Title: African Descent Affairs Act of 2017
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
African Descent Affairs Act of 2017
This bill amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to direct the Department of State to establish within an Office of Global African Descent Affairs, to be headed by the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs.
Office functions shall include:
The bill amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include in the annual human rights report for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East a description of the status and the people of African descent in each country.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) shall appoint a Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Global African Descent Affairs who shall: (1) advise the AID Administrator and direct policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights and advancement of people of African descent internationally; and (2) develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for monitoring and evaluating foreign assistance for people of African descent.
The Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs shall develop or update annually (for 10 years after the initial report) a U.S. global strategy to empower, prevent, and respond to discrimination and violence against people of African descent.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1570 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1570

   To provide for the establishment of a global affairs strategy and 
   assistance for people of African descent, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2017

 Mr. Hastings (for himself, Mr. Richmond, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
  Texas, Mr. Butterfield, Ms. Norton, Mr. Cohen, Ms. Lee, Ms. Jackson 
 Lee, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Plaskett, Ms. Bass, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Mr. 
 Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Serrano, and Mr. Rush) introduced the following 
      bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the establishment of a global affairs strategy and 
   assistance for people of African descent, 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 ``African Descent Affairs Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The struggle to end discrimination against people of 
        African descent is a global challenge, and one that is central 
        to the United States commitment to human rights.
            (2) Targeted exclusion, violence, and discrimination 
        against people of African descent continues around the world.
            (3) Issues range from the fight for ancestral lands in 
        Latin America, hate crimes resulting in injury and death in 
        Europe, to profiling and excessive use of force by law 
        enforcement in the United States, and continuing global 
        disparities in health, education, employment, housing, and 
        other sectors.
            (4) It is imperative that the world actively address the 
        vestiges of slavery and colonialism that have long hindered 
        racial equality and justice and prevented the recognition of 
        the important contributions of people of African descent to the 
        world.
            (5) The International Decade for People of African Descent, 
        from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2025, offers an 
        opportunity to address these issues domestically and globally 
        through coordinated government and civil society strategies, 
        that include the private sector.

SEC. 3. ACTIVITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

    (a) Office of Global African Descent Affairs.--Title I of the State 
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 64. OFFICE OF GLOBAL AFRICAN DESCENT AFFAIRS.

    ``(a) Establishment of Office.--Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of State shall 
establish within the Department of State an Office of Global African 
Descent Affairs (in this section referred to as the `Office') in the 
Bureau of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.
    ``(b) Head of Office.--
            ``(1) In general.--The head of the Office shall be the 
        Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African 
        Descent Affairs (in this section referred to as the `Special 
        Advisor').
            ``(2) Appointment.--The Director shall be appointed by the 
        Secretary.
    ``(c) Other Personnel.--The Office shall be supported by two senior 
Foreign Service officers.
    ``(d) Functions.--The functions of the Office shall include the 
following:
            ``(1) Advise the Secretary and direct activities, policies, 
        programs, and funding relating to the human rights and the 
        advancement of people of African descent internationally, for 
        all bureaus and offices of the Department of State and shall 
        lead the coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of relevant 
        international programs for all other Federal agencies.
            ``(2) Represent the United States in diplomatic matters 
        relevant to the human rights of people of African descent in 
        contacts with foreign governments, intergovernmental 
        organizations, and specialized agencies of the United Nations, 
        the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, other 
        international organizations of which the United States is a 
        member, and relevant multilateral conferences and meetings.
            ``(3) Lead efforts to promote an international focus on 
        racial equality more broadly, including through diplomatic 
        initiatives with other countries and partnerships and regular 
        and enhanced coordination with international and 
        nongovernmental organizations and the private sector.
            ``(4) Develop and manage the Fund for African Descent 
        Affairs, established under section 3(c) of the African Descent 
        Affairs Act of 2017, for the purpose of investing in efficient 
        and innovative solutions to combat racial discrimination and 
        create economic and other opportunities for people of African 
        descent internationally.
            ``(5) Develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for 
        monitoring and evaluating foreign policy assistance for people 
        of African descent in Federal agencies.
            ``(6) Direct, as appropriate, United States Government 
        resources to respond to needs for protection, integration, 
        resettlement, and empowerment of people of African descent in 
        United States Government policies and international programs, 
        including to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence 
        against people of African descent internationally.
            ``(7) Develop and coordinate United States Government 
        international efforts related to the implementation of the 
        International Decade for People of African Descent and submit 
        annual reports to Congress on these efforts.
            ``(8) Work in collaboration with the Race, Ethnicity, and 
        Social Inclusion Unit in the Western Hemisphere Bureau and 
        consult with the Bureau of African Affairs.
            ``(9) Compile an annual report on activities of the United 
        States Government relating to people of African descent to 
        fulfill the requirements of this section and the African 
        Descent Affairs Act of 2017.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        `appropriate congressional committees' means--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
            ``(2) People of african descent.--The term `people of 
        African descent' has the meaning given the term in section 5 of 
        the African Descent Affairs Act of 2017.''.
    (b) Annual Human Rights Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is 
        amended--
                    (A) in section 116 (22 U.S.C. 2151n), by adding at 
                the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Status of People of African Descent.--
            ``(1) In general.--The report required under subsection (d) 
        shall include, for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and 
        the Middle East, a description of the status of people of 
        African descent in each such country.
            ``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `people of 
        African descent' has the meaning given the term in section 5 of 
        the African Descent Affairs Act of 2017.''; and
                    (B) in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304)--
                            (i) by redesignating the second subsection 
                        (i) (as added by section 1207(b)(2) of Public 
                        Law 113-4) as subsection (j); and
                            (ii) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subsection:
    ``(k) Status of People of African Descent.--
            ``(1) In general.--The report required under subsection (b) 
        shall include, for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and 
        the Middle East, a description of the status of people of 
        African descent in each such country.
            ``(2) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `people of 
        African descent' has the meaning given the term in section 5 of 
        the African Descent Affairs Act of 2017.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply 
        with respect to reports required to be submitted under sections 
        116 and 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended 
        by this subsection, on or after such date of enactment.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of State $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
        2018 through 2028 to carry out this section and the amendments 
        made by this section.
            (2) Private contributions.--Notwithstanding any other 
        provision of law, the Secretary of State is authorized to 
        accept private contributions to carry out this section and the 
        amendments made by this section.
            (3) Designation.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) and private 
        contributions accepted under paragraph (2) may be referred to 
        as the ``Fund for African Descent Affairs''.

SEC. 4. ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Senior Advisor.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator of the United States 
        Agency for International Development shall appoint within the 
        immediate office of the Administrator a Senior Advisor to the 
        Administrator on Global African Descent Affairs (in this 
        section referred to as the ``Senior Advisor'').
            (2) Appointment.--The Senior Advisor shall be appointed by 
        the Administrator.
    (b) Functions.--The functions of the Senior Advisor shall include 
the following:
            (1) Advise the Administrator and direct activities, 
        policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights 
        and advancement of people of African descent internationally 
        for all bureaus and offices of the Agency.
            (2) Develop a racial and ethnic equality and empowerment 
        policy, strategy, and action plan for the Agency, in 
        consultation with civil society, that includes a focus on 
        people of African descent.
            (3) Serve as the Agency liaison to the Department of 
        State's Office of Global African Descent Affairs.
            (4) Develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for 
        monitoring and evaluating foreign assistance for people of 
        African descent in Federal agencies.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2018 through 2028 to carry out this section.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 
                Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) People of african descent.--The term ``people of 
        African descent'' means persons of African origin who are 
        residents of countries of the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the 
        Middle East.

SEC. 6. BRIEFINGS AND ASSESSMENTS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, and annually thereafter, the Director and Special Advisor to the 
Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs (appointed under section 64 
of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by 
section 3 of this Act))--
            (1) shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on 
        the status of the human rights, social inclusion, equality, and 
        empowerment of people of African descent internationally, as 
        well as the status of programs and response strategies to 
        address discrimination and violence against people of African 
        descent internationally; and
            (2) shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees an assessment of human and financial resources 
        necessary to fulfill the purposes and duties of this Act and 
        the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 7. UNITED STATES POLICY TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO DISCRIMINATION 
              AND VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT.

    (a) Global Strategy Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 10 
years, the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global 
African Descent Affairs shall develop or update a United States global 
strategy to empower, prevent, and respond to discrimination and 
violence against people of African descent. The strategy shall be 
transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees and, if 
practicable, made available to the public.
    (b) Collaboration and Coordination.--In developing the strategy 
under subsection (a), the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary 
on Global African Descent Affairs shall consult with--
            (1) the heads of relevant Federal agencies; and
            (2) representatives of civil society, multilateral, and 
        private sector organizations.

SEC. 8. SUNSET.

    This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall terminate on 
October 1, 2028.
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