1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “African Descent Act of 2014”.
African Descent Act of 2014
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of a global affairs strategy and assistance for people of African descent, and for other purposes.
2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
The struggle to end discrimination against people of African descent is a global challenge, and one that is central to the United States commitment to human rights.
Targeted exclusion, violence, and discrimination against people of African descent continues around the world.
Issues range from the fight for ancestral lands in Latin America, hate crimes resulting in injury and death in Europe, profiling and excessive use of force by law enforcement in the United States, and continuing global disparities in health, education, employment, housing, and other sectors.
It is imperative that the world actively address the vestiges of slavery and colonialism that have long hindered racial equality and justice and prevented the recognition of the important contributions of people of African descent to the world.
The International Decade for People of African Descent, from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2025, offers an opportunity to address these issues domestically and globally through coordinated government and civil society strategies, including the private sector.
3. Activities of the Department of State
Office of global african descent affairs— Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“63. Office of Global African Descent Affairs
“(a) Establishment of office—Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of State shall establish within the Department of State an Office of Global African Descent Affairs (in this section referred to as the “Office”) in the Front Office of the Office of the Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.
“(b) Head of office
“(1) In general—The head of the Office shall be the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs (in this section referred to as the “Special Advisor”).
“(2) Appointment—The Director shall be appointed by the Secretary.
“(c) Other personnel—The Office shall be supported by two senior Foreign Service officers.
“(d) Functions—The functions of the Office shall include the following:
“(1) Advise the Secretary and direct activities, policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights and the advancement of people of African descent internationally, for all bureaus and offices of the Department of State and shall lead the coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of relevant international programs for all other Federal agencies.
“(2) Represent the United States in diplomatic matters relevant to the human rights of people of African descent in contacts with foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, and specialized agencies of the United Nations, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, other international organizations of which the United States is a member, relevant multilateral conferences and meetings.
“(3) Lead efforts to promote an international focus on racial equality more broadly, including through diplomatic initiatives with other countries and partnerships and regular and enhanced coordination with international and nongovernmental organizations and the private sector.
“(4) Manage a $3,000,000 fund for people of African descent to invest in efficient and innovative solutions to combat racial discrimination and create economic and political opportunities for people of African descent internationally.
“(5) Develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for monitoring and evaluating foreign policy assistance for people of African descent in Federal agencies.
“(6) Direct, as appropriate, United States Government resources to respond to needs for protection, integration, resettlement, and empowerment of people of African descent in United States Government policies and international programs, including to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against people of African descent internationally.
“(7) Work in collaboration with the Race, Ethnicity, and Social Inclusion Unit in the Western Hemisphere Bureau Office.
“(8) Compile an annual report on activities of the United States Government relating to people of African descent to fulfill the requirements of this section and the African Descent Act of 2014.
“(e) Definitions—In this section:
“(1) Appropriate congressional committees—The term appropriate congressional committees means—
“(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
“(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
“(2) People of african descent—The term people of African descent has the meaning given the term in section 5 of the African Descent Act of 2014.”
Annual human rights report—
In general— The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended—
in section 116 (22 U.S.C. 2151n), by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(h) Status of people of african descent
“(1) In general—The report required under subsection (d) shall include, for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, a description of the status of people of African descent in each such country.
“(2) Definition—In this subsection, the term people of African descent has the meaning given the term in section 5 of the African Descent Act of 2014.”
in section 502B (22 U.S.C. 2304)—
by redesignating the second subsection (i) (as added by section 1207(b)(2) of Public Law 113–4) as subsection (j); and
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(k) Status of people of african descent
“(1) In general—The report required under subsection (b) shall include, for countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, a description of people of African descent in each such country.
“(2) Definition—In this subsection, the term people of African descent has the meaning given the term in section 5 of the African Descent Act of 2014.”
Effective date— The amendments made this subsection take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect to reports required to be submitted under sections 116 and 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended by this subsection, on or after such date of enactment.
Authorization of appropriations—
In general— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2026 to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section.
Private contributions— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State is authorized to accept private contributions to carry out this section and the amendments made by this section.
Designation— Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) and private contributions accepted under paragraph (2) may be referred to as the “President Obama Fund for African Descent Affairs”.
4. Activities of the United States Agency for International Development
Senior advisor—
In general— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall appoint within the immediate office of the Administrator a Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Global African Descent Affairs (in this section referred to as the “Special Advisor”).
Appointment— The Senior Advisor shall be appointed by the Administrator.
Functions— The functions of the Special Advisor shall include the following:
Advise the Administrator and direct activities, policies, programs, and funding relating to the human rights and advancement of people of African descent internationally for all bureaus and offices of the Agency.
Develop a racial and ethnic equality and empowerment policy, strategy, and action plan for the Agency, in consultation with civil society, that includes a focus on people of African descent.
Serve as the Agency liaison to the Department of State’s Office on Global African Descent Affairs.
Develop a uniform set of indicators and standards for monitoring and evaluating foreign assistance for people of African descent in Federal agencies.
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2026 to carry out this section.
5. Funding
In general— Except as otherwise provided in this Act, of the amounts made available for “Diplomatic and Consular Programs” for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2026, $8,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each such fiscal year to carry out this Act.
Funding offset— To offset the costs to be incurred by the Department of State to carry out the provisions of this Act for fiscal years 2015 through 2026, the Secretary of State shall eliminate such positions within the Department of State, unless otherwise authorized or required by law, as the Secretary determines to be necessary to fully offset such costs.
Limitation— No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for “Diplomatic and Consular Programs” to carry out the provisions of this Act.
6. Definitions
In this Act:
Appropriate congressional committees— The term appropriate congressional committees means—
the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
People of African descent— The term people of African descent means persons of African origin who are residents of countries of the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
7. Briefings and assessments
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs (appointed under section 63 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by section 3 of this Act))—
shall brief the appropriate congressional committees on the status of the human rights, social inclusion, equality, and empowerment of people of African descent internationally, as well as the status of programs and response strategies to address discrimination and violence against people of African descent internationally; and
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an assessment of human and financial resources necessary to fulfill the purposes and duties of this Act and the amendments made by this Act.
8. United States policy to prevent and respond to discrimination and violence against people of African descent
Global strategy requirement— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs shall develop or update a United States global strategy to empower, prevent, and respond to discrimination and violence against people of African descent. The strategy shall be transmitted to the appropriate congressional committees and, if practicable, made available to the public.
Collaboration and coordination— In developing the strategy under subsection (a), the Director and Special Advisor to the Secretary on Global African Descent Affairs shall consult with—
the heads of relevant Federal agencies; and
representatives of civil society, multilateral, and private sector organizations.
9. Sunset
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall terminate on October 1, 2026.