H.R. 2000

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2000 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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).
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