A bill to establish an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region.

Subjects: International Affairs


<html><body><pre>[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 821 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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.

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

SECTION 1. AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR THE ARCTIC REGION.

    Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 
U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 64. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR THE ARCTIC REGION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is authorized within the Department of 
State an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, appointed under 
subsection (b).
    ``(b) Appointment.--The Ambassador shall be appointed by the 
President, by, and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
    ``(c) Duties.--The Ambassador is authorized to represent the United 
States in matters and cases relevant to Arctic affairs and shall be 
responsible to the Secretary of State for all matters, programs, and 
related activities pertaining to the Arctic region in the conduct of 
foreign policy by the Department, including, as appropriate, leading 
the coordination of programs carried out by United States Government 
agencies abroad, and such other related duties as the Secretary may 
from time to time designate.
    ``(d) Areas of Responsibility.--The Ambassador-at-Large for the 
Arctic Region is authorized to maintain continuous observation and 
coordination of all matters indicated by the Secretary of State, 
including those pertaining to energy, environment, trade, and 
infrastructure development and maintenance, and, in consultation with 
the heads of other relevant departments and agencies, those pertaining 
to law enforcement and political-military affairs in the conduct of 
foreign policy in the Arctic, including programs carried out by other 
United States Government agencies when such programs pertain to the 
following matters, to the extent directed by the Secretary of State:
            ``(1) National security.
            ``(2) Strengthening cooperation among Arctic countries.
            ``(3) The promotion of responsible natural resource 
        management and economic development.
            ``(4) Protecting the Arctic environment and conserving its 
        biological resources.
            ``(5) Arctic indigenous peoples, including by involving 
        them in decisions that affect them.
            ``(6) Scientific monitoring and research.
    ``(e) Additional Duties.--In addition to the duties and 
responsibilities specified in subsections (c) and (d), the Ambassador-
at-Large for the Arctic Region shall also carry out such other relevant 
duties as the Secretary may assign.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Arctic region.--The term `Arctic region' means--
                    ``(A) the geographic region north of the 66.56083 
                parallel latitude north of the equator;
                    ``(B) all the United States territory north and 
                west of the boundary formed by the Porcupine, Yukon, 
                and Kuskokwim Rivers;
                    ``(C) all contiguous seas, including the Arctic 
                Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and
                    ``(D) the Aleutian Chain.
            ``(2) Arctic countries.--The term `Arctic countries' means 
        the permanent members of the Arctic Council, namely the United 
        States, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and 
        Russia.''.
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