I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2000 
To establish a program to monitor the Arctic region, promote United States 
interests in that region, and combat Russian, Chinese, and other foreign 
malign influence in the region. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2025 
Mr. KEATING (for himself, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. HUIZENGA, and Mr. 
AMODEI of Nevada) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To establish a program to monitor the Arctic region, promote 
United States interests in that region, and combat Rus-
sian, Chinese, and other foreign malign influence in the 
region. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Arctic Watchers Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Arctic region is a critical region for 
United States national security which presents both 
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risks and opportunities for United States security, 
economic, natural resource, cyber, and geopolitical 
interests around the world; and 
(2) the People’s Republic of China and the Rus-
sian Federation seek to undermine United States in-
terests in that region and it is incumbent upon the 
United States to counter Chinese and Russian influ-
ence in all sectors in the region. 
SEC. 3. ARCTIC WATCHER PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish and 
carry out a program in the Department of State, to be 
known as the ‘‘Arctic Watcher Program’’, to— 
(1) monitor the Arctic region across the secu-
rity, military, economic, natural resource, cyber, sci-
entific, and political sectors in foreign countries; 
(2) monitor and combat People’s Republic of 
China, Russian Federation, and other malign influ-
ence campaigns across that region that impact 
United States national security, European security, 
and Indo-Pacific security that pose a threat to the 
rules-based order, and undermine United States in-
terests in the region; 
(3) strengthen the capacity of the United States 
to engage with foreign countries and regional and 
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international mechanisms with stakes in that region 
and protect the region for future generations; and 
(4) strengthen United States energy security, 
cyber security and economic interests in that region 
including in the critical minerals and natural re-
sources sectors. 
(b) ASSIGNMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Office of the Ambassador-at- 
Large for Arctic Affairs, shall assign individuals, to 
be known as ‘‘Arctic Watchers’’, to the following 
posts: 
(A) At least 3 posts in European countries 
with significant interests in the Arctic region. 
(B) At least one post in North American 
countries with significant interests in the Arctic 
region. 
(C) Other posts as designated by the Sec-
retary of State deemed necessary for promoting 
the activities of the program. 
(2) NOTIFICATION.—The Secretary of State 
shall notify the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
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Foreign Relations of the Senate upon assigning indi-
viduals to be Arctic Watchers under paragraph (1). 
(c) OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Office of the Ambas-
sador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs shall provide policy 
guidance to Arctic Watchers under subsection (b) to 
further United States interests in the Arctic region 
and to carry out the activities of the program re-
quired by subsection (a). 
(2) REPORT.—Each post required by subsection 
(b)(1) shall, in consultation with the Office of the 
Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, prepare and 
submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate an annual report 
that— 
(A) outlines the steps the post and the 
Arctic Watcher assigned to that post have 
taken to advance the program required by sub-
section (a); and 
(B) identifies goals for the Arctic Watcher 
for the following year to further advance such 
program. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
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Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on For-
eign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that 
includes— 
(1) a detailed breakdown of posts at which staff 
are assigned the role of Arctic Watcher; 
(2) the responsibilities to which they have been 
assigned; and 
(3) the strategies developed by the chief of mis-
sion, as applicable. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
2025 and each fiscal year thereafter to carry out this sec-
tion. 
SEC. 4. ARCTIC REGION DEFINED. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘Arctic region’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and 
Policy Act (15 U.S.C. 4111). 
Æ 
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