Madeleine K. Albright Democracy in the 21st Century Act

Bill: 117-s-3317
Sponsor: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Introduced: 2021-12-06 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
China
Computer security and identity theft
Congressional oversight
Detention of persons
Digital media
Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
Europe
Foreign aid and international relief
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Human rights
International organizations and cooperation
Internet, web applications, social media
News media and reporting
Protest and dissent
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Rule of law and government transparency
Russia
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Subversive activities

Summary:
action_date: 2021-12-06
text: 

Democracy in the 21st Century Act

 
This bill authorizes actions to promote democracy abroad and addresses related issues.
 
The Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) may each establish a Fund to Defend Democracy Globally. The funds may be used for various purposes, including to enhance the ability of the State Department and USAID to respond quickly and flexibly to democratic openings and backsliding. 
 
USAID may establish a Fund to Combat Corruption and Kleptocracy. The fund may be used to support efforts to enhance government transparency, improve the detection of corruption crimes, and other related activities.
 
USAID may also establish a Democracy Research and Development Fund. The fund may be used for various purposes, such as to support research and development by the State Department, USAID, and the National Endowment for Democracy relating to democracy promotion abroad. 
 
The funds authorized by this bill may accept contributions from international donors and the private sector. 
 
U.S. government assistance for democracy programs shall not be subject to the prior approval of any foreign government. 
 
The bill also requires the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and USAID's Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation to serve as the primary U.S. representatives on international issues relating to democracy programs and advancing democracy abroad.
 
The President must report to Congress a comprehensive strategy to promote democracy abroad.

action_date: 2022-07-21
text: 

Madeleine K. Albright Democracy in the 21st Century Act 

 
This bill establishes programs to promote democracy abroad, authorizes Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) democracy programs from FY2023 through FY2027, and addresses related issues.
 
The State Department must establish programs (1) to defend democracy globally, including by enhancing the ability of the State Department and USAID to respond quickly and flexibly to democratic openings and backsliding; (2) to support efforts to enhance government transparency and other activities related to reducing corruption; and (3) for democracy research and development, such as activities to drive innovation in State Department, USAID, and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) responses to complex challenges to democracy. 
 
The bill establishes the Democracy in the 21st Century Fund, to be administered by the State Department, to support the programs established by this bill and other related activities.
 
U.S. government assistance for democracy programs shall not be subject to the prior approval of any foreign government. 
 
The bill also protects the identities of implementing partners of certain State Department, USAID, and NED assistance programs in countries that are undemocratic or have engaged in gross violations of civil and political rights, including by exempting the names of partners for democracy programs in such countries from Freedom of Information Act requests. 
 
The President must report to Congress a comprehensive strategy to promote democracy abroad.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 456.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-07-21
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-07-19
text: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2021-12-06
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2021-12-06
text: Introduced in Senate