,i #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ebdf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #aj1 #bjbe,ms4 ,salazar introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the political affairs authorities of the ,department of ,state1 and for other purposes4 ,,iii ,political ,affairs #cja4 ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs 7a7 ,establishment ,there shall be in the ,department an ,under ,secretary of ,state for ,political ,affairs who shall be responsible to the ,secretary of ,state for matters pertaining to regional and bilateral diplomacy1 and such other related duties as the ,secretary may from time to time designate4 7b7 ,responsibilities ,in addition to the responsibilities described under subsection 7a71 the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to the implementation of the foreign policy of the ,united ,states1 including1 as appropriate1 supporting the other ,under ,secretaries of ,state in implementing foreign policy4 #cjb4 ,authorization of appropriations for political affairs ,of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,state under section #ada1 the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs shall receive the funds necessary to fulfill the ,under ,secretary's responsibilities for fiscal years #bjbf and #bjbg4 #cjc4 ,congressional notification regarding changes to regional bureau jurisdiction 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ae days before the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs alters the geographic or functional jurisdiction of any regional bureau1 including by adding or removing countries under the purview of such bureau1 the ,under ,secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of such change1 including-- 7#a7 a justification for such change2 and 7#b7 a description of the expected operational1 programmatic1 or policy implications for any bureau affected by such change4 7b7 ,appropriate congressional committees defined ,in this section1 the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7#b7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate4 #cjd4 ,ambassador-at-,large for the ,arctic 7a7 ,establishment ,there shall be in the ,department an ,ambassador-at-,large for the ,arctic who shall be responsible to the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs for matters pertaining to the ,arctic region1 and such other related duties as such ,under ,secretary may from time to time designate4 7b7 ,responsibilities ,in addition to the responsibilities described under subsection 7a71 the ,ambassador-at-,large for the ,arctic shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to the ,arctic region in the conduct of foreign policy1 including-- 7#a7 energy exploration and development2 7#b7 environmental conservation2 7#c7 trade and economic development2 and 7#d7 infrastructure development and maintenance4 #cje4 ,ambassador-at-,large for the ,indian ,ocean ,region 7a7 ,establishment ,there is authorized to be in the ,department an ,ambassador-at-,large for the ,indian ,ocean ,region who shall be responsible to the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs for matters pertaining to the ,indian ,ocean region1 and such other related duties as the ,secretary may from time to time designate4 7b7 ,appointment ,not later than ,april #a1 #bjbf1 the ,president shall nominate an individual1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate1 to serve as the ,ambassador-at-,large for the ,indian ,ocean ,region1 who shall report directly to the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs4 7c7 ,responsibilities 7#a7 ,in general ,the primary responsibilities of the ,ambassador shall be to-- 7,a7 ensure harmonization and continuity of ,united ,states diplomatic efforts and assistance programs across ,indian ,ocean region countries2 7,b7 identify the diplomatic1 military1 economic1 and development lines of effort that are of greatest ,united ,states strategic interest in ,indian ,ocean region countries and reinforce ,united ,states diplomatic and interagency engagement with respect to such lines of effort2 and 7,c7 perform such other duties as the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs may from time to time designate4 7#b7 ,diplomatic representation ,subject to the direction of the ,president and the ,secretary1 the ,ambassador is authorized to represent the ,united ,states in matters and cases relevant to advancing ,united ,states strategic interests and foreign policy objectives across ,indian ,ocean region countries in-- 7,a7 contacts with regional governments1 intergovernmental organizations1 specialized agencies of the ,united ,nations1 the ,indian ,ocean ,rim ,association1 and other international organizations concerning ,indian ,ocean region countries of which the ,united ,states is a member or which the ,secretary of ,state may designate2 7,b7 multilateral conferences and meetings relevant to ,indian ,ocean region countries2 and 7,c7 contacts with nongovernmental organizations that influence ,united ,states interests in ,indian ,ocean region countries4 7#c7 ,coordination of responsibilities ,in order to advance ,united ,states interests across ,indian ,ocean region countries1 the ,ambassador-- 7,a7 shall coordinate efforts to advance ,united ,states strategic interests in ,indian ,ocean region countries within the ,department of ,state1 including between the ,assistant ,secretary for ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs1 the ,assistant ,secretary for ,south and ,central ,asian ,affairs1 the ,assistant ,secretary for ,near ,eastern ,affairs1 and the ,assistant ,secretary for ,african ,affairs2 and 7,b7 should participate in any interagency process described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74 #cjf4 ,assistant ,secretary for ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs ,there is authorized to be in the ,department an ,assistant ,secretary for ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs who shall be responsible to the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs for matters pertaining to ,east ,asia and the ,pacific1 and such other related duties as the ,secretary may from time to time designate4 #cjg4 ,authorization of ,appropriations for ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs under section #cjb1 the ,assistant ,secretary for ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs shall receive the funds necessary to fulfill ,bureau functions and the ,assistant ,secretary's responsibilities for fiscal years #bjbf and #bjbg4 7b7 ,administration of accounts ,the ,assistant ,secretary for ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs shall direct1 oversee1 and otherwise exercise responsibility of funds made available for the ,countering ,people's ,republic of ,china ,influence ,fund4 #cjh4 ,bureau of ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,state shall establish a ,bureau of ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs1 which shall perform such functions related to implementation of ,united ,states foreign policy and assistance to ,east ,asia and the ,pacific as the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs may prescribe4 7b7 ,head of ,bureau ,the ,assistant ,secretary for ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs shall be the head of the ,bureau of ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs4 7c7 ,east ,asia and the ,pacific defined ,in this ,act1 ,east ,asia and the ,pacific means any country which the ,under ,secretary designates as within the responsibility of the ,assistant ,secretary for ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs4 #cji4 ,countering ,,prc ,influence ,fund ,unit 7a7 ,countering ,,prc ,influence ,fund ,unit ,the ,secretary of ,state may establish and maintain a ,countering the ,,prc ,influence ,fund ,unit 7hereinafter referred to as the ,,cpif ,unit71 within the ,bureau of ,east ,asian and ,pacific ,affairs4 7b7 ,personnel 7#a7 ,composition ,the ,,cpif ,unit may be comprised of a ,director1 ,deputy ,director1 and additional staff as appropriate1 including a ,budget ,analyst1 a ,grant ,officer1 a ,program ,assistant1 and a ,monitoring1 ,evaluation1 and ,learning ,specialist4 7#b7 ,staffing ,the ,,cpif ,unit shall be comprised of personnel with expertise or experience in performing the following functions3 7,a7 ,grants ,officer4 7,b7 ,program ,assistant4 7,c7 ,monitoring1 ,evaluation1 and ,learning ,specialist4 7#c7 ,director ,the ,director of the ,,cpif ,unit shall fulfill the following responsibilities3 7,a7 ,identify specific strategic priorities for ,,cpif consistent with ,united ,states national security priorities4 7,b7 ,coordinate1 select1 and approve all ,,cpif programming1 based on criteria that the program directly counters malign activities by ,china or provides ,united ,states alternatives to such activities4 7,c7 ,ensure that all ,,cpif programming advances ,united ,states foreign policy and interests4 7,d7 ,conduct oversight1 monitoring1 and evaluation of the effectiveness of all ,,cpif programming to ensure that it advances ,united ,states interests and degrades the ability of ,china or entities acting on the behalf of ,china to conduct malign influence operations4 7,e7 ,ensure1 to the maximum extent practicable1 that all ,,cpif programming is carried out in coordination with other ,federal activities to counter ,,prc malign influence4 7#d7 ,deputy ,director ,the ,deputy ,director of the ,,cpif ,unit may have responsibility for policy and programming to assist the ,director1 particularly with respect to ,,cpif ,unit activities handled by other ,united ,states agencies4 7c7 ,monitoring1 evaluation1 and learning activities ,the ,director may-- 7#a7 direct monitoring1 evaluation1 and learning activities to maximize government efficiency and reduce the risks of fraud and waste2 7#b7 conduct regular research and evaluation of ,,cpif programs and activities to improve ongoing and future activities2 and 7#c7 make available to ,congress the findings of any research or evaluation conducted under paragraph 7#b74 7d7 ,,prc malign influence defined ,in this section1 the term ,,prc malign influence means influence by ,china or an entity acting on the behalf of ,china that-- 7#a7 undermines a free and open international order2 7#b7 utilizes coercion and dependency to advance the strategic objectives of the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 7#c7 undermines the national security1 territorial integrity1 or sovereignty of the ,united ,states or other country2 or 7#d7 undermines the political and economic security of the ,united ,states or other country1 including by promoting corruption or elite capture1 distorting markets1 and advancing coercive economic practices1 including theft of intellectual property4 7e7 ,termination ,a ,,cpif ,unit established under this section shall terminate #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 #caj4 ,assistant ,secretary of ,state for ,african ,affairs 7a7 ,establishment ,there is authorized to be in the ,department an ,assistant ,secretary for ,african ,affairs who shall be responsible to the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs for matters pertaining to ,africa1 and such other related duties as the ,secretary may from time to time designate4 7b7 ,responsibilities ,in addition to the responsibilities described under subsection 7a71 the ,assistant ,secretary for ,african ,affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to implementation of ,united ,states foreign policy in ,africa4 #caa4 ,assistant ,secretary for ,near ,eastern ,affairs 7a7 ,establishment ,there is authorized to be in the ,department an ,assistant ,secretary for ,near ,eastern ,affairs who shall be responsible to the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs for matters pertaining to the ,middle ,east and ,north ,africa1 and such other related duties as the ,secretary may from time to time designate4 7b7 ,responsibilities ,in addition to the responsibilities described under subsection 7a71 the ,assistant ,secretary for ,near ,eastern ,affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to implementation of ,american foreign policy in the ,middle ,east and ,north ,africa4 #cab4 ,assistant ,secretary for ,south and ,central ,asian ,affairs ,there is authorized to be in the ,department an ,assistant ,secretary for ,south and ,central ,asian ,affairs who shall be responsible to the ,under ,secretary for ,political ,affairs for matters pertaining to ,south and ,central ,asia1 and such other related duties as the ,secretary may from time to time designate4 #cac4 ,united ,states ,code ,classification ,the ,office of ,law ,revision ,counsel shall-- 7#a7 utilize sections #fg through #ig of title #bb1 ,united ,states ,code1 to classify the sections of this title2 and 7#b7 maintain the legislative history1 under editorial notes1 of repealed law which previously occupied the corresponding sections of the ,united ,states ,code4