PEACE through Music Diplomacy Act
Bill: H.R.6498 | Sponsor: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. (R-TX)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Promoting Peace, Education, And Cultural Exchange through Music Diplomacy Act or the PEACE through Music Diplomacy Act
This bill authorizes music-related exchange programs facilitated by the Department of State.
The bill authorizes the inclusion of coordination and consultation with the private sector in the participation by groups and individuals from other countries in nonprofit activities in the United States similar to certain artistic and sports activities when such participation is in the national interest.
State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) shall manage, including in coordination and consultation with the private sector, programs focused on music and the performing arts that provide opportunities to build cross-cultural understanding and advance peace abroad.
State should seek to (1) partner with the private sector in support of music-related exchange programs implemented by ECA, (2) leverage private sector expertise in developing and implementing such programs, (3) expand networking and mentorship opportunities, and (4) identify private sector funding sources for travel and other expenses.
The bill authorizes State to partner with the private sector to recognize musicians whose works or performances have advanced peace abroad and who could contribute to networking and mentorship opportunities for participants of music-related exchange programs implemented by ECA.

To authorize music-related exchange programs facilitated by the 
 Department of State and relevant private sector partnerships, and for 
                            other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Peace, Education, And 
Cultural Exchange through Music Diplomacy Act'' or the ``PEACE through 
Music Diplomacy Act''.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) music is an important conveyer of culture and can be 
        used to communicate values and build understanding between 
        communities;
            (2) music artists play a valuable role in cross-cultural 
        exchange, and their works and performances can promote 
        peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts;
            (3) the music industry in the United States has made 
        important contributions to American society and culture, and 
        musicians and industry professionals in the United States can 
        offer valuable expertise to young music artists around the 
        world; and
            (4) the United States Government should promote exchange 
        programs, especially programs that leverage the expertise and 
        resources of the private sector, that give young music artists 
        from around the world the chance to improve their skills, share 
        ideas, learn about American culture, and develop the necessary 
        skills to support conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts 
        in their communities and broader societies.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF MUSIC-RELATED EXCHANGE PROGRAMS.

    The Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (commonly 
referred to as the Fulbright-Hays Act) is amended--
            (1) in section 102(a)(2) (22 U.S.C. 2452(a)(2))--
                    (A) in clause (iii), by striking ``assemblies;'' 
                and inserting ``assemblies; and''; and
                    (B) in clause (iv)--
                            (i) by inserting ``, including in 
                        coordination and consultation with the private 
                        sector,'' before ``similar''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``national interest.'' and 
                        inserting ``national interest; and''; and
            (2) in section 112(a) (22 U.S.C. 2460(a))--
                    (A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon at the end;
                    (B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(10) exchange programs, including in coordination and 
        consultation with the private sector, focused on music and the 
        performing arts that provide opportunities for foreign 
        nationals and Americans to build cross-cultural understanding 
        and advance peace abroad.''.

SEC. 4. PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State should seek to partner with 
the private sector in support of music-related exchange programs 
implemented by the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs (ECA), leverage private sector expertise in developing 
and implementing such programs, expand networking and mentorship 
opportunities for program participants, and identify private sector 
funding sources for travel and other program-related expenses where 
relevant.
    (b) Authorization of Certain Partnerships.--The Secretary of State 
is authorized to partner with the private sector, including through the 
granting of awards, to recognize musicians whose works or performances 
have advanced peace abroad and who could contribute to networking and 
mentorship opportunities for participants of music-related exchange 
programs implemented by ECA.

SEC. 5. STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a strategy for advancing United 
States foreign policy goals, including conflict resolution and 
peacebuilding efforts, through music-related exchange programs 
implemented by ECA. Such strategy shall include--
            (1) a description of clearly defined annual goals, targets, 
        and planned outcomes for each music-related exchange program;
            (2) a plan to monitor and evaluate each music-related 
        exchange program and progress made toward achieving such goals, 
        targets, and planned outcomes, including measurable benchmarks;
            (3) a plan to ensure that music-related exchange programs 
        are promoting United States foreign policy objectives, 
        including ensuring such programs are clearly branded and paired 
        with robust public diplomacy efforts;
            (4) a plan to pursue partnerships with the private sector 
        while implementing music-related exchange programs, including 
        leveraging industry expertise and expanding networking and 
        mentorship opportunities for program participants; and
            (5)(A) examples of how ECA's music-related exchange 
        programs have contributed to conflict resolution and 
        peacebuilding efforts to date, including through participant 
        and alumni actions;
            (B) a description of lessons learned regarding how to 
        better encourage conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts 
        through ECA's music-related exchange programs; and
            (C) a plan to incorporate such lessons learned into 
        relevant current and future programming.
    (b) Consultation.--In developing the strategy required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall consult with the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate, as well as relevant private sector 
partners.
    (c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate.
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