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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2000 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2000
To establish a program to monitor the Arctic region, promote United
States interests in that region, and combat Russian, Chinese, and other
foreign malign influence in the region.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2025
Mr. Keating (for himself, Mr. Castro of Texas, Mr. Huizenga, and Mr.
Amodei of Nevada) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to monitor the Arctic region, promote United
States interests in that region, and combat Russian, Chinese, and other
foreign malign influence in the region.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Arctic Watchers Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Arctic region is a critical region for United
States national security which presents both risks and
opportunities for United States security, economic, natural
resource, cyber, and geopolitical interests around the world;
and
(2) the People's Republic of China and the Russian
Federation seek to undermine United States interests in that
region and it is incumbent upon the United States to counter
Chinese and Russian influence in all sectors in the region.
SEC. 3. ARCTIC WATCHER PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the
Secretary of Defense, shall establish and carry out a program in the
Department of State, to be known as the ``Arctic Watcher Program'',
to--
(1) monitor the Arctic region across the security,
military, economic, natural resource, cyber, scientific, and
political sectors in foreign countries;
(2) monitor and combat People's Republic of China, Russian
Federation, and other malign influence campaigns across that
region that impact United States national security, European
security, and Indo-Pacific security that pose a threat to the
rules-based order, and undermine United States interests in the
region;
(3) strengthen the capacity of the United States to engage
with foreign countries and regional and international
mechanisms with stakes in that region and protect the region
for future generations; and
(4) strengthen United States energy security, cyber
security and economic interests in that region including in the
critical minerals and natural resources sectors.
(b) Assignment.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the program required by
subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with
the Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs, shall
assign individuals, to be known as ``Arctic Watchers'', to the
following posts:
(A) At least 3 posts in European countries with
significant interests in the Arctic region.
(B) At least one post in North American countries
with significant interests in the Arctic region.
(C) Other posts as designated by the Secretary of
State deemed necessary for promoting the activities of
the program.
(2) Notification.--The Secretary of State shall notify the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate upon
assigning individuals to be Arctic Watchers under paragraph
(1).
(c) Other Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--The Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for
Arctic Affairs shall provide policy guidance to Arctic Watchers
under subsection (b) to further United States interests in the
Arctic region and to carry out the activities of the program
required by subsection (a).
(2) Report.--Each post required by subsection (b)(1) shall,
in consultation with the Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for
Arctic Affairs, prepare and submit to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate an annual report that--
(A) outlines the steps the post and the Arctic
Watcher assigned to that post have taken to advance the
program required by subsection (a); and
(B) identifies goals for the Arctic Watcher for the
following year to further advance such program.
(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State
shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
report that includes--
(1) a detailed breakdown of posts at which staff are
assigned the role of Arctic Watcher;
(2) the responsibilities to which they have been assigned;
and
(3) the strategies developed by the chief of mission, as
applicable.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year
thereafter to carry out this section.
SEC. 4. ARCTIC REGION DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``Arctic region'' has the meaning given that
term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act (15 U.S.C.
4111).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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