United States-Mexico Economic Partnership Act

In general— The President is authorized to expand United States-Mexico academic exchange programs at the secondary, post-secondary, and post-graduate levels.

Priority— The programs described in subsection (a) should give priority to strengthening ties between communities and academic institutions located in the covered United States-Mexico border region.

Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that the programs described in subsection (a) should reflect the goals of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative and should seek to double the number of students studying in each other’s country by not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

In general— The President is authorized to establish programs to support cooperation, training, and mentoring of entrepreneurs in the covered United States-Mexico border region. Such programs shall be implemented in coordination with the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative.

Elements— The programs described in subsection (a) shall seek to carry out innovative projects through United States and Mexican academic institutions and businesses to assist prospective and developing entrepreneurs to strengthen their business skills and promote cooperation and joint business initiatives in the covered United States-Mexico border region.

Matching funds— The programs described in subsection (a) should seek to ensure United States Government funds are matched by private sector funds for purposes of carrying out such programs through the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative’s Innovation Fund.

Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that the programs described in subsection (a) should reflect the goals of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative and should seek to provide not less than 100 grants of not more than $25,000 each for participants in the programs.

Funding— Amounts made available for “Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs” shall be made available to carry out the programs described in subsection (a).

In general— The President is authorized to promote United States-Mexico energy infrastructure coordination and cooperation through programs to support vocational-level education, internships, and exchanges between the two countries particularly in the region in which the Eagle Ford Shale is located and in proximity to such region.

Elements— The programs described in subsection (a) shall seek to promote energy extraction related skills that can be provided by educational institutions located in the region described in subsection (a) or in proximity to such region, including by seeking to provide such skills to individuals in Mexico who are seeking vocational level jobs in Mexico’s energy sector.

Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that the programs described in subsection (a) should seek to provide education, internships, and exchanges for at least 1,000 participants in the programs.

Funding— Amounts made available for “Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs” shall be made available to carry out the programs described in subsection (a).

100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative— The term 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative means the initiative established in March 2011 by the United States Government to increase educational exchanges in the Western Hemisphere.

Covered United States-Mexico border region— The term covered United States-Mexico border region means those portions of the United States and Mexico that are within 100 kilometers of the international boundary between those countries.