United States-Mexico Economic Partnership Act

To promote economic partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico, particularly in the areas of academic exchange, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure integration. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States-Mexico Economic Partnership Act 2. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to promote economic partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico, particularly in the areas of academic exchange, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure integration. 3. Expansion of United States-Mexico academic exchange programs (a) In general The President is authorized to expand United States-Mexico academic exchange programs at the secondary, post-secondary, and post-graduate levels. (b) Priority The programs described in subsection (a) should give priority to strengthening ties between communities and academic institutions located in the covered United States-Mexico border region. (c) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the programs described in subsection (a) should reflect the goals of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative and should seek to double the number of students studying in each other’s country by not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 4. Establishment of United States-Mexico entrepreneurship cooperation, training, and mentoring programs (a) In general The President is authorized to establish programs to support cooperation, training, and mentoring of entrepreneurs in the covered United States-Mexico border region. Such programs shall be implemented in coordination with the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative. (b) Elements The programs described in subsection (a) shall seek to carry out innovative projects through United States and Mexican academic institutions and businesses to assist prospective and developing entrepreneurs to strengthen their business skills and promote cooperation and joint business initiatives in the covered United States-Mexico border region. (c) Matching funds The programs described in subsection (a) should seek to ensure United States Government funds are matched by private sector funds for purposes of carrying out such programs through the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative’s Innovation Fund. (d) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the programs described in subsection (a) should reflect the goals of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative and should seek to provide not less than 100 grants of not more than $25,000 each for participants in the programs. (e) Funding Amounts made available for Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs 5. United States-Mexico energy infrastructure coordination and cooperation programs (a) In general The President is authorized to promote United States-Mexico energy infrastructure coordination and cooperation through programs to support vocational-level education, internships, and exchanges between the two countries particularly in the region in which the Eagle Ford Shale is located and in proximity to such region. (b) Elements The programs described in subsection (a) shall seek to promote energy extraction related skills that can be provided by educational institutions located in the region described in subsection (a) or in proximity to such region, including by seeking to provide such skills to individuals in Mexico who are seeking vocational level jobs in Mexico’s energy sector. (c) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that the programs described in subsection (a) should seek to provide education, internships, and exchanges for at least 1,000 participants in the programs. (d) Funding Amounts made available for Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs 6. Definitions In this Act: (1) 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative The term 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative (2) Covered United States-Mexico border region The term covered United States-Mexico border region

Summary: United States-Mexico Economic Partnership Act This bill authorizes the President to expand U.S.-Mexico academic exchange programs at the secondary, post-secondary, and post-graduate levels. It is the sense of Congress that such programs should reflect the goals of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative and should seek to double the number of students studying in each other's country within five years. Priority should be given to strengthening ties between communities and academic institutions in those portions of the United States and Mexico that are within 100 kilometers of the international boundary between those countries (covered region). The President is authorized to establish programs to support cooperation, training, and mentoring of entrepreneurs in the covered region. It is the sense of Congress that such programs should seek to provide not less than 100 grants of not more than $25,000 each for program participants. The President is authorized to promote U.S.-Mexico energy infrastructure coordination and cooperation through programs to support vocational-level education, internships, and exchanges between the two countries, particularly in the region in which the Eagle Ford Shale is located and in proximity to the covered region. It is the sense of Congress that such programs should seek to provide education, internships, and exchanges for at least 1,000 program participants.