letter sent by 13 Republican 
     senators to the President on June 4, 2018, urging the 
     President to submit the Kigali Amendment to the Senate for 
     advice and consent.
       (6) The Environmental Protection Agency received sufficient 
     domestic legal authority to comply with the international 
     obligations of the Kigali Amendment under title II of the 
     Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Act, 2021 (division G of Public Law 116-260), 
     which was enacted on December 27, 2020.
       (7) As of the date of the introduction of the Act, the 
     President has not submitted the Kigali Amendment to the 
     Senate for advice

[[Page S2021]]

     and consent and the United States Government has neither 
     ratified nor implemented policies to comply with the Kigali 
     Amendment.
       (8) The Kigali Amendment, which has been ratified by 100 
     parties, entered into force on January 1, 2019.
       (9) Adoption of the Kigali Amendment and United States' 
     ratification of and compliance with the Kigali Amendment is 
     supported broadly by affected industry stakeholders and 
     environmental public interest organizations.
       (10) Industries in the United States that use and produce 
     fluorocarbons--
       (A) contribute more than $158,000,000,000 annually in goods 
     and services to the economy of the United States; and
       (B) employ more than 700,000 individuals, with an annual 
     industry-wide payroll of more than $32,000,000,000.
       (11) Foreign competitors to United States chemical 
     refrigerant and refrigeration equipment based and operating 
     in countries that have ratified the Kigali Amendment and are 
     implementing policies in compliance with the Kigali Amendment 
     are gaining an advantage on United States based industries in 
     the manufacturing and used of next-generation chemicals and 
     equipment.
       (12) The United States' ratification of the Kigali 
     Amendment--
       (A) would support and promote the technological leadership 
     of the United States' industries to lead global production 
     and marketing of replacement refrigerants and equipment in 
     compliance with the Kigali Amendment; and
       (B) according to industry analysis, would potentially 
     create approximately 33,000 new manufacturing jobs in the 
     United States and add approximately $12,500,000,000 per year 
     to the economy of the United States.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the President should immediately submit the Kigali 
     Amendment to the Senate for advice and consent; and
       (2) the Senate should promptly provide its advice and 
     consent on the Kigali Amendment.

     SEC. 204. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CARBON OFFSET AND REDUCTION 
                   SCHEME FOR INTERNATIONAL AVIATION.

       The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
     shall promulgate regulations establishing uniform policies 
     and take other necessary actions to implement the terms of 
     the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International 
     Aviation (commonly known as ``CORSIA''), which was adopted by 
     International Civil Aviation Organization in October 2016 as 
     Assembly Resolution A39-3, and any amendments to such 
     Resolution with which the United States concurs, as means to 
     secure a single global carbon emissions market-based 
     mechanism to facilitate the participation of operators of 
     civil aircraft of the United States in international 
     aviation.

     SEC. 205. SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) High-GWP hfc.--The term ``high-GWP HFC'' means newly 
     manufactured hydrofluorocarbons with a global warming 
     potential calculated over a 100-year period of greater than 
     150, as described in the Fifth Assessment Report of the 
     Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
       (2) Short-lived climate pollutants.--The term ``short-lived 
     climate pollutants'' means--
       (A) black carbon;
       (B) methane; and
       (C) high-GWP HFC.
       (b) In General.--The President shall direct the United 
     States representatives to appropriate international bodies 
     and conferences (including the United Nations Environment 
     Programme, the UNFCCC, the Montreal Protocol, the Arctic 
     Council, the Group of 7, the Group of 20, the Organization 
     for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the 
     Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia Pacific 
     Economic Cooperation, the Arctic Council, the Climate and 
     Clean Air Coalition on Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, and 
     the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture) to use the 
     voice, vote, and influence of the United States, consistent 
     with the broad foreign policy goals of the United States, to 
     advocate that each such body or conference--
       (1) commit to significantly increasing efforts to reduce 
     short-lived climate pollutants;
       (2) invest in and develop alternative energy sources, 
     industrial and agricultural processes, appliances, and 
     products to replace sources of short-lived climate 
     pollutants;
       (3) enhance coordination with the private sector--
       (A) to increase production and distribution of clean energy 
     alternatives, industrial processes, and products that will 
     replace sources of short-lived climate pollutants;
       (B) to develop action plans to mitigate short-lived climate 
     pollutants from various private sector operations;
       (C) to encourage best technology, methods, and management 
     practices for reducing short-lived climate pollutants;
       (D) to craft specific financing mechanisms for the 
     incremental costs associated with mitigating short-live 
     climate pollutants; and
       (E) to grow economic opportunities and develop markets, as 
     appropriate, for short-lived climate pollutants trading, 
     capture, and other efforts that support economic growth using 
     low and zero carbon energy sources;
       (4) provide technical assistance to foreign regulatory 
     authorities and governments to remove unnecessary barriers to 
     investment in short-lived climate mitigation solutions, 
     including--
       (A) the use of safe and affordable clean energy;
       (B) the implementation of policies requiring industrial and 
     agricultural best practices for capturing or mitigating the 
     release of methane from extractive, agricultural, and 
     industrial processes; and
       (C) climate assessment, scientific research, monitoring, 
     and technological development activities;
       (5) develop and implement clear, accountable, and metric-
     based targets to measure the effectiveness of projects 
     described in paragraph (4); and
       (6) engage international partners in an existing 
     multilateral forum (or, if necessary, establish through an 
     international agreement a new multilateral forum) to improve 
     global cooperation for--
       (A) creating tangible metrics for evaluating efforts to 
     reduce short-lived climate pollutants;
       (B) developing and implementing best practices for phasing 
     out sources of short-lived climate pollutants, including 
     expanding capacity for innovative instruments to mitigate 
     short-lived climate pollutants at the national and 
     subnational levels of foreign countries, particularly 
     countries with little capacity to reduce greenhouse gas 
     emissions and deploy clean energy facilities, and countries 
     that lack sufficient policies to advance such development;
       (C) encouraging the development of standards and practices, 
     and increasing transparency and accountability efforts for 
     the reduction of short-lived climate pollutants;
       (D) integrating tracking and monitoring systems into 
     industrial processes;
       (E) fostering research to improve scientific understanding 
     of--
       (i) how high concentrations of short-lived climate 
     pollutants affect human health, safety, and our climate;
       (ii) changes in the amount and regional concentrations of 
     black carbon and methane emissions, based on scientific 
     modeling and forecasting;
       (iii) effective means to sequester short-lived climate 
     pollutants; and
       (iv) other related areas of research the United States 
     representatives deem necessary;
       (F) encouraging the World Bank, the International Monetary 
     Fund, and other international finance organizations--
       (i) to prioritize efforts to combat short-lived climate 
     pollutants; and
       (ii) to enhance transparency by providing sufficient and 
     adequate information to facilitate independent verification 
     of their climate finance reporting;
       (G) encouraging observers of the Arctic Council (including 
     India and China) to adopt mitigation plans consistent with 
     the findings and recommendations of the Arctic Council's 
     Framework for Action on Black Carbon and Methane;
       (H) collaborating on technological advances in short-lived 
     climate pollutant mitigation, sequestration and reduction 
     technologies; and
       (I) advising foreign countries, at both the national and 
     subnational levels, regarding the development and execution 
     of regulatory policies, services, and laws pertaining to 
     reducing the creation and the collection and safe management 
     of short-lived climate pollutants.
       (c) Enhancing International Outreach and Partnership of 
     United States Agencies Involved in Greenhouse Gas 
     Reductions.--
       (1) Finding.--Congress recognizes the success of the United 
     States Climate Alliance and the greenhouse gas reduction 
     programs and strategies established by the Environmental 
     Protection Agency's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership.
       (2) Authorization of efforts to build foreign 
     partnerships.--The Secretary of State shall work with the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to build 
     partnerships, as appropriate, with the governments of foreign 
     countries and to support international efforts to reduce 
     short-lived climate pollutants and combat climate change.
       (d) Negotiation of New International Agreements and 
     Reassertion of Targets in Existing Agreements.--Not later 
     than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of State shall submit a report to Congress that--
       (1) assesses the potential for negotiating new 
     international agreements, new targets within existing 
     international agreements or cooperative bodies, and the 
     creation of a new international forum to mitigate globally 
     short-lived climate pollutants to support the efforts 
     described in subsection (b);
       (2) describes the provisions that could be included in such 
     agreements;
       (3) assesses potential parties to such agreements;
       (4) describes a process for reengaging with Canada and 
     Mexico regarding the methane targets agreed to at the 2016 
     North American Leaders' Summit; and
       (5) describes a process for reengaging with the countries 
     of the Arctic Council regarding the methane and black carbon 
     targets that were negotiated in 2015 through the Framework 
     for Action.
       (e) Consideration of Short-lived Climate Pollutants in 
     Negotiating International Agreements.--In negotiating any 
     relevant

[[Page S2022]]

     international agreement with any country or countries after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall--
       (1) consider the impact short-lived climate pollutants are 
     having on the increase in global average temperatures and the 
     resulting global climate change;
       (2) consider the effects that climate change is having on 
     the environment; and
       (3) ensure that the agreement strengthens efforts to 
     eliminate short-lived climate pollutants from such country or 
     countries.

     SEC. 206. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION REGARDING CLEAN 
                   TRANSPORTATION AND SUSTAINABLE LAND USE AND 
                   COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Agriculture, forestry, and other land use accounted for 
     24 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions during 2010, 
     which--
       (A) is caused primarily from agriculture (cultivation of 
     crops and livestock) and deforestation; and
       (B) does not take into account the carbon dioxide that 
     ecosystems remove from the atmosphere by sequestering carbon 
     in biomass, dead organic matter, and soils, which offset 
     approximately 20 percent of emissions from this sector.
       (2) The transportation sector accounts for 14 percent of 
     global gas emissions and 28 percent of the United States' 
     greenhouse gas emissions.
       (3) According to the National Center for Biotechnology 
     Information's report, ``National Mitigation Potential from 
     Natural Climate Solutions in the Tropics''--
       (A) better land stewardship is needed to achieve the Paris 
     Agreement's temperature goal of holding the increase of 
     global average temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius, 
     particularly in the tropics;
       (B) as countries enhance their nationally determined 
     contributions, confusion persists about the potential 
     contribution of better land stewardship to meeting such goal;
       (C) in 50 percent of the tropical countries, cost-effective 
     natural climate solutions could mitigate more than 50 percent 
     of national emissions;
       (D) in more than 25 percent of the tropical countries, cost 
     effective natural climate solutions potential is greater than 
     national emissions; and
       (E) natural climate solutions can transform national 
     economies and contribute to sustainable development goals.
       (4) According to the International Energy Agency--
       (A) global transport emissions increased by less than 0.5 
     percent in 2019 (compared with an average annual increase of 
     1.9 percent since 2000), owing to efficiency improvements, 
     electrification, and greater use of biofuels;
       (B) transportation is responsible for 24 percent of direct 
     carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion;
       (C) electric car deployment has grown rapidly since 2010, 
     with the global stock of electric passenger cars passing 
     5,000,000 in 2018 (an increase of 63 percent from the 
     previous year);
       (D) in 2018--
       (i) approximately 45 percent of all electric cars on the 
     road were in China;
       (ii) approximately 24 percent of such cars were in Europe; 
     and
       (iii) approximately 22 percent of such cars were in the 
     United States;
       (E) existing measures to increase efficiency and reduce 
     energy demand must be deepened and extended for compliance 
     with the Sustainable Development Scenario of the 
     International Energy Agency's World Energy Model;
       (F) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, emissions from aviation 
     and shipping were increasing faster than all other 
     transportation modes; and
       (G) energy demand and emissions have continued to rise in 
     all modes of road transport (cars, trucks, buses, and 2- and 
     3-wheelers), particularly in heavy-duty road freight 
     transport, which account for 75 percent of global 
     transportation sector emissions.
       (5) The worldwide market share of sport utility vehicles 
     rose 15 percentage points between 2014 and 2019, and now 
     comprises 40 percent of the global light-duty vehicle market.
       (6) China is the world's largest automobile market, with 
     more than 23,700,000 light vehicles sold in China in 2018. As 
     China's road network rapidly continues to expand, the number 
     of vehicle miles traveled per capita will most likely lead to 
     growth in China's transportation sector carbon dioxide 
     emissions.
       (7) Even with India's advancement of policies to promote 
     electric vehicles and biofuels--
       (A) India relies heavily on oil, and comprises 29 percent 
     of India's total energy consumption;
       (B) prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, India was the world's 
     fastest growing aviation market, with passenger numbers for 
     domestic and international flights doubling since 2010;
       (C) India is planning to build 100 new airports between 
     2020 and 2035, and industry analysts have projected up to 
     520,000,000 Indian air travelers annually by 2037; and
       (D) the World Health Organization reports that 15 of the 
     cities worldwide with the worst air pollution are in India, 
     largely due to urban vehicle emissions.
       (8) In 2013, Mexico became the first vehicle market in 
     Latin America to establish fuel economy or carbon dioxide 
     emissions standards.
       (9) The Department of State, the National Highway Traffic 
     Safety Administration, and the Environmental Protection 
     Agency do not have a program in place to encourage other 
     countries to adopt standards that are compatible with United 
     States fuel economy and emissions standards.
       (10) Many countries adopt European emissions standards 
     rather than United States standards, in part because of 
     European diplomatic engagement, disadvantaging United States 
     automakers in international markets.
       (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United 
     States to partner, consult, and coordinate with foreign 
     governments, civil society, international financial 
     institutions, subnational communities, agribusiness and 
     automobile industry leaders, and the private sector in a 
     concerted effort--
       (1) to raise awareness of--
       (A) the greenhouse gas emission contributions from 
     agriculture, forestry, other land uses, and the 
     transportation sector to the annual total of anthropogenic 
     greenhouse gas emissions globally; and
       (B) the importance of working cooperatively on the 
     development of multi-faceted and country specific policies 
     and strategies--
       (i) to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 
     agriculture, forestry, other land uses, and the 
     transportation sector; and
       (ii) to promote economic growth, opportunities, sustainable 
     land management, and equitable access to mobility, 
     transportation services, and resources among all populations;
       (2) to mitigate land use sector emissions through enhanced 
     land use planning, sustainable agriculture practices, 
     sustainable forest management, and community-led conservation 
     and development and other natural climate solutions;
       (3) to use the voice and vote of the United States in 
     multilateral institutions to advance international efforts to 
     advance sustainable land-use planning, climate-smart 
     agriculture, sustainable forest management, and community-led 
     conservation and development;
       (4) to improve the reliability and sustainability of 
     transportation systems, particularly in developing countries, 
     through a focus on mitigating carbon emissions, improving 
     health and safety outcomes through improved land use and 
     community design, and improved mobility for all populations;
       (5) to promote collaboration regarding international 
     research and development in--
       (A) zero-emission vehicles;
       (B) sustainable urban development and smart growth; and
       (C) advanced low carbon biofuels for transportation;
       (6) to facilitate and support the ability of parties to the 
     Paris Agreement to more accurately monitor, record, and 
     report transportation sector emissions;
       (7) to develop greater cooperation among parties for 
     strengthening the rules and ambition of the Paris Agreement's 
     mitigation targets for transportation sector emissions;
       (8) to improve the structural integrity of critical 
     transportation infrastructure to withstand current and 
     forecasted effects of climate change and support community 
     resilience, improved access to jobs, and adaptability to the 
     effects of climate change; and
       (9) to explore new opportunities or seek enhanced 
     initiatives within existing multilateral and bilateral 
     agreements to develop mechanisms and policies for reducing 
     transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions.
       (c) International Cooperation.--In implementing the policy 
     described in subsection (b), the President should direct the 
     United States representatives to appropriate international 
     bodies to use the influence of the United States, consistent 
     with the broad foreign policy goals of the United States, to 
     advocate that each such body--
       (1) promote transportation sector investment in--
       (A) electric vehicles and other low and zero carbon 
     transportation technologies; and
       (B) sustainable land use development that incorporates--
       (i) multi-modal transportation designs aimed at reducing--

       (I) traffic congestion;
       (II) carbon emissions from motor vehicles;
       (III) travel times between high volume destinations within 
     a community;
       (IV) vehicle crashes and other threats to motorist and 
     pedestrian safety; and
       (V) stormwater runoff from impervious road surfaces, 
     vehicle conflicts with wildlife, habitat destruction, and 
     other forms of environmental degradation commonly associated 
     with roads and motor vehicles;

       (ii) multi-use community designs and dense development that 
     accounts for locating residential development near essential 
     goods, services, and job opportunities (to reduce individual 
     reliance of motorized personal transportation);
       (iii) transportation systems designed--

       (I) to maximize the safety of all users; and
       (II) to reduce the probability of motorized vehicle 
     crashes, including motorized vehicle crashes that injure or 
     kill pedestrians and bicyclists;

       (2) strive to improve mobility by advancing equitable 
     access to transportation services among all populations, 
     particularly historically underserved or marginalized 
     populations and communities;
       (3) improve environmental quality and community health 
     outcomes through--

[[Page S2023]]

       (A) safer and more efficient multi-modal transportation 
     systems that reduce vehicle pollution and congestion;
       (B) reductions in the amount of impervious surfaces; and
       (C) integration of safe pedestrian and bicycling 
     infrastructure;
       (4) addresses unique transportation and economic needs of 
     countries' diverse populations and communities in ways that 
     also support a country's achievement of ambitious greenhouse 
     gas mitigation commitments;
       (5) enhance coordination and engagement with private sector 
     stakeholders;
       (6) provide technical assistance to foreign regulatory 
     authorities and governments to remove barriers to investment 
     in transportation systems, infrastructure and electric 
     vehicles and low and zero carbon fuels; and
       (7) use clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to 
     measure the effectiveness of such projects.
       (d) Vehicle Fuel Economy and CO2 Emissions 
     Diplomacy Initiative.--
       (1) Development.--The Secretary of State, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of 
     Transportation, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall 
     develop a Vehicle Fuel Economy and CO2 Emissions 
     Diplomacy Initiative to promote the worldwide adoption of 
     vehicle fuel economy and vehicle carbon dioxide emissions 
     standards that are compatible with United States standards.
       (2) Responsibilities and duties.--
       (A) Diplomatic efforts.--The Secretary of State shall lead 
     diplomatic efforts to encourage foreign governments to adopt 
     vehicle fuel economy standards and vehicle carbon dioxide 
     emissions standards.
       (B) Technical assistance.--The Administrator of the 
     National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall 
     provide technical assistance to other countries to help such 
     countries to develop new standards, testing regimes, and 
     compliance strategies.
       (3) Program scope.--The Vehicle Fuel Economy and 
     CO2 Emissions Diplomacy Initiative should--
       (A) have the goal of reducing oil consumption by at least 
     2,000,000 barrels per day by 2030, in addition to the 
     reduction anticipated by the implementation of standards in 
     existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act;
       (B) include input in developing the program from leaders in 
     United States industry; and
       (C) focus special attention on Latin America.

     SEC. 207. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES REENGAGEMENT 
                   WITH THE GROUP OF SEVEN AND THE GROUP OF TWENTY 
                   ON CLIMATE ACTION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) President Trump has abstained from several heads of 
     state meetings on climate action and cooperation with the 
     heads of state from countries comprising the Group of Seven 
     (referred to in this section as the ``G7'') and the Group of 
     Twenty (referred to in this section as the ``G20'').
       (2) The G7 summit held in Charlevoix, Quebec in June 2018 
     produced a climate action communique that was signed by the 
     heads of state from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 
     and the United Kingdom, but was not signed by the United 
     States.
       (3) The G7 climate action communique states, ``Canada, 
     France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the 
     European Union reaffirm their strong commitment to implement 
     the Paris Agreement, through ambitious climate action, in 
     particular through reducing emissions while stimulating 
     innovation, enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening and 
     financing resilience and reducing vulnerability; as well as 
     ensuring a just transition, including increasing efforts to 
     mobilize climate finance from a wide variety of sources.''.
       (4) In 2019, the United States blocked the G7 from making 
     any new or additional commitments on climate change, to the 
     expressed disappointment and frustration of the other six 
     heads of state.
       (5) The G7, without the active participation of the United 
     States, continues to work together to fulfill clean energy 
     commitments on initiatives such as the 2014 Rome Initiative 
     for Energy Security, the 2015 Hamburg Initiative for 
     Sustainable Energy Security, the 2016 Kitakyushu Initiative 
     on Energy Security for Global Growth, and the Africa 
     Renewable Energy Initiative. However, United States 
     objections to global cooperative climate action have 
     prevented the G7 from undertaking new clean energy and 
     climate action initiatives in recent years.
       (6) The 2018 Buenos Aires Leaders Declaration by the G20--
       (A) recognizes the risks that climate change poses to 
     global security, global health, and economic development; and
       (B) affirms the significance of the Paris Agreement.
       (7) The United States insisted on the inclusion of a 
     statement in the G20 Buenos Aires Leaders Declaration, for 
     which the United States was the only subscriber, expressing 
     dissenting opinions on international climate action 
     cooperation and equivocation on ``utilizing all energy 
     sources and technologies, while protecting the environment''.
       (8) In 2019, the G20 narrowly avoided concluding without a 
     leaders' declaration, when the President unsuccessfully tried 
     to pressure the other 19 heads of state to weaken commitments 
     on combating climate change in the 2019 G20 Osaka Leaders 
     Declaration, leaving the United States to provide a 
     dissenting provision articulating its outlier position on 
     climate action in the Declaration.
       (b) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the President, acting through the 
     Secretary of State, shall initiate a China-focused agenda at 
     the G7, with respect to--
       (1) trade and investment issues and enforcement;
       (2) establishing and promulgating international 
     infrastructure standards;
       (3) the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong;
       (4) human rights concerns in Xinjiang, Tibet, and other 
     areas in the People's Republic of China;
       (5) the security of 5G telecommunications;
       (6) anti-competitive behavior;
       (7) coercive and indentured international finance and 
     conditional provision of foreign assistance;
       (8) international influence campaigns;
       (9) climate change;
       (10) China's domestic and international investments in new 
     coal power plants;
       (11) environmental standards; and
       (12) coordination with like-minded regional partners, 
     including the Republic of Korea and Australia.
       (c) Briefing on Progress of Negotiations.--Not later than 1 
     year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     President shall provide a briefing to the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs of the House of Representatives regarding the 
     progress of any negotiations described in subsection (b).
       (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the United States should--
       (1) in the next G7 communique and G20 Leaders' 
     Declaration--
       (A) renounce the United States contrarian positions on 
     climate change expressed in the 2018 and 2019 official 
     documents of the G7 and G20 summits;
       (B) renew its commitment to climate cooperation and support 
     for fulfilling the goals of the Paris Agreement in the 
     context of the G7 and the G20;
       (C) lead efforts to formalize new mechanisms and 
     commitments to climate action cooperation between the heads 
     of state of the G7 and of the G20, which are aimed at--
       (i) increasing ambition on greenhouse gas mitigation; and
       (ii) strengthening support for climate finance in 
     developing countries, particularly countries that are most 
     vulnerable to the effects of climate change; and
       (D) challenge the heads of state of the G7 and the G20 to 
     leverage private financing and increase grants and official 
     development assistance in clean energy and sustainable 
     development projects in their own countries and in developing 
     countries, especially countries that are most vulnerable to 
     the effects of climate change; and
       (2) initiate the China-focused agenda described in 
     subsection (b) at the G7.

       TITLE III--CLIMATE CHANGE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AND SUPPORT

     SEC. 301. INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION, 
                   MITIGATION, AND SECURITY PROGRAM.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Convention.--The term ``Convention'' means the United 
     Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, done at New 
     York May 9, 1992, and entered into force March 21, 1994.
       (2) Most vulnerable communities and populations.--The term 
     ``most vulnerable communities and populations'' means 
     communities and populations that are at risk of substantial 
     adverse effects of climate change and have limited capacity 
     to respond to such effects, including women, impoverished 
     communities, children, indigenous peoples, and formal and 
     informal workers.
       (3) Most vulnerable developing countries.--The term ``most 
     vulnerable developing countries'' means, as determined by the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development, developing countries that are at risk of 
     substantial adverse effects of climate change and have 
     limited capacity to respond to such effects, considering the 
     approaches included in any international treaties and 
     agreements.
       (4) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the International 
     Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Security Program 
     established pursuant to subsection (c).
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide 
     authorities for additional, new, current, and ongoing 
     bilateral and regional international development assistance, 
     and, as appropriate, to leverage private resources, in 
     support of host country driven projects, planning, policies, 
     and initiatives designed to improve the ability of host 
     countries--
       (1) to primarily produce reliable renewable energy and 
     reduce or mitigate carbon emissions from the power sector 
     while facilitating the transition in key global markets from 
     electricity generated from fossil fuel power to low-cost 
     clean energy sources, in a manner that is equitable for 
     workers and communities;
       (2) to adapt and become more resilient to current and 
     forecasted effects of climate change; and
       (3) to employ--
       (A) sustainable land use practices that mitigate 
     desertification and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 
     deforestation and forest degradation; and

[[Page S2024]]

       (B) agricultural production practices that reduce poverty 
     while improving soil health, protecting water quality, and 
     increasing food security and nutrition.
       (c) Establishment of Program.--The Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury and the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development, shall establish a program, to be known as the 
     ``International Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and 
     Security Program'', to provide bilateral and regional 
     assistance to developing countries for programs, projects, 
     and activities described in subsection (e).
       (d) Supplement Not Supplant.--Assistance provided under 
     this section shall be used to supplement, and not to 
     supplant, any other Federal, State, or local resources 
     available to carry out activities that fit the 
     characteristics of the Program.
       (e) Policy.--It shall be the policy of the United States to 
     ensure that the Program provides resources to developing 
     countries, particularly the most vulnerable communities and 
     populations in such countries, to support the development and 
     implementation of programs, projects, and activities that--
       (1) reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the integration 
     and deployment of clean energy, which may include 
     transmission, distribution, and interconnections to renewable 
     energy, while facilitating the transition in key global 
     markets from electricity generated from fossil fuel power to 
     low-cost renewable energy sources, in a manner that is 
     equitable for workers and communities;
       (2) advance the use of clean energy technologies facing 
     financial or other barriers to widespread deployment that 
     could be addressed through support under the Program to 
     reduce, sequester, or avoid greenhouse gas emissions;
       (3) improve the availability, viability, and accessibility 
     of zero emission vehicles, including support for design and 
     development of transportation networks and land use practices 
     that mitigate carbon emissions in the transportation sector;
       (4) support building capacities that may include--
       (A) developing and implementing methodologies and programs 
     for measuring and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions and 
     verifying emissions mitigation, including building capacities 
     to conduct emissions inventories and meet reporting 
     requirements under the Paris Agreement;
       (B) assessing, developing, and implementing technology and 
     policy options for greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and 
     avoidance of future emissions, including sector-based and 
     cross-sector mitigation strategies;
       (C) enhancing the technical capacity of regulatory 
     authorities, planning agencies, and related institutions in 
     developing countries to improve the deployment of clean 
     energy technologies and practices, including through 
     increased transparency;
       (D) training and instruction regarding the installation and 
     maintenance of renewable energy technologies; and
       (E) activities that support the development and 
     implementation of frameworks for intellectual property rights 
     in developing countries;
       (5) improve resilience, sustainable economic growth, and 
     adaptation capacities in response to and in spite of the 
     effects of climate change;
       (6) promote appropriate job training and access to new job 
     opportunities in new economic sectors and industries that 
     emerge due to the transition from fossil fuel energy to clean 
     energy, with full labor protections in accordance with 
     international labor standards;
       (7) reduce the vulnerability and increase the resilience 
     capacities of communities to the effects of climate change, 
     including effects on--
       (A) water availability;
       (B) agricultural productivity and food security;
       (C) flood risk;
       (D) coastal resources;
       (E) biodiversity;
       (F) economic livelihoods;
       (G) health and diseases;
       (H) housing and shelter; and
       (I) human migration;
       (8) help countries and communities adapt to changes in the 
     environment through enhanced community planning, 
     preparedness, and growth strategies that take into account 
     current and forecasted regional and localized effects of 
     climate change;
       (9) conserve and restore natural resources, ecosystems, and 
     biodiversity threatened by the effects of climate change to 
     ensure such resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity are 
     healthy and continue to provide natural protections from the 
     effects of climate change such as extreme weather;
       (10) provide resources, information, scientific data and 
     modeling, innovative best practices, and technical assistance 
     to support vulnerable developing countries and communities 
     adapt their economies, communities, and security planning 
     efforts to the effects of climate change;
       (11) promote sustainable and climate-resilient societies, 
     including through improvements to make critical 
     infrastructure less vulnerable to the effects of climate 
     change;
       (12) encourage the adoption of policies and measures, 
     including sector-based and cross-sector policies and 
     measures, that substantially reduce, sequester, or avoid 
     greenhouse gas emissions from the domestic energy and 
     transportation sectors of developing countries;
       (13) reduce deforestation and land degradation to reduce 
     greenhouse gas emissions and implement sustainable forestry 
     practices;
       (14) promote sustainable land use activities, including 
     supporting development planning, design, and construction 
     with respect to transportation systems and land use that 
     incorporates--
       (A) multi-modal transportation designs aimed at reducing--
       (i) traffic congestion;
       (ii) carbon emissions from motor vehicles;
       (iii) travel times between high volume destinations within 
     a community;
       (iv) motor vehicle crashes and other threats to motorist 
     and pedestrian safety; and
       (v) stormwater runoff from impervious road surfaces, motor 
     vehicle conflicts with wildlife, habitat destruction, and 
     other forms of environmental degradation commonly associated 
     with roads and motor vehicles;
       (B) multi-use community designs and dense development that 
     account for locating residential development near essential 
     goods, services, and job opportunities to reduce individual 
     reliance on motorized personal transportation;
       (C) transportation systems designed to--
       (i) maximize the safety of all users;
       (ii) improve mobility by advancing equitable access to 
     transportation services among all populations, particularly 
     historically underserved or marginalized populations and 
     communities; and
       (iii) reduce the probability of vehicle crashes and 
     pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and mortalities;
       (15) promote sustainable agricultural practices that 
     mitigate carbon emissions, conserve soil, and improve food 
     and water security of communities;
       (16) foster partnerships with private sector entities and 
     nongovernmental international development organizations to 
     assist with developing solutions and economic opportunities 
     that support projects, planning, policies, and initiatives 
     described in subsection (b);
       (17) provide technical assistance and strengthen capacities 
     of developing countries to meet the goals of the conditional 
     nationally determined contributions of those countries;
       (18) establish investment channels designed to leverage 
     private sector financing in--
       (A) clean energy;
       (B) sustainable agriculture and natural resource 
     management; and
       (C) the transportation sector as described in paragraph 
     (3); and
       (19) provide technical assistance and support for non-
     extractive activities that provide alternative economic 
     growth opportunities while preserving critical habitats and 
     natural carbon sinks.
       (f) Provision of Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development, under the direction of 
     the Secretary of State, and in consultation with the 
     Secretary of the Treasury and, as appropriate, the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
     Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall 
     provide assistance under the Program--
       (A) in the form of bilateral assistance pursuant to the 
     requirements under subsection (g);
       (B) to multilateral funds or international institutions 
     with programs for climate mitigation or adaptation in 
     developing countries consistent with the policy described in 
     subsection (e); or
       (C) through a combination of the mechanisms specified in 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B).
       (2) Limitation.--
       (A) Conditional distribution to multilateral funds or 
     international institutions.--In any fiscal year, the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development, under the direction of the Secretary of State, 
     may provide up to 40 percent of the assistance available to 
     carry out the Program to 1 or more multilateral funds or 
     international institutions that meet the requirements of 
     subparagraph (B).
       (B) Multilateral fund or international institution 
     eligibility.--A multilateral fund or international 
     institution is eligible to receive assistance under 
     subparagraph (A)--
       (i) if--

       (I) such fund or institution is established pursuant to--

       (aa) the Convention; or
       (bb) an agreement negotiated under the Convention; or

       (II) the assistance is directed to 1 or more multilateral 
     funds or international development institutions, pursuant to 
     an agreement negotiated under the Convention; and

       (ii) if such fund or institution--

       (I) specifies the terms and conditions under which the 
     United States is to provide assistance to the fund or 
     institution, and under which the fund or institution is to 
     provide assistance to recipient countries;
       (II) ensures that assistance from the United States to the 
     fund or institution and the principal and income of the fund 
     or institution are disbursed only--

       (aa) to support projects, planning, policies, and 
     initiatives described in subsection (b);
       (bb) consistent with the policy described in subsection 
     (e); and

[[Page S2025]]

       (cc) in regular consultation with relevant governing bodies 
     of the fund or institution that--
       (AA) include representation from countries among the most 
     vulnerable developing countries; and
       (BB) provide public access.
       (C) Congressional notification.--The Secretary of State, 
     the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, or the Secretary of the Treasury 
     shall notify the appropriate congressional committees not 
     later than 15 days before providing assistance to a 
     multilateral fund or international institution under this 
     subsection.
       (3) Local consultations.--Programs, projects, and 
     activities supported by assistance provided under this 
     subsection shall require consultations with local 
     communities, particularly the most vulnerable communities and 
     populations in such communities, and indigenous peoples in 
     areas in which any programs, projects, or activities are 
     planned to engage such communities and peoples through 
     adequate disclosure of information, public participation, 
     consultation, and the free prior and informed consent of such 
     peoples, including full consideration of the interdependence 
     of vulnerable communities and ecosystems to promote the 
     resilience of local communities.
       (g) Bilateral Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--Except to the extent inconsistent with 
     this subsection, the administrative authorities under the 
     Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) shall 
     apply to the implementation of this subsection to the same 
     extent and in the same manner as such authorities apply to 
     the implementation of such Act in order to provide the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development with the authority to provide assistance to 
     countries, including the most vulnerable developing 
     countries, for programs, projects, and activities consistent 
     with the purposes described in subsection (b) and the policy 
     described in subsection (e).
       (2) Considerations.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
     Administrator shall ensure that--
       (A) the environmental impact of proposed programs, 
     projects, and activities is assessed through adequate 
     consultation, public participation, and disclosure of 
     information; and
       (B) programs, projects, and activities under this 
     subsection--
       (i) avoid environmental degradation, to the maximum extent 
     practicable; and
       (ii) are aligned, to the maximum extent practicable, with 
     broader development, poverty alleviation, or natural resource 
     management objectives and initiatives in the recipient 
     country.
       (3) Community engagement.--The Administrator shall seek to 
     ensure that--
       (A) local communities, particularly the most vulnerable 
     communities and populations in areas in which any programs, 
     projects, or activities are carried out under this 
     subsection, are engaged in the design, implementation, 
     monitoring, and evaluation of such programs, projects, and 
     activities through disclosure of information, public 
     participation, and consultation; and
       (B) the needs and interests of the most vulnerable 
     communities and populations are addressed in national or 
     regional climate change adaptation plans.
       (4) Consultation and disclosure.--For each country 
     receiving assistance under this subsection, the Administrator 
     shall establish a process for consultation with, and 
     disclosure of information to, local, national, and 
     international stakeholders regarding any programs, projects, 
     or activities carried out under this subsection.
       (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter.

     SEC. 302. UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE GREEN CLIMATE 
                   FUND.

       (a) United States Contributions.--On behalf of the United 
     States, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of 
     State--
       (1) shall jointly coordinate contributions to the Green 
     Climate Fund; and
       (2) may contribute to the Green Climate Fund, in addition 
     to the amounts authorized under subsection (d), additional 
     amounts from other relevant foreign assistance accounts.
       (b) Limits on Country Access.--The Secretary of the 
     Treasury shall use the voice, vote, and influence of the 
     United States to ensure that--
       (1) the Fund does not provide more than approximately 15 
     percent of the resources of the Fund to any one country;
       (2) each country that receives amounts from the Fund 
     submits to the governing body of the Fund an investment plan 
     that describes how--
       (A) energy efficiency or production projects will achieve 
     significant and lasting reductions in national-level 
     greenhouse gas emissions; and
       (B) adaptation projects will--
       (i) provide long-term enhancements to national and food 
     security;
       (ii) protect lives and livelihoods;
       (iii) ensure lasting access to freshwater resources; or
       (iv) advance public health outcomes; and
       (3) in the case of a country that is not classified by the 
     World Bank as having a low-income economy, provides for not 
     less than 15 percent of the total cost of the plan to be 
     contributed from the public funds of the country.
       (c) Project and Program Requirements.--The Secretary of the 
     Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall 
     use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States to 
     ensure that support from the Fund is used exclusively to 
     support the deployment by developing countries of clean 
     energy technologies and the development of projects that 
     improve the resilience capacities and ability of countries to 
     adapt to the effects of climate change, including, as 
     appropriate, through the provision of technical support or 
     support for policy or institutional reforms.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to the 
     amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 301(h), 
     there are authorized to be appropriated for contributions to 
     the Green Climate Fund--
       (1) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
       (2) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
       (3) $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
       (4) $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
       (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 240 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
     the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report describing--
       (1) the purpose of and progress on each project supported 
     by the Fund; and
       (2) how each such project furthers the investment plan 
     described in subsection (b)(2) of each country in which the 
     project is implemented.

     SEC. 303. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON UNITED STATES ENGAGEMENTS AT 
                   THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) In 2020, the World Economic Forum (referred to in this 
     section as the ``WEF'') in Davos, Switzerland, put addressing 
     the climate crisis at the top of its agenda. World and 
     business leaders reinforced the need for urgent action to 
     avoid human destruction from the clear and present climate 
     crisis.
       (2) At the 2020 annual meeting of the WEF, the President, 
     accompanied by the Secretary of the Treasury, delivered a 
     contrarian message, claiming, ``To embrace the possibilities 
     of tomorrow, we must reject the perennial prophets of doom 
     and their predictions of the apocalypse.''.
       (3) Nevertheless, the WEF, without support from the United 
     States, announced climate initiatives on sustainable markets, 
     reaching carbon neutrality on insurance investment 
     portfolios, decarbonizing the automotive sector through 
     circular economies, and transitioning to healthier, more 
     sustainable food systems.
       (4) The one initiative the United States did agree to join 
     is the Trillion Tree Campaign, which aims to grow, restore, 
     and conserve 1 trillion trees by 2030.
       (5) The President's dismissal of the threat climate change 
     poses to economic growth and global security has isolated the 
     United States from the 117 represented countries at the WEF 
     that support its climate agenda and are accelerating their 
     national commitments in other international fora to address 
     climate change.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that at 
     the 2021 WEF, or at an appropriate time and venue as early as 
     possible in 2021--
       (1) the Secretary of State should commit to restoring 
     diplomatic engagement and cooperation on mobilizing 
     investment and support for growing the global economy while 
     achieving net zero global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
       (2) the Secretary of the Treasury should announce--
       (A) the intention of the United States Government to divest 
     from future investment and support for fossil fuel energy and 
     extraction projects in developing countries; and
       (B) the establishment of an international clean energy 
     private finance fund to support the development of large-
     scale renewable energy projects in middle income countries;
       (3) the Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
     International Development Finance Corporation should commit 
     to--
       (A) divesting the United States International Development 
     Finance Corporation from future fossil fuel energy 
     development and extraction projects; and
       (B) investing a significant portion of the annual portfolio 
     of the United States International Development Finance 
     Corporation in clean energy development projects; and
       (4) the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development should commit to prioritizing 
     building resilience and adaption capacities in the most 
     climate-vulnerable countries.

     SEC. 304. CLEAN ENERGY AND THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL 
                   DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION.

       (a) In General.--Section 1451 of the Better Utilization of 
     Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 
     9671) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(j) Clean Energy.--
       ``(1) Report required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this subsection, the Chief Executive 
     Officer of the Corporation shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report--
       ``(A) highlighting the substantial commitment of the 
     Corporation to invest in renewable and other clean energy 
     technologies;
       ``(B) setting forth--
       ``(i) a plan to significantly reduce greenhouse gas 
     emissions associated with projects

[[Page S2026]]

     and subprojects within the Corporation's portfolio, as 
     required by paragraph (2); and
       ``(ii) a plan for facilitating the transition in key global 
     markets from electricity generated from fossil fuel power to 
     clean, low-cost renewable energy sources, in a manner that is 
     equitable for workers and communities, as required by 
     paragraph (3); and
       ``(C) detailing the efforts of the Corporation to reduce 
     all greenhouse gas emissions associated with projects and 
     subprojects within the Corporation's portfolio, including a 
     full accounting of the reductions, achieved in accordance 
     with the plan described in paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this subsection, the Corporation shall 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees a climate 
     change mitigation plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
     associated with projects and subprojects within the 
     Corporation's portfolio by, relative to October 1, 2020--
       ``(i) not less than 60 percent by 2025; and
       ``(ii) 100 percent by 2028.
       ``(B) Implementation.--The Corporation shall begin 
     implementation of the plan required by subparagraph (A) not 
     later than 20 days after submitting the plan to the 
     appropriate congressional committees.
       ``(C) Report required.--Not later than one year after the 
     date on which the Corporation begins implementation under 
     subparagraph (B) of the plan required by subparagraph (A), 
     and every 2 years thereafter until the Corporation achieves 
     the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with 
     projects and subprojects within the Corporation's portfolio 
     by 100 percent, the Corporation shall submit a report to the 
     appropriate congressional committees on the Corporation's 
     progress and efforts to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions 
     reductions goals of the plan.
       ``(3) Clean electricity transition.--The Corporation shall 
     seek, in providing support for projects under title II, to 
     facilitate the transition in key global markets from 
     electricity generated from fossil fuel power to clean, low-
     cost renewable energy sources, in a manner that is equitable 
     for workers and communities, by--
       ``(A) enabling the phase-out of uneconomic coal-fired power 
     plants that are shielded from competition from renewable 
     energy sources by noncompetitive market structures such as 
     long-term contracts and regulated tariffs;
       ``(B) using low-cost capital--
       ``(i) to refinance existing debt on uneconomic coal-fired 
     power plants;
       ``(ii) to reinvest in renewable energy sources to replace 
     such plants;
       ``(iii) to support a just transition to renewable energy 
     for affected workers and communities by generating decent 
     jobs that adhere to international labor standards all along 
     the renewable energy supply chain; and
       ``(iv) to support the upgrading of jobs and skills as well 
     as job creation and improved productivity in more labor-
     intensive industries that offer employment opportunities on a 
     wide scale; and
       ``(C) considering--
       ``(i) competitive approaches, like reverse auctions, to 
     ensure the best value in investing in renewable energy 
     sources; and
       ``(ii) partnering, as appropriate, with--

       ``(I) the United States Agency for International 
     Development; and
       ``(II) the Department of the Treasury with respect to 
     efforts by multilateral development banks (as defined in 
     section 1701(c) of the International Financial Institutions 
     Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c))).''.

       (b) Conforming Repeal.--Section 7079(b) of the Consolidated 
     Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-117; 123 Stat. 3396) 
     is amended by striking ``comment:'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``comment.''.

     SEC. 305. CONSISTENCY IN UNITED STATES POLICY ON DEVELOPMENT 
                   FINANCE AND CLIMATE CHANGE.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the strength and credibility of United States climate policy 
     is undermined when there is a lack of consistency between the 
     policies and practices implemented at the United States 
     International Development Finance Corporation and the 
     policies and practices the Corporation promotes at the 
     international financial institutions.
       (b) Enhancing Transparency at Multilateral Development 
     Banks.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the 
     United States executive director of each international 
     financial institution to use the voice and vote of the United 
     States to advocate for enhancing transparency by providing 
     sufficient and adequate information to facilitate independent 
     verification of the climate finance reporting of the 
     institution.
       (c) Policy Alignment.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     instruct the United States executive director of each 
     international financial institution to use the voice and vote 
     of the United States--
       (1) to challenge policy-based loans or lending through 
     financial intermediaries that directly or indirectly supports 
     fossil fuels; and
       (2) to seek to ensure that all loans, grants, policies, and 
     strategies of the institution are aligned with the objectives 
     of the Paris Agreement.
       (d) Prohibition.--Section 1451 of the Better Utilization of 
     Investments Leading to Development Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 
     9671), as amended by section 304, is further amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(k) Consistency in Environmental and Social Policies.--
     The Corporation may not adopt any environmental or social 
     policy that provides less protection for communities and the 
     environment than the level of protection required under title 
     XIII of the International Financial Institutions Act (22 
     U.S.C. 262m et seq.).''.
       (e) International Financial Institution Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``international financial institution'' has 
     the meaning given that term in section 1701(c) of the 
     International Financial Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262r(c)).

     TITLE IV--CLEAN ENERGY DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

     SEC. 401. ENERGY DIPLOMACY AND SECURITY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT 
                   OF STATE.

       (a) Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources.--
     Section 1(c) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 
     1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(c)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
       ``(4) Assistant secretary of state for energy resources.--
       ``(A) Authorization for assistant secretary.--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 for Energy Resources.
       ``(B) Personnel.--The Secretary of State, in collaboration 
     with the Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, 
     and in accordance with the authorization under subparagraph 
     (A), shall ensure that sufficient personnel are dedicated to 
     energy matters within the Bureau of Energy Resources in 
     order--
       ``(i) to formulate and implement international policies, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of Energy, as appropriate, 
     aimed at protecting and advancing United States energy 
     security interests and international energy development and 
     access to electricity, in accordance with the United Nation's 
     sustainable development goals in ways that ensure responsible 
     development of global energy resources by effectively 
     managing United States bilateral and multilateral relations;
       ``(ii) to ensure that analyses of public health and 
     national security implications of global energy and 
     environmental developments are reflected in the decision-
     making process within the Department of State;
       ``(iii) to incorporate energy security and clean energy 
     development priorities into the activities of the Department 
     related to matters involving global energy development, 
     accounting for the effects global energy development has on--

       ``(I) United States national security;
       ``(II) quality of life and public health of people, 
     households, and communities, particularly vulnerable and 
     underserved populations affected by, or proximate to, energy 
     development, transmission, and distribution projects;
       ``(III) United States economic interests;
       ``(IV) emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to 
     global climate change; and
       ``(V) local and regional land use, air and water quality, 
     and risks to public health of communities described in 
     subclause (II);

       ``(iv) to coordinate energy activities within the 
     Department of State and with relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies;
       ``(v) to work internationally--

       ``(I) to support socially and environmentally responsible 
     development of energy resources that mitigate carbon 
     emissions, and the distribution of such resources for the 
     benefit of the United States and United States allies and 
     trading partners for their energy security, climate security, 
     and economic development needs;
       ``(II) to promote--

       ``(aa) the availability of clean energy technologies, 
     including carbon capture and storage;
       ``(bb) energy sector innovation;
       ``(cc) well-functioning global markets for clean energy 
     resources and technologies;
       ``(dd) expertise for the benefit of the United States and 
     United States allies and trading partners;

       ``(III) to resolve international disputes regarding the 
     exploration, development, production, or distribution of 
     energy resources;
       ``(IV) to support the economic, security, and commercial 
     interests of United States persons operating in the energy 
     markets of foreign countries; and
       ``(V) to support and coordinate international efforts--

       ``(aa) to alleviate energy poverty;
       ``(bb) to protect vulnerable, exploited, and underserved 
     populations that are affected or displaced by energy 
     development projects;
       ``(cc) to account for and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions 
     from energy development projects;
       ``(dd) to promote fair labor practices, labor protections 
     for workers, and training for and access to good-paying jobs 
     within the clean energy sector; and
       ``(ee) to increase access to clean energy for vulnerable 
     and underserved communities;
       ``(vi) to lead the United States commitment to the 
     Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; and
       ``(vii) to coordinate energy security and climate security 
     and other relevant functions within the Department of State 
     undertaken as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph 
     by--

[[Page S2027]]

       ``(I) the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs;
       ``(II) the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental 
     and Scientific Affairs; and
       ``(III) other offices within the Department of State.''.

       (b) Elimination of Authority for Coordinator for 
     International Energy Affairs.--Section 931 of the Energy 
     Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17371) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b); and
       (2) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections 
     (a) and (b), respectively.

     SEC. 402. DEPARTMENT OF STATE PRIMACY FOR ENERGY DIPLOMACY.

       (a) In General.--The Department of State shall have primacy 
     for all United States diplomatic engagements with regard to 
     international energy affairs.
       (b) Interagency Coordination.--The Secretary of State, as 
     appropriate, shall coordinate with and use the technical 
     expertise and resources of the Department of Energy, the 
     Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the 
     Interior, and other relevant Federal agencies and departments 
     in the planning and execution of United States foreign policy 
     goals and objectives related to international energy affairs.

     SEC. 403. REPORTS ON UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION IN MISSION 
                   INNOVATION AND THE CLEAN ENERGY MINISTERIAL.

       (a) Mission Innovation.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit 
     to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that 
     details the scope and nature of United States participation 
     in Mission Innovation, including--
       (1) who in the United States Government serves as the lead 
     for Mission Innovation;
       (2) what objectives the United States has used Mission 
     Innovation to advance;
       (3) what partnerships the United States has established 
     through Mission Innovation and the date on which any 
     partnerships the United States brokered were announced;
       (4) how the United States has leveraged Mission Innovation 
     to engage in technology transfer arrangements with foreign 
     governments;
       (5) how the United States has attracted private sector 
     entities to contribute to and participate in Mission 
     Innovation;
       (6) the total amount of funding provided by the United 
     States Government to Mission Innovation each year since the 
     establishment of Mission Innovation; and
       (7) the outline of a strategic engagement plan and 
     objectives for delivering new energy technology innovation 
     outcomes through Mission Innovation.
       (b) Clean Energy Ministerial.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Energy shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
     a report that details the scope and nature of United States 
     participation in the Clean Energy Ministerial, including--
       (1) the number of Clean Energy Ministerial meetings that 
     the Secretary of Energy has participated in;
       (2) the diplomatic objectives, including with respect to 
     energy technologies and private sector entities, that the 
     United States has aimed to promote within the Clean Energy 
     Ministerial;
       (3) the consensus initiatives, if any, among the chiefs of 
     party to the Clean Energy Ministerial that the United States 
     objected to, refused to join, or refrained from contributing 
     to the development of; and
       (4) a plan for restoring United States leadership in using 
     the Clean Energy Ministerial to promote the development and 
     deployment of renewable energy and carbon mitigation 
     technologies from the energy and transportation sectors.
       (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress.--In this section, 
     the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (2) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate;
       (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (4) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 404. REDUCED DEFORESTATION.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrator.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, 
     the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of the 
     United States Agency for International Development.
       (2) Deforestation.--The term ``deforestation'' means a 
     change in land use from a forest (including peatlands) to any 
     other land use.
       (3) Developing country.--The term ``developing country'' 
     means a country eligible to receive official development 
     assistance according to the income guidelines of the 
     Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for 
     Economic Co-operation and Development.
       (4) Emissions reductions.--The term ``emissions 
     reductions'' means greenhouse gas emissions reductions 
     achieved from reduced or avoided deforestation under this 
     section.
       (5) Forest.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``forest'' means a terrestrial 
     ecosystem, including wetland forests, comprised of native 
     tree species generated and maintained primarily through 
     natural ecological and evolutionary processes.
       (B) Exclusion.--The term ``forest'' does not include 
     plantations, such as crops of trees planted by humans 
     primarily for the purposes of harvesting.
       (6) Forest degradation.--The term ``forest degradation'' is 
     any reduction in the carbon stock of a forest due to the 
     effects of human land-use activities, including such land-use 
     activities on peatlands.
       (7) Human rights defender.--The term ``human rights 
     defender'' means an individual, group, or association that 
     peacefully contributes to the effective elimination of all 
     violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of 
     peoples and individuals, including in relation to mass, 
     flagrant, or systematic such violations, such as those 
     resulting from apartheid, all forms of racial discrimination, 
     colonialism, foreign domination or occupation, aggression or 
     threats to national sovereignty, national unity, or 
     territorial integrity, and the refusal to recognize the right 
     of peoples to self-determination and the right of every 
     people to exercise full sovereignty over its wealth and 
     natural resources.
       (8) Intact forest.--The term ``intact forest'' means an 
     unbroken expanse of natural ecosystems within the global 
     extent of forest cover that--
       (A) covers an area of at least 500 square kilometers and is 
     at least 10 kilometers in each direction; and
       (B) contains forest and non-forest ecosystems minimally 
     influenced by human economic activity and large enough that 
     all native biodiversity, including viable populations of 
     wide-ranging species, could be maintained.
       (9) Leakage.--The term ``leakage'' means the unexpected 
     loss of anticipated carbon benefits due to the displacement 
     of activities in a project area to areas outside the project, 
     resulting in carbon emissions.
       (10) Leakage prevention activities.--The term ``leakage 
     prevention activities'' means activities in developing 
     countries that are directed at preserving existing forest 
     carbon stocks, including forested wetlands and peatlands that 
     might, absent such activities, be lost through leakage.
       (11) National deforestation reduction activities.--The term 
     ``national deforestation reduction activities'' means 
     activities in developing countries that reduce a quantity of 
     greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation that is 
     calculated by measuring actual emissions against a national 
     deforestation baseline established pursuant to subparagraphs 
     (B) and (C) of subsection (d)(4).
       (12) Subnational deforestation and forest degradation 
     reduction activities.--The term ``subnational deforestation 
     and forest degradation reduction activities'' means 
     activities in developing countries that reduce a quantity of 
     greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest 
     degradation that is calculated by measuring actual emissions 
     using an appropriate baseline, or an alternative determined 
     under subsection (d)(4)(B)(ii), established by the 
     Administrator at the State or provincial level.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are to provide 
     United States assistance to developing countries to develop, 
     implement, and improve actions that reduce deforestation and 
     forest degradation or conserve or restore forest ecosystems--
       (1) to protect the value of forest ecosystems with respect 
     to permanent carbon capture and sequestration in a manner in 
     which such value is measurable, reportable, and verifiable; 
     and
       (2) in a manner that--
       (A) is consistent with and enhances the implementation of 
     complementary United States policies that support the good 
     governance of forests, biodiversity conservation, and 
     environmentally sustainable development;
       (B) takes into consideration the views and participation of 
     local communities and most vulnerable communities and 
     populations (as defined in section 301(a)), particularly 
     forest-dependent communities; and
       (C) incorporates the right to free prior and informed 
     consent of indigenous peoples.
       (c) Emissions Reductions Through Reduced Deforestation.--
       (1) Establishment of program.--Not later than 1 year after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in 
     consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental 
     Protection Agency, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the head 
     of any other appropriate agency, shall establish a program to 
     provide assistance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 
     deforestation in developing countries, in accordance with 
     this section.
       (2) Objectives.--The objectives of the program established 
     under paragraph (1) shall be--
       (A) to achieve--
       (i) emissions reductions of at least 7,000,000,000 tons of 
     carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025;
       (ii) cumulative emissions reductions of at least 
     11,000,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by December 
     31, 2030; and
       (iii) additional emissions reductions in subsequent years;
       (B) to build capacity to reduce deforestation at a national 
     level in developing countries experiencing deforestation, 
     which may include--
       (i) preparing developing countries to participate in 
     international markets for international offset credits for 
     reduced emissions from deforestation; and

[[Page S2028]]

       (ii) supporting the development of domestic policy 
     frameworks to ensure effective, efficient, and equitable 
     benefit-sharing of the proceeds of such credits issued by 
     national and subnational governments;
       (C) to preserve forest carbon stocks in countries where 
     such forest carbon may be vulnerable to leakage, particularly 
     in developing countries with largely intact native forests;
       (D) to build the scientific knowledge and institutional 
     capacity to help developing countries--
       (i) monitor the effects of climate change on their forests;
       (ii) develop and implement strategies to conserve their 
     forests; and
       (iii) support forest-dependent communities adapt to climate 
     change; and
       (E) to the extent practicable, to reduce deforestation in 
     ways that reduce the vulnerability and increase the 
     resilience to climate effects for forests and forest-
     dependent communities.
       (d) Requirements for International Deforestation Reduction 
     Program.--
       (1) Eligible countries.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     the Administrator may provide assistance under this section 
     only with respect to a developing country that--
       (i) the Administrator, in consultation with the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, determines--

       (I) is experiencing deforestation or forest degradation; or
       (II) has standing forest carbon stocks that may be at risk 
     of deforestation or degradation;

       (ii) has the legal regimes, standards, and safeguards to 
     ensure that the rights and interests of indigenous peoples 
     and forest-dependent communities are protected in accordance 
     with the standards established under paragraph (4); and
       (iii) has entered into a bilateral or multilateral 
     agreement or arrangement with the United States, or is part 
     of an international program supported by the United States to 
     prevent deforestation, that establishes the conditions of 
     participation by the country in the program established under 
     this section, which shall include an agreement to meet the 
     standards established under paragraph (4) for the activities 
     to which such standards apply.
       (B) Exception.--A developing country that does not meet the 
     requirement described in paragraph (1)(A)(ii) may receive 
     assistance under this section for the purpose of building 
     capacity to meet such requirement.
       (2) Authorized activities.--Subject to the requirements of 
     this section, in providing assistance under this section, the 
     Administrator may support activities to achieve the 
     objectives described in subsection (c)(2), including 
     activities such as--
       (A) national deforestation reduction activities;
       (B) subnational deforestation and forest degradation 
     reduction activities, including pilot activities, policies, 
     and measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are 
     subject to significant uncertainty;
       (C) activities to measure, monitor, and verify 
     deforestation, avoided deforestation, and rates of 
     deforestation, including, if applicable, spatially explicit 
     land use plans that identify intact and primary forest areas 
     and managed forest areas;
       (D) leakage prevention activities;
       (E) the development and implementation of measurement, 
     monitoring, reporting, and verification capacities and 
     governance structures, including legal regimes, standards, 
     processes, and safeguards, as established under paragraph 
     (4), to enable a country to quantify emissions reductions for 
     purposes of purchasing or trading subnational emissions 
     reduction credits in carbon markets;
       (F) the identification of, and actions to address, the 
     drivers of land use emissions;
       (G) programs that would exclude from the United States 
     illegally harvested timber or products made from illegally 
     harvested timber, in accordance with and consistent with the 
     objectives of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 
     3371 et seq.);
       (H) the development and strengthening of governance 
     capacities to reduce deforestation and other land use 
     emissions and to combat illegal logging and associated trade, 
     including the development of systems for independent 
     monitoring of the efficacy of forest law enforcement and 
     increased enforcement cooperation, including joint efforts 
     with Federal agencies, to enforce the Lacey Act Amendments of 
     1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.);
       (I) the provision of incentives for policy reforms to 
     achieve the objectives described in subsection (c)(2);
       (J) the development of pilot projects--
       (i) to examine where mitigation and adaptation activities 
     in forest ecosystems coincide; and
       (ii) to explore means for enhancing the resilience of 
     forest ecosystems and forest-dependent communities;
       (K) the promotion of mechanisms to deliver resources for 
     local action and to address the needs, rights, interests, and 
     participation of local and indigenous communities; and
       (L) monitoring and evaluation of the results of the 
     activities conducted under this section.
       (3) Mechanisms.--The Administrator shall apply the 
     administrative authorities under the Foreign Assistance Act 
     of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), except to the extent 
     inconsistent with the provisions of this section, to the same 
     extent and in the same manner as such authorities apply to 
     the implementation of such Act in order to support activities 
     to achieve the objectives described in subsection (c)(2) by--
       (A) developing and implementing programs and project-level 
     activities that achieve such objectives;
       (B) to the extent practicable, giving priority in any 
     review process to activities under paragraph (2)(A); and
       (C) as appropriate, considering multi-year funding 
     arrangements in carrying out the purposes of this section.
       (4) Standards.--The Administrator, in consultation with the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish program standards 
     that--
       (A) ensure that emissions reductions achieved through 
     supported activities--
       (i) are additional, measurable, verifiable, and monitored;
       (ii) account for leakage, uncertainty, and permanence; and
       (iii) at a minimum, meet the standards established under 
     the emissions unit criteria of the Carbon Offsetting and 
     Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) 
     developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization 
     (ICAO);
       (B) require--
       (i) the establishment of a national deforestation baseline 
     for each country with national deforestation reduction 
     activities that is used to account for reductions achieved 
     from such activities; or
       (ii) if a developing country has established policies and 
     taken measures to reduce emissions from disturbed peatlands, 
     deforestation, or forest degradation, but has not established 
     a national baseline, the provision of a credible, 
     transparent, accurate, and conservative alternative for 
     quantifying emissions;
       (C) provide that each national deforestation baseline 
     established under subparagraph (B)(i)--
       (i) is national, or subnational on an interim basis, in 
     scope; and
       (ii) is consistent with nationally appropriate mitigation 
     commitments or actions with respect to deforestation, taking 
     into consideration--

       (I) the average annual historical deforestation rates of 
     the country during a period of at least 5 years; and
       (II) the applicable drivers of deforestation and other 
     factors to ensure additionality;

       (iii) establishes a trajectory that would result in zero 
     net deforestation by not later than 20 years after the date 
     on which the baseline is established;
       (iv) is adjusted over time to account for changing national 
     circumstances; and
       (v) is designed to account for all significant sources of 
     greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation in the country;
       (D) with respect to assistance provided for activities 
     described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2), 
     require emissions reductions to be achieved and verified 
     before the provision of any assistance under this section;
       (E) with respect to accounting for subnational 
     deforestation and forest degradation reduction activities 
     that lack the standardized or precise measurement and 
     monitoring techniques needed for a full accounting of changes 
     in emissions or baselines, or are subject to other sources of 
     uncertainty, apply a conservative discount factor to reflect 
     the uncertainty regarding the levels of reductions achieved;
       (F) ensure that activities under this section are designed, 
     carried out, and managed--
       (i) using forest management practices that, in an open and 
     transparent process--

       (I) improve the livelihoods of forest communities in a 
     manner that promotes the maintenance of intact forests, 
     protects associated biodiversity, and restores native forest 
     species and ecosystems while avoiding the introduction of 
     invasive nonnative species;
       (II) maintain natural biodiversity, resilience, and carbon 
     storage capacity of forests;
       (III) to the extent practicable, do not adversely affect 
     the permanence of forest carbon stocks or emissions 
     reductions;
       (IV) include broad stakeholder participation and the free 
     prior and informed consent of affected indigenous peoples; 
     and
       (V) take into account the needs and interests of local 
     communities, forest-dependent communities, indigenous 
     peoples, and vulnerable social groups;

       (ii) in consultation with, and with the full and effective 
     participation of, local communities, indigenous peoples, and 
     forest-dependent communities in affected areas, as partners 
     and primary stakeholders, before and during the design, 
     planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of 
     activities; and
       (iii) with equitable sharing of profits and benefits 
     derived from the activities with local communities, 
     indigenous peoples, and forest-dependent communities; and
       (G) with respect to assistance for all activities under 
     this section, seek to ensure the establishment and 
     enforcement of legal regimes, standards, processes, and 
     safeguards by the country in which the activities are 
     conducted, as a condition of such assistance or as a proposed 
     activity for which such assistance may be provided, which--

[[Page S2029]]

       (i) protect the rights and interests of local communities, 
     indigenous peoples, forest-dependent communities, human 
     rights defenders, and vulnerable social groups; and
       (ii) promote consultations with local communities, 
     indigenous peoples, and forest-dependent communities in 
     affected areas, as partners and primary stakeholders, before 
     and during the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, 
     and evaluation of activities under this section; and
       (iii) ensure equitable sharing of profits and benefits from 
     incentives for emissions reductions or leakage prevention 
     with local communities, indigenous peoples, and forest-
     dependent communities.
       (5) Scope.--
       (A) Reduced emissions.--The Administrator shall include 
     reduced emissions from forest degradation and disturbance of 
     peatlands within the scope of activities under this section.
       (B) Expansion of authorized activities.--If the 
     Administrator determines, in consultation with the 
     Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, that sufficient methodologies and 
     technical capacities exist to measure, monitor, and account 
     for the emissions referred to in subparagraph (A), the 
     Administrator may expand the authorized activities under this 
     section, as appropriate, to include reduced soil carbon-
     derived emissions associated with deforestation and 
     degradation of forested wetlands and peatlands, consistent 
     with a comprehensive approach to maintaining and enhancing 
     forests, increasing climate resiliency, reducing emissions, 
     and increasing removals of greenhouse gases.
       (6) Accounting.--The Administrator shall use a publicly 
     accessible registry to account for and register the emissions 
     reductions achieved through assistance provided under this 
     section each year, after appropriately discounting for 
     uncertainty and other relevant factors as required by the 
     standards established under paragraph (4).
       (7) International deforestation reduction program insurance 
     account for noncompletion or reversal.--In furtherance of the 
     objectives described in subsection (c)(2), the Administrator 
     shall develop and implement a program that--
       (A) addresses noncompletion or reversal with respect to any 
     greenhouse gas emissions that were not, or are no longer, 
     sequestered; and
       (B) may include a mechanism to hold in reserve a portion of 
     the amount allocated for projects to support the program.
       (8) Extension of assistance.--
       (A) In general.--The Administrator may extend, for an 
     additional 5 years, the period during which assistance is 
     authorized for activities supported by assistance under this 
     section, if the Administrator determines that--
       (i) the country in which the activities are conducted is 
     making substantial progress toward adopting and implementing 
     a program to achieve reductions in deforestation measured 
     against a national baseline;
       (ii) the greenhouse gas emissions reductions achieved as a 
     result of the activities are not resulting in significant 
     leakage;
       (iii) such greenhouse gas emissions reductions are being 
     appropriately discounted to account for any leakage that is 
     occurring; and
       (iv) such extension would further advance or ensure 
     achievement of the objectives of the activities.
       (B) Assistance for subnational deforestation and forest 
     degradation reduction activities.--
       (i) In general.--If the Administrator extends the period 
     during which assistance is authorized for activities under 
     subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall determine, based on 
     the criteria specified that subparagraph, whether such 
     assistance should include assistance for subnational 
     deforestation and forest degradation reduction activities.
       (ii) Continued assistance.--The Administrator may extend 
     the period during which assistance is authorized for 
     subnational deforestation and forest degradation reduction 
     activities beyond the 5-year period described in subparagraph 
     (A) in order to further the objectives described in 
     subparagraph (B) or (C) of subsection (c)(2).
       (9) Coordination with foreign assistance.--Subject to the 
     direction of the President, the Administrator shall, to the 
     extent practicable and consistent with the objectives 
     described in subsection (c)(2), seek to align activities 
     under this section with broader development, poverty 
     alleviation, or natural resource management objectives and 
     initiatives in countries receiving assistance under this 
     section.
       (10) Assistance as supplement.--The provision of assistance 
     for activities under this section shall be used to 
     supplement, and not to supplant, any other Federal, State, or 
     local support available to carry out activities under this 
     section.
       (11) Funding limitation.--Of the funds made available to 
     carry out this section in any fiscal year, not more than 7 
     percent may be used for the administrative expenses of the 
     United States Agency for International Development in support 
     of activities described in paragraph (2). Such amount shall 
     be in addition to other amounts otherwise available for such 
     purposes.
       (12) Indonesia.--Not less than 10 percent of the funds made 
     available in any fiscal year to carry out this section shall 
     be used for activities described in paragraph (2) in 
     Indonesia.
       (e) Legal Effect.--
       (1) In general.--Nothing in this section may be construed 
     to supersede, limit, or otherwise affect any restriction 
     imposed by Federal law (including regulations) on any 
     interaction between an entity located in the United States 
     and an entity located in a foreign country.
       (2) Role of the secretary of state.--Nothing in this 
     section may be construed to affect the role of the Secretary 
     of State or the responsibilities of the Secretary under 
     section 622(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2382(c)).
       (f) International Financial Institutions.--The President 
     shall direct the United States representatives to the World 
     Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other 
     international financial institutions (as defined in section 
     1701(c) of the International Financial Institutions Act (22 
     U.S.C. 262r(c)) to prioritize efforts to combat 
     deforestation.

  TITLE V--BILATERAL AND REGIONAL MULTILATERAL CLIMATE DIPLOMACY AND 
                              COOPERATION

     SEC. 501. NORTH AMERICAN STRATEGY.

       (a) In General.--The President shall develop a strategy to 
     seek opportunities for trilateral cooperation between the 
     United States, Mexico, and Canada--
       (1) to support increased ambition on reducing greenhouse 
     gas emissions among these countries; and
       (2) to advance collaboration on the development and 
     promotion of shared climate action goals and interests within 
     multilateral bodies and conferences, including aligning, to 
     the extent possible, the voices, votes, and influence, 
     consistent with the broad foreign policy goals of the United 
     States, to address issues related to climate change and clean 
     energy development.
       (b) Elements and Priorities.--The strategy described in 
     subsection (a) shall include efforts--
       (1) to ensure that potential projects and investments 
     pursued under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement--
       (A) are compatible with long-term climate goals and the 
     collective targets established under the Paris Agreement; and
       (B) meet all environmental and social responsibility 
     standards required under the USMCA;
       (2) to explore shared and common interests and cooperative 
     actions to promote clean energy development, climate 
     security, and climate change mitigation strategies within 
     institutions (such as the UNFCCC, the Montreal Protocol, the 
     Green Climate Fund, the Group of Twenty and the United 
     Nations) with programs, initiatives and actions to address 
     the climate crisis that may include--
       (A) providing support in developing mid-century low-carbon 
     strategies;
       (B) extending coal finance restrictions to coal mining 
     operations; and
       (C) strengthening and expanding carbon pricing by--
       (i) considering the cost of carbon in long-term decision 
     making;
       (ii) supporting the development of national or subnational 
     systems;
       (iii) sharing technical expertise; and
       (iv) making efforts to align pricing instruments where 
     feasible;
       (3) to commit to a methane reduction goal and cooperate to 
     reduce black carbon and to recommit to the formal agreement 
     reached at the June 2016 North American Leaders Summit in 
     Ottawa to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas 
     sector by 40 to 45 percent by 2025, and to work to develop a 
     new, more ambitious target for 2030;
       (4) develop and implement a North American strategy for 
     sustainable transportation--
       (A) to encourage State and provincial leaders to negotiate 
     interstate and interprovincial sustainable transportation 
     agreements between Mexican, American, and Canadian 
     jurisdictions;
       (B) to expand the West Coast Electric Highway between 
     Canada, the United States, and Mexico; and
       (C) to work with automakers to standardize charging 
     infrastructure;
       (5) develop and implement coordinated forest and land use 
     strategies to further contribute to emissions mitigation 
     through the adoption of practices and policies that increase 
     carbon sequestration in new and existing forests and reduce 
     emissions from forest conversion to other land uses;
       (6) strengthen resilience and equity among low-income and 
     indigenous communities; and
       (7) engage international partners in an existing 
     multilateral forum or, if necessary, establish a new 
     multilateral forum to improve global cooperation by--
       (A) encouraging the adoption of an emissions reduction 
     target by the International Maritime Organization; and
       (B) collaborating with the International Civil Aviation 
     Organization to establish a market-based measure to reduce 
     aviation emissions.

     SEC. 502. ACCOUNTABILITY AND COOPERATION WITH CHINA.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) successful mitigation of global greenhouse gas 
     emissions to sufficiently avoid the worst forecasted effects 
     of climate change requires global cooperation and 
     coordination of efforts;
       (2) all other countries look towards the United States and 
     China, as the world's largest emitters and largest economies, 
     for leadership by example to effectively mitigate

[[Page S2030]]

     greenhouse gas emissions, develop and deploy energy 
     generation technologies, and integrate sustainable adaptation 
     solutions to the inevitable effects of climate change;
       (3) given the volume of China's greenhouse gas emissions 
     and the scientific imperative to swiftly reduce global 
     greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero emissions around 2050, 
     China should--
       (A) revise its long-term pledge;
       (B) seek to immediately peak its emissions;
       (C) begin reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 
     significantly to meet a more ambitious long-term 2050 
     reductions target; and
       (D) update its nationally determined contribution along a 
     trajectory that aligns with achieving a more ambitious net-
     zero by 2050 emissions target;
       (4) it is in the United States' national interest to 
     prioritize climate change in its bilateral engagement with 
     China, as global climate risks cannot be mitigated without a 
     significant reduction in Chinese domestic and overseas 
     emissions;
       (5) the United States and China, to the extent practicable, 
     should coordinate on making and delivering ambitious pledges 
     to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with aspirations towards 
     achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
       (6) the United States and its allies should work together, 
     using diplomatic and economic tools, to hold China 
     accountable for any failure by China--
       (A) to increase ambition in its 2030 nationally determined 
     contribution, in line with net zero greenhouse gas emissions 
     by 2050 before the 26th Conference of the Parties to the 
     UNFCCC scheduled for November 2021 and meeting a more 
     ambitious nationally determined contribution;
       (B) to work faithfully to uphold the principles, goals, and 
     rules of the Paris Agreement;
       (C) to avoid and prohibit efforts to undermine or devolve 
     the Paris Agreement's rule or underlying framework, 
     particularly within areas of accountability transparency, and 
     shared responsibility among all parties;
       (D) to eliminate greenhouse gas intensive projects from 
     China's Belt and Road Initiative and other overseas 
     investments, including--
       (i) working with allies and partners of the United States 
     to eliminate support for coal power production projects in 
     China's Belt and Road Initiative;
       (ii) providing financing and project support for cleaner 
     and less risky alternatives; and
       (iii) undertaking ``parallel initiatives'' to enhance 
     capacity building programs and overseas sustainable 
     investment criteria, including in areas such as integrated 
     energy planning, power sector reform, just transition, 
     distributed generation, procurement, transparency, and 
     standards to support low-emissions growth in developing 
     countries; and
       (E) to phase out existing coal power plants and reduce net 
     coal power production;
       (7) the United States should pursue confidence-building 
     opportunities for the United States and China to undertake 
     ``parallel initiatives'' on clean energy research, 
     development, finance, and deployment, including through 
     economic and stimulus measures with clear, mutually agreed 
     upon rules and policies to protect intellectual property, 
     ensure equitable, nonpunitive provision of support, and 
     verify implementation, which would provide catalytic progress 
     towards delivering a global clean energy transformation that 
     benefits all people; and
       (8) the United States should pursue cooperative initiatives 
     to shift toward the import and consummation of forest and 
     agricultural commodities that are produced in a manner that 
     does not contribute to deforestation.

     SEC. 503. UNITED STATES AND EUROPEAN UNION COOPERATION ON 
                   CLIMATE FINANCE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

       (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is--
       (1) to restore the historic alliance between the United 
     States and countries of the European Union on climate action; 
     and
       (2) to renew the United States' commitment to advancing 
     global cooperation on addressing climate change and achieving 
     the goals of the Paris Agreement.
       (b) Sense of Congress Regarding the United States-European 
     Union Security and Development Dialogue.--It is the sense of 
     Congress that the United States should restart the United 
     States-European Union Security and Development Dialogue to 
     focus specifically on climate action, climate security, and 
     clean energy cooperation, including--
       (1) partnering and formulating strategies to counter 
     efforts to weaken or change critical elements of the 
     implementation of the Paris Agreement that would disadvantage 
     the United States or the European Union;
       (2) building coalitions of like-minded parties committed to 
     achieving large reductions in greenhouse gas emissions under 
     the Paris Agreement and putting pressure on all parties to do 
     the same;
       (3) coordination on joint strategies to promote climate 
     action by the People's Republic of China, and deter Chinese 
     domestic and international investment in high carbon 
     infrastructure;
       (4) finding opportunities to engage and facilitate private 
     sector collaboration regarding clean energy and innovations 
     on greenhouse gas emissions reductions;
       (5) exploring the creation of United States-European Union 
     clean energy and climate adaptation, development, and finance 
     mechanisms to support and leverage private sector investment 
     in projects and activities to improve developing countries' 
     resilience capacities, ability to adapt and thrive in the 
     face of the effects of climate change and clean energy 
     development;
       (6) scientific research, modeling, forecasting, and data 
     collaboration to improve global understanding and preparation 
     for the compounding effects of climate change; and
       (7) intelligence sharing.
       (c) Development Finance Cooperation.--
       (1) In general.--The President should seek opportunities to 
     partner with European Development Finance Institutions to 
     develop financing tools based on shared development finance 
     criteria and mechanisms to support investments in developing 
     countries that support low carbon economic development and 
     promote climate change resiliency and adaptation
       (2) Partnership fund.--The Chief Executive Officer of the 
     United States International Development Finance Corporation 
     should partner with the European Bank for Reconstruction and 
     Development to create a fund or multilateral financing 
     mechanism to support clean energy development and climate 
     change adaptation and resilience activities in developing 
     countries.
       (3) Response to the people's republic of china's belt and 
     road initiative.--The President shall work with European 
     counterparts to establish a formal United States-European 
     Commission Working Group to develop a comprehensive strategy 
     to respond to the Belt and Road Initiative established by the 
     Government of the People's Republic of China. United States 
     participants in this proposed working group shall seek to 
     integrate existing efforts into the strategy, including--
       (A) the European Union Strategy on Connecting Europe and 
     Asia;
       (B) the Three Seas Initiative;
       (C) the Blue Dot Network among the United States, Japan, 
     and Australia;
       (D) a European Union-Japan initiative that has leveraged 
     $65,000,000,000 for infrastructure projects and emphasizes 
     transparency standards; and
       (E) efforts to address the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China's use of the United Nations to advance the 
     Belt and Road Initiative, including the proliferation of 
     memoranda of understanding between the People's Republic of 
     China and United Nations funds and programs on the 
     implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.
       (4) Co-financing of infrastructure projects.--
       (A) Authorization of appropriations.--Subject to 
     subparagraph (B), there are authorized to be appropriated 
     such sums as may be necessary to co-finance infrastructure 
     projects that could otherwise be included within China's Belt 
     and Road Initiative.
       (B) Conditions.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to 
     subparagraph (A) may not be expended unless--
       (i) the United States can leverage existing and future 
     projects that have entered into contracts with the Belt and 
     Road Initiative to further promote transparency and debt 
     sustainability; and
       (ii) the projects to be financed--

       (I) promote the public good;
       (II) will not promote the use of fossil fuels; and
       (III) will have substantially lower greenhouse gas 
     intensity than the proposed Belt and Road Initiative 
     alternative.

       (d) Support for Eastern European Democracy Act.--Section 2 
     of the Support for Eastern European Democracy Act (22 U.S.C. 
     5401) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (I), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(J) helping workers and communities in countries most 
     dependent on fossil fuel energy that may be vulnerable to 
     socioeconomic changes due to the European Union's transition 
     to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.''; and
       (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(26) Just transition assistance.--Assistance to support 
     workers and communities in countries most dependent on fossil 
     fuel energy and most vulnerable to socioeconomic changes due 
     to the European Union's transition to net zero greenhouse gas 
     emissions.''.

     SEC. 504. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON CLEAN ENERGY COOPERATION WITH 
                   INDIA.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the United States should support efforts to strengthen 
     India's resilience capacities that ensure people, households, 
     communities, institutions, and systems can assess, 
     anticipate, prevent, adapt to, cope with, and recover from 
     shocks and stresses associated with the effects of climate 
     change;
       (2) the United States, through the Bureau of Energy 
     Resources of the Department of State, the United States 
     Agency for International Development, the United States 
     International Development Finance Corporation, the Department 
     of Energy, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and 
     the International Trade Administration, should encourage 
     private sector investment in, and financing for, the 
     development and deployment of clean energy and climate 
     mitigation technologies in India;

[[Page S2031]]

       (3) robust cooperation between the United States and India 
     to develop and deploy clean energy technologies, including 
     private sector cooperation, should be a top bilateral energy 
     diplomacy priority and the top priority in the countries' 
     energy diplomacy and should include--
       (A) clean energy;
       (B) electric vehicles and expansive charging station 
     networks;
       (C) next-generation refrigeration equipment and 
     refrigerants; and
       (D) other technologies and chemicals that are in the 
     interest of United States industry leaders in the 
     refrigeration and chemical coolant industries that are 
     compliant with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol;
       (4) the collaboration between the United States and India 
     on the development and deployment of clean energy 
     technologies has resulted in innovative new technologies that 
     have helped significantly lower the carbon emissions of the 
     power sector in India; and
       (5) since demand for energy in India will increase with the 
     expansion of the economy and middle class of India, it is in 
     the interest of United States national security and global 
     security for the United States to support India in growing 
     the energy sector of India in environmentally and socially 
     responsible ways that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and 
     improve the climate security of India.

     SEC. 505. POWER AFRICA.

       The Electrify Africa Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-121; 22 
     U.S.C. 2293 note) is amended--
       (1) in section 3--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``mitigate and lower 
     carbon emissions from energy production,'' after 
     ``development,'';
       (B) in paragraph (7), by adding ``and'' at the end;
       (C) by striking paragraph (8); and
       (D) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (8);
       (2) in section 4--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``an appropriate mix of 
     power solutions to provide access to sufficient reliable, 
     affordable, and sustainable power in order to reduce 
     poverty'' and inserting ``power solutions to provide access 
     to sufficient, reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in 
     order to reduce poverty and energy sector carbon emissions''; 
     and
       (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and technological'' 
     and inserting ``, advances a country's mitigation commitments 
     (or conditional mitigation commitments) in accordance with a 
     country's nationally determined contribution, and supports 
     technological'';
       (B) in subsection (b)--
       (i) in paragraph (2)--

       (I) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (II) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (III) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(H) reduce carbon emissions from the energy sector.'';
       (ii) in paragraph (4), by striking ``the use of a broad 
     power mix, including fossil fuel and'';
       (3) in section 5--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (ii) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
       (iii) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
       ``(7) deploying renewable energy; and''; and
       (B) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $750,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 to provide assistance in 
     accordance with subsection (a) and section 3.'';
       (4) in section 7(a)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 
     ``and every 2 years thereafter,'' after ``Act,''; and
       (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``power generation'' each 
     place such term appears and inserting ``renewable energy 
     generation''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 8. COORDINATOR FOR POWER AFRICA.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
     of the enactment of the United States Climate Leadership in 
     International Mitigation, Adaptation, and Technology 
     Enhancement Act of 2021, the Administrator for the United 
     States Agency for International Development, under the 
     direction of the Secretary of State, shall appoint a 
     Coordinator for Power Africa, who shall serve in the Bureau 
     Economic Growth, Education, and the Environment of the United 
     States Agency for International Development.
       ``(b) Duties.--The Coordinator for Power Africa shall--
       ``(1) be primarily located at a mission in sub-Saharan 
     Africa;
       ``(2) lead--
       ``(A) the execution of the Power Africa Initiative in 
     accordance with the purpose and policies set forth in 
     sections 2 and 3; and
       ``(B) the development and execution of the strategy 
     established under section 4;
       ``(3) coordinate the Interagency Working Group established 
     under section 4(c);
       ``(4) manage the funding appropriated for the Power Africa 
     Initiative by Congress; and
       ``(5) execute the directives described in sections 5 and 
     6.''.

     SEC. 506. CARIBBEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The countries of the Caribbean are heavily reliant upon 
     imported oil to provide for approximately 90 percent of their 
     energy production.
       (2) The level of dependence is even higher including--
       (A) Jamaica, which relies on oil for 95.9 percent of its 
     electricity;
       (B) Barbados, which relies on oil for 96 percent of its 
     electricity;
       (C) The Virgin Islands, which relies on oil for nearly 100 
     percent of its electricity; and
       (D) St. Lucia, which relies on oil for 100 percent of its 
     electricity.
       (3) Overreliance on imported fossil fuels has had a 
     detrimental effect on economic development, growth, and 
     competitiveness in the Caribbean.
       (4) Since 1970, more than 80 percent of Caribbean coral 
     reefs have been lost due to coastal development and 
     pollution. Soot particulates and climate change caused by 
     burning fossil fuels have seriously damaged coral reefs, 
     which are a significant source of tourism dollars, fishing, 
     biodiversity, and natural beauty.
       (5) Air pollution caused by burning oil for electricity--
       (A) has serious health impacts in the form of higher rates 
     of asthma and other lung ailments; and
       (B) can also exacerbate climate change.
       (6) The Caribbean region is particularly vulnerable to sea 
     level rise and stronger storms
       (7) Between 2005 and 2018, the dependence of the countries 
     of the Caribbean on oil was perpetuated by the Venezuelan-led 
     Petrocaribe oil alliance, which--
       (A) offered preferential terms for oil sales; and
       (B) supplies some countries with up to 40 percent of their 
     energy production needs.
       (8) The ongoing domestic economic crisis and political 
     turmoil in Venezuela has forced the Government of Venezuela 
     to retract its commitments to the Petrocaribe oil alliance 
     and step away as a regional power. Only Cuba still receives 
     preferential Petrocaribe pricing on fuel exports from 
     Venezuela, while other Petrocaribe member countries are 
     experiencing a destabilized flow of oil.
       (9) China has spent more than $244,000,000,000 on energy 
     projects worldwide since 2000, 25 percent of which was spent 
     in Latin America and the Caribbean. Although the majority of 
     this spending was for oil, gas, and coal, China has also been 
     the largest investor in clean energy globally for almost a 
     decade.
       (10) The World Bank estimates that the Caribbean will need 
     $12,000,000,000 in power investments through 2035.
       (11) Renewable energy technology costs have decreased 
     dramatically in recent years, offering a more viable economic 
     alternative for energy production. Solar energy prices have 
     fallen by 80 percent since 2008, causing significant market 
     growth, and according to data released by the International 
     Renewable Energy Agency, 1/3 of global power capacity is 
     based in renewable energy.
       (12) In 2016, the International Monetary Fund estimated 
     that transportation accounted for 36 percent of the total 
     primary energy consumed in the Caribbean subregion.
       (13) According to the United Nations Environment Programme, 
     Latin America and the Caribbean could achieve annual savings 
     of $621,000,000,000 and a reduction of 1,100,000,000 tons of 
     CO2 by 2050 if the region's energy and transport sectors 
     reach net zero emissions.
       (14) The Caribbean has an abundance of onshore and offshore 
     resources needed for renewable energy, including sun, wind, 
     geothermal, and some hydropower production capacity.
       (15) The United States Government is deeply engaged in 
     providing technical and policy assistance to countries of the 
     Caribbean on energy issues through--
       (A) the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas;
       (B) Connecting the Americas 2022; and
       (C) bilateral assistance programs.
       (16) On February 19, 2014, at the North American Leaders' 
     Summit, President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Stephen Harper 
     of Canada, and President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico 
     reaffirmed their commitment to bring affordable, reliable, 
     and increasingly renewable power to the Caribbean, while 
     opening wider markets for clean energy and green technology.
       (17) On June 19, 2015, President Barack Obama announced the 
     Caribbean Energy Security Initiative, which would partner 
     with individual countries--
       (A) to transform its energy sector;
       (B) to work to increase access to finance, good governance, 
     and diversification; and
       (C) to maximize the impact of existing donor effects.
       (18) On May 4, 2016, at the United States-Caribbean-Central 
     American Energy Summit, the energy security task force 
     formally launched the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap 
     and Strategy (C-SERMS) as a mechanism to manage regional 
     coordination and action on energy security and agreed to 
     expand the regional market and transmission system.
       (19) The United States has an important opportunity--
       (A) to deepen this engagement;
       (B) to work as a partner with Caribbean countries on a more 
     regional and coordinated basis;
       (C) to help ease the region's dependence on imported oil; 
     and

[[Page S2032]]

       (D) to promote affordable alternative sources of energy.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Caribbean countries.--The term ``Caribbean countries'' 
     means countries in the Caribbean region, but does not 
     including Cuba or Venezuela.
       (2) Caribbean governments.--The term ``Caribbean 
     governments'' means the national governments of the Caribbean 
     countries.
       (c) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to help 
     Caribbean countries--
       (1) achieve greater energy security and improve domestic 
     energy resource mobilization;
       (2) lower their dependence on imported fuels;
       (3) eliminate the use of diesel, heavy fuel oil, other 
     petroleum products, and coal for the generation of 
     electricity;
       (4) increase production of renewable energy; and
       (5) meet the greenhouse gas mitigation goals of their 
     national determined contributions to the Paris Agreement.
       (d) Strategy.--
       (1) Submission.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 
     submit a multi-year strategy to the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
     of the House of Representatives that describes how the 
     Department of State will promote regional cooperation with 
     Caribbean countries--
       (A) to lower dependence on imported fuels, grow domestic 
     clean energy production in the region, strengthen regional 
     energy security, and lower energy sector greenhouse gas 
     emissions;
       (B) to decrease dependence on oil in the transportation 
     sector;
       (C) to increase energy efficiency, energy conservation, and 
     investment in alternatives to imported fuels;
       (D) to improve grid reliability and modernize electricity 
     transmission networks;
       (E) to advance deployment of innovative solutions to expand 
     community and individuals' access to electricity;
       (F) to help reform energy markets to encourage good 
     regulatory governance and to promote a climate of private 
     sector investment; and
       (G) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the energy 
     and transportation sector.
       (2) Elements.--The strategy required under subsection (a) 
     shall include--
       (A) a thorough review and inventory of United States 
     Government activities that are being carried out bilaterally, 
     regionally, and in coordination with multilateral 
     institutions--
       (i) to promote energy and climate security in the Caribbean 
     region; and
       (ii) to reduce the region's reliance on oil for electricity 
     generation;
       (B) opportunities for marshaling regional cooperation--
       (i) to overcome market barriers resulting from the small 
     size of Caribbean energy markets;
       (ii) to address the high transportation and infrastructure 
     costs faced by Caribbean countries;
       (iii) to ensure greater donor coordination between 
     governments, multilateral institutions, multilateral banks, 
     and private investors; and
       (iv) to expand regional financing opportunities to allow 
     for lower cost energy entrepreneurship;
       (C) measures to ensure that each Caribbean government has--
       (i) an independent utility regulator or equivalent;
       (ii) affordable access by third party investors to its 
     electrical grid with minimal regulatory interference;
       (iii) effective energy efficiency and energy conservation;
       (iv) programs to address technical and nontechnical issues;
       (v) a plan to eliminate major market distortions;
       (vi) cost-reflective tariffs; and
       (vii) no tariffs or other taxes on clean energy solutions; 
     and
       (D) recommendations for how United States policy, 
     technical, and economic assistance can be used in the 
     Caribbean region--
       (i) to advance renewable energy development and the 
     incorporation of renewable technologies into existing energy 
     grids and the development and deployment of micro-grids where 
     appropriate and feasible to boost energy security and 
     reliability, particularly to underserved communities;
       (ii) to increase the generation of clean energy 
     sufficiently to replace and allow for the retirement of 
     obsolete fossil fuel energy generation units in Caribbean 
     countries;
       (iii) to create regional financing opportunities to allow 
     for lower cost energy entrepreneurship;
       (iv) to deploy transaction advisors in the region to help 
     attract private investment and break down any market or 
     regulatory barriers; and
       (v) to establish a mechanism for each host government to 
     have access to independent legal advice--

       (I) to speed the development of energy-related contracts; 
     and
       (II) to better protect the interests of Caribbean 
     governments and citizens.

       (3) Consultation.--In devising the strategy under this 
     subsection, the Secretary of State shall work with the 
     Secretary of Energy and shall consult with--
       (A) the Secretary of the Interior;
       (B) the Secretary of Commerce;
       (C) the Secretary of the Treasury;
       (D) the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the 
     United States;
       (E) the Board of Directors of the Development Finance 
     Corporation;
       (F) the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development;
       (G) the Caribbean governments;
       (H) the Inter-American Development Bank;
       (I) the World Bank Group; and
       (J) the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation.

     SEC. 507. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON CONSERVATION OF THE AMAZON 
                   RIVER BASIN.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The Amazon River basin and the Amazon rainforest, often 
     referred to as Amazonia--
       (A) covers more than 2,670,000 square miles in Bolivia, 
     Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, 
     Suriname, and Venezuela; and
       (B) is home to more species of plants and animals than any 
     other terrestrial ecosystem on the planet, housing nearly 30 
     percent of the world's species, which apart from their 
     intrinsic value as living organisms, have potential value in 
     the form of medicine, research, textiles, food, and other 
     products for the region's population.
       (2) Tens of millions of people depend on services afforded 
     by the Amazon forest, including--
       (A) the use of rivers for transportation;
       (B) reliance on logging and collection of non-timber forest 
     products as major industries for employment; and
       (C) the cultivation of nutrients in floodplain areas for 
     agriculture and areas for which the Amazon Basin is a 
     watershed.
       (3) The Amazon River has long been recognized as an 
     important repository of biodiversity and natural resources, 
     not only for local peoples and indigenous communities, but 
     also for the rest of the world due to--
       (A) its fresh water, which provides countless services for 
     humans in the form of water agriculture, transportation, and 
     food and serves as an important habitat for countless 
     species, including over 2,500 species of fish and river 
     dolphins;
       (B) its medicinal plants, which are continually used by 
     local peoples to treat traditional diseases, including 
     malaria (one of the most lethal diseases in the tropics), and 
     which constitute 70 percent of the plant species in the world 
     found to have anti-cancer properties;
       (C) its important role as an oxygen source, producing 20 
     percent of the Earth's oxygen and earning the Amazon forest 
     the nickname ``lungs of our Earth'' for its role in taking in 
     enormous amounts of the carbon dioxide emitted by human 
     activity and the burning of fossil fuels and replacing it 
     with the oxygen we breathe through the process of 
     photosynthesis;
       (D) its food supply, which is associated with rainforests, 
     including coffee, rice, chocolate, tomatoes, potatoes, 
     bananas, black pepper, pineapples, and corn;
       (E) its role in climate control caused by its exchange of 
     enormous quantities of water and energy with the surrounding 
     atmosphere, which is estimated as being responsible for 
     creating 75 percent of its own rainfall, which feeds the 
     nearby rivers through evapotranspiration before flowing 
     directly into the ocean and influencing the currents that 
     impact the climate; and
       (F) ecotourism, which produces annual profits of more than 
     $11,600,000, which benefits the local economy, enhances the 
     quality of living through securing more jobs, and educates 
     global citizens regarding the importance of maintaining the 
     world's natural spaces.
       (4) Public opinion research, conducted by the Brazilian 
     polling firm Datafolha in 2020, found that--
       (A) 87 percent of the respondents felt strongly that 
     conservation of the Amazon is very important;
       (B) 73 percent of the respondents are concerned with the 
     rate of increased deforestation in the Amazon basin;
       (C) 77 percent of the respondents believed strongly that 
     the conduct and policies of the ministries responsible for 
     management and conservation of the Amazon have contributed to 
     deforestation in the Amazon;
       (D) 92.5 percent of the respondents believe Brazil should 
     prioritize the pursuit of economic activities in the Amazon 
     basin that do not contribute to deforestation; and
       (E) only 5.6 percent of the respondents think that forests 
     need to be cut down to promote economic growth in the region.
       (5) The recent 8,850 square kilometer reduction of the 
     Amazon forest, exacerbated by climate change, has resulted in 
     a significant decrease in the ample benefits described in 
     paragraph (3), in addition to the displacement of many 
     indigenous peoples due to the lessened economic opportunity.
       (6) Clear cutting has disrupted the habitat for plants and 
     animals in the region, fracturing the fragile forest ecology 
     by causing species to migrate and sometimes disappear.
       (7) As of September 2020, Brazil's National Institute for 
     Space Research reported that 45,067 fires have burned in the 
     Amazon River basin and more than 63,000 fires have burned in 
     all of Brazil in 2020.
       (8) The removal of trees from the Amazon River basin has 
     decreased water and nutrient uptake, while increasing runoff 
     with greater

[[Page S2033]]

     loads of both nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, 
     deteriorating the quality of fresh water, and putting the 
     environment at greater risk for disasters like flooding and 
     landslides.
       (9) The Government of Brazil has historically recognized 
     the negative repercussions of deforestation via processes 
     like clear cutting, which had facilitated Brazil's 
     establishment and maintenance of numerous successful 
     conservation policies and payments for environmental service 
     programs, such as--
       (A) Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest 
     Degradation projects, such as the Juma project in Amazonas 
     and the Surui project in Acre and subnational-scale program 
     in Acre and Mato Grosso, which seek to reduce global warming 
     by stopping emissions related to deforestation;
       (B) jurisdictional programs involving the collaboration of 
     several groups, including farmers, government officials, 
     businesses, and nongovernmental organizations, to achieve 
     consensus on sustainability milestones;
       (C) the Amazon Fund, which is primarily funded by the 
     Government of Norway to implement payments for forest 
     conservation activities; and
       (D) the Bolsa Floresta program in the Brazilian state of 
     Amazonas, which pays landowners and communities to help 
     protect forest areas.
       (10) United States and multilateral cooperation efforts to 
     protect and restore the Amazon have yielded significant 
     beneficial impacts, such as--
       (A) the reduction of deforestation by more than 80 percent; 
     and
       (B) the World Bank's establishment of more than 25 percent 
     of the areas protected from correspondence.
       (11) The UNESCO World Heritage site verifies the importance 
     of the Amazon River basin being one of the richest areas in 
     the planet in terms of biodiversity, ecological and 
     biological processes. Deforestation and potential new 
     policies could harmfully limit its natural resources if their 
     benefits are not taken into serious consideration.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the President should--
       (A) engage with the Government of Brazil, through bilateral 
     and multilateral efforts, on its Amazon development and 
     deforestation policies, in support of the Brazilian people's 
     and the private sector's interest in conserving the Amazon 
     rainforest;
       (B) promote stewardship and conservation policies that 
     support sustainable economic growth activities in the Amazon 
     River basin;
       (C) consider the Government of Brazil's management and land 
     use conversion of the Amazon River basin policies when 
     assessing, negotiating, or developing new bilateral 
     agreements with Brazil, including trade agreements, or 
     engaging in relevant international forums;
       (D) in the spirit of Brazil's leadership hosting the 1992 
     Rio Summit, which led to the establishment of the UNFCCC, 
     urge the Government of Brazil to enhance the ambition of 
     Brazil's efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions; and
       (E) encourage the Government of Brazil, through bilateral 
     and multilateral efforts, to immediately work proactively to 
     address climate change and to promote low carbon and 
     sustainable economic development;
       (2) the United States Ambassador to Brazil should 
     immediately engage with the Government of Brazil to support 
     improvements to stewardship efforts of the Amazon rainforest 
     and to assist with urgent efforts to combat fires burning 
     across the Amazon River basin by--
       (A) amplifying the Brazilian people's concerns--
       (i) about climate change and seeking opportunities for 
     cooperative climate action through the United States-Brazil 
     bilateral relationship; and
       (ii) with Brazil's management and land use conversion 
     policies affecting the Amazon River basin;
       (B) reinforcing United States' support for the important 
     role civil society is playing to keep the public informed 
     about the importance of Amazon conservation, particularly as 
     it relates to regulating carbon in the Earth's atmosphere; 
     and
       (C) offering support for efforts to combat fires in the 
     Amazon River basin that are exacerbating Brazil's 
     environmental crisis; and
       (3) the Secretary of the Treasury should provide financial 
     and technical assistance to combat wildfires burning across 
     the Brazil, including in the Amazon River basin.
       (c) Policy Statement.--The Secretary of State shall elevate 
     bilateral engagements around cooperation and peer-to-peer 
     accountability on Brazil's climate action commitments by--
       (1) supporting the efforts of the Government of Brazil to 
     increase sustainable development of the Amazon region, 
     including by strengthening environmental enforcement and 
     ending illegal deforestation;
       (2) encouraging the Government of Brazil to enforce its 
     conservation laws, which include--
       (A) restoring the responsibility of managing indigenous 
     reserves and the demarcation of lands back to indigenous 
     peoples;
       (B) deescalating violence against indigenous peoples, 
     prosecuting individuals and entities that threaten or harm 
     indigenous peoples or communities, and maintain the National 
     Indian Foundation;
       (C) addressing activities that increase deforestation rates 
     in the Amazon basin, which include--
       (i) curtailing indigenous people's land rights; and
       (ii) unsustainable cattle ranching, soy bean farming, 
     mining, hydropower dam construction, and highway construction 
     activities;
       (D) threatening to degrade Brazil's carbon emissions 
     reductions commitments that are heavily based upon the 
     conservation of Brazil's rainforests; and
       (E) addressing challenges for civil society to operate, 
     oversee, and advocate for the continued conservation and 
     restoration of the Amazon River basin;
       (3) encouraging, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
     Government of Brazil to develop and deliver ambitious pledges 
     to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement, 
     while holding Brazil accountable for delivering on its 
     commitments;
       (4) supporting the voice of Brazilian civil society and the 
     role civil society plays in advancing civil society's efforts 
     to protect Brazil's natural resources and helping ensure 
     civil society's abilities to operate, oversee, and advocate 
     for the continued conservation and restoration of the Amazon 
     River basin;
       (5) advancing the rights and protections of indigenous 
     peoples whose communities, well-being, and opportunities for 
     economic growth are frequently put at risk by deforestation, 
     extractive industries, commercial scale agriculture, and 
     hydropower dam construction;
       (6) listening to and engaging with the people of Brazil on 
     their country's commitments to advancing conservation efforts 
     in the Amazon River basin that allow for sustainable economic 
     growth, while protecting the Amazon rainforest and Amazon 
     River basin's important and unique resources despite the 
     proposed changes;
       (7) renewing support for programs that support Amazonian 
     nations, civil society, and local leaders, including 
     indigenous communities, in maintaining critically important 
     conservation efforts to protect and restore the Amazon River 
     basin ecosystem; and
       (8) supporting efforts by subnational governments and the 
     private sector to advance sustainable development and reduce 
     deforestation in the Amazon region.

     SEC. 508. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING RENEWABLE ENERGY IN 
                   INDONESIA.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) cooperation on the development and deployment of 
     renewable energy technologies should be a priority in 
     relations between the United States and Indonesia and the top 
     priority in the countries' energy diplomacy;
       (2) it is in the interest of United States to support the 
     growth of Indonesia's renewable energy sector in 
     environmentally and socially responsible ways that--
       (A) reduce reliance on fossil fuels in ways that do not 
     increase pressure on the land sector or increase land-based 
     emissions;
       (B) mitigate greenhouse gas emissions;
       (C) provide economic opportunities; and
       (D) improve the climate security of Indonesia;
       (3) the United States, through the Bureau of Energy 
     Resources of the Department of State, the United States 
     International Development Finance Corporation, the Department 
     of Energy, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the 
     International Trade Administration, and the United States 
     Agency for International Development, should encourage 
     private sector investment in and financing for the 
     development and deployment of renewable power sources in 
     Indonesia;
       (4) the United States should--
       (A) support and encourage Indonesia to pursue ambitious 
     growth from solar and wind sources of energy generation; and
       (B) provide technical assistance to the Government of 
     Indonesia and subnational authorities on regulatory reforms 
     and addressing other barriers to deployment of renewable 
     energy; and
       (5) it is in the interest of United States refrigeration 
     and refrigerant production industries to help serve 
     Indonesia's increased demand for refrigeration and air 
     conditioning, and the adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the 
     Montreal Protocol, is driving innovation and investments in 
     next-generation refrigeration equipment and refrigerants in 
     Indonesia.

                 TITLE VI--WOMEN AND CLIMATE CHANGE ACT

     SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Women and Climate Change 
     Act''.

     SEC. 602. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Women in the United States and around the world are--
       (A) the linchpin of families and communities; and
       (B) often the first to feel the immediate and adverse 
     effects of social, environmental, and economic stresses on 
     their families and communities.
       (2) The United Nations has recognized, as a central 
     organizing principle for its work, that ``no enduring 
     solution to society's most threatening social, economic and 
     political problems can be found without the full 
     participation, and the full empowerment, of the world's 
     women.''.
       (3) The United Nations Development Programme's Human 
     Development Report 2013 predicted that the number of people 
     living in extreme poverty could increase by up to

[[Page S2034]]

     3,000,000,000 by 2050 unless environmental disasters are 
     averted by coordinated global action.
       (4) Climate change is already forcing the most vulnerable 
     communities and populations in developing countries to face 
     unprecedented climate stress, including--
       (A) slow onset effects of climate change, such as sea level 
     rise, increasing temperatures, water scarcity, and drought; 
     and
       (B) severe weather events and floods, which can lead to 
     reduced agricultural productivity, food insecurity, and 
     increased disease.
       (5) Climate change--
       (A) exacerbates issues of resource scarcity and lack of 
     accessibility to primary natural resources, forest resources, 
     and arable land for food production;
       (B) contributes to increased tension and instability, 
     particularly in countries and regions with poor or weak 
     governance systems; and
       (C) increases the workload and stresses on women farmers, 
     who are estimated to produce nearly 50 percent of the food 
     consumed in most developing countries, which exacerbates food 
     insecurity.
       (6) Women will disproportionately face harmful impacts from 
     climate change, particularly in poor and developing countries 
     in which women regularly assume increased responsibility 
     for--
       (A) growing the family's food;
       (B) collecting water, fuel, and other resources;
       (C) earning money; and
       (D) sending remittances.
       (7) Epidemics, such as malaria and Zika, are expected to 
     worsen and spread due to variations in climate, putting women 
     and girls (especially those who are pregnant, who are 
     lactating, or who hope to become pregnant) and children 
     without access to prevention and medical services at risk.
       (8) The direct and indirect effects of climate change have 
     a disproportionate impact on marginalized women, including 
     refugees, displaced persons, migrants, religious, racial, or 
     ethnic minorities, adolescent girls, lesbian and trans women, 
     women living in poverty, and women and girls with 
     disabilities and those infected with HIV.
       (9) Conflict has a disproportionate impact on the most 
     vulnerable communities and populations, including women, and 
     can be exacerbated in regions of the world with changing or 
     harsher climates, leading to migration, forced displacement, 
     and conflicts over scarce natural resources, including land 
     and water.
       (10) Internally displaced, refugee, and stateless women and 
     girls face extreme violence and threats, including--
       (A) being forced to exchange sex for food and humanitarian 
     supplies;
       (B) being at increased risk of gender-based violence, 
     sexual exploitation, and abuse;
       (C) reduced access to services and care; and
       (D) increased risk for contracting HIV or sexually-
     transmitted infections, having an unplanned pregnancy, and 
     experiencing poor reproductive health
       (11) Climate change is predicted to lead to increasing 
     frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions, 
     precipitating the occurrence of natural disasters around the 
     globe.
       (12) The relocation and death of women as a result of 
     climate change-related disasters often has devastating 
     impacts on social support networks, family ties, and the 
     coping capacity of families and communities.
       (13) The ability of women to adapt to climate change is 
     constrained by underlying gender inequality, including a lack 
     of--
       (A) economic freedoms;
       (B) property, land tenure, and inheritance rights;
       (C) access to financial resources, education, family 
     planning, and reproductive healthcare services; and
       (D) quality tools, equipment, and technology that support 
     economic opportunity and independence.
       (14) Despite having unique capabilities and knowledge to 
     promote, plan, and execute activities to enhance communities' 
     climate change adaption and resilience capacities, women 
     often have insufficient resources, are not empowered to take 
     such actions, and are often excluded from leadership and 
     decision-making processes.
       (15) Women have a multiplier effect because women use their 
     income and resources, when given the necessary tools, to 
     increase the well-being of their children and families, 
     playing a critical role in reducing food insecurity, poverty, 
     and socioeconomic effects of climate change.
       (16) Women are often underrepresented in the development 
     and formulation of policy regarding mitigation and adaptation 
     to climate change, even though women are often in the best 
     position to provide and consult on adaptive strategies.

     SEC. 603. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Ambassador-at-large.--The term ``Ambassador-at-Large'' 
     means the Ambassador-at-Large for the Office of Global 
     Women's Issues of the Department of State.
       (2) Climate-displaced person.--The term ``climate-displaced 
     person'' means any person who, for reasons of sudden or 
     progressive change in the environment that adversely affects 
     his or her life or living conditions--
       (A) is obliged to leave his or her habitual home, either 
     within his or her country of nationality or in another 
     country;
       (B) is in need of a durable resettlement solution; and
       (C) whose government cannot or will not provide such 
     durable resettlement solution.
       (3) Disparate impact.--The term ``disparate impact'' refers 
     to the historical and ongoing impacts of the pattern and 
     practice of discrimination in employment, education, housing, 
     banking, health, and nearly every other aspect of life in the 
     economy, society, or culture that have an adverse impact on 
     minorities, women, or other protected groups, regardless of 
     whether such practices were motivated by discriminatory 
     intent.
       (4) Environmental disasters.--The term ``environmental 
     disasters'' means specific events caused by human activity 
     that result in seriously negative effects on the environment.
       (5) Special coordinator.--The term ``Special Coordinator'' 
     means the senior coordinator appointed pursuant to section 
     607(c).
       (6) Working group.--The term ``Working Group'' means the 
     Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and Climate Change 
     established under section 605.

     SEC. 604. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       (a) In General.--It is the policy of the United States, in 
     partnership with affected countries, donor country 
     governments, international financial institutions, 
     international nongovernmental organizations, multilateral 
     organizations, and civil society groups, especially those led 
     by women--
       (1) to combat the leading causes of climate change;
       (2) to mitigate the effects of climate change on women and 
     girls; and
       (3) to elevate the participation of women in policy, 
     program, and community decision-making processes with respect 
     to climate change.
       (b) Implementation.--The policy described in subsection (a) 
     shall be carried out by--
       (1) establishing the Federal Interagency Working Group on 
     Women and Climate Change to prevent and respond to the 
     effects of climate change on women globally; and
       (2) implementing a coordinated, integrated, evidence-based, 
     and comprehensive strategy on women and climate change 
     through United States policies.

     SEC. 605. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON WOMEN AND 
                   CLIMATE CHANGE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department 
     of State the Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and 
     Climate Change.
       (b) Chairperson.--The Ambassador-at-Large, or the Special 
     Coordinator, shall serve as the chairperson of the Working 
     Group.
       (c) Membership.--
       (1) In general.--The Working Group shall be composed of a 
     senior-level representative from each of the Federal agencies 
     and bureaus and offices of the Department of State described 
     in paragraph (2), as selected by the head of the respective 
     agency or subagency.
       (2) Federal agencies.--The Federal agencies and bureaus and 
     offices of the Department of State described in this 
     paragraph are--
       (A) the Department of State, including--
       (i) the Office of Global Women's Issues;
       (ii) the Office of Civil Rights;
       (iii) the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental 
     and Scientific Affairs;
       (iv) the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration;
       (v) the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor; and
       (vi) the Bureau of International Organization Affairs;
       (B) the United States Agency for International Development;
       (C) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
       (D) the Environmental Protection Agency;
       (E) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
       (F) the National Institutes of Health;
       (G) the National Science Foundation;
       (H) the Council on Environmental Quality; and
       (I) the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
       (3) Representatives of additional agencies.--The 
     Ambassador-at-Large, or the Special Coordinator, may request 
     the participation of representatives of other relevant 
     agencies or departments on a limited-time basis.
       (d) Functions.--The Working Group shall--
       (1) coordinate and integrate the development of all 
     policies and activities of the Federal Government relating 
     to--
       (A) combating the effects of climate change on women in the 
     national and international sphere; and
       (B) improving the response and strategy of the Federal 
     Government to fight climate change for the security of the 
     United States and the international community;
       (2) allow each member of the Working Group to act as a 
     representative for the Working Group within the Federal 
     department or agency of such member to facilitate 
     implementation of the Working Group policies within such 
     department or agency;
       (3) ensure that all relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies comply with appropriate guidelines, policies, and 
     directives from the Working Group pertaining to issues and 
     responsibilities related to climate change and women;
       (4) ensure that Federal departments or agencies, State 
     governments, and relevant congressional committees, in 
     consultation with nongovernmental organizations and policy 
     experts in the field and State and local government officials 
     who administer or

[[Page S2035]]

     direct policy for programs relating to climate change and 
     women--
       (A) have access to, receive, and appropriately disseminate 
     best practices in the administration of such programs;
       (B) have adequate resources to maximize the public 
     awareness of such programs;
       (C) increase the reach of such programs;
       (D) collect and share relevant data, including sex and age 
     disaggregated data; and
       (E) issue relevant guidance; and
       (5) identify and disseminate best practices to each 
     relevant Federal department and agency regarding how to 
     improve the collection of data relevant to the disparate 
     impact of climate change on women (especially marginalized 
     women), including--
       (A) unpaid and paid care work;
       (B) access to decent work opportunities;
       (C) community advocacy, activism, and representation;
       (D) access to education for women and girls;
       (E) access to comprehensive health care, including 
     reproductive health and rights;
       (F) participation in professional trades, including 
     agriculture;
       (G) rights and access to resources, such as land, financial 
     services and credit, training, and tools and equipment;
       (H) abilities to achieve durable solutions to displacement, 
     including integration, return, or resettlement;
       (I) food insecurity and desertification;
       (J) community infrastructure, multilevel government 
     adaptability, and climate resilience;
       (K) climate and weather-related crisis response, including 
     safety from gender-based violence; and
       (L) women's involvement and leadership in the development 
     of frameworks and policies for climate resilience.
       (e) Consultation.--The Working Group may consult and obtain 
     recommendations from such independent nongovernmental policy 
     experts, State and local government officials, independent 
     groups and organizations, or other groups or organizations as 
     the Ambassador-at-Large, or the Special Coordinator, 
     determines will assist in carrying out the mission of the 
     Working Group.
       (f) Frequency of Meetings.--The Working Group shall meet 
     not less frequently than quarterly to discuss and develop 
     policies, projects, and programs referred to in subsection 
     (d).

     SEC. 606. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGY AND 
                   POLICIES TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO THE EFFECTS 
                   OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WOMEN GLOBALLY.

       (a) Initial Strategy Required.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Ambassador-
     at-Large, or the Special Coordinator, in consultation with 
     the Working Group, shall develop and submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a United States National 
     and International Strategy to prevent and respond to the 
     effects of climate change on women.
       (b) Contents.--The strategy submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall include--
       (1) recognizing the disparate impacts of climate change on 
     women and the efforts of women globally to address climate 
     change;
       (2) taking effective action--
       (A) to prevent and respond to climate change and mitigate 
     the effects of climate change on women around the world; and
       (B) to promote gender equality, economic growth, public 
     health, racial justice, principled humanitarian access, and 
     human rights;
       (3) implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development 
     Goals listed in subsection (f) through and beyond 2030 to 
     prevent and respond to the effects of climate change on women 
     globally;
       (4) implementing balanced gender participation to avoid 
     reinforcing binary roles, especially among individuals from 
     the communities most impacted, in climate change adaptation 
     and mitigation efforts, including in governance and 
     diplomatic positions within the United States Government;
       (5) working at the local, national, and international 
     levels, including with individuals, families, and 
     communities, to prevent and respond to the effects of climate 
     change on women;
       (6) systematically integrating and coordinating efforts to 
     prevent and respond to the effects of climate change on women 
     internationally into United States foreign policy and foreign 
     assistance programs;
       (7) investing in research on climate change through 
     appropriate Federal departments or agencies and funding of 
     university and independent research groups on the various 
     causes and effects of climate change;
       (8) developing and implementing gender-sensitive frameworks 
     in policies to address climate change that account for the 
     specific impacts of climate change on women;
       (9) developing policies to support women who are 
     particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change to 
     prepare for, build their resilience to, and adapt to such 
     impacts, including a commitment to increase education and 
     training opportunities for women to develop local resilience 
     plans to address the effects of climate change;
       (10) developing and investing in programs, in coordination 
     with the diplomatic missions of other countries, that--
       (A) educate and empower women and girls in the United 
     States and around the world;
       (B) gather information on how climate change is affecting 
     their lives; and
       (C) provide guidance on the needs of their families and 
     communities in the face of climate change;
       (11) consulting with representatives of civil society, 
     including nongovernmental organizations, community and faith-
     based organizations, multilateral organizations, local and 
     international civil society groups, and local climate change 
     organizations and their beneficiaries, that have demonstrated 
     experience in preventing and responding to the effects of 
     climate change on women;
       (12) supporting and building local capacity in developing 
     countries, including in governments at all levels and in 
     nongovernmental organizations (especially women-led 
     organizations), to prevent and respond to the effects of 
     climate change on women;
       (13) developing programs to empower women in communities to 
     meaningfully engage in the planning, design, implementation, 
     and evaluation of strategies to address climate change while 
     taking into account their roles and resources;
       (14) including women in economic development planning, 
     policies, and practices that directly improve conditions that 
     result from climate change;
       (15) integrating gender analysis in all policies and 
     programs in the United States that are globally related to 
     climate change; and
       (16) ensuring that such policies and programs support women 
     globally to prepare for, build resilience for, and adapt to, 
     climate change.
       (c) Updates.--The Ambassador-at-Large, or the Special 
     Coordinator, shall--
       (1) consult with the Working Group to collect information 
     and feedback; and
       (2) update the strategy and programs to prevent and respond 
     to the effects of climate change on women globally, as the 
     Ambassador-at-Large, or the Special Coordinator, considers 
     appropriate.
       (d) Implementation Plan and Budget Required.--Not later 
     than 60 days after the submission of the strategy under 
     subsection (a), the Senior Coordinator shall submit an 
     implementation plan and budget for the strategy to the 
     appropriate congressional committees.
       (e) Assistance and Consultation.--The Senior Coordinator 
     shall assist and provide consultation to the Secretary of 
     State in preventing and responding to the effects of climate 
     change on women globally.
       (f) United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Through 
     and Beyond 2030.--The United Nations Sustainable Development 
     Goals listed in this subsection are--
       (1) ending poverty in all its forms everywhere;
       (2) ending hunger, achieving food security and improved 
     nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture;
       (3) ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all 
     and at all ages;
       (4) ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education 
     and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all;
       (5) achieving gender equality and empowering all women and 
     girls;
       (6) ensuring the availability and sustainable management of 
     water and sanitation for all;
       (7) ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, 
     and modern energy for all;
       (8) promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable 
     economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent 
     work for all;
       (9) building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive 
     and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation;
       (10) reducing inequality within and among countries;
       (11) making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, 
     resilient, and sustainable;
       (12) ensuring sustainable consumption and production 
     patterns;
       (13) taking urgent action to combat climate change and its 
     impacts;
       (14) conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and 
     marine resources for sustainable development;
       (15) protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use 
     of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, 
     combating desertification, and halting and reversing land 
     degradation and biodiversity loss;
       (16) promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for 
     sustainable development, providing access to justice for all, 
     and building effective, accountable and inclusive 
     institutions at all levels; and
       (17) strengthening the means of policy implementation and 
     revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable 
     development.

     SEC. 607. CLIMATE CHANGE WITHIN THE OFFICE OF GLOBAL WOMEN'S 
                   ISSUES.

       (a) Establishment.--The Ambassador-at-Large for the Office 
     of Global Women's Issues of the Department of State shall 
     chair the Federal Interagency Working Group on Women and 
     Climate Change.
       (b) Functions.--The Ambassador-at-Large shall--
       (1) direct the activities, policies, programs, and funding 
     of the Department of State relating to the effects of climate 
     change on women, including with respect to efforts to prevent 
     and respond to those effects;
       (2) coordinate closely with the Climate Security 
     Coordinator appointed pursuant to section 1(g) of the State 
     Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as added by section 
     102, regarding matters related to climate change's effects on 
     women and related security and diplomatic matters and 
     engagements;
       (3) advise the Secretary of State, the relevant heads of 
     other Federal departments and independent agencies, and other 
     entities within the Executive Office of the President, 
     regarding the establishment of--

[[Page S2036]]

       (A) policies, goals, objectives, and priorities for 
     addressing and combating the effects of climate change on 
     women; and
       (B) mechanisms to improve the effectiveness, coordination, 
     impact, and outcomes of programs relating to addressing and 
     combating the effects of climate change on women, in 
     coordination with experts in the field, nongovernmental 
     organizations, and foreign governments; and
       (4) identify and assist in the resolution of any disputes 
     that arise between Federal agencies relating to policies and 
     programs to address and combat the effects of climate change 
     on women or other matters within the responsibility of the 
     Office of Global Women's Issues.
       (c) Special Coordinator.--The Ambassador-at-Large may 
     appoint a senior coordinator as the designee responsible for 
     carrying out the functions described in subsection (b).
       (d) Briefing and Report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, 
     the Ambassador-at-Large shall--
       (1) brief the appropriate congressional committees 
     regarding--
       (A) the effects of climate change on women; and
       (B) the prevention and response strategies, programming, 
     and associated outcomes with respect to climate change; and
       (2) submit an assessment of the human and financial 
     resources necessary to carry out this title to the 
     appropriate congressional committees.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. CARPER (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. 
        Gillibrand, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Markey, Mr. Schumer, 
        and Mr. Coons):
  S. 1202. A bill to establish a program to improve community 
connectivity by identifying and removing or mitigating infrastructural 
barriers that create obstacles to mobility or economic development or 
expose the community to pollution and other health and safety risks, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works.
  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I want to share with my colleagues some 
information regarding the Reconnecting Communities Act, a bill that I 
have introduced today along with my colleagues Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. 
Cardin, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Schumer and Mr. 
Coons. This legislation would address the legacy of highway 
construction built through communities, especially through low-income 
communities and communities of color, which divided neighborhoods and 
erected barriers to mobility and opportunity. This legislation 
implements a central piece of President Biden's American Jobs Plan, 
which calls for new Federal funding to address the need to remove 
infrastructure barriers in communities that have been historically 
disadvantaged and disconnected.
  The construction of our interstate highway system throughout the 20th 
Century had many positive aspects. It facilitated commerce and travel 
from coast to coast and connected our urban, suburban and rural areas. 
However, the construction of highways through established neighborhoods 
and cities also had a detrimental impact on the people who called those 
places home.
  Blocks of homes were torn down and vibrant commercial streets razed 
to make way for new highway construction, often without any input from 
the people who actually lived, worked, and owned businesses there. Many 
of these neighborhoods never fully recovered, and the highways divided 
cities, making it difficult to get from one side to the other. This 
stifled economic development and opportunity for those who were left 
behind.
  In the 1950s and 60s, the construction of I-95 through Wilmington, 
Delaware resulted in the demolition of homes, churches, and businesses, 
and cut off neighbors from each other. The ability to easily walk to 
the store or to church, or to have a sense of community that living in 
a vibrant city brings, was destroyed for many people who lived near 
that path of the interstate. And this is not unique to Wilmington. From 
Baltimore to New Orleans, cities across the country are grappling with 
what to do with aging interstates blighting their neighborhoods.
  The Reconnecting Communities Act is designed to address this legacy 
of our highway system by funding projects that would remove or 
reimagine infrastructure barriers, including elevated highway 
overpasses and highways that were built below grade. The bill would 
authorize $15 billion over the next five years to establish a new 
federal grant program at the Department of Transportation to help 
States and local entities with planning, construction and local 
capacity building. Specifically, it would do the following:
  First, the bill would provide grants to local and Tribal governments, 
Metropolitan Planning Organizations and non-profits, to help foster a 
greater capacity for local communities to participate in the planning 
and decision-making process for transportation and economic development 
projects. This would help to ensure that new projects meet local needs.
  Second, it would provide grants for planning and feasibility studies, 
including studies to look at the effect of a project on traffic and 
congestion, accessibility and equity.
  Third, it would provide grants to carry out construction projects 
that would either remove a highway infrastructure barrier, or re-
envision or retrofit the existing structure to improve mobility across 
it. This includes capping a highway like I-95 in Wilmington. or 
transforming a highway into an at-grade roadway as has been envisioned 
in other States.
  As communities across the Nation are beginning to reimagine their 
downtowns to provide more sustainable and equitable access, this bill 
will support local efforts to reconnect and revitalize areas that were 
harmed by the construction of the Interstate Highway System.
  I would like to thank my colleagues who have joined me by 
cosponsoring the Reconnecting Communities Act. In particular, I am 
appreciative of the leadership of the junior senator from Maryland, Mr. 
Van Hollen, who helped to bring this issue to the attention of the 
Environment and Public Works Committee last Congress.
  I hope that all of my colleagues will join us to advance this 
important legislation, which I will be working to include in our 
comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization bill this year.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Crapo, and Mr. Cornyn):
  S. 1206. A bill to limit the authority of the Secretary of Labor to 
modify the pandemic unemployment assistance program, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1206

       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 ``PUA Eligibility 
     Clarification Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. PANDEMIC UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Amendments.--Section 2102(a)(3) of the CARES Act (15 
     U.S.C. 9021(a)(3)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I)--
       (A) in item (ii), by adding ``or'' at the end; and
       (B) by striking item (kk); and
       (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``through (kk)'' 
     and inserting ``through (jj)''.
       (b) Repeal of Guidance.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall rescind the 
     guidance entitled, Expanded Eligibility Provisions for the 
     Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program, issued on 
     February 25, 2021.
       (2) Repayment not required.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in 
     the case of an individual who received pandemic unemployment 
     assistance amounts pursuant to the guidance described in 
     paragraph (1) before the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     individual shall not be required to repay the amounts.
       (B) Exception.--Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any 
     individual who, as of the date of enactment of this Act, was 
     approved to receive compensation amounts pursuant to the 
     guidance described in paragraph (1)(A) but had not yet 
     received the amounts.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Duckworth):
  S. 1211. A bill to establish the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture 
National Historic Park in Collinsville, Illinois, Monroe, Madison, and 
St. Clair Counties, Illinois, and St. Louis City County, Missouri, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.

[[Page S2037]]

  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1211

       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 ``Cahokia Mounds Mississippian 
     Culture National Historical Park Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Historical park.--The term ``historical park'' means 
     the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical 
     Park established by section 3(a).
       (2) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Cahokia 
     Mounds Mississippian Culture National Historical Park, 
     Boundary'', numbered CMMC-NHP-107, and dated 05-31-2019.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) States.--The term ``States'' means the States of 
     Illinois and Missouri.

     SEC. 3. CAHOKIA MOUNDS MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE NATIONAL 
                   HISTORICAL PARK, ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in order to 
     preserve and interpret for the benefit of present and future 
     generations the historical, cultural, and natural resources 
     associated with the life of the Mississippian Culture and to 
     preserve access for Native American spiritual practices and 
     expressions, there is established, as a unit of the National 
     Park System, the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture 
     National Historical Park in--
       (A) Collinsville, Illinois;
       (B) Monroe, Madison, and St. Clair Counties, Illinois; and
       (C) St. Louis City County, Missouri.
       (2) Determination by secretary.--The historical park shall 
     not be established until the date on which the Secretary 
     determines that a sufficient quantity of land, or interests 
     in land, has been acquired in accordance with subsection (c) 
     to constitute a manageable unit.
       (3) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
     the Secretary acquires sufficient land under subsection (c) 
     to achieve compliance with paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
     publish in the Federal Register a notice of the establishment 
     of the historical park.
       (4) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (b) Boundary.--The boundary of the historical park shall be 
     the boundary as depicted on the map.
       (c) Land Acquisition.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
     may acquire land and interests in land within the boundary of 
     the historical park by--
       (A) donation;
       (B) purchase from a willing seller with donated or 
     appropriated funds; or
       (C) exchange.
       (2) Limitation.--Any land owned by the States or a 
     political subdivision of 1 of the States may be acquired only 
     by donation.
       (d) Administration.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the 
     historical park in accordance with--
       (A) this section; and
       (B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National 
     Park System, including--
       (i) sections 100101(a), 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 
     102101 of title 54, United States Code; and
       (ii) chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54, United States 
     Code.
       (2) Cooperative agreements.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative 
     agreements with the States and political subdivisions of the 
     States, institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
     organizations, Indian Tribes, and individuals--
       (i) to identify, interpret, and restore nationally 
     significant historical or cultural and natural resources 
     relating to the life of the Mississippian Culture within the 
     boundaries of the historical park, subject to the condition 
     that such an agreement shall provide for reasonable public 
     access; and
       (ii) to conduct research relating to the Mississippian 
     Culture.
       (B) Cost-sharing.--
       (i) Federal share.--The Federal share of the total cost of 
     any activity carried out under this paragraph shall be not 
     more than 50 percent.
       (ii) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
     the cost of carrying out an activity under this paragraph may 
     be in the form of--

       (I) in-kind contributions; or
       (II) goods or services fairly valued.

       (e) General Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this section, the 
     Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the 
     historical park in accordance with section 100502 of title 
     54, United States Code.
       (2) Consultation.--In preparing the general management plan 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with--
       (A) the States and political subdivisions of the States;
       (B) institutions of higher education;
       (C) nonprofit organizations;
       (D) Indian Tribes; and
       (E) other affected individuals and entities, including--
       (i) the Illinois Department of Natural Resources;
       (ii) the Osage Tribe; and
       (iii) the HeartLands Conservancy.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Warnock, and Ms. Cortez Masto):
  S. 1212. A bill to address the needs of workers in industries likely 
to be impacted by rapidly evolving technologies; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1212

       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 ``Investing in Tomorrow's 
     Workforce Act of 2021''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In 2014, the United States spent just 0.1 percent of 
     the Nation's Gross Domestic Product on labor market policies, 
     less than half of what the United States spent on labor 
     market policies 30 years ago.
       (2) The number of workers receiving federally supported 
     training has declined in the past 3 decades as advances in 
     technology have simultaneously shifted labor market demand 
     over time.
       (3) Job losses from automation are more likely to impact 
     women, people of color, and workers making less than $40,000 
     annually.
       (4) The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated trends in 
     automation, with 43 percent of businesses in the World 
     Economic Forum's Future of Jobs survey indicating they plan 
     to reduce their workforce as a result of technology 
     integration.
       (5) Strong Federal investment in expanding training 
     services for workers whose jobs may be lost due to automation 
     could prepare the United States workforce to better adapt to 
     changes in the labor market and enter into skilled positions 
     in technologically oriented occupations and industries.
       (6) A focus on preparing the workforce of the United States 
     for jobs that utilize advanced technologies could grow wages, 
     increase economic productivity, and boost the competitiveness 
     of the United States.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Automation.--The term ``automation'' means a device, 
     process, or system that functions without continuous input 
     from an operator, including--
       (A) advanced technologies, such as--
       (i) data collection, classification processing, and 
     analytics; and
       (ii) 3-D printing, digital design and simulation, and 
     digital manufacturing;
       (B) robotics, including collaborative robotics, and worker 
     augmentation technology;
       (C) autonomous vehicle technology; or
       (D) autonomous machinery technology.
       (2) Dislocated worker.--The term ``dislocated worker'' has 
     the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce 
     Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
       (3) In-demand industry sector or occupation.--The term 
     ``in-demand industry sector or occupation'' has the meaning 
     given the term in section 3 of that Act.
       (4) Integrated education and training.--The term 
     ``integrated education and training'' has the meaning given 
     the term in section 203 of that Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).
       (5) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible 
     partnership'' means an industry or sector partnership, as 
     defined in section 3 of that Act, except that--
       (A) for purposes of applying paragraph (26)(A)(iii) of that 
     section, the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); and
       (B) the partnership shall include, in addition to the 
     representatives described in clauses (i) through (iii) of 
     paragraph (26)(A) of that section, representatives of--
       (i) a State workforce development board or a local 
     workforce development board; and
       (ii) an economic development organization.
       (6) GAO study on automation.--The term ``GAO study on 
     automation'' means the study on automation conducted by the 
     Comptroller General of the United States, as directed in 
     House Report 116-450 (incorporated in the explanatory 
     statement regarding the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 
     (Public Law 116-260) in accordance with section 4 of such 
     Act).
       (7) Local and state workforce development boards.--The 
     terms ``local workforce development board'' and ``State 
     workforce development board'' have the meanings given the 
     terms ``local board'' and ``State board'', respectively, in 
     section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
     U.S.C. 3102).
       (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Labor.
       (9) Training services.--The term ``training services'' 
     means training services described in section 134(c)(3)(D) of 
     that Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(c)(3)(D)).

     SEC. 4. GRANTS TO IMPROVE TRAINING FOR WORKERS IMPACTED BY 
                   AUTOMATION.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--

[[Page S2038]]

       (1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under 
     subsection (g) and beginning after the earlier of the date of 
     submission of the GAO study on automation or October 1, 2022, 
     the Secretary of Labor shall award grants, on a competitive 
     basis, to eligible partnerships to support demonstration and 
     pilot projects relating to the training needs of workers who 
     are, or are likely to become, dislocated workers as a result 
     of automation.
       (2) Duration.--A grant awarded under this section shall be 
     for a period not to exceed 4 years.
       (3) Use of report.--The Secretary shall use the GAO study 
     on automation to inform the grant program carried out under 
     this section.
       (b) Applications.--
       (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     this section, an eligible partnership shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Secretary shall 
     reasonably require.
       (2) Contents.--Each application submitted under paragraph 
     (1) shall include a description of the demonstration or pilot 
     project to be completed with the grant funds, which 
     description shall include--
       (A) a description of the members of the eligible 
     partnership who will be involved in the demonstration or 
     pilot program and the services each member will provide;
       (B) a description of the training services that will be 
     available to individuals participating in the demonstration 
     or pilot project, which may include--
       (i) a plan to train dislocated workers from industries 
     likely to be impacted by automation and transition the 
     workers into regionally in-demand industry sectors or 
     occupations; and
       (ii) a plan to partner with local businesses to retrain, 
     upskill, and re-deploy workers within an industry as an 
     alternative to layoffs;
       (C) a plan to provide workers with technology-based skills 
     training, which may include training to provide skills 
     related to coding, systems engineering, or information 
     technology security, in addition to other skills; and
       (D) a description of the goals that the eligible 
     partnership intends to achieve to upskill workers and prepare 
     them for in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
       (c) Priorities.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
     Secretary shall give priority to--
       (1) eligible partnerships that are located in an area with 
     a high concentration of--
       (A) industries with a higher likelihood of being impacted 
     by automation; or
       (B) industries included in in-demand industry sectors, as 
     determined under subparagraphs (A)(i) and (B) of section 
     3(23) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
     U.S.C. 3102(23));
       (2) eligible partnerships--
       (A) with a plan to provide incumbent worker training--
       (i) to assist workers in obtaining the skills necessary to 
     retain employment or avert layoffs; or
       (ii) that allows a worker working for an employer to 
     acquire new skills that allow the worker to obtain a higher-
     skilled or higher-paid position with such employer; and
       (B) that partner with local employers that intend to 
     backfill the pre-training positions of the incumbent workers 
     by hiring new workers to fill those positions;
       (3) eligible partnerships that will provide workers with a 
     transportation stipend, paid sick leave, paid family and 
     medical leave, access to child care services, or other 
     employment benefits; or
       (4) eligible partnerships with a plan to develop a shared 
     training curriculum that can be used across local and 
     regional networks of employers and training providers.
       (d) Use of Funds.--An eligible partnership that receives a 
     grant under this section shall use the grant funds for 1 or 
     more of the following:
       (1) Providing training services under the demonstration or 
     pilot project, which may include training services that 
     prepare workers for in-demand industry sectors or 
     occupations.
       (2) Providing assistance for employers in developing a 
     staff position for an individual who will be responsible for 
     supporting training services provided under the grant.
       (3) Purchasing equipment or technology necessary for 
     training services provided under paragraph (1).
       (4) Providing job search and other transitional assistance 
     to workers in industries with high rates of job loss.
       (5) Providing a training stipend to workers for training 
     services.
       (6) Providing integrated education and training.
       (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after an eligible 
     partnership's completion of a demonstration or pilot project 
     supported under this section, the eligible partnership shall 
     prepare and submit to the Secretary a report regarding--
       (1) the number of workers who received training services 
     through the demonstration or pilot project, disaggregated by 
     type of training service and the age, gender, and race of the 
     workers;
       (2) the number of such workers who successfully 
     transitioned into a new position following completion of the 
     training services;
       (3) the number of individuals who successfully transitioned 
     into an in-demand industry sector or occupation following 
     completion of the training services;
       (4) annual earnings data for individuals who have completed 
     training services through the demonstration or pilot project;
       (5) the percentage of individuals described in paragraph 
     (4) who are in education or training activities, or in 
     employment, during the second quarter after exit from the 
     training services;
       (6) the percentage of individuals described in paragraph 
     (4) who are in education or training activities, or in 
     employment, during the fourth quarter after exit from the 
     training services; and
       (7) any practices used by the partnership that should be 
     considered best practices with respect to training workers in 
     industries that have, or are expected to have, high rates of 
     job loss as a result of automation.
       (f) General Requirements.--An eligible partnership that 
     receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 
     in a manner that is consistent with the labor standards and 
     protections described in section 181 of the Workforce 
     Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3241) and 
     nondiscrimination provisions described in section 188 of such 
     Act (29 U.S.C. 3248).
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may 
     be necessary for the first 5 full fiscal years beginning 
     after the earlier of the date of submission of the GAO study 
     on automation or October 1, 2022.

     SEC. 5. EXPANSION OF WORKER TRAINING SERVICES.

       (a) Adult and Dislocated Worker Employment and Training.--
     Section 134(d)(1)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and 
     Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3174(d)(1)(A)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (xi), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in clause (xii), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(xiii) training programs for individuals who are, or are 
     likely to become, dislocated workers as a result of 
     automation, including activities that prepare the individuals 
     for occupations in the technology sector.''.
       (b) National Dislocated Worker Grants.--Section 170 of the 
     Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3225) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A), by inserting ``advances in 
     automation technology,'' before ``plant closures,''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to any 
     funds reserved under section 132(a)(2)(A) to carry out this 
     section, there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
     this section $40,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 
     through 2026.''.

                          ____________________