S.Amdt. 1978

SA 1978. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to
establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the
National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub
program, to require a strategy and report on economic security,
science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to
establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

Beginning on page 1071, strike line 3 and all that follows
through page 1075, line 3, and insert the following:
(8) Coordinating with relevant third countries to identify
other avenues to assist the partner country, minimize beggar-
thy-neighbor trade disruptions, and build shared awareness of
and resilience to economic coercion.
(b) Institutional Support.--The pilot program required by
subsection (a) should include the following elements:
(1) Identification and designation of relevant personnel
within the United States Government with expertise relevant
to the objectives specified in subsection (a), including
personnel in--
(A) the Department of State, for overseeing the economic
defense response team's activities, engaging with the partner
country government and other stakeholders, and other purposes
relevant to advancing the success of the mission of the
economic defense response team;
(B) the United States Agency for International Development,
for the purposes of providing technical, humanitarian, and
other assistance, generally;
(C) the Department of the Treasury, for the purposes of
providing advisory support and assistance on all financial
matters and fiscal implications of the crisis at hand;
(D) the Department of Commerce, for the purposes of
providing economic analysis and assistance in market
development relevant to the partner country's response to the
crisis at hand, technology security as appropriate, and other
matters that may be relevant;
(E) the Department of Energy, for the purposes of providing
advisory services and technical assistance with respect to
energy needs as affected by the crisis at hand;
(F) the Department of Homeland Security, for the purposes
of providing assistance with respect to digital and
cybersecurity matters, and assisting in the development of
any contingency plans referred to in paragraphs (3) and (6)
of subsection (a) as appropriate;
(G) the Department of Agriculture, for providing advisory
and other assistance with respect to responding to coercive
measures such as arbitrary market closures that affect the
partner country's agricultural sector;
(H) the Office of the United States Trade Representative
with respect to providing support and guidance on trade and
investment matters; and
(I) other Federal departments and agencies as determined by
the President.
(2) Negotiation of memoranda of understanding, where
appropriate, with other United States Government components
for the provision of any relevant participating or detailed
non-Department of State personnel identified under paragraph
(1).
(3) Negotiation of contracts, as appropriate, with private
sector representatives or other individuals with relevant
expertise to advance the objectives specified in subsection
(a).
(4) Development within the United States Government of--
(A) appropriate training curricula for relevant experts
identified under paragraph (1) and for United States
diplomatic personnel in a country actually or potentially
threatened by coercive economic measures;
(B) operational procedures and appropriate protocols for
the rapid assembly of such experts into one or more teams for
deployment to a country actually or potentially threatened by
coercive economic measures; and
(C) procedures for ensuring appropriate support for such
teams when serving in a country actually or potentially
threatened by coercive economic measures, including, as

[[Page S3432]]

applicable, logistical assistance, office space, information
support, and communications.
(5) Negotiation with relevant potential host countries of
procedures and methods for ensuring the rapid and effective
deployment of such teams, and the establishment of
appropriate liaison relationships with local public and
private sector officials and entities.
(c) Reports Required.--
(1) Report on establishment.--Upon establishment of the
pilot program required by subsection (a), the Secretary of
State shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress
with a detailed report and briefing describing the pilot
program, the major elements of the program, the personnel and
institutions involved, and the degree to which the program
incorporates the elements described in subsection (a).
(2) Follow-up report and strategy.--Not later than one year
after the report required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of
State shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress
with--
(A) a detailed report and briefing describing the
operations over the previous year of the pilot program
established pursuant to subsection (a), as well as the
Secretary's assessment of its performance and suitability for
becoming a permanent program; and
(B) a strategy for building shared resilience to economic
coercion among partners that includes steps that could be
taken in addition to or instead of such pilot program.
______