[Senate Report 113-43] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] Calendar No. 87 113th Congress Report SENATE 1st Session 113-43 ====================================================================== ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES REVITALIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2013 _______ June 13, 2013.--Ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Menendez, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 793] The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under consideration the bill (S. 793) to support revitalization and reform of the Organization of American States, and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon, without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. CONTENTS Page I. Purpose..........................................................1 II. Committee Action.................................................1 III. Discussion.......................................................1 IV. Cost Estimate....................................................2 V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................3 VI. Changes in Existing Law..........................................3 I. PURPOSE The purpose of S. 793 is to support revitalization and reform of the Organization of American States, and for other purposes. II. COMMITTEE ACTION Senator Menendez introduced S. 793 on April 24, 2013. On May 14, 2013, the committee ordered the bill reported favorably by voice vote. III. DISCUSSION The stated purpose of S. 793 is to support revitalization and reform of the Organization of American States, and for other purposes. The Act finds that the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS) recognizes that representative democracy is indispensable for the stability, peace, and development of the Western Hemisphere; and a purpose of the OAS is to promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention. It also finds that the U.S. supports the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the OAS, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man. Finally, the Act finds that the U.S. supports the OAS in its efforts with all member states to meet its commitments under the instruments outlined above, and Congress supports the OAS as it operates in a manner consistent with the Inter-American Democratic Charter. The Act states that it is the policy of the U.S. to promote democracy and the rule of law throughout the Western Hemisphere, to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Western Hemisphere, and to support the practices, purposes, and principles expressed in the instruments noted in the Findings section. S. 793 states the sense of Congress on the importance of the OAS, key strengths of the OAS, and a desire to see the Summit of the Americas process formally and more effectively integrated into the work of the OAS, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other Members of the Joint Summit Working Group. The Act expresses a sense that the OAS should regularly review its core functions and seek opportunities to reduce the number of mandates not directly related to its core functions and that the OAS would benefit from effective implementation of transparent and merit-based human resource standards and processes and transparent hiring, firing, and promotion standards and processes. Finally, the Act requires the Secretary of State to submit a strategy to Congress that identifies a path toward the adoption of necessary reforms that prioritize and reinforce the OAS's core competencies. It directs the Secretary of State to carry out diplomatic engagement to build support for reforms and budgetary burden sharing among OAS member states and observers. It also requires the Secretary of State to offer a quarterly briefing to Congress on assessed and voluntary contributions as well as OAS financial and management reforms. IV. COST ESTIMATE In accordance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee provides this estimate of the costs of this legislation prepared by the Congressional Budget Office. United States Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, May 23, 2013. Hon. Robert Menendez, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 793, the Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Sunita D'Monte. Sincerely, Douglas W. Elmendorf. Enclosure. S. 793, The Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013. S. 793 would require the Secretary of State to develop a multiyear strategy to bolster the Organization of American States (OAS) and improve the OAS's processes for managing its budget and personnel. The bill would require the Secretary to provide quarterly briefings to the Congress on the progress of implementing that strategy. CBO estimates that implementing S. 793 would have discretionary costs of less than $500,000 each year and total $1 million over the 2014-2018 period, assuming the availability of appropriated funds. Pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply to this legislation because it would not affect direct spending or revenues. S. 793 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sunita D'Monte. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation. VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no change to existing law made by the bill, as reported.