S.Amdt. 2706

SA 2706. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2025 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:

At the end of title XII, add the following:

Subtitle G--Western Hemisphere Partnership Act

SEC. 1294. SHORT TITLE.

This subtitle may be cited as the ``Western Hemisphere
Partnership Act''.

SEC. 1295. UNITED STATES POLICY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

It is the policy of the United States to promote economic
competitiveness, democratic governance, and security in the
Western Hemisphere by--
(1) encouraging stronger economic relations, respect for
property rights, the rule of law, and enforceable investment
rules and labor and environmental standards;
(2) advancing the principles and practices expressed in the
Charter of the Organization of American States, the American
Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, and the Inter-
American Democratic Charter; and
(3) enhancing the capacity and technical capabilities of
democratic partner nation government institutions, including
civilian law enforcement, the judiciary, attorneys general,
and security forces.

SEC. 1296. PROMOTING SECURITY AND THE RULE OF LAW IN THE
WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination
with the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, should
support the improvement of security conditions and the rule
of law in the Western Hemisphere through collaborative
efforts with democratic partners that--
(1) enhance the institutional capacity and technical
capabilities of defense and security institutions in
democratic partner nations to conduct national or regional
security missions, including through regular bilateral and
multilateral engagements, foreign military sales and
financing, international military education and training
programs, expanding the National Guard State Partnership
Programs, and other means;
(2) provide technical assistance and material support
(including, as appropriate, radars, vessels, and
communications equipment) to relevant security forces to
disrupt, degrade, and dismantle organizations involved in the
illicit trafficking of narcotics and precursor chemicals,
transnational criminal activities, illicit mining, and
illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and other
illicit activities;
(3) enhance the institutional capacity, legitimacy, and
technical capabilities of relevant civilian law enforcement,
attorneys general, and judicial institutions to--
(A) strengthen the rule of law and transparent governance;
(B) combat corruption and kleptocracy in the region; and
(C) improve regional cooperation to disrupt, degrade, and
dismantle transnational organized criminal networks and
terrorist organizations, including through training,
anticorruption initiatives, anti-money laundering programs,
and strengthening cyber capabilities and resources;
(4) enhance port management and maritime security
partnerships and airport management and aviation security
partnerships to disrupt, degrade, and dismantle transnational
criminal networks and facilitate the legitimate flow of
people, goods, and services;
(5) strengthen cooperation to improve border security
across the Western Hemisphere, dismantle human smuggling and
trafficking networks, and increase cooperation to
demonstrably strengthen migration management systems;
(6) counter the malign influence of state and non-state
actors and disinformation campaigns;
(7) disrupt illicit domestic and transnational financial
networks;
(8) foster mechanisms for cooperation on emergency
preparedness and rapid recovery from natural disasters,
including by--
(A) supporting regional preparedness, recovery, and
emergency management centers to facilitate rapid response to
survey and help maintain planning on regional disaster
anticipated needs and possible resources;
(B) training disaster recovery officials on latest
techniques and lessons learned from United States
experiences;
(C) making available, preparing, and transferring on-hand
nonlethal supplies, and providing training on the use of such
supplies, for humanitarian or health purposes to respond to
unforeseen emergencies; and
(D) conducting medical support operations and medical
humanitarian missions, such as hospital ship deployments and
base-operating services, to the extent required by the
operation;
(9) foster regional mechanisms for early warning and
response to pandemics in the Western Hemisphere, including
through--
(A) improved cooperation with and research by the United
States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through
regional pandemic response centers;
(B) personnel exchanges for technology transfer and skills
development; and
(C) surveying and mapping of health networks to build local
health capacity;
(10) promote the meaningful participation of women across
all political processes, including conflict prevention and
conflict resolution and post-conflict relief and recovery
efforts; and
(11) hold accountable actors that violate political and
civil rights.
(b) Limitations on Use of Technologies.--Operational
technologies transferred pursuant to subsection (a) to
partner governments for intelligence, defense, or law
enforcement purposes shall be used solely for the purposes
for which the technology was intended. The United States
shall take steps to ensure that the use of such operational
technologies is consistent with United States law, including
protections of freedom of expression, freedom of movement,
and freedom of association.
(c) Strategy.--

[[Page S5003]]

(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in
coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal
agencies, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations
of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives a 5-year strategy to promote
security and the rule of law in the Western Hemisphere in
accordance to this section.
(2) Elements.--The strategy required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following elements:
(A) A detailed assessment of the resources required to
carry out such collaborative efforts.
(B) Annual benchmarks to track progress and obstacles in
undertaking such collaborative efforts.
(C) A public diplomacy component to engage the people of
the Western Hemisphere with the purpose of demonstrating that
the security of their countries is enhanced to a greater
extent through alignment with the United States and
democratic values rather than with authoritarian countries
such as the People's Republic of China, the Russian
Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
(3) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after submission of
the strategy required under paragraph (1), and annually
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall provide to the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
a briefing on the implementation of the strategy.

SEC. 1297. PROMOTING DIGITALIZATION AND CYBERSECURITY IN THE
WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

The Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of
other relevant Federal agencies, should promote
digitalization and cybersecurity in the Western Hemisphere
through collaborative efforts with democratic partners that--
(1) promote digital connectivity and facilitate e-commerce
by expanding access to information and communications
technology (ICT) supply chains that adhere to high-quality
security and reliability standards, including--
(A) to open market access on a national treatment,
nondiscriminatory basis; and
(B) to strengthen the cybersecurity and cyber resilience of
partner countries;
(2) advance the provision of digital government services
(e-government) that, to the greatest extent possible, promote
transparency, lower business costs, and expand citizens'
access to public services and public information; and
(3) develop robust cybersecurity partnerships to--
(A) promote the inclusion of components and architectures
in information and communications technology (ICT) supply
chains from participants in initiatives that adhere to high-
quality security and reliability standards;
(B) share best practices to mitigate cyber threats to
critical infrastructure from ICT architectures from foreign
countries of concern as defined in section 10612(a)(1) of the
Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42
U.S.C. 19221(a)(1)), foreign entities of concern as defined
in section 10612(a)(2) of the Research and Development,
Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19221(a)(2)), and
by technology providers that supply equipment and services
covered under section 2 of the Secure and Trusted
Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1601);
(C) effectively respond to cybersecurity threats, including
state-sponsored threats; and
(D) to strengthen resilience against cyberattacks and
cybercrime.

SEC. 1298. PROMOTING ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS IN
THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

The Secretary of State, in coordination with the United
States Trade Representative, the Chief Executive Officer of
the Development Finance Corporation, and the heads of other
relevant Federal agencies, should support the improvement of
economic conditions in the Western Hemisphere through
collaborative efforts with democratic partners that--
(1) facilitate a more open, transparent, and competitive
environment for United States businesses and promote robust
and comprehensive trade capacity-building and trade
facilitation by--
(A) reducing trade and nontariff barriers between the
countries in the region, establishing a mechanism for
pursuing Mutual Recognition Agreements and Formalized
Regulatory Cooperation Agreements in priority sectors of the
economy;
(B) building relationships and exchanges between relevant
regulatory bodies in the United States and democratic
partners in the Western Hemisphere to promote best practices
and transparency in rulemaking, implementation, and
enforcement, and provide training and assistance to help
improve supply chain management in the Western Hemisphere;
(C) establishing regional fora for identifying, raising,
and addressing supply chain management issues, including
infrastructure needs and strengthening of investment rules
and regulatory frameworks;
(D) establishing a dedicated program of trade missions and
reverse trade missions to increase commercial contacts and
ties between the United States and Western Hemisphere partner
countries; and
(E) strengthening labor and environmental standards in the
region;
(2) establish frameworks or mechanisms to review and
address the long-term financial sustainability and national
security implications of foreign investments in strategic
sectors or services;
(3) establish competitive and transparent infrastructure
project selection and procurement processes that promote
transparency, open competition, financial sustainability, and
robust adherence to global standards and norms;
(4) advance robust and comprehensive energy production and
integration, including through a more open, transparent, and
competitive environment for United States companies competing
in the Western Hemisphere; and
(5) explore opportunities to partner with the private
sector and multilateral institutions, such as the World Bank
and the Inter-American Development Bank, to promote universal
access to reliable and affordable electricity in the Western
Hemisphere.

SEC. 1299. PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development and heads of other relevant Federal agencies,
should support transparent, accountable, and democratic
governance in the Western Hemisphere through collaborative
efforts with democratic partners that--
(1) strengthen the capacity of national electoral
institutions to ensure free, fair, and transparent electoral
processes, including through pre-election assessment
missions, technical assistance, and independent local and
international election monitoring and observation missions;
(2) enhance the capabilities of democratically elected
national legislatures, parliamentary bodies, and autonomous
regulatory institutions to conduct oversight;
(3) strengthen the capacity of subnational government
institutions to govern in a transparent, accountable, and
democratic manner, including through training and technical
assistance;
(4) combat corruption at local and national levels,
including through trainings, cooperation agreements,
initiatives aimed at dismantling corrupt networks, and
political support for bilateral or multilateral
anticorruption mechanisms that strengthen attorneys general
and prosecutors' offices;
(5) strengthen the capacity of civil society to conduct
oversight of government institutions, build the capacity of
independent professional journalism, facilitate substantive
dialogue with government and the private sector to generate
issue-based policies, and mobilize local resources to carry
out such activities;
(6) promote the meaningful and significant participation of
women in democratic processes, including in national and
subnational government and civil society; and
(7) support the creation of procedures for the Organization
of American States (OAS) to create an annual forum for
democratically elected national legislatures from OAS member
States to discuss issues of hemispheric importance, as
expressed in section 4 of the Organization of American States
Legislative Engagement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-343).

SEC. 1299A. INVESTMENT, TRADE, AND DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN
AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN.

(a) Strategy Required.--
(1) In general.--The President shall establish a
comprehensive United States strategy for public and private
investment, trade, and development in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
(2) Focus of strategy.--The strategy required by paragraph
(1) shall focus on increasing exports of United States goods
and services to Latin America and the Caribbean by 200
percent in real dollar value by the date that is 10 years
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Consultations.--In developing the strategy required by
paragraph (1), the President should consult with--
(A) Congress;
(B) each agency that is a member of the Trade Promotion
Coordinating Committee;
(C) the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of
Commerce, and the United States Executive Director of the
Inter-American Development Bank;
(D) each agency that participates in the Trade Policy Staff
Committee established;
(E) the President's Export Council;
(F) each of the development agencies;
(G) any other Federal agencies with responsibility for
export promotion or financing and development; and
(H) the private sector, including businesses,
nongovernmental organizations, and Latin American and
Caribbean diaspora groups.
(4) Submission to appropriate congressional committees.--
(A) Strategy.--Not later than 200 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to
Congress the strategy required by subsection (a).
(B) Progress report.--Not later than 3 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to
Congress a report on the implementation of the strategy
required by paragraph (1).
(b) Training.--The President shall develop a plan--
(1) to standardize the training received by United States
and Foreign Commercial Service officers, economic officers of
the Department of State, and economic officers of the United
States Agency for International Development with respect to
the programs and

[[Page S5004]]

procedures of the Export-Import Bank of the United States,
the United States International Development Finance
Corporation, the Small Business Administration, and the
United States Trade and Development Agency; and
(2) to ensure that, not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act--
(A) all United States and Foreign Commercial Service
officers that are stationed overseas receive the training
described in paragraph (1); and
(B) in the case of a country to which no United States and
Foreign Commercial Service officer is assigned, any economic
officer of the Department of State stationed in that country
receives that training.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Finance, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Ways
and Means, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the
House of Representatives.
(2) Development agencies.--The term ``development
agencies'' means the United States Department of State, the
United States Agency for International Development, the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States
International Development Finance Corporation, the United
States Trade and Development Agency, and the United States
Department of Agriculture.
(3) Trade policy staff committee.--The term ``Trade Policy
Staff Committee'' means the Trade Policy Staff Committee
established pursuant to section 2002.2 of title 15, Code of
Federal Regulations.
(4) Trade promotion coordinating committee.--The term
``Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee'' means the Trade
Promotion Coordinating Committee established under section
2312 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727).
(5) United states and foreign commercial service.--The term
``United States and Foreign Commercial Service'' means the
United States and Foreign Commercial Service established by
section 2301 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C.
4721).

SEC. 1299B. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PRIORITIZING NOMINATION AND
CONFIRMATION OF QUALIFIED AMBASSADORS.

It is the sense of Congress that it is critically important
that both the President and the Senate play their respective
roles to nominate and confirm qualified ambassadors as
quickly as possible.

SEC. 1299C. WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEFINED.

In this subtitle, the term ``Western Hemisphere'' does not
include Cuba, Nicaragua, or Venezuela.

SEC. 1299D. REPORT ON EFFORTS TO CAPTURE AND DETAIN UNITED
STATES CITIZENS AS HOSTAGES.

(a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on efforts by the Maduro regime of
Venezuela to detain United States citizens and lawful
permanent residents.
(b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall
include, regarding the arrest, capture, detainment, and
imprisonment of United States citizens and lawful permanent
residents--
(1) the names, positions, and institutional affiliation of
Venezuelan individuals, or those acting on their behalf, who
have engaged in such activities;
(2) a description of any role played by transnational
criminal organizations, and an identification of such
organizations; and
(3) where relevant, an assessment of whether and how United
States citizens and lawful permanent residents have been
lured to Venezuela.
(c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form, but shall include a
classified annex, which shall include a list of the total
number of United States citizens and lawful permanent
residents detained or imprisoned in Venezuela as of the date
on which the report is submitted.
______