Text of Senate Amendment 6522

On 2026-06-24, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) delivered a floor speech titled "Text Of Senate Amendment 6522" in the Senate.

Text of Senate Amendment 6522

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S3634-S3635] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 6522. Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself and Mr. Rounds) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of subtitle A of title XII, add the following: SEC. 1210. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE. (a) Short Titles.--This section may be cited as the ``Young African Leaders Initiative Act of 2026'' or the ``YALI Act of 2026''. (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that-- (1) the Young African Leaders Initiative, launched in 2010, is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders; (2) Africa is a continent of strategic importance and it is vital for the United States to support strong and enduring partnerships with the next generation of African leaders; (3) the United States Government should prioritize investments to build the capacity of emerging young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts that-- (A) enhance leadership skills; (B) encourage entrepreneurship; (C) strengthen public administration and the role of civil society; and (D) connect young African leaders continentally and globally across the private, civic, and public sectors; and (4) youth in Africa have a positive impact on efforts to foster economic growth, improve public sector transparency and governance, and counter extremism, and should be an area of focus for United States outreach on the African continent. (c) In General.--There is established the Young African Leaders Initiative (referred to in this section as ``YALI''), which shall be carried out by the Secretary of State. (d) Purpose.--YALI shall seek to build the capacity of young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa in the areas of business, civic engagement, or public administration, including through efforts that-- (1) support young African leaders by offering professional development, training, and networking opportunities, particularly in the areas of leadership, innovation, civic engagement, elections, internationally recognized human rights, entrepreneurship, good governance, peace and security, and public administration; and (2) provide increased economic and technical assistance to young African leaders to promote economic growth, strengthen ties between United States and African businesses, build resilience to predatory lending practices, and improve capacity in key economic areas such as tendering, bidding, and contract negotiations, budget management and oversight, anti-corruption, and establishment of clear policy and regulatory practices. (e) Fellowships.-- (1) In general.--YALI shall support the participation in the United States in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders of fellows from Africa who-- (A) are between 25 and 35 years of age; (B) have demonstrated strong capabilities in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership; and (C) have had a positive impact in their communities, organizations, or institutions. (2) Oversight.--The fellowships described in paragraph (1) shall be overseen by the Secretary of State through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. (3) Eligibility.--The Secretary of State shall establish and publish-- (A) eligibility criteria for participation as a fellow under paragraph (1); and (B) criteria for determining which eligible applicants will be selected. (f) Reciprocal Exchanges.--Subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, United States citizens may-- (1) engage in reciprocal exchanges in connection with alumni of the fellowship described in subsection (e); and (2) collaborate on projects with such fellowship alumni. (g) Activities.-- (1) United states-based activities.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall oversee all United States- based activities carried out under YALI, including-- (A) the participation of Mandela Washington Fellows in a 6- week Leadership Institute at a United States educational institution in business, civic engagement, or public management, including academic sessions, site visits, professional networking opportunities, leadership training, community service, and organized cultural activities; and (B) the participation by Mandela Washington fellows in an annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, to provide such Fellows the opportunity to meet with United States leaders from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. (2) Implementation.--The Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall carry out this subsection by seeking to partner with the private sector-- (A) to pursue public-private partnerships; (B) to leverage private sector expertise; (C) to expand networking opportunities; and (D) to identify funding opportunities and fellowship and employment opportunities for YALI. (h) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit a plan to the appropriate congressional committees for implementing YALI, including-- (1) a description of clearly defined program goals, targets, and planned outcomes for each year and for the duration of implementation of the program; (2) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the program and progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and planned outcomes; and (3) a strategy to ensure the program is promoting United States foreign policy goals in Africa, including ensuring that the program is clearly branded, paired with robust public diplomacy efforts, and incorporates participants from a variety of countries, including communities in Africa facing economic distress, civil conflict, persecution, and other challenges. (i) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 4 years, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, and publish in a publicly accessible, internet-based form, a report that includes-- (1) a description of the progress made toward achieving the goals, targets, and planned outcomes referred to in subsection (h)(1), including an overview of the program implemented in the previous year and an estimated number of beneficiaries; (2) an assessment of how YALI is contributing to and promoting United States-Africa relations, particularly in areas of increased private sector investment, trade promotion, support to civil society, improved public administration, promoting peace and security, and fostering entrepreneurship and youth empowerment; and (3) recommendations for improvements or changes to YALI and the implementation plan, if any, that would improve their effectiveness during subsequent years of YALI's implementation. (j) Defined Term.--In this section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; (3) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and (4) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. [[Page S3635]] (k) Sunset.--This section shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act. ______