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
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.
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).