[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3634-S3635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 6522. Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself and Mr. Rounds) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 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 subtitle A of title XII, add the following:
SEC. 1210. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE.
(a) Short Titles.--This section may be cited as the ``Young
African Leaders Initiative Act of 2026'' or the ``YALI Act of
2026''.
(b) 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;
(3) the United States Government should prioritize
investments to build the capacity of emerging young African
leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts
that--
(A) enhance leadership skills;
(B) encourage entrepreneurship;
(C) strengthen public administration and the role of civil
society; and
(D) connect young African leaders continentally and
globally across the private, civic, and public sectors; and
(4) youth in Africa have a positive impact on efforts to
foster economic growth, improve public sector transparency
and governance, and counter extremism, and should be an area
of focus for United States outreach on the African continent.
(c) In General.--There is established the Young African
Leaders Initiative (referred to in this section as ``YALI''),
which shall be carried out by the Secretary of State.
(d) Purpose.--YALI 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 that--
(1) support young African leaders by offering professional
development, training, and networking opportunities,
particularly in the areas of leadership, innovation, civic
engagement, elections, internationally recognized human
rights, entrepreneurship, good governance, peace and
security, and public administration; and
(2) provide increased economic and technical assistance to
young African leaders to promote economic growth, strengthen
ties between United States and African businesses, build
resilience to predatory lending practices, and improve
capacity in key economic areas such as tendering, bidding,
and contract negotiations, budget management and oversight,
anti-corruption, and establishment of clear policy and
regulatory practices.
(e) Fellowships.--
(1) In general.--YALI shall support the participation in
the United States in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for
Young African Leaders of fellows from Africa who--
(A) are between 25 and 35 years of age;
(B) have demonstrated strong capabilities in
entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership;
and
(C) have had a positive impact in their communities,
organizations, or institutions.
(2) Oversight.--The fellowships described in paragraph (1)
shall be overseen by the Secretary of State through the
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
(3) Eligibility.--The Secretary of State shall establish
and publish--
(A) eligibility criteria for participation as a fellow
under paragraph (1); and
(B) criteria for determining which eligible applicants will
be selected.
(f) Reciprocal Exchanges.--Subject to the approval of the
Secretary of State, United States citizens may--
(1) engage in reciprocal exchanges in connection with
alumni of the fellowship described in subsection (e); and
(2) collaborate on projects with such fellowship alumni.
(g) Activities.--
(1) United states-based activities.--The Secretary of
State, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall oversee all United States-
based activities carried out under YALI, including--
(A) the participation of Mandela Washington Fellows in a 6-
week Leadership Institute at a United States educational
institution 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) the participation by Mandela Washington fellows in 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) Implementation.--The Secretary of State, in
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall carry out this subsection by
seeking to partner with the private sector--
(A) to pursue public-private partnerships;
(B) to leverage private sector expertise;
(C) to expand networking opportunities; and
(D) to identify funding opportunities and fellowship and
employment opportunities for YALI.
(h) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
departments and agencies, shall submit a plan to the
appropriate congressional committees for implementing YALI,
including--
(1) a description of clearly defined program goals,
targets, and planned outcomes for each year and for the
duration of implementation of the program;
(2) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the program and
progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and
planned outcomes; and
(3) a strategy to ensure the program is promoting United
States foreign policy goals in Africa, including ensuring
that the program is clearly branded, paired with robust
public diplomacy efforts, and incorporates participants from
a variety of countries, including communities in Africa
facing economic distress, civil conflict, persecution, and
other challenges.
(i) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the
following 4 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees, and publish in a
publicly accessible, internet-based form, a report that
includes--
(1) a description of the progress made toward achieving the
goals, targets, and planned outcomes referred to in
subsection (h)(1), including an overview of the program
implemented in the previous year and an estimated number of
beneficiaries;
(2) an assessment of how YALI 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, promoting peace and security, and fostering
entrepreneurship and youth empowerment; and
(3) recommendations for improvements or changes to YALI and
the implementation plan, if any, that would improve their
effectiveness during subsequent years of YALI's
implementation.
(j) 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;
(3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
[[Page S3635]]
(k) Sunset.--This section shall cease to have effect on the
date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
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