II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 821 

To establish an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 15, 2023 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. KING, Mr. GRAHAM, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. 

COONS, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and Mr. SULLIVAN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

A BILL 

To establish an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR THE ARCTIC RE4 GION. 

5 Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act 

6 of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is amended by adding 

7 at the end the following new section: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 64. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR 

2 THE ARCTIC REGION. 

3 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is authorized within 

4 the Department of State an Ambassador-at-Large for the 

5 Arctic Region, appointed under subsection (b). 

6 ‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT.—The Ambassador shall be ap7 pointed by the President, by, and with the advice and con8 sent of the Senate. 

9 ‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Ambassador is authorized to rep10 resent the United States in matters and cases relevant to 

11 Arctic affairs and shall be responsible to the Secretary of 

12 State for all matters, programs, and related activities per13 taining to the Arctic region in the conduct of foreign policy 

14 by the Department, including, as appropriate, leading the 

15 coordination of programs carried out by United States 

16 Government agencies abroad, and such other related du17 ties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. 

18 ‘‘(d) AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY.—The Ambassador19 at-Large for the Arctic Region is authorized to maintain 

20 continuous observation and coordination of all matters in21 dicated by the Secretary of State, including those per22 taining to energy, environment, trade, and infrastructure 

23 development and maintenance, and, in consultation with 

24 the heads of other relevant departments and agencies, 

25 those pertaining to law enforcement and political-military 

26 affairs in the conduct of foreign policy in the Arctic, inVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:50 Mar 23, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S821.IS S821

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1 cluding programs carried out by other United States Gov2 ernment agencies when such programs pertain to the fol3 lowing matters, to the extent directed by the Secretary of 

4 State: 

5 ‘‘(1) National security. 

6 ‘‘(2) Strengthening cooperation among Arctic 

7 countries. 

8 ‘‘(3) The promotion of responsible natural re9 source management and economic development. 

10 ‘‘(4) Protecting the Arctic environment and 

11 conserving its biological resources. 

12 ‘‘(5) Arctic indigenous peoples, including by in13 volving them in decisions that affect them. 

14 ‘‘(6) Scientific monitoring and research. 

15 ‘‘(e) ADDITIONAL DUTIES.—In addition to the duties 

16 and responsibilities specified in subsections (c) and (d), 

17 the Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region shall also 

18 carry out such other relevant duties as the Secretary may 

19 assign. 

20 ‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

21 ‘‘(1) ARCTIC REGION.—The term ‘Arctic region’ 

22 means— 

23 ‘‘(A) the geographic region north of the 

24 66.56083 parallel latitude north of the equator; 


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1 ‘‘(B) all the United States territory north 

2 and west of the boundary formed by the Porcu3 pine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; 

4 ‘‘(C) all contiguous seas, including the Arc5 tic Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and 

6 Chukchi Seas; and 

7 ‘‘(D) the Aleutian Chain. 

8 ‘‘(2) ARCTIC COUNTRIES.—The term ‘Arctic 

9 countries’ means the permanent members of the 

10 Arctic Council, namely the United States, Canada, 

11 Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and 

12 Russia.’’. 

Æ 


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