[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 25, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3431-S3432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1978. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to 
establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the 
National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub 
program, to require a strategy and report on economic security, 
science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to 
establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, and for other 
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        Beginning on page 1071, strike line 3 and all that follows 
     through page 1075, line 3, and insert the following:
       (8) Coordinating with relevant third countries to identify 
     other avenues to assist the partner country, minimize beggar-
     thy-neighbor trade disruptions, and build shared awareness of 
     and resilience to economic coercion.
       (b) Institutional Support.--The pilot program required by 
     subsection (a) should include the following elements:
       (1) Identification and designation of relevant personnel 
     within the United States Government with expertise relevant 
     to the objectives specified in subsection (a), including 
     personnel in--
       (A) the Department of State, for overseeing the economic 
     defense response team's activities, engaging with the partner 
     country government and other stakeholders, and other purposes 
     relevant to advancing the success of the mission of the 
     economic defense response team;
       (B) the United States Agency for International Development, 
     for the purposes of providing technical, humanitarian, and 
     other assistance, generally;
       (C) the Department of the Treasury, for the purposes of 
     providing advisory support and assistance on all financial 
     matters and fiscal implications of the crisis at hand;
       (D) the Department of Commerce, for the purposes of 
     providing economic analysis and assistance in market 
     development relevant to the partner country's response to the 
     crisis at hand, technology security as appropriate, and other 
     matters that may be relevant;
       (E) the Department of Energy, for the purposes of providing 
     advisory services and technical assistance with respect to 
     energy needs as affected by the crisis at hand;
       (F) the Department of Homeland Security, for the purposes 
     of providing assistance with respect to digital and 
     cybersecurity matters, and assisting in the development of 
     any contingency plans referred to in paragraphs (3) and (6) 
     of subsection (a) as appropriate;
       (G) the Department of Agriculture, for providing advisory 
     and other assistance with respect to responding to coercive 
     measures such as arbitrary market closures that affect the 
     partner country's agricultural sector;
       (H) the Office of the United States Trade Representative 
     with respect to providing support and guidance on trade and 
     investment matters; and
       (I) other Federal departments and agencies as determined by 
     the President.
       (2) Negotiation of memoranda of understanding, where 
     appropriate, with other United States Government components 
     for the provision of any relevant participating or detailed 
     non-Department of State personnel identified under paragraph 
     (1).
       (3) Negotiation of contracts, as appropriate, with private 
     sector representatives or other individuals with relevant 
     expertise to advance the objectives specified in subsection 
     (a).
       (4) Development within the United States Government of--
       (A) appropriate training curricula for relevant experts 
     identified under paragraph (1) and for United States 
     diplomatic personnel in a country actually or potentially 
     threatened by coercive economic measures;
       (B) operational procedures and appropriate protocols for 
     the rapid assembly of such experts into one or more teams for 
     deployment to a country actually or potentially threatened by 
     coercive economic measures; and
       (C) procedures for ensuring appropriate support for such 
     teams when serving in a country actually or potentially 
     threatened by coercive economic measures, including, as

[[Page S3432]]

     applicable, logistical assistance, office space, information 
     support, and communications.
       (5) Negotiation with relevant potential host countries of 
     procedures and methods for ensuring the rapid and effective 
     deployment of such teams, and the establishment of 
     appropriate liaison relationships with local public and 
     private sector officials and entities.
       (c) Reports Required.--
       (1) Report on establishment.--Upon establishment of the 
     pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary of 
     State shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress 
     with a detailed report and briefing describing the pilot 
     program, the major elements of the program, the personnel and 
     institutions involved, and the degree to which the program 
     incorporates the elements described in subsection (a).
       (2) Follow-up report and strategy.--Not later than one year 
     after the report required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of 
     State shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress 
     with--
       (A) a detailed report and briefing describing the 
     operations over the previous year of the pilot program 
     established pursuant to subsection (a), as well as the 
     Secretary's assessment of its performance and suitability for 
     becoming a permanent program; and
       (B) a strategy for building shared resilience to economic 
     coercion among partners that includes steps that could be 
     taken in addition to or instead of such pilot program.
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