119-hr784

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 784 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 784

To establish the Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the 
 United States, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 January 28, 2025

Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself and Ms. Jacobs) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To establish the Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the 
 United States, and for other purposes.

 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 ``African Diaspora Council Act''.

SEC. 2. ADVISORY COUNCIL ON AFRICAN DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT IN THE UNITED 
 STATES.

    (a) Establishment.--There shall be established by the Secretary of 
State an advisory council within the Department of State to be known as 
the ``Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United 
States'' (in this section referred to as the ``Advisory Council'').

    (b) Membership.--

    (1) In general.--The Advisory Council shall consist of not 
 more than 12 members, appointed by the Secretary of State, who 
 are representatives of and reflect the diversity of the African 
 diaspora from African American and African immigrant 
 communities, including individuals who have distinguished 
 themselves in government, sports, creative industries, 
 business, academia, social work, and faith-based activities. 
 Appointments to the Advisory Council shall be made without 
 regard to political affiliation. The Secretary of State shall 
 consult with the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee 
 on Foreign Relations in the Senate and the Committee on Foreign 
 Affairs in the House of Representatives during the process of 
 selecting representatives to the Advisory Council.

    (2) Terms.--Each member of the Advisory Council shall serve 
 a 2-year term, without compensation or reimbursement.

    (3) Chair.--The Secretary of State shall designate a member 
 of the Advisory Council to serve as Chair of the Advisory 
 Council.

    (4) Executive director.--The Secretary of State shall 
 designate a senior officer or employee of the Department of 
 State to serve as Executive Director of the Advisory Council.
            (c) Functions.--

    (1) In general.--The Advisory Council shall advise the 
 President, through the Secretary of State, on strengthening 
 connections between the United States Government and the 
 African diaspora in the United States.

    (2) Information, analysis, and recommendations.--In 
 advising the President under paragraph

    (1) , the Advisory 
 Council shall provide information, analysis, and 
 recommendations that address the following:
        (A) Strategies to advance equity and opportunity 
 for African diaspora communities, including through 
 efforts coordinated by the Domestic Policy Council 
 under Executive Order 13985 (5 U.S.C. 601 note; 
 relating to advancing racial equity and support for 
 underserved communities through the Federal 
 Government).
        (B) Ways to support the United Nations Permanent 
 Forum on People of African Descent.
            (C) Programs and initiatives--
            (i) to strengthen cultural, social, 
 political, and economic ties between African 
 communities, the African diaspora, and the 
 United States, such as the Young African 
 Leaders Initiative; and
            (ii) to address challenges and 
 opportunities to advance inclusion, belonging, 
 and public awareness of the diversity, 
 accomplishments, culture, and history of the 
 African diaspora.
            (D) Programs and initiatives, such as the 
 International Visitor Leadership Program, to expand 
 educational exchange programs between Africa and the 
 United States.
        (E) Programs and initiatives to increase public- 
 and private-sector collaboration and community 
 involvement in improving the socioeconomic well-being 
 of African diaspora communities.
        (F) Programs and initiatives, such as Prosper 
 Africa, to increase participation of members of the 
 African diaspora in the United States with regard to 
 trade, investment, economic growth, and development 
 programs relating to Africa.
        (G) Such other topics the Secretary of State 
 considers relevant.
            (d) Funding; Administrative Support.--The Secretary of State shall 
provide funding and administrative support for the Advisory Council, to 
the extent permitted by law and using amounts otherwise appropriated to 
the Department of State.

    (e) Meetings.--The Advisory Council shall meet on a quarterly basis 
or more frequently as necessary.

    (f) Congressional Engagement.--The Advisory Council shall brief the 
Committee on Foreign Relations in the Senate and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs in the House of Representatives after each plenary 
session.
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