S.Amdt. 5441

SA 5441. Mr. REID (for Mr. Biden (for himself and Mr. Lugar)) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by Mr. Reid to the bill S. 3001, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

On page 360, after line 20, add the following:

Subtitle E--Other Matters SEC. 1241. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA REGIONAL COOPERATION.

(a) Statement of Policy.--Congress declares that it is in the national interest of the United States that the countries of South and Central Asia work together to address common challenges hampering the stability, security, and development of their region and to enhance their cooperation.

(b) Establishment.--The President shall, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint a special envoy to promote closer cooperation between the countries of South and Central Asia. The special envoy shall have the rank of ambassador.

(c) Duties.--

(1) In general.--The primary responsibility of the special envoy shall be to coordinate United States policy on issues relating to strengthening and facilitating relations between the nations of South and Central Asia for the benefit of stability and economic growth in the region.

(2) Advisory role.--The special envoy shall advise the President and the Secretary of State, as appropriate, and, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, shall make recommendations regarding effective strategies and tactics to achieve United States policy objectives to--

(A) stem cross-border terrorist activities;

(B) provide assistance to refugees to ensure orderly and voluntary repatriation from neighboring states;

(C) bolster people-to-people ties and economic cooperation between the nations of South and Central Asia, including bilateral trade relations;

(D) explore opportunities to anticipate and seek solutions to critical cross-border issues; and

(E) offer comprehensive efforts to support effective counter-narcotics strategies in South and Central Asia.