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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 431 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 431
Recognizing the importance of the Arctic Council and reaffirming the
commitment of the United States to the Arctic Council.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 2025
Mr. Bera (for himself, Mr. Amodei of Nevada, and Mr. Keating) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the importance of the Arctic Council and reaffirming the
commitment of the United States to the Arctic Council.
Whereas the United States became an Arctic Nation upon the purchase of Alaska in
1867;
Whereas the Arctic Council was established on September 19, 1996, through the
Ottawa Declaration, to enhance cooperation, coordination, and
interaction among the Arctic states with the active involvement of
Arctic Indigenous peoples and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic
issues;
Whereas the United States is a founding member of the Arctic Council and has
twice served as Chair, from 1998 to 2000, and again from 2015 to 2017;
Whereas the Ottawa Declaration defines 8 states, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States, as Arctic states
and members of the Arctic Council as they have sovereignty over
territory in the Arctic region;
Whereas the Arctic region is undergoing unprecedented environmental, economic,
and social changes due to the impacts of climate change and increased
human activity;
Whereas the Council has an advanced understanding of Arctic challenges through
scientific assessments, policy recommendations, and collaborative
initiatives;
Whereas the engagement of Indigenous communities and respect for traditional
knowledge are integral to the Arctic Council's success;
Whereas the Council is the leading intergovernmental initiative involving all
Arctic states, raising global awareness of the Arctic's significance and
influencing international climate policies;
Whereas the Arctic Council has addressed key issues such as persistent organic
pollutants, oil spill prevention, search and rescue, and scientific
collaboration;
Whereas the Arctic Council emphasizes sustainable development, environmental
protection, and peace in the Arctic amidst growing competition over
resources and shipping routes;
Whereas the Arctic Council has played a vital role in maintaining the Arctic as
a region of low tension and its continued work is essential to ensuring
a safe, secure, and stable Arctic for all;
Whereas the Arctic Council has made significant contributions to understanding
Arctic biodiversity, ocean health, and sustainable resource management,
while also addressing emerging threats such as microplastics and
shipping pollution;
Whereas the United States has demonstrated leadership in Arctic affairs, notably
through initiatives such as the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, which
provided a groundbreaking understanding of climate change impacts, and
the International Circumpolar Surveillance system, a region-wide disease
surveillance system led by the United States Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention;
Whereas the United States has supported collaborative Arctic Council initiatives
such as the Circumpolar Wildland Fire Initiative, developed under
Norway's Chairship, in partnership with Gwich'in Council International;
Whereas Russia's illegal war of aggression in Ukraine has significantly impacted
the operations of the Arctic Council, raising concerns over Russia's
military modernization in the Arctic and reinforcing cooperative
security ties among the 7 other Arctic states (A7);
Whereas, in response to Russia's invasion, the A7 states temporarily paused
participation in all Arctic Council meetings;
Whereas the European Union suspended cooperation with Russia in the Barents
Euro-Arctic Council, leading to Russia's withdrawal in 2023;
Whereas, despite the suspension of cooperation with Russia, the Arctic Council
and its working groups resumed activities in mid-2023;
Whereas, in February 2024, Russia suspended annual payments to the Arctic
Council until its participation was reinstated;
Whereas, in February 2024, the eight Arctic states, in consultation with
Indigenous Permanent Participant organizations, reached consensus to
gradually resume official working group meetings;
Whereas Finland and Sweden's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
has heightened the Arctic's strategic importance for the alliance;
Whereas, in recent years, the United States has expanded its diplomatic presence
in the Arctic region and strengthened economic and people-to-people ties
with the region;
Whereas Russia's diplomatic isolation from the A7 states has led to increased
cooperation with non-A7 countries, particularly China which poses a
threat to American and European national security; and
Whereas a national intelligence estimate by the National Intelligence Council
indicates that both Arctic and non-Arctic states will likely increase
their competitive activities and military presence in the region as
warming temperatures make the Arctic more accessible and states seek to
protect their investments: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the key role the Arctic Council has played
as a critical forum for fostering international cooperation,
sustainable development, and environmental protection in the
Arctic region;
(2) commends the Arctic Council for its achievements in
promoting scientific research, policy coordination, and
Indigenous participation to address regional challenges;
(3) affirms the United States commitment to active
participation and leadership within the Arctic Council to
advance shared goals and uphold the values of cooperation and
respect among Arctic nations and Indigenous peoples;
(4) acknowledges the Arctic Council's 8 member states--
Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Russian
Federation, Sweden, and the United States--as key participants
in the Arctic Council due to their sovereignty over territories
in the Arctic Region, which enables them to engage in
collaborative efforts to address Arctic issues;
(5) encourages increased collaboration among Arctic Council
member states, Permanent Participants, and Observers to address
emerging challenges and opportunities in the Arctic, including
the impacts of climate change and sustainable economic
development;
(6) supports robust funding and resources for United States
agencies and organizations engaged in Arctic Council activities
to ensure the United States fulfills its responsibilities as an
Arctic Nation;
(7) calls upon the Arctic Council to continue prioritizing
peace, security, and environmental stewardship in the Arctic to
safeguard the region for future generations;
(8) urges the executive branch to uphold and promote the
principles and objectives of the Arctic Council in its Arctic
policy and diplomacy efforts;
(9) emphasizes the importance of increased United States
attention and resources in the Arctic as geopolitical
competition and human activities in the region intensify; and
(10) emphasizes the importance of the position of United
States Arctic Ambassador-at-Large to provide strong and
consistent United States leadership in Arctic diplomacy and
engagement and urges the executive branch to take all necessary
steps to prevent prolonged vacancies in this critical role.
<all>
Submitted in House
Submitted in House
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
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