“To establish an Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs.”
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This section establishes a United States Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs within the Department of State, to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and responsible to the Secretary of State. The Ambassador represents the United States in Arctic affairs; coordinates all Department of State foreign policy matters, programs, and activities pertaining to the Arctic region; and leads coordination of relevant programs by other U.S. government agencies abroad, as appropriate. The Ambassador maintains continuous observation and coordination of Arctic issues pertaining to energy, environment, trade, infrastructure, law enforcement, and political-military affairs, including, in consultation with other agency heads: (1) national security; (2) strengthening cooperation among Arctic countries (i.e., permanent Arctic Council members: United States, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia); (3) responsible natural resource management and economic development; (4) protecting the Arctic environment and conserving biological resources; (5) Arctic indigenous peoples; and (6) scientific monitoring and research. "Arctic region" is defined as the area north of the 66.56083 parallel north; all U.S. territory north and west of the Porcupine, Yukon, and Kuskokwim Rivers; contiguous seas including the Arctic Ocean and the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas; and the Aleutian Chain.