Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013

Bill: 113-s-793
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2013-04-24 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Latin America
Rule of law and government transparency
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Western Hemisphere

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-24
text: 
Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a multiyear strategy that: (1) identifies a path toward the adoption of necessary reforms that prioritize the core competencies of the Organization of America States (OAS), (2) outlines a results-based budgeting process to prioritize current and future mandates and transparent hiring and promotion practices, and (3) reflects the inputs and coordination from other executive branch agencies.
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out diplomatic engagement to build support for reforms and budgetary burden sharing among OAS member states and observers, (2) promote donor coordination among OAS member states, and (3) help set OAS priorities.

action_date: 2013-07-08
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 - States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) promote democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the Western Hemisphere; and (2) support the practices and principles expressed in the Charter of the Organization of American States, the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and other fundamental instruments of democracy.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Organization of American States (OAS) should be the primary multi-lateral diplomatic entity for regional dispute resolution and promotion of democratic governance. 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a multiyear strategy that: (1) identifies a path toward the adoption of necessary reforms that prioritize the core competencies of the OAS, (2) outlines a results-based budgeting process to prioritize current and future mandates and transparent hiring and promotion practices, and (3) reflects the inputs and coordination from other executive branch agencies. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out diplomatic engagement to build support for reforms and budgetary burden sharing among OAS member states and observers, (2) promote donor coordination among OAS member states, and (3) help set OAS priorities.

action_date: 2013-09-17
text: 
Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 - States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) promote democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the Western Hemisphere; and (2) support the practices and principles expressed in the Charter of the Organization of American States, the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and other fundamental instruments of democracy.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Organization of American States (OAS) should be the primary multi-lateral diplomatic entity for regional dispute resolution and promotion of democratic governance; (2) the Summit of the Americas process should be formally and more effectively integrated into the work of the OAS, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other Members of the Joint Summit Working Group; (3) the OAS has historically accepted too many member state mandates creating unclear priorities and loss of institutional focus; and (4) it is in the interest of the United States and the OAS and its member states to move toward an assessed fee structure that assures financial sustainability and establishes, within five years, that no member state pays more than 50% of the organization's assessed fees. 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a multiyear strategy that: (1) leads to such assessed fee structure, (2) identifies a path toward the adoption of necessary reforms that prioritize the core competencies of the OAS, (3) outlines a results-based budgeting process to prioritize current and future mandates and transparent hiring and promotion practices, and (4) reflects the inputs and coordination from other executive branch agencies. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out diplomatic engagement to build support for reforms and budgetary burden sharing among OAS member states and observers, and (2) promote donor coordination among OAS member states. 

action_date: 2013-10-02
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 17, 2013. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 - States that it is U.S. policy to: (1) promote democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the Western Hemisphere; and (2) support the practices and principles expressed in the Charter of the Organization of American States, the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and other fundamental instruments of democracy.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the Organization of American States (OAS) should be the primary multi-lateral diplomatic entity for regional dispute resolution and promotion of democratic governance; (2) the Summit of the Americas process should be formally and more effectively integrated into the work of the OAS, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other Members of the Joint Summit Working Group; (3) the OAS has historically accepted too many member state mandates creating unclear priorities and loss of institutional focus; and (4) it is in the interest of the United States and the OAS and its member states to move toward an assessed fee structure that assures financial sustainability and establishes, within five years, that no member state pays more than 50% of the organization's assessed fees. 
 
Directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a multiyear strategy that: (1) leads to such assessed fee structure, (2) identifies a path toward the adoption of necessary reforms that prioritize the core competencies of the OAS, (3) outlines a results-based budgeting process to prioritize current and future mandates and transparent hiring and promotion practices, and (4) reflects the inputs and coordination from other executive branch agencies. 
 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) carry out diplomatic engagement to build support for reforms and budgetary burden sharing among OAS member states and observers, and (2) promote donor coordination among OAS member states.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-10-02
text: Became Public Law No: 113-41.
action_date: 2013-10-02
text: Became Public Law No: 113-41.
action_date: 2013-10-02
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-10-02
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-09-26
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-09-26
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-09-26
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2013-09-25
text: Senate agreed to House amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR 9/24/2013 S6901)
action_date: 2013-09-25
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR 9/24/2013 S6901)
action_date: 2013-09-18
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
action_date: 2013-09-17
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 383 - 24 (Roll no. 462). (text: CR H5567-5568)
action_date: 2013-09-17
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 383 - 24 (Roll no. 462).(text: CR H5567-5568)
action_date: 2013-09-17
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5574-5575)
action_date: 2013-09-17
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2013-09-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 793.
action_date: 2013-09-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5567-5569)
action_date: 2013-09-17
text: Mr. Royce moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2013-07-24
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2013-07-24
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-07-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2013-07-09
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2013-07-09
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2013-07-08
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5529-5530; text as passed Senate: CR S5529-5530)
action_date: 2013-07-08
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5529-5530; text as passed Senate: CR S5529-5530)
action_date: 2013-06-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 87.
action_date: 2013-06-13
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez without amendment. With written report No. 113-43.
action_date: 2013-06-13
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez without amendment. With written report No. 113-43.
action_date: 2013-05-14
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2013-04-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2013-04-24
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 113-41