I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4649 
To support the International Decade for People of African Descent, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 29, 2016 
Ms. JACKSON LEE (for herself, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. BASS, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. 
LEWIS, Ms. LEE, Ms. MOORE, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. MEEKS, 
and Ms. SEWELL of Alabama) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To support the International Decade for People of African 
Descent, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Decade for the People of African Descent Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF STATE ACTIVITIES 
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Sec. 101. Office on the International Decade for People of African Descent; 
Ambassador at Large for the International Decade for People 
of African Descent. 
Sec. 102. Annual Report on the International Decade for People of African De-
scent. 
Sec. 103. Establishment of an International Decade for People of African De-
scent Internet site. 
Sec. 104. Programs and allocations of funds by United States Missions abroad. 
Sec. 105. Equal access to United States missions abroad for conducting activi-
ties relating to the International Decade for People of African 
Descent. 
TITLE II—COMMISSION ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR 
PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT 
Sec. 201. Establishment and composition. 
Sec. 202. Duties of the Commission. 
Sec. 203. Powers of the Commission. 
Sec. 204. Commission personnel matters. 
Sec. 205. Report of the Commission. 
Sec. 206. Applicability of other laws. 
Sec. 207. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 208. Standards of conduct and disclosure. 
Sec. 209. Termination. 
TITLE III—SPECIAL ADVISER ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE 
FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT 
Sec. 301. Special Adviser on the International Decade for People of African 
Descent. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) For over 400 years, more than 15,000,000 
men, women, and children were the victims of the 
tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest 
chapters in human history. 
(2) Pursuant to United Nations General Assem-
bly Resolution 68/237 (2013), the United Nations 
General Assembly proclaimed 2015–2024 as the 
International Decade for People of African Descent, 
citing the need to strengthen national, regional and 
international cooperation in relation to the full en-
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joyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and polit-
ical rights by people of African descent, and their 
full and equal participation in all aspects of society. 
(3) As proclaimed by the United Nations Gen-
eral Assembly, the theme for the International Dec-
ade for People of African Descent is ‘‘People of Afri-
can descent: Recognition, Justice and Development’’. 
(4) A main objective for the International Dec-
ade for People of African Descent is to promote re-
spect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights 
and fundamental freedoms by people of African de-
scent, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights. 
(5) A delineated objective for the International 
Decade for People of African Descent is to promote 
a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse 
heritage, culture and contribution of people of Afri-
can descent to the development of societies. 
(6) A delineated objective for the International 
Decade for People of African Descent is the adop-
tion and strengthening of national, regional and 
international legal frameworks according to the 
International Convention on the Elimination of All 
Forms of Racial Discrimination and to ensure their 
full and effective implementation. 
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(7) Nation states are encouraged to create and 
implement National Action Plans that put into place 
offices and initiatives that drive implementation of 
the International Decade for People of African De-
scent. 
(8) At the national level, nation states should 
take concrete and practical steps through the adop-
tion and effective implementation of national and 
international legal action plans, initiatives, frame-
works, policies and programs to combat racism, ra-
cial discrimination, xenophobia and related intoler-
ance faced by people of African descent, taking into 
account the particular situation of women, girls and 
young males through— 
(A) recognition; 
(B) justice; 
(C) development; and 
(D) addressing multiple or aggravated dis-
crimination. 
(9) On the regional and international levels, en-
tities are among others called to raise awareness, 
disseminate the International Convention on the 
Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, 
assist states in the full and effective implementation 
of their commitments, collect statistical data, incor-
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porate human rights into development programs, 
and honor and preserve historical memory of people 
of African descent. 
(10) Among others, some of the steps and 
measures being undertaken by the United Nations 
General Assembly include the appointment of the 
United Nations High Commissioner for Human 
Rights to act as coordinator of the International 
Decade for People of African Descent, the establish-
ment of a forum to serve as a consultation mecha-
nism, convening of a final assessment of the Inter-
national Decade for People of African Descent, and 
a permanent memorial at the United Nations head-
quarters to honor the memory of the victims of slav-
ery and the transatlantic slave trade. 
(11) The Secretary-General of the United Na-
tions is also required to report to the General As-
sembly at its sixty-third session on the establishment 
and implementation of the above delineated meas-
ures. 
(12) Upon the launch of the International Dec-
ade for People of African Descent in 2015, Members 
of the United States Congress introduced House 
Resolution 120 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 
in support of the International Decade for People of 
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African Descent, and H.R. 1039 to establish an Of-
fice of Global African Descent Affairs in the Depart-
ment of State to monitor implementation of the 
commitments of the International Decade for People 
of African Descent around the world. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AMBASSADOR AT LARGE.—The term ‘‘Am-
bassador at Large’’ means the Ambassador at Large 
for the International Decade for People of African 
Descent appointed under section 101(b). 
(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The term ‘‘Annual Re-
port’’ means the Annual Report on the International 
Decade for People of African Descent described in 
section 102. 
(3) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Relations 
of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
of the House of Representatives. 
(4) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the United States Commission on the Inter-
national Decade for People of African Descent es-
tablished in section 201(a). 
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(5) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.—The term ‘‘Execu-
tive Summary’’ means the Executive Summary to 
the Annual Report, as described in section 102(3). 
(6) 
GOVERNMENT
OR
FOREIGN
GOVERN-
MENT.—The term ‘‘government’’ or ‘‘foreign govern-
ment’’ includes any agency or instrumentality of the 
government. 
(7) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Of-
fice on the International Decade for People of Afri-
can Descent established in section 101(a). 
(8) SPECIAL ADVISER.—The term ‘‘Special Ad-
viser’’ means the Special Adviser to the President on 
the International Decade for People of African De-
scent described in section 301 of this Act. 
TITLE I—DEPARTMENT OF 
STATE ACTIVITIES 
SEC. 101. OFFICE ON THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR 
PEOPLE 
OF 
AFRICAN 
DESCENT; 
AMBAS-
SADOR AT LARGE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL 
DECADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICE.—There is estab-
lished within the Department of State an Office on the 
International Decade for People of African Descent that 
shall be headed by the Ambassador at Large for the Inter-
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national Decade for People of African Descent appointed 
under subsection (b). 
(b) APPOINTMENT.—The Ambassador at Large shall 
be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate. 
(c) DUTIES.—The Ambassador at Large shall have 
the following responsibilities: 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The primary responsibility 
of the Ambassador at Large shall be to advance the 
full enjoyment of rights and equal participation of 
people of African descent. 
(2) ADVISORY
ROLE.—The Ambassador at 
Large shall be a principal adviser to the President 
and the Secretary of State regarding matters affect-
ing implementation of the International Decade for 
People of African Descent and, with advice from the 
Commission on the International Decade for People 
of African Descent, shall make recommendations re-
garding adopting and implementing policies to 
strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of indi-
viduals of African descent. 
(3) DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION.—Subject to 
the direction of the President and the Secretary of 
State, the Ambassador at Large is authorized to 
represent the United States in matters and cases 
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relevant to the International Decade for People of 
African Descent abroad in— 
(A) contacts with foreign governments, 
intergovernmental organizations, and special-
ized global and regional agencies of the United 
Nations, the Organization on Security and Co-
operation in Europe, and other international or-
ganizations of which the United States is a 
member; and 
(B) multilateral conferences and meetings 
relevant to the International Decade for People 
of African Descent abroad. 
(4) REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Am-
bassador at Large shall have the reporting respon-
sibilities described in section 102. 
(d) FUNDING.—The Secretary of State shall provide 
the Ambassador at Large with such funds as may be nec-
essary for the hiring of staff for the Office, for the conduct 
of initiatives by the Office, and for necessary travel to 
carry out the provisions of this section. 
SEC. 102. ANNUAL REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL DEC-
ADE FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. 
On September 1 of each year or the first day there-
after on which the appropriate House of Congress is in 
session, the Secretary of State, with the assistance of the 
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Ambassador at Large, and taking into consideration the 
recommendations of the Commission, shall prepare and 
transmit to Congress an Annual Report on the Inter-
national Decade for People of African Descent by pro-
viding additional detailed information with respect to mat-
ters involving the International Decade for People of Afri-
can Descent. Each Annual Report shall contain the fol-
lowing: 
(1) A description of the status of efforts and 
initiatives to implement the International Decade for 
People of African Descent, including trends toward 
improvement in the respect for strengthening advo-
cacy on behalf of individuals of African descent. 
(2) A description of United States actions and 
policies in support of the International Decade for 
People of African Descent, including a description of 
the measures and policies implemented during the 
preceding 12 months by the United States under 
this Act. 
(3) An Executive Summary to the Annual Re-
port highlighting the status of the International 
Decade for People of African Descent. 
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SEC. 103. ESTABLISHMENT OF A INTERNATIONAL DECADE 
FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT INTER-
NET SITE. 
In order to facilitate access by nongovernmental orga-
nizations and by the public around the world to inter-
national documents relating to promotion of the Inter-
national Decade for People of African Descent, the Sec-
retary of State, with the assistance of the Ambassador at 
Large, shall establish and maintain an Internet site con-
taining major international documents relating to the 
International Decade for People of African Descent, the 
Annual Report, the Executive Summary, and any other 
documentation or references to other sites as deemed ap-
propriate or relevant by the Ambassador at Large. 
SEC. 104. PROGRAMS AND ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS BY 
UNITED STATES MISSIONS ABROAD. 
It is the sense of the Congress that— 
(1) United States diplomatic missions in coun-
tries may promote the International Decade for Peo-
ple of African Descent; and 
(2) in allocating or recommending the allocation 
of funds or the recommendation of candidates for 
programs and grants funded by the United States 
Government, United States diplomatic missions 
should give particular consideration to those pro-
grams, initiatives, and candidates deemed to assist 
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in the promotion of the International Decade for 
People of African Descent. 
SEC. 105. EQUAL ACCESS TO UNITED STATES MISSIONS 
ABROAD FOR CONDUCTING ACTIVITIES RE-
LATING TO THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE 
FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. 
The Secretary of State shall permit, on terms no less 
favorable than that accorded other nongovernmental ac-
tivities unrelated to the conduct of the diplomatic mission, 
access to the premises of any United States diplomatic 
mission or consular post by any United States citizen 
seeking to conduct an activity for the International Dec-
ade for People of African Descent. 
TITLE II—COMMISSION ON THE 
INTERNATIONAL 
DECADE 
FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DE-
SCENT 
SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established the United 
States Commission on the International Decade for People 
of African Descent. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be 
composed of— 
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(A) the Ambassador at Large, who shall 
serve ex officio as a nonvoting member of the 
Commission; and 
(B) eighteen other members, who shall be 
United States citizens who are not being paid 
as officers or employees of the United States, 
and who shall be appointed as follows: 
(i) Six members of the Commission 
shall be appointed by the President. 
(ii) Six members of the Commission 
shall be appointed by the President pro 
tempore of the Senate, of which two of the 
members shall be appointed upon the rec-
ommendation of the leader in the Senate of 
the political party that is not the political 
party of the President, and of which one of 
the members shall be appointed upon the 
recommendation of the leader in the Sen-
ate of the other political party. 
(iii) Six members of the Commission 
shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, of which two of 
the members shall be appointed upon the 
recommendation of the leader in the House 
of the political party that is not the polit-
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ical party of the President, and of which 
one of the members shall be appointed 
upon the recommendation of the leader in 
the House of the other political party. 
(2) SELECTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Members of the Com-
mission shall be selected among distinguished 
individuals noted for their knowledge and expe-
rience in fields relevant to the issue of the 
International Decade for People of African De-
scent, including foreign affairs, direct experi-
ence abroad, human rights, international law, 
education, labor, law enforcement, health, inter-
governmental engagement, and community or-
ganizations. 
(B) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—Each mem-
ber of the Commission shall be required to ob-
tain a security clearance. 
(3) TIME
OF
APPOINTMENT.—The appoint-
ments required by paragraph (1) shall be made not 
later than 120 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
(c) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The term of office of each 
member of the Commission shall be 2 years. 
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(2) INELIGIBILITY FOR REAPPOINTMENT.—If a 
member of the Commission attends, by being phys-
ically present or by conference call, less than 75 per-
cent of the meetings of the Commission during one 
of that member’s terms on the Commission, the 
member shall not be eligible for reappointment to 
the Commission. 
(d) ELECTION OF CHAIR.—At the first meeting of 
the Commission after May 30 of each year, a majority of 
the members of the Commission present and voting shall 
elect the Chair of the Commission. No member of the 
Commission is eligible to be elected as Chair of the Com-
mission for a second, consecutive term. 
(e) QUORUM.—Fifteen voting members of the Com-
mission shall constitute a quorum for purposes of 
transacting business. 
(f) MEETINGS.—Each year, within 15 days, or as 
soon as practicable, after the issuance of the International 
Decade for People of African Descent Report, the Com-
mission shall convene. The Commission shall otherwise 
meet at the call of the Chair or, if no Chair has been elect-
ed for that calendar year, at the call of fifteen voting mem-
bers of the Commission. 
(g) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy of the Commission 
shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the manner 
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in which the original appointment was made. A member 
may serve after the expiration of that member’s term until 
a successor has taken office. Any member appointed to 
fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term 
for which the member’s predecessor was appointed shall 
be appointed only for the remainder of that term. 
(h) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—The Administrator 
of General Services shall provide to the Commission on 
a reimbursable basis (or, in the discretion of the Adminis-
trator, on a nonreimbursable basis) such administrative 
support services as the Commission may request to carry 
out the provisions of this title. 
(i) FUNDING.—Members of the Commission shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of sub-
sistence at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
business in the performance of services for the Commis-
sion. Members of the Commission are subject to the re-
quirements set forth in chapters 300 through 304 of title 
41, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the 
‘‘Federal Travel Regulation’’) and the Department of 
State Standardized Regulations governing authorized 
travel at government expense, including regulations con-
cerning the mode of travel, lodging and per diem expendi-
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tures, reimbursement payments, and expense reporting 
and documentation requirements. 
SEC. 202. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall have as its 
primary responsibility— 
(1) the annual and ongoing review of the facts 
and circumstances of promotion of the International 
Decade for People of African Descent, and the Exec-
utive Summary, as well as information from other 
sources as appropriate; and 
(2) the making of policy recommendations to 
the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress 
with respect to matters involving the International 
Decade for People of African Descent. 
(b) MONITORING.—The Commission shall, on an on-
going basis, monitor facts and circumstances of promotion 
of initiatives relating to the International Decade for Peo-
ple of African Descent, in consultation with independent 
human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations, 
including educational organizations, and make such rec-
ommendations as may be necessary to the appropriate of-
ficials and offices in the United States Government. 
SEC. 203. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) HEARINGS
AND SESSIONS.—The Commission 
may, for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this 
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title, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places in the 
United States, take testimony and receive evidence as the 
Commission considers advisable to carry out the purposes 
of this Act. 
(b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 
Commission may secure directly from any Federal depart-
ment or agency such information as the Commission con-
siders necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. 
Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the 
head of such department or agency shall furnish such in-
formation to the Commission, subject to applicable law. 
(c) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use 
the United States mails in the same manner and under 
the same conditions as other departments and agencies of 
the Federal Government. 
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES.—The Commis-
sion may adopt such rules and regulations, relating to ad-
ministrative procedure, as may be reasonably necessary to 
enable it to carry out the provisions of this title. 
(e) VIEWS OF THE COMMISSION.—The Members of 
the Commission may speak in their capacity as private 
citizens. Statements on behalf of the Commission shall be 
issued in writing over the names of the Members. The 
Commission shall in its written statements clearly describe 
its statutory authority, distinguishing that authority from 
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that of appointed or elected officials of the United States 
Government. Oral statements, where practicable, shall in-
clude a similar description. 
(f) TRAVEL.—The Members of the Commission may, 
with the approval of the Commission, conduct such travel 
as is necessary to carry out the purpose of this title. Each 
trip must be approved by a majority of the Commission. 
This provision shall not apply to the Ambassador at 
Large, whose travel shall not require approval by the Com-
mission. 
SEC. 204. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may, without re-
gard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and 
terminate an Executive Director and such other additional 
personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission 
to perform its duties. The decision to employ or terminate 
an Executive Director shall be made by an affirmative vote 
of at least six of the nine members of the Commission. 
(b) COMPENSATION.—The Commission may fix the 
compensation of the Executive Director and other per-
sonnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States 
Code, relating to classification of positions and General 
Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the 
Executive Director and other personnel may not exceed 
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the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title. 
(c) PROFESSIONAL STAFF.—The Commission and 
the Executive Director shall hire Commission staff on the 
basis of professional and nonpartisan qualifications. Com-
missioners may not individually hire staff of the Commis-
sion. Staff shall serve the Commission as a whole and may 
not be assigned to the particular service of a single Com-
missioner or a specified group of Commissioners. This 
subsection does not prohibit staff personnel from assisting 
individual members of the Commission with particular 
needs related to their duties. 
(d) STAFF
AND SERVICES
OF OTHER FEDERAL 
AGENCIES.— 
(1) DEPARTMENT OF STATE.—The Secretary of 
State shall assist the Commission by providing on a 
reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis to the Com-
mission such staff and administrative services as 
may be necessary and appropriate to perform its 
functions. 
(2) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon the re-
quest of the Commission, the head of any Federal 
department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable 
or nonreimbursable basis, any of the personnel of 
that department or agency to the Commission to as-
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sist it in carrying out its functions under this title. 
The detail of any such personnel shall be without 
interruption or loss of civil service or Foreign Serv-
ice status or privilege. 
(e) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—The Executive Direc-
tor shall be required to obtain a security clearance. The 
Executive Director may request, on a needs-only basis and 
in order to perform the duties of the Commission, that 
other personnel of the Commission be required to obtain 
a security clearance. The level of clearance shall be the 
lowest necessary to appropriately perform the duties of the 
Commission. 
(f) COST.—The Commission shall reimburse all ap-
propriate Government agencies for the cost of obtaining 
clearances for members of the commission, for the execu-
tive director, and for any other personnel. 
(g) APPLICATION OF ANTIDISCRIMINATION LAWS.— 
For purposes of providing remedies and procedures to ad-
dress alleged violations of rights and protections that per-
tain to employment discrimination, family and medical 
leave, fair labor standards, employee polygraph protection, 
worker adjustment and retraining, veterans’ employment 
and reemployment, intimidation or reprisal, protections 
under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, occu-
pational safety and health, labor-management relations, 
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H4649
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS