Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021
Bill: S.2967 | Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the position of Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs within the Department of State. The position shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of matters pertaining to foreign policy in the Arctic, including trade, the environment, and political-military affairs.

To establish an Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs.

    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 ``Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ARCTIC AFFAIRS.

    Section 1(c) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 
(22 U.S.C. 2651a(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``not more than 24 
        Assistant Secretaries of State'' and inserting ``not more than 
        25 Assistant Secretaries of State'';
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(4) Assistant secretary of state for arctic affairs.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There is authorized to be in the 
                Department of State an Assistant Secretary of State for 
                Arctic Affairs, who shall be responsible to the 
                Secretary of State and the Under Secretary of State for 
                Political Affairs 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.
                    ``(B) Areas of responsibility.--The Assistant 
                Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs shall maintain 
                continuous observation and coordination of all matters 
                pertaining to energy, environment, trade, 
                infrastructure development and maintenance, 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:
                            ``(i) National security.
                            ``(ii) Strengthening cooperation among 
                        Arctic countries.
                            ``(iii) The promotion of responsible 
                        natural resource management and economic 
                        development.
                            ``(iv) Protecting the Arctic environment 
                        and conserving its biological resources.
                            ``(v) Arctic indigenous peoples, including 
                        by involving them in decisions that affect 
                        them.
                            ``(vi) Scientific monitoring and research.
                    ``(C) Additional duties.--In addition to the 
                responsibilities specified in subparagraph (B), the 
                Assistant Secretary for Arctic Affairs shall also carry 
                out such other relevant duties as the Secretary may 
                assign.
                    ``(D) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
                            ``(i) Arctic region.--The term `Arctic 
                        region' means--
                                    ``(I) the geographic region north 
                                of the 66.56083 parallel latitude north 
                                of the equator;
                                    ``(II) all the United States 
                                territory north and west of the 
                                boundary formed by the Porcupine, 
                                Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers;
                                    ``(III) all contiguous seas, 
                                including the Arctic Ocean and the 
                                Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and
                                    ``(IV) the Aleutian Chain.
                            ``(ii) 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.''.
                                 <all>