Organization of American States Legislative Engagement Act of 2018

Organization of American States Legislative Engagement Act of 2018

This bill directs the Department of State of State to establish procedures for the Organization of American States (OAS) that:

• increase the participation of elected national legislators from OAS member states in OAS activities, including activities that advance the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter;
• create an annual forum for the presidents of such legislatures to discuss issues of hemispheric importance, including efforts to combat corruption and defend human rights;
• permit such legislators to make presentations and provide expert advice to the OAS Secretariat, OAS Permanent Council, and OAS General Assembly; and
• strengthen OAS Secretariat programs that provide technical assistance for legislative modernization.

The State Department shall:

• carry out diplomatic efforts to secure political and financial support for such procedures, and
• submit to Congress a strategy for supporting OAS anti-corruption and human rights promotion efforts.