[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 158 (Thursday, September 29, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5693-S5694]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6154. Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself and Mr. Rounds) 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:

        At the end of title XII, add the following:

        Subtitle G--Young African Leaders Initiative Act of 2022

     SEC. 1281. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Young African Leaders 
     Initiative Act of 2022'' or the ``YALI Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 1282. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Young African Leaders Initiative, launched in 2010, 
     is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of 
     African leaders;
       (2) Africa is a continent of strategic importance and it is 
     vital for the United States to support strong and enduring 
     partnerships with the next generation of African leaders; and
       (3) the United States Government should prioritize 
     investments to build the capacity of emerging young African 
     leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts to 
     enhance leadership skills, encourage entrepreneurship, 
     strengthen public administration and the role of civil 
     society, and connect young African leaders continentally and 
     globally across the private, civic, and public sectors.

     SEC. 1283. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--There is established in the Department of 
     State the Young African Leaders Initiative Program (referred 
     to in this Act as the ``YALI Program'').
       (b) Purpose.--The YALI Program shall seek to build the 
     capacity of young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa in 
     the areas of business, civic engagement, or public 
     administration, including through efforts--
       (1) to support young African leaders by offering 
     professional development, training, and networking 
     opportunities, particularly in the areas of leadership, 
     innovation, civic engagement, elections, human rights, 
     entrepreneurship, good governance, and public administration; 
     and
       (2) to provide increased economic and technical assistance 
     to young African leaders to promote economic growth and 
     strengthen ties between United States and African businesses.
       (c) Fellowships.--The YALI Program shall award fellowships 
     through the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African 
     Leaders Program to young African leaders who--
       (1) are between 18 and 35 years of age;
       (2) have demonstrated strong capabilities in 
     entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership; 
     and
       (3) have had a positive impact in their communities, 
     organizations, or institutions.
       (d) Regional Leadership Centers.--The YALI Program shall 
     seek to establish regional leadership centers in sub-Saharan 
     Africa to offer training to young African leaders who--
       (1) are between 18 and 35 years of age;
       (2) have demonstrated strong capabilities in 
     entrepreneurship, innovation, public service and leadership; 
     and
       (3) have had a positive impact in their communities, 
     organizations, or institutions.
       (e) Activities.--
       (1) United states-based activities.--The Secretary of 
     State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development and the heads of 
     other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall 
     oversee all United States-based activities carried out under 
     the YALI Program, including the participation of Mandela 
     Washington fellows in--
       (A) a 6-week leadership institute at a United States 
     university or college in business, civic engagement, or 
     public management, including academic sessions, site visits, 
     professional networking opportunities, leadership training, 
     community service, and organized cultural activities; and
       (B) an annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit to 
     provide such fellows the opportunity to meet with United 
     States leaders from the private, public, and nonprofit 
     sectors.
       (2) Africa-based activities.--The Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal departments and agencies, should continue to 
     support existing Young African Leaders Initiative programs in 
     sub-Saharan Africa, including--
       (A) access to continued leadership training and other 
     professional development opportunities for Mandela Washington 
     Fellowship for Young African Leaders alumni upon their return 
     to their home countries, including online courses, technical 
     assistance, and access to funding;
       (B) training for young African leaders at regional 
     leadership centers established in accordance with subsection 
     (d), and through online and in-person courses offered by such 
     centers; and
       (C) opportunities for networking and engagement with--
       (i) other alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for 
     Young African Leaders;
       (ii) alumni of programs at regional leadership centers 
     established in accordance with subsection (d); and
       (iii) United States and like-minded diplomatic missions, 
     business leaders, and others, as appropriate.
       (3) Implementation.--The Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall seek to 
     partner with the private sector to pursue public-private 
     partnerships, leverage private sector expertise, expand 
     networking opportunities, and identify funding opportunities 
     and fellowship and employment opportunities for participants 
     in the YALI Program.
       (f) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit a 
     plan to the appropriate congressional committees for 
     implementing the YALI Program, which plan shall include--
       (1) a description of clearly defined program goals, 
     targets, and planned outcomes for each year and for the 
     duration of implementation of the YALI Program;
       (2) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the YALI Program and 
     progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and 
     planned outcomes; and
       (3) a strategy to ensure that the YALI Program is promoting 
     United States foreign policy goals in Africa, including 
     ensuring that the YALI Program is clearly branded and paired 
     with robust public diplomacy efforts.
       (g) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
     following 5 years, the Secretary of State, in coordination 
     with the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees and publish in a publicly 
     accessible, internet-based form, a report that contains--
       (1) a description of the progress made toward achieving the 
     goals, targets, and planned outcomes described in subsection 
     (f)(1), including an overview of the implementation of the 
     YALI Program during the previous year and an estimated number 
     of YALI Program beneficiaries during such year;
       (2) an assessment of how the YALI Program is contributing 
     to and promoting United States-Africa relations, particularly 
     in areas of increased private sector investment, trade 
     promotion, support to civil society, improved public 
     administration, and fostering entrepreneurship and youth 
     empowerment; and
       (3) recommendations for improvements or changes to the YALI 
     Program and implementation plan, if any, that would improve 
     its effectiveness during subsequent years of implementation 
     of the YALI Program.
       (h) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate 
     congressional committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

[[Page S5694]]

       (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (i) Sunset.--The YALI Program shall terminate on the date 
     that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
                                 ______