    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-343
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To strengthen the participation of elected national legislators in the
    activities of the Organization of American States and reaffirm United
    States support for Organization of American States human rights and
    anti-corruption initiatives, and for other purposes. <>

    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 ``Organization of American States
    Legislative Engagement Act of 2020''.
    SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
    (1) The Charter of the Organization of American States
    establishes that ``representative democracy is an indispensable
    condition for the stability, peace and development of the
    region''.
    (2) Article 2 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter of
    the Organization of American States affirms that ``the effective
    exercise of representative democracy is the basis for the rule
    of law and of the constitutional regimes of the member states of
    the Organization of American States''.
    (3) Article 26 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter
    states that ``the OAS will continue to carry out programs and
    activities designed to promote democratic principles and
    practices and strengthen a democratic culture in the
    Hemisphere''.
    (4) In accordance with the OAS Charter and the Inter-
    American Democratic Charter, the OAS General Assembly, OAS
    Permanent Council, and OAS Secretariat have established a wide
    range of cooperative agreements with domestic and international
    organizations, including national legislative institutions.
    (5) In 2004, OAS General Assembly Resolution 2044 (XXXIV-O/
    04) appealed for the ``strengthening of legislatures, as well as
    inter-parliamentary cooperation on key items of the inter-
    American agenda, with a view, in particular, to generating
    initiatives to fight corruption, poverty, inequality, and social
    exclusion''.
    (6) In 2005, OAS General Assembly Resolution 2095 (XXXV-O/
    05) called on the OAS Secretariat to ``invite [. . .] the
    presidents or speakers of the national legislative institutions
    of the Americas, i.e., congresses, parliaments, or national
    assemblies, [. . .] to attend a special meeting of the Permanent
    Council [. . .] for the initiation of a dialogue on topics on
    the hemispheric agenda''.

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    (7) In 2014 and 2015, the OAS Secretariat expanded its
    engagement with elected national legislators from OAS member
    states by convening two meetings of presidents of national
    legislatures, first in Lima, Peru and subsequently in Santiago,
    Chile.
    (8) However, no permanent procedures exist to facilitate the
    participation of elected national legislators from OAS member
    states in OAS activities.
    (9) The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
    (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly has proven successful at
    strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation among its member
    states.
    SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is that sense of Congress that--
    (1) elected national legislators play an essential role in
    the exercise of representative democracy in the Americas,
    including by--
    (A) promoting economic freedom and respect for
    property rights;
    (B) promoting the rule of law and combating
    corruption;
    (C) defending human rights and fundamental freedoms;
    and
    (D) advancing the principles and practices expressed
    in the Charter of the Organization of American States,
    the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of
    Man, and the Inter-American Democratic Charter;
    (2) establishing procedures and mechanisms to facilitate the
    participation of elected national legislators from OAS member
    states in OAS activities could contribute to the promotion of
    democratic principles and practices and strengthen a democratic
    culture in the Western Hemisphere;
    (3) increasing and strengthening the participation of
    elected national legislators from OAS member states in OAS
    activities could advance the principles and proposals expressed
    in section 4 of the Organization of American States
    Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-41; 127
    Stat. 549);
    (4) the OAS General Assembly, OAS Permanent Council, and OAS
    Secretariat should take steps to facilitate greater
    participation of elected national legislators from OAS member
    states in OAS activities;
    (5) the OAS Permanent Council resolutions titled
    ``Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society in OAS
    Activities'' and ``Strategies for Increasing and Strengthening
    Participation by Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities''
    should serve as important references for efforts to bolster the
    participation of elected national legislators from OAS member
    states in OAS activities; and
    (6) the successful experience of the Organization for
    Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly
    should serve as a model to the OAS in creating a similar
    mechanism.
    SEC. 4. STRENGTHENING PARTICIPATION OF ELECTED NATIONAL
    LEGISLATORS AT THE OAS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, acting through the United
    States Mission to the Organization of American States,

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    should use the voice and vote of the United States to support the
    creation of procedures for the Organization of American States that--
    (1) enhance the participation of democratically elected
    national legislators from OAS member state countries in OAS
    activities that advance the principles of the Inter-American
    Democratic Charter and the core values of the OAS consistent
    with the principles and proposals expressed in section 4 of the
    Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of
    2013 (Public Law 113-41; 127 Stat. 549);
    (2) create an annual forum for democratically elected
    national legislatures from OAS member states to discuss issues
    of hemispheric importance, including regional efforts to defend
    human rights and combat transnational criminal activities,
    corruption, and impunity;
    (3) permit elected national legislators from OAS member
    states to make presentations, contribute information, and
    provide expert advice, as appropriate, to the OAS Secretariat,
    OAS Permanent Council, and OAS General Assembly about OAS
    activities on issues of hemispheric importance;
    (4) lead to the creation of a mechanism to regularly
    facilitate the participation of elected national legislators in
    OAS activities; and
    (5) reinforce OAS Secretariat programs that provide
    technical assistance for the modernization and institutional
    strengthening of national legislatures from OAS member states.

    (b) Expenses.--The Secretary of State, acting through the United
    States Mission to the Organization of American States, as appropriate,
    shall seek to ensure that expenses related to the procedures set forth
    in this Act do not increase member quotas, assessed fees, or voluntary
    contributions and that the Secretariat of the OAS shall seek to ensure
    shared financial responsibilities among the member states in
    facilitating the financial support necessary to carry out this
    initiative.
    SEC. 5. SUPPORT FOR OAS HUMAN RIGHTS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
    INITIATIVES.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
    (1) the efforts of the OAS Secretary General and Secretariat
    to combat corruption and impunity in the Americas represent
    important contributions to strengthening the rule of law and
    democratic governance in the Americas; and
    (2) the United States should support efforts to ensure the
    effectiveness and independence of OAS initiatives to combat
    corruption and impunity in the Americas.

    (b) Anti-corruption and Human Rights Promotion Strategy.--Not
    later <> than 180 days after the date of the enactment
    of the Act, 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 strategy for supporting OAS anti-
    corruption and human rights promotion efforts. The strategy should
    include--
    (1) <>  an assessment of United States
    programs, activities, and initiatives with the OAS to support
    anti-corruption and human rights promotion in the Americas;

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    (2) <>  a summary of the steps taken by the
    United States Mission to the OAS to strengthen anti-corruption
    and anti-impunity efforts in the Americas;
    (3) <>  an assessment of necessary
    reforms and initiatives to prioritize and reinforce the OAS
    Secretary General and Secretariat's efforts to advance human
    rights and combat corruption and impunity in the Americas;
    (4) <>  a detailed plan to facilitate increased
    OAS collaboration, as appropriate, with relevant stakeholders,
    including elected national legislators and civil society, in
    support of an approach to promote human rights and combat
    transnational criminal activities, corruption, and impunity in
    the Americas; and
    (5) <>  a detailed plan for
    implementing the strategy set forth in this section of the Act.
    SEC. 6. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the
    enactment of this Act, 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 OAS
    processes, initiatives, and reforms undertaken to implement section 4,
    actions taken to implement the strategy required under section 5(b), and
    steps taken to implement the Organization of American States
    Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-41). The report
    should include--
    (1) <>  an analysis of the progress made by
    the OAS to adopt and effectively implement reforms and
    initiatives to advance human rights and combat corruption and
    impunity in the Americas; and
    (2) <>  a detailed assessment of OAS
    efforts to increase stakeholder engagement to advance human
    rights and combat corruption and impunity in the Americas.

    (b) <>  Briefings.--Not later than
    one year after the Secretary of State submits the report required under
    subsection (a), and annually thereafter for two additional years, the
    Secretary shall provide to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
    Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
    Representatives a briefing on the information required to be included in
    such report.
    SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ELECTED NATIONAL LEGISLATOR.

    It is the sense of Congress that an elected national legislator
    participating in the activities outlined in this Act should be an
    individual that--
    (1) was elected as a result of periodic, free and fair
    elections; and

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    (2) is not known to be under investigation or convicted for
    corruption or transnational criminal activities, including
    trafficking of people, goods, or illicit narcotics, money-
    laundering, terrorist financing, acts of terrorism, campaign
    finance violations, bribery, or extortion.

    Approved January 13, 2021.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1310:
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    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
    Dec. 10, considered and passed Senate.
    Dec. 31, considered and passed House.