[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5348-S5354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 5885. Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Cardin, Ms.
Collins, Mr. Lujan, and Mr. Moran) submitted an amendment intended to
be proposed to amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and
Mr. Inhofe) and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
=========================== NOTE ===========================
On page S5348, September 28, 2022, in the first column, the
following appears: SA 5885. Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. REED,
Mr. KAINE, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. LUJAN, and Mr. MORAN) . .
.
The online Record has been corrected to read: SA 5885. Mr.
MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. KAINE, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr.
LUJAN, and Mr. MORAN) . . .
========================= END NOTE =========================
At the end of title XII, add the following:
Subtitle G--United States-Colombia Bicentennial Alliance Act
SEC. 1281. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This subtitle may be cited as the
``United States-Colombia Bicentennial Alliance Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this
subtitle is as follows:
Subtitle G--United States-Colombia Bicentennial Alliance Act
Sec. 1281. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 1282. Findings.
Sec. 1283. Designation of Colombia as a major non-NATO ally.
Subtitle A--Supporting Inclusive Economic Growth
Sec. 1285. Colombian-American Enterprise Fund.
Sec. 1286. Strategy for promoting and strengthening nearshoring in the
Western Hemisphere.
Sec. 1287. United States-Colombia Labor Compact.
Sec. 1288. Supporting efforts to combat corruption.
Sec. 1289. Increasing English language proficiency.
Sec. 1289A. Partnership for STEM education.
Sec. 1289B. Supporting women and girls in science and technology.
Subtitle B--Advancing Peace and Democratic Governance in Colombia
Sec. 1291. Supporting peace and justice.
Sec. 1292. Advancing integrated rural development.
Sec. 1293. Empowering Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities in
Colombia.
Sec. 1294. Protecting human rights defenders.
Subtitle C--Strengthening Security Cooperation
Sec. 1295. Establishment of United States-Colombia security
consultative committee.
Sec. 1296. Cooperation on cyber defense and combating cyber crimes.
Sec. 1297. Classified report on the activities of certain terrorist and
criminal groups.
Sec. 1298. Counternarcotics and rural security strategy.
Sec. 1299. Classified report on the malicious activities of state
actors in the Andean region.
Sec. 1299A. Protecting and countering illicit activities in tropical
forests.
Sec. 1299B. Public-private partnership to build responsible gold value
chains.
Subtitle D--Addressing Humanitarian Needs
Sec. 1299E. Colombia Relief and Development Coherence Strategy.
Sec. 1299F. Assessment of healthcare infrastructure needs in rural
areas.
SEC. 1282. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On June 19, 2022, the United States and Colombia will
celebrate 200 years of formal diplomatic relations,
commemorating the United States Congress' recognition of the
independence of Colombia.
(2) On May 15, 2022, the United States and Colombia will
celebrate 10 years since the entry into force of the United
States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, which has
contributed to economic growth in both the United States and
Colombia.
(3) On July 13, 2000, the United States and Colombia
launched Plan Colombia, an ambitious bilateral strategy that
strengthened Colombia's institutions and capacity to combat
drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence, and promote
rule of law.
(4) On February 4, 2016, the United States and Colombia
launched a new chapter in bilateral security cooperation
between the two countries through the announcement of Peace
Colombia, the successor strategy to Plan Colombia aimed at
supporting Colombia's consolidation of peace, democratic
governance, and security.
(5) To implement Plan Colombia and its successor
strategies, the United States Congress has appropriated more
than $12,000,000,000 since 2000. The Government of Colombia
has contributed more than 90 percent of the total costs of
the implementation of Plan Colombia.
(6) Increased military and security cooperation through
Plan Colombia and Peace Colombia has helped Colombia expand
and professionalize its police and armed forces.
(7) The United States and Colombia have entered into formal
partnerships with governments throughout Latin America and
the Caribbean to bolster hemispheric security cooperation
through the United States-Colombia Action Plan on Regional
Security Cooperation (USCAP).
(8) In May 2017, Colombia became the first Latin American
partner of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
(9) Colombia is the second most biodiverse country on Earth
and is home to 10 percent of the world's flora and fauna.
(10) Colombia hosts more than 1,800,000 refugees from
Venezuela. In addition, Colombia has a population of
8,100,000 registered victims of internal displacement since
1985.
(11) Colombia is the United States' third largest trade
partner in Latin America, with United States goods and
services trade with Colombia totaling an estimated
$40,700,000,000 in 2019.
(12) The Government of Colombia is a strong advocate for
democratic governance in Latin America and the Caribbean,
publicly condemning ongoing violations of civil liberties and
human rights in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
(13) The Government of Colombia has been an active
participant in global peacekeeping and peacebuilding
missions, including the United Nations Stabilization Mission
in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the United Nations Integrated
Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNOSIL), and the
Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai, since 1979.
(14) In February 2021, Colombian President Ivan Duque
announced he would grant temporary protected status to nearly
1,800,000 Venezuelan refugees in the country.
SEC. 1283. DESIGNATION OF COLOMBIA AS A MAJOR NON-NATO ALLY.
Section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2321k) is amended by adding at the end the following
new subsection:
``(c) Additional Designations.--
``(1) In general.--Effective on the date of the enactment
of the United States-Colombia Bicentennial Alliance Act,
Colombia is designated as a major non-NATO ally for purposes
of this Act, the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et
seq.), and section 2350a of title 10, United States Code.
``(2) Notice of termination of designation.--The President
shall notify Congress in accordance with subsection (a)(2)
before terminating the designation of a country specified in
paragraph (1).''.
Subtitle A--Supporting Inclusive Economic Growth
SEC. 1285. COLOMBIAN-AMERICAN ENTERPRISE FUND.
(a) Designation.--The President shall designate a private,
nonprofit organization (to be known as the ``Colombian-
American Enterprise Fund'') to receive funds and support made
available under this section after determining that such
organization has been designated for the purposes specified
in subsection (b). The President shall make such designation
only after consultation with the leadership of the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes are this section are the
purposes described in section 1421(g)(3) of the BUILD Act of
2018 (22 U.S.C. 9621(g)(3)).
(c) Board of Directors.--
(1) Appointment.--The Colombian-American Enterprise Fund
shall be governed by a Board of Directors pursuant to
paragraphs (5) and (6) of section 1421(g) of the BUILD Act of
2018 (22 U.S.C. 9621(g)).
(2) United states government liaison to the board.--The
President shall appoint the United States Ambassador to
Colombia, or the Ambassador's designee, as a liaison to the
Board. The liaison appointed under this paragraph shall not
have any voting authority.
(3) Nongovernment liaisons to the board.--
(A) In general.--Upon the recommendation of the Board of
Directors, the President may appoint up to 2 additional
liaisons to the Board of Directors in addition to the liaison
specified in paragraph (2), of which not more than 1 may be a
noncitizen of the United States. A liaison appointed under
this subparagraph shall not have any voting authority.
(B) NGO community.--One of the additional liaisons to the
Board should be from the nongovernmental organization
community, with significant prior experience in development
financing and an understanding of development policy
priorities for Colombia.
(C) Technical expertise.--One of the additional liaisons to
the Board should have extensive demonstrated industry,
sector, or technical experience and expertise in a priority
investment sector described in subsection (e) for the
Colombia-American Enterprise Fund.
(d) Grants.--The President is authorized to use
$200,000,000 in funds appropriated by any Act, in this fiscal
year or prior fiscal years, making appropriations for the
Department of State, foreign operations, and related
programs, including funds previously
[[Page S5349]]
obligated, that are otherwise available for such purposes,
notwithstanding any other provision of law--
(1) to carry out the purposes set forth in subsection (b)
through the Colombian-American Enterprise Fund in accordance
with section 1421(g)(4)(A) of the BUILD Act of 2018 (22
U.S.C. 9621(g)(4)(A)); and
(2) to pay for the administrative expenses of the
Colombian-American Enterprise Fund, in accordance with the
limitation under section 1421(g)(4)(B) of the BUILD Act of
2018 (22 U.S.C. 9621(g)(4)(B)).
(e) Prioritization.--In carrying out the purposes of the
Colombian-American Enterprise Fund described in subsection
(b), the Board of Directors shall not be prohibited from
making investments, grants, and expenditures in any economic
sector, but shall prioritize such activities in the following
sectors:
(1) Not less than 35 percent of the investments, grants,
and expenditures of the Colombian-American Enterprise Fund
shall go to projects and activities of small- and medium-
sized businesses in Colombia working to close the digital
divide, enabling digital transformation, and developing and
applying advanced digital technologies, including big data,
artificial intelligence, and the Internet of things.
(2) Not less than 50 percent of the investments, grants,
and expenditures, of the Colombian-American Enterprise Fund
shall go to small- and medium-sized businesses owned by
women.
(3) Small- and medium-sized businesses dedicated to
advancing the growth, sustainability, modernization, and
formalization of Colombia's agriculture sector.
(f) Notification.--Not later than 15 days before
designating an organization to operate as the Colombia-
American Enterprise Fund pursuant to subsection (a), the
President shall notify the Chairmen and Ranking Members of
the appropriate congressional committees of--
(1) the identity of the organization to be designated to
operate as the Colombian-American Enterprise Fund;
(2) the names and qualifications of the individuals who
will comprise the initial Board of Directors; and
(3) the amount of the grant intended to fund the Colombian-
American Enterprise Fund.
(g) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the
designation of the Fund, and annually thereafter, the
President shall brief the appropriate congressional
committees on--
(1) a summary of the Fund's beneficiaries;
(2) progress by the Fund in achieving the purposes set
forth in subsection (b);
(3) recommendations on how the Fund can better achieve the
purposes set forth in subsection (b); and
(4) the reporting requirements described in subsection (h).
(h) Compliance.--The Colombian-American Enterprise Fund
shall be subject to the reporting and oversight requirements
described in paragraphs (7) and (8) of section 1421(g) of the
BUILD Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 9621(g)), respectively.
(i) Best Practices.--
(1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Board of Directors of the Colombian-American Enterprise Fund
should adopt the best practices and procedures used by other
American Enterprise Funds, including those for which funding
has been made available pursuant to section 201 of the
Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 (22
U.S.C. 5421).
(2) Implementation.--In implementing this section, the
President shall ensure that the articles of incorporation of
the Colombia-American Enterprise Fund (including provisions
specifying the responsibilities of the Board of Directors of
the Fund) and the terms of United States Government grant
agreements with the Fund are, to the maximum extent
practicable, consistent with the articles of incorporation
and the terms of grant agreements established for other
American Enterprise Funds, including those established
pursuant to section 201 of the Support for East European
Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989 (22 U.S.C. 5421) and comparable
provisions of law.
(j) Return of Funds to Treasury.--Any funds resulting from
the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Colombian-
American Enterprise Fund, in whole or in part, shall be
returned to the Treasury of the United States.
(k) Termination.--The Colombian-American Enterprise Fund
shall terminate on--
(1) the date that is 10 years after the date of the first
expenditure of amounts from the fund; or
(2) the date on which the fund is liquidated.
SEC. 1286. STRATEGY FOR PROMOTING AND STRENGTHENING
NEARSHORING IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
(a) Strategy.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with
the United States Agency for International Development and
the United States International Development Finance
Corporation, and the heads of all other relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall develop and implement a
strategy to increase supply chain resiliency and security by
promoting and strengthening nearshoring efforts to foster
economic growth in the Americas and relocate supply chains
from the People's Republic of China to the Western
Hemisphere.
(b) Elements.--The strategy required under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) be informed by consultations with--
(A) the governments of allies and partners in the Western
Hemisphere; and
(B) labor organizations, trade unions, and companies and
other private sector enterprises in the United States;
(2) provide a description of how reshoring and nearshoring
initiatives can be pursued in a complementary fashion to
strengthen United States national interests, including an
assessment of how nearshoring initiatives can expand
opportunities for coproduction and other cooperative business
ventures between United States and regional entities;
(3) include an assessment of the status and effectiveness
of current efforts by regional governments, multilateral
development banks, and the private sector to promote
nearshoring to the Western Hemisphere, major challenges
hindering such efforts, and how the United States can
strengthen the effectiveness of such efforts;
(4) identify countries and sectors within Latin America and
the Caribbean with comparative advantages for sourcing and
manufacturing critical goods and countries with the greatest
nearshoring opportunities;
(5) identify how activities by the United States Agency for
International Development and the United States International
Development Finance Corporation can effectively be leveraged
to strengthen and promote nearshoring to Latin America and
the Caribbean;
(6) require that the Department of the Treasury and the
United States Trade and Development Agency work with United
States firms to identify barriers that inhibit them from
committing capital or financing projects and provide a
description for how the United States Government can work
with Latin American and Caribbean countries to address these
barriers;
(7) advance diplomatic initiatives to secure specific
national commitments by governments in Latin America and the
Caribbean to undertake efforts to create favorable conditions
for nearshoring in the region, including commitments to
develop formalized national nearshoring strategies, address
corruption and rule of law concerns, modernize digital and
physical infrastructure, lower trade barriers, raise labor
and environmental standards, improve ease of doing business,
and finance and incentivize nearshoring initiatives;
(8) advance diplomatic initiatives to harmonize standards
and regulations, especially among existing United States free
trade partners, expedite customs operations, facilitate
economic integration in the region, strengthen legal regimes
and monitoring and enforcement measures relating to labor
standards, and ensure that nearshoring initiatives are
consistent with efforts to improve supply chain energy
efficiency, reduce the energy used to transport global goods,
and advance environmental sustainability; and
(9) develop and implement programs to finance, incentivize,
or otherwise promote nearshoring to the Western Hemisphere in
accordance with the findings made pursuant to paragraphs (3),
(4), and (5), including, at minimum, programs to develop
physical and digital infrastructure, promote transparency in
procurement processes, provide technical assistance in
implementing national nearshoring strategies, support
capacity building to strengthen labor and environmental
standards, mobilize private investment, and secure
commitments by private entities to relocate supply chains
from the People's Republic of China to the Western
Hemisphere.
(c) Coordination With Multilateral Development Banks.--In
implementing the strategy required under subsection (a), the
Secretary of State and the heads of all other relevant
Federal departments and agencies shall coordinate with the
United States Executive Directors of the Inter-American
Development Bank and the World Bank.
(d) Prioritization.--As part of the effort described in
this section, the Secretary of State shall prioritize
Colombia.
(e) Annual Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for a
period of 5 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
a report on the strategy required under subsection (a) and
progress made in its implementation.
SEC. 1287. UNITED STATES-COLOMBIA LABOR COMPACT.
(a) Compact Authority.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Secretary of Labor and the United
States Trade Representative, is authorized to enter into a
bilateral agreement of not less than 7 years in duration with
the Government of Colombia to continue strengthening labor
rights, labor policies, and labor competitiveness in the
country. The agreement shall be known as the ``United States-
Colombia Labor Compact'' (referred to in this section as the
``Compact'').
(b) Compact Elements.--The Compact shall establish a multi-
year strategy to--
(1) address the findings in the 2021 Executive Report of
the Mision de Empleo de Colombia;
(2) further advance the objectives set forth under the
related goals of the 2016 peace accord and the Colombian
Action Plan Related to Labor Rights of April 7, 2011
(referred to in this section as the ``Labor Action Plan'');
(3) promote labor formalization in Colombia;
(4) protect internationally recognized labor rights,
including with respect to freedom of
[[Page S5350]]
association, elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory
labor, prohibitions on child labor, and acceptable work
conditions;
(5) address and prevent violence against labor
organizations and trade unions and prosecute the perpetrators
of such violence; and
(6) promote competitive labor for Colombia at the level of
other international markets, allowing increased job
opportunities.
(c) Strategy Requirements.--The strategy required under
subsection (c) shall--
(1) be informed by consultations with labor organizations,
trade unions, and companies and other private sector
enterprises in the United States and Colombia;
(2) be informed by assessments, including assessments by
the Department of Labor's International Labor Affairs Bureau,
of the areas in Colombia experiencing the highest incidence
of labor rights violations and violence against labor
organizations and trade unions;
(3) identify clear and measurable goals, objectives, and
benchmarks under the Compact to detect, deter, and respond to
labor rights violations and violence against labor leaders;
(4) set out clear roles, responsibilities, and objectives
under the Compact, which shall include a description of
policies and financial commitments of the United States
Government and the Government of Colombia;
(5) provide for the conduct of an impact evaluation not
later than 1 year after the conclusion of the negotiations of
the Compact and biannually thereafter;
(6) provide for a full accounting of all United States
funds expended under the Compact, which shall include full
audit authority for the Office of the Inspector General of
the Department of State, the Office of the Inspector General
of the United States Agency for International Development,
and the Government Accountability Office, as appropriate; and
(7) enhance the bilateral coordination through the relevant
agencies and the United States labor attache in Bogota, to
facilitate progress in the implementation of the strategy.
(d) Establishment of Task Force.--The President shall
establish an interagency task force to advance, monitor,
enforce, and evaluate the negotiation and signing of the
Compact (referred to in this section as the ``Labor Task
Force''), which shall consist of--
(1) the Secretary of State, who shall serve as the Chair;
(2) the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development;
(3) the Secretary of Labor;
(4) the United States Trade Representative; and
(5) any other Federal officials as may be designated by the
President.
(e) Activities of the Labor Task Force.--The Labor Task
Force shall--
(1) engage with the Government of Colombia to design and
implement the Compact;
(2) engage in consultation and advocacy with
nongovernmental organizations, including labor organizations
and trade unions in the United States and Colombia, to
advance the purposes of this section;
(3) assess efforts by the United States Government and the
Government of Colombia to implement the Compact; and
(4) establish regular meetings of the Labor Task Force to
ensure closer coordination across departments and agencies in
the development of policies regarding the Compact.
(f) Specific Focus.--The activities described in subsection
(f) shall include an in-depth analysis of the impact of the
United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement on
vulnerable populations, including women and Afro-Colombian,
Indigenous, and migrant communities, and recommendations on
ways to ensure that those communities are better assisted and
protected.
(g) Congressional Notification.--Not later than 15 days
after entering into a Compact with the Government of
Colombia, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development and the Secretary of Labor, shall submit to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee
on Finance of the Senate, the Committee on Ways and Means of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives--
(1) a copy of the proposed Compact; and
(2) a copy of any annexes, appendices, or implementation
plans related to the Compact.
(h) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after entering into a
Compact, and annually during the period in which the Compact
is in effect, the Secretary of State, in coordination with
the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, 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 describes the progress made under the Compact and
includes recommendations for strengthening United States
implementation of the Compact.
SEC. 1288. SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO COMBAT CORRUPTION.
(a) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of State shall
engage with the Government of Colombia for the purpose of
developing and implementing a multi-year strategy, including
through the provision of technical assistance, to combat
corruption and address the misuse of public resources. The
Secretary of State shall consult with the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development and
the Secretary of the Treasury in the development of the
strategy.
(b) Elements.--The strategy required under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) assess the scope of public and private sector
corruption in Colombia, including specific cases of
significant corruption;
(2) provide technical assistance for the purposes of
combating corruption and increasing transparency in Colombia;
(3) develop and implement programming at the national and
local levels to support investigative journalism, protection
of journalists reporting on public and private sector
corruption, civil society anti-corruption initiatives;
(4) consult and advocate with nongovernmental organizations
and the private sector to advance the purposes of this
section; and
(5) establish regular United States interagency meetings to
ensure closer coordination across United States departments
and agencies in the development of policies regarding
transparency and corruption in Colombia.
(c) Briefings.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
on the strategy required under subsection (a). Not later than
1 year after the briefing on the strategy, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall brief the committees
on the implementation of the strategy.
SEC. 1289. INCREASING ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY.
(a) Partnership Authorized.--The Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development are authorized to establish a 5-year public-
private partnership to support--
(1) innovative in-country solutions for improving English
language proficiency among primary and secondary school
teachers in Colombia;
(2) the creation of English language accelerator courses,
including specialized courses in business and technology; and
(3) increased educational exchanges between universities in
the United States and Colombia.
(b) Elements.--In designing and implementing the
partnership authorized under subsection (a), the Secretary of
the State and the Administrator of the United States Agency
for International Development shall--
(1) complement ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Education
of Colombia and other relevant institutions;
(2) target teachers from schools in low-income communities
and underrepresented communities, including Afro-Colombian
and Indigenous communities; and
(3) consult with the Government of Colombia, civil society,
and academia.
(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the partnership authorized
under subsection (a) is to increase English language
proficiency among primary and secondary school teachers,
enhance teachers' use of emerging digital technologies for
English language learning, and ensure continuity of teacher
development, thereby increasing student outcomes and the
ability of Colombian youth to access higher education and
higher quality livelihoods.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the United States Agency for
International Development $12,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2023 through 2027 for the creation of the partnership
authorized under subsection (a).
(e) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.--Not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of State and the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development shall jointly submit to
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
a monitoring and evaluation framework that includes
objectives and indicators related to the partnership
authorized under subsection (a).
(f) Assessments of Partnership Impact.--Not later than 2
years and 5 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development shall
jointly submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives a comprehensive assessment on the impact of
the partnership authorized under subsection (a) that uses the
monitoring and evaluation framework submitted pursuant to
subsection (e).
(g) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives regarding the progress achieved in
advancing the partnership authorized under subsection (a).
SEC. 1289A. PARTNERSHIP FOR STEM EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--The United States Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development shall
support Colombia's Ministry of Education in the development
of K-12 STEM curricula, the development of a STEM teacher
education and degree program at public schools, and the
training of 10,000 new K-12 public school educators,
including in underrepresented and
[[Page S5351]]
Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities.
(b) Coordination.--In designing and implementing the
program required under subsection (a), the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development shall
coordinate with the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation and the Chief Executive Officer of the
Peace Corps.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the United States Agency for
International Development $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2023 through 2027 for the creation of the program
authorized under subsection (a).
(d) Briefings.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives on the results of the program required
under subsection (a).
SEC. 1289B. SUPPORTING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall establish
TechWomen and TechGirls programs designed to empower and
inspire women and girls from Latin America and the Caribbean
to advance careers in science and technology.
(b) Participation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Secretary of State shall--
(1) during the first 5 years of the programs, prioritize
the participation of Colombian women and girls; and
(2) take steps to include underrepresented women and girls
from across Latin America and the Caribbean, including women
from low income and underrepresented communities, including
Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities, in the programs.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 to carry
out this section.
Subtitle B--Advancing Peace and Democratic Governance in Colombia
SEC. 1291. SUPPORTING PEACE AND JUSTICE.
(a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to
support peace, justice, and democratic governance in
Colombia, including the full and timely implementation of the
2016 peace accord.
(b) Evaluation Framework.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
consultation with the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, shall submit to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
an evaluation framework that assesses the impact of United
States diplomatic engagement and foreign assistance
programming in support of the peace process in Colombia.
(2) Consultation.--The Secretary of State, in consultation
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development, shall consult with the Committee
on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives on the
development of the evaluation framework required under
paragraph (1).
SEC. 1292. ADVANCING INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Supporting Agricultural Cooperatives.--The Secretary of
State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United
States Agency for International Development, the Chief
Executive Officer of the United States International
Development Finance Corporation, and the Secretary of
Commerce, and in consultation with the Chief Executive
Officer of the Inter-American Foundation, shall develop and
implement programs to support the ability of rural
cooperatives in conflict-affected areas of Colombia to bring
products into national and international markets by--
(1) supporting research;
(2) developing new skills;
(3) building resilience capacities, including capacity to
adapt to the effects of climate change;
(4) integrating best practices in sustainable agriculture;
(5) promoting standardization and quality control;
(6) supporting commercialization;
(7) enabling access to financing; and
(8) promoting access to markets.
(b) Prioritization.--Programs required under subsection (a)
shall prioritize communities seeking to shift away from
illicit economies, including such economies related to the
trafficking of narcotics, wildlife, minerals and other
natural resources, and other goods.
(c) Consultation.--In developing the programs required
under subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall consult
with representatives of the Government of Colombia, the
private sector, human rights, labor, and humanitarian
organizations, and underrepresented populations including
women, Indigenous populations, and Afro-Colombians.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 and
2024 to carry out the programs required under subsection (a).
(e) Briefings.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the
Secretary of State, the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, and the Chief Executive
Officer of the United States International Development
Finance Corporation shall brief the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the House of Representatives regarding the progress
achieved in advancing the programs required under subsection
(a).
SEC. 1293. EMPOWERING AFRO-COLOMBIAN AND INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES IN COLOMBIA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development and the Chief Executive Officer of
the United States International Development Finance
Corporation, and in consultation with the Chief Executive
Officer of the Inter-American Foundation, shall develop and
implement initiatives to--
(1) support the implementation of the ethnic chapter of
Colombia's 2016 peace accord, which safeguards the rights of
the Indigenous and Black populations of Colombia;
(2) provide technical assistance and capacity-building
support to Afro-Colombian community councils in Colombia;
(3) increase the participation of individuals from Afro-
Colombian and Indigenous communities in existing bilateral
initiatives and in educational and cultural exchange programs
of the Department of State and the United States Agency for
International Development; and
(4) increase access to finance and credit for small- and
medium-sized businesses owned by Afro-Colombian and
Indigenous entrepreneurs, particularly those in communities
historically prone to violence and insecurity.
(b) Prioritization.--During the 5-year period beginning on
the date of the enactment of this Act--
(1) the Administrator of the United States Agency for
International Development shall dedicate not less than 10
percent of the amounts appropriated to the United States
Agency for International Development and allocated for
Colombia to programs that empower and support Afro-Colombian
and Indigenous communities in Colombia; and
(2) not less than 50 percent of the funding dedicated under
paragraph (1) shall be directly provided to Afro-Colombian
and Indigenous-led organizations to implement the programs
described in that paragraph.
SEC. 1294. PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022
through 2026 to provide critical assistance to human rights
defenders and anti-corruption activists in Colombia through
the Department of State Human Rights Defenders Fund.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through the
end of 2024, the Secretary of State, in cooperation with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, shall submit a report to Congress that
includes--
(1) details regarding Department of State and United States
Agency for International Development programs to--
(A) support the work of human rights defenders, anti-
corruption activists, and other civil society actors in
Colombia; and
(B) provide assistance when such individuals are under
threat, including specific processes by which such
individuals can request assistance from United States
embassies;
(2) detailed information contained in the Country Reports
on Human Rights Practices regarding the intimidation of, and
attacks against, such individuals and the response of the
foreign government;
(3) a strategy for any increased engagement and measures of
success toward defending human rights defenders and anti-
corruption activists; and
(4) an accounting of funds used to execute the Human Rights
Defender Fund.
Subtitle C--Strengthening Security Cooperation
SEC. 1295. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES-COLOMBIA SECURITY
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense shall establish a consultative committee
to include the Government of Colombia to develop a strategy
for jointly strengthening Colombia's national security and
defense institutions, and capacity to carry out operations
across the territory of Colombia, including in rural and
urban areas, related to--
(1) counterterrorism and counterinsurgency;
(2) counternarcotics and countering other forms of illicit
trafficking;
(3) cyberdefense and cybercrimes;
(4) border and maritime security and air defense; and
(5) stabilization.
(b) Additional Elements.--The consultative committee shall
evaluate existing technologies, equipment, and weapons
systems, as well as necessary upgrades to such technologies,
equipment, and systems of Colombia's national security and
defense institutions in order to ensure the continued defense
of the national sovereignty and national territory of
Colombia.
(c) Bilateral Security and Defense Cooperation.--Not later
than 180 days after the
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establishment of the consultative committee required under
subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in coordination with
the Secretary of Defense, is authorized to enter into
consultations with the Government of Colombia to strengthen
existing, or establish new, bilateral security and defense
cooperation or lines of effort to address capacity-building
and resource needs identified by the consultative committee.
(d) Briefings.--
(1) Consultative committee.--Not later than 30 days after
the establishment of the United States-Colombia Security
Consultative Committee required under subsection (a), and not
later than 15 days after any meeting of the Consultative
Committee thereafter, the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense shall jointly brief any of the
appropriate congressional committees on progress made under
the committee, pursuant to a request by any one of the
appropriate congressional committees.
(2) Bilateral security and defense cooperation.--Not later
than 30 days after the completion of any consultations with
the Government of Colombia pursuant to subsection (c), the
Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall brief
the appropriate congressional committees on the
implementation of the agreed upon areas of cooperation or
lines of effort.
(e) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 1296. COOPERATION ON CYBER DEFENSE AND COMBATING CYBER
CRIMES.
(a) Diplomatic Engagement.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Attorney General of the United States,
shall engage with the Government of Colombia to support and
facilitate Colombia's adoption of improved standards to
address cyber crimes, especially such crimes that are state-
directed, including--
(1) supporting the development of Colombia's strategies to
deter, investigate, and prosecute cybercrime, to protect
critical infrastructure, and to promote the use of new
technologies, as part of a broader and more coordinated
effort to protect the information technology systems and
networks of citizens, businesses, and governments;
(2) supporting the development of protocols that allow
cyber preparedness and ensure protection and resilience to
critical infrastructure;
(3) supporting the Government of Colombia in the
implementation of relevant international conventions, such as
the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, of which Colombia is a
party;
(4) continuing to develop partnerships among foreign
partners, including in Latin America and the Caribbean,
responsible for preventing, investigating, and prosecuting
such crimes, and the private sector, in order to streamline
and improve the procurement of timely information in the
context of mutual assistance proceedings;
(5) working, in cooperation with like-minded democracies in
international organizations, to advance standards for digital
governance and promote a secure, reliable, free, and open
internet;
(6) supporting the adoption of new technologies to enhance
the technical capabilities of cybersecurity agencies in
Colombia; and
(7) supporting the efforts of the Government of Colombia
and Colombian civil society to build national resilience
against foreign disinformation efforts.
(b) Digital Infrastructure Access and Security Strategy.--
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with
relevant Federal agencies, shall develop and implement a
strategy for leveraging United States expertise to share best
practices and lessons learned and assist the Government of
Colombia. The strategy shall--
(1) improve and secure its digital infrastructure,
including critical infrastructure;
(2) protect technological assets, including data privacy,
digital evidence, and electronically store information;
(3) advance cybersecurity to protect against cybercrime and
cyberespionage;
(4) promote exchanges and technical training programs,
including know-how transfer in cybersecurity and
disinformation and misinformation;
(5) promote the adoption or development of new technologies
to enhance protection against cybercrime and cyberespionage;
(6) promote digital hygiene programs; and
(7) build capacity to identify and expose foreign
disinformation and misinformation.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of State for the
development and implementation of the strategy required under
subsection (b) $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023
through 2025.
(d) Semiannual Briefing Requirement.--Not later than 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every
180 days thereafter until the date that is 5 years after such
date of enactment, the Secretary of State shall brief the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
regarding the implementation of the diplomatic engagement
described in subsection (a) and the implementation of the
strategy described in subsection (b).
SEC. 1297. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF CERTAIN
TERRORIST AND CRIMINAL GROUPS.
(a) Finding.--On November 30, 2021, the United States
designated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-
People's Army (FARC-EP) and Segunda Marquetalia as foreign
terrorist organizations under section 219(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189(a)).
(b) Reports Required.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter
for 5 years, the Secretary of State, acting through the
Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Intelligence
and Research of the Department of State, and in coordination
with the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National
Intelligence, and the Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency, shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a classified report detailing the activities of
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-EP, Segunda
Marquetalia, the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional, Clan del
Golfo, and other Colombian organized criminal groups .
(c) Elements.--Each report required by subsection (b) shall
include--
(1) the name or names of each group covered by the report;
(2) a description of each group and the geographic presence
of the group;
(3) a description of the leadership and structure of each
group;
(4) the operating modalities and capabilities of each
group;
(5) the rate of growth and recruitment strategies of each
group; and
(6) any linkages between such groups and any other
countries, including the regime of Nicolas Maduro in
Venezuela.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this
section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(2) the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate;
(3) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate;
(4) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives;
(5) the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the
House of Representatives; and
(6) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 1298. COUNTERNARCOTICS AND RURAL SECURITY STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall develop and
implement a strategy and related programs to support the
Government of Colombia's efforts to counter narcotics
trafficking and transnational organized crime, including
human trafficking, illicit trafficking in arms, wildlife, and
cultural property, environmental crimes, migrant smuggling,
corruption, money laundering, the illicit smuggling of bulk
cash, the licit use of financial systems for malign purposes,
and other new and emerging forms of crime, by supporting--
(1) the eradication of illicit coca crops and the
destruction of laboratories used to produce illicit
narcotics;
(2) the interdiction of illicit narcotics and other forms
contraband;
(3) efforts to disrupt illicit financial networks,
including through technical assistance to financial
intelligence units, including the enhancement of anti-money
laundering and asset forfeiture programs;
(4) civilian law enforcement agencies, including support
for--
(A) the enhancement of management of complex, multi-actor
criminal cases;
(B) the enhancement of intelligence collection capacity and
training on civilian intelligence collection (including
safeguards for privacy and basic civil liberties),
investigative techniques, forensic analysis, and evidence
preservation; and
(C) port, airport, and border security officials, agencies,
and systems, including--
(i) improvements to computer infrastructure and data
management systems, secure communications technologies,
nonintrusive inspection equipment, and radar and aerial
surveillance equipment; and
(ii) assistance to canine units;
(5) justice sector institutions to enhance efforts to
successfully prosecute drug trafficking organizations,
transnational criminal organizations, and individuals and
entities involved in money laundering and financial crimes
related to narcotics trafficking and other illicit economies;
(6) the inclusion of human rights in law enforcement
training programs; and
(7) advancing rural security initiatives, including the
protection of community leaders and members of organized
civil society who promote the rule of law and democratic
governance.
(b) Prioritization.--During the 5-year period beginning on
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State
shall dedicate--
(1) not less than 10 percent of the amounts appropriated to
the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement
account for Colombia to combating money laundering and
financial crimes; and
(2) not less than 10 percent of the amounts appropriated to
the International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement
account for Colombia to research, innovation initiatives, and
new technologies that can be utilized to
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combat illicit trafficking and all forms of transnational
organized crime, as described in subsection (a).
(c) Briefings.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the
Secretary of State shall brief the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the House of Representatives regarding the progress
achieved in advancing the programs required under subsection
(a).
SEC. 1299. CLASSIFIED REPORT ON THE MALICIOUS ACTIVITIES OF
STATE ACTORS IN THE ANDEAN REGION.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5
years, the Secretary of State, acting through the Assistant
Secretary of State for the Bureau of Intelligence and
Research of the Department of State, and in coordination with
the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the
Central Intelligence Agency, and the Director of the Defense
Intelligence Agency, shall submit a classified report to the
appropriate congressional committees detailing the malicious
activities of state actors in the Andean region, including--
(1) disinformation, misinformation, and all other
information operations;
(2) election interference;
(3) cyberattacks and aggressions;
(4) sales or donations of weapons or military equipment;
(5) security cooperation;
(6) the direct and indirect supply of technologies,
equipment, and weapons to irregular armed actors operating in
the Andean region;
(7) the provision of technologies, equipment, and weapons
systems to the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and the
implications for the security of countries in the Andean
region; and
(8) other threats to United States national interests and
national security.
(b) Establishment of Position.--The Secretary of State
shall establish a ``watcher'' position in the Andean region
as necessary to fulfill the requirements detailed under
subsection (a).
(c) Annual Briefing Requirement.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the official designated for the ``watcher''
position established pursuant to subsection (b) shall brief
the appropriate congressional committees on--
(1) the steps that United States embassies in the Andean
region have taken to advance the issues described in
subsection (a); and
(2) the nature and extent of the extra-regional diplomatic,
economic, security, defense, and intelligence presence and
influence in the Andean region.
SEC. 1299A. PROTECTING AND COUNTERING ILLICIT ACTIVITIES IN
TROPICAL FORESTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, in consultation with the Chief of the Forest
Service of the Department of Agriculture, shall develop and
implement a joint 3-year strategy, in coordination with the
Government of Colombia, which shall be known as the
``Strategy for Protecting Colombia's Tropical Forests''
(referred to in this section as the ``strategy''), to protect
the biodiversity of Colombia and address deforestation.
(b) Elements.--The strategy shall describe how the United
States will--
(1) empower and fund local communities, especially
Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, to manage natural
resources, address deforestation and forest degradation, and
combat illegal activities causing environmental harm in their
communities, including drug-trafficking activities and
illegal logging, mining, fishing, and wildlife trade;
(2) protect social and environmental activists and
whistleblowers;
(3) strengthen community-based prevention mechanisms and
support community-led efforts to address illegal activities
related to natural resources, including those activities
described in paragraph (1);
(4) advance the development of markets to promote
alternatives to activities related to drug trafficking and
illegally obtained wood, fish, wildlife, or minerals, as
appropriate;
(5) promote transparency in product sourcing and
responsible supply chains;
(6) prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute crimes
related to natural resources;
(7) promote partnerships with nongovernmental
organizations, international organizations, and the private
sector;
(8) work within the United States interagency process to
end the import of illegally or unsustainably sourced
wildlife, timber, agricultural commodities, or fish, or
illegally sourced gold or other minerals into the United
States from Colombia; and
(9) consult with civil society to address the drivers of
deforestation and forest degradation, and promote the
conservation of intact forests.
(c) Regional Diplomatic Coordination.--The United States
shall work with the Government of Colombia, and in
cooperation with international organizations, to support the
development of partnerships among Latin American and
Caribbean officials responsible for preventing,
investigating, and prosecuting environmental crimes, and in
cooperation with the private sector, to protect the region's
biodiversity and address deforestation and forest
degradation.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of State and the United
States Agency for International Development for the
development and implementation of the strategy--
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
(2) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and
(3) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.
(e) Briefings.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development shall brief the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives on the strategy. Not later than one year
after the briefing on the strategy, and annually thereafter,
the Secretary of State shall brief the committees on the
implementation of the strategy.
SEC. 1299B. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD RESPONSIBLE
GOLD VALUE CHAINS.
(a) Best Practices.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, in coordination with
the Government of Colombia, shall consult with the Government
of Switzerland regarding best practices developed through
their public-private partnership, the Swiss Better Gold
Initiative, which aims to improve transparency and
traceability in the international gold trade.
(b) In General.--The Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development shall coordinate with
the Government of Colombia to establish a public-private
partnership to advance the best practices described in
subsection (a), including supporting programming in Colombia
that will--
(1) support formalization and compliance with appropriate
environmental and labor standards in artisanal and small-
scale gold mining (ASGM);
(2) increase access to financing for ASGM miners committed
to taking significant steps to formalize their operations and
comply with labor and environmental standards;
(3) enhance the traceability and support the establishment
of a certification process for ASGM gold;
(4) support a public relations campaign to promote
responsibly sourced gold;
(5) facilitate contact between Colombian vendors of
responsibly sourced gold and United States companies; and
(6) promote policies and practices in Colombia that are
conducive to the formalization of ASGM and improvement of
environmental and labor standards in ASGM.
(c) Meeting.--The Secretary of State, the Administrator of
the United States Agency for International Development, or
the President's Special Envoy for Climate Change should,
without delegation and in coordination with the Government of
Colombia, host a meeting with senior representatives of the
private sector and international governmental and
nongovernmental partners and make commitments to improve due
diligence and increase the responsible sourcing of gold.
Subtitle D--Addressing Humanitarian Needs
SEC. 1299E. COLOMBIA RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT COHERENCE
STRATEGY.
(a) Strategy Required.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with the Administrator of the United States
Agency for International Development, shall develop and
implement a strategy, to be known as the ``Colombia Relief
and Development Coherence Strategy'', to support Colombia's
responses to the separate but related challenges of assisting
internally displaced persons, refugees, vulnerable migrants,
and people affected by natural disasters. The strategy
shall--
(1) be publicly available in English and Spanish;
(2) describe concurrent efforts and clarify United States
agency responsibilities in Colombia for assisting--
(A) asylum seekers;
(B) refugees;
(C) internally displaced persons; and
(D) vulnerable migrants;
(3) include a description of the assistance that shall be
provided for the populations described in paragraph (2),
including--
(A) emergency assistance, protection, water, sanitation,
hygiene, food, shelter, emergency education, and psychosocial
assistance; and
(B) integration programs in the education, health,
livelihoods, shelter, and social protection sectors;
(4) include a description of the technical assistance and
capacity-building efforts to be provided for civil society
organizations and relevant institutions in Colombia, such as
the Victims Unit of the Government of Colombia and relevant
government ministries;
(5) describe outreach, coordination, and programming with
the private sector to support the populations described in
paragraph (2); and
(6) describe how the Department of State and the United
States Agency for International Development will mobilize
additional donor contributions towards humanitarian appeals.
(b) Description of Interagency Coordination Efforts.--The
strategy developed under subsection (a) shall include a
description of how the Department of State will lead
interagency coordination efforts in implementing the
strategy, including a description of mechanisms to coordinate
programming, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation,
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communications, participation in international fora, and
funding announcements.
SEC. 1299F. ASSESSMENT OF HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN
RURAL AREAS.
(a) Assessment.--The Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, in coordination with the Department
of State, shall conduct an assessment with the Government of
Colombia to identify initiatives to strengthen public health
infrastructure and increase access to health services in
conflict-affected communities in Colombia. The assessment
shall include specific recommendations on ways to increase
access to healthcare services for survivors of gender-based
violence and Afro-Colombian and Indigenous populations.
(b) Submission.--The Director of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention shall submit the assessment conducted
under subsection (a) to the Committee on Foreign Relations
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
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