Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-2967
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2021-10-07
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arctic Ocean

Arctic and polar regions

Bering Sea

Canada

Denmark

Department of State

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Economic development

Energy storage, supplies, demand

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Europe

Executive agency funding and structure

Federal officials

Finland

Iceland

Infrastructure development

International organizations and cooperation

Land use and conservation

Military operations and strategy

Norway

Research administration and funding

Russia

Sweden

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2021-10-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-10-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021</strong></p> <p>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. </p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2967 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 7, 2021 Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Mr. King , Mr. Cramer , Ms. Collins , Ms. Klobuchar , and Ms. Hassan ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To establish an Assistant Secretary of State for Arctic Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Arctic Diplomacy Act of 2021 . 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. .