Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs

(a) Establishment There is authorized to be in the Department an Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs for matters pertaining to space, oceans, polar affairs, environmental quality, freshwater, fisheries, wildlife and wildlife trafficking, conservation, and such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. (b) Responsibilities In addition to the responsibilities described under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to oceans, fisheries, natural resource conservation, and outer space in the conduct of foreign policy, including, as appropriate, the following: (1) Developing United States policy on global environmental security issues with respect to oceans, fisheries, Antarctic region, waste and global pollution, and natural resource management and conservation, including water. (2) Representing the Department in bilateral and multilateral negotiations involving the law of the sea, including freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the ocean; maritime security; United States maritime zones, including the United States extended continental shelf; marine science; sustainable management and protection of marine habitats and resources; marine pollution; and maritime claims and boundaries. (3) Leading United States engagement on Antarctica and in international oceans agreements and conventions with foreign governments and international organizations to promote solutions that advance United States national security, economic, and environmental interests. (4) Coordinating the development of policies and programs to conserve and manage economically important ecosystems, including, forests, wetlands, drylands, and coral reefs. (5) Developing policies and programs to address international threats to natural resources including but not limited to illicit trade; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; wildlife trafficking; and illegal logging and associated trade. (6) Developing and implementing United States foreign policy related to air, water and soil pollution and risks to human health and the environment caused by the transboundary movement of hazardous chemicals and waste and other forms of pollution to promote environmental security with trade partners and in multilateral institutions. (7) Representing the Department in bilateral and multilateral engagements including organizations, institutions, and negotiation of international agreements on related issues. (8) Developing policies and programs, in coordination with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Commerce, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, to support partnerships between the United States and international and private industry partners in the development of infrastructure and policies that expand economic growth in outer space, including— (A) countering malign efforts by foreign adversaries and other actors that threaten United States interests in civil and commercial space; (B) expanding access to foreign markets for United States commercial industry, including by encouraging reforms that reduce barriers to trade and cooperation with United States civil and commercial space actors; and (C) providing assistance to foreign governments and organizations, including national, regional, and international institutions, on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may determine. (9) Leading bilateral and multilateral engagements related to civil and commercial space activities, resilient space services, burden sharing, and other matters related to international space law and diplomacy and other United States international obligations and commitments. (10) In accordance with the National Space Policy, leading United States Government engagement with international Global Navigation Satellite Systems providers to ensure compatibility and encourage interoperability of civil global navigation satellite services based on United States-based global positioning systems, including through the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems. (11) Leading Department efforts to implement international arrangements and promote cooperation on Earth observation satellite systems. (12) Leading Department engagement in multilateral and bilateral forums on international space policy, space law, and commercial and civil treaties or agreements. (13) Leading Department efforts on transparency in space by maintaining the official United States space object registry and promoting best practices for safe operations in space, preservation of the space environment, space traffic coordination, and space situational awareness. (14) Leading Department efforts to align foreign space law, regulatory, and policy frameworks with United States-endorsed models, approaches, and best practices. (15) Performing such other duties as the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs may from time to time designate. (c) First appointment On the date of the enactment of this Act, the individual serving as the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs on the day before such date of enactment shall be the Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs. Any subsequent appointment of an individual to the position of Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Section 1(c) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(c)), as amended by section 11, is further amended by adding at the end the following: (19) Bureau of Water, Environment, and Space Affairs within Department of State; Assistant Secretary of State as head of Bureau (A) Establishment There is authorized to be in the Department an Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment for matters pertaining to space, oceans, polar affairs, environmental quality, freshwater, fisheries, wildlife and wildlife trafficking, conservation, and such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. (B) Responsibilities In addition to the responsibilities described under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to oceans, fisheries, natural resource conservation, and outer space in the conduct of foreign policy, including, as appropriate, the following: (i) Developing United States policy on global environmental security issues with respect to oceans, fisheries, Antarctic region, waste and global pollution, and natural resource management and conservation, including water. (ii) Representing the Department in bilateral and multilateral negotiations involving the law of the sea, including freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the ocean; maritime security; United States maritime zones, including the United States extended continental shelf; marine science; sustainable management and protection of marine habitats and resources; marine pollution; and maritime claims and boundaries. (iii) Leading United States engagement on Antarctica and in international oceans agreements and conventions with foreign governments and international organizations to promote solutions that advance United States national security, economic, and environmental interests. (iv) Coordinating the development of policies and programs to conserve and manage economically important ecosystems, including, forests, wetlands, drylands, and coral reefs. (v) Developing policies and programs to address international threats to natural resources including but not limited to illicit trade; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; wildlife trafficking; and illegal logging and associated trade. (vi) Developing and implementing United States foreign policy related to air, water and soil pollution and risks to human health and the environment caused by the transboundary movement of hazardous chemicals and waste and other forms of pollution to promote environmental security with trade partners and in multilateral institutions. (vii) Representing the Department in bilateral and multilateral engagements including organizations, institutions, and negotiation of international agreements on related issues. (viii) Developing policies and programs, in coordination with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Commerce, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, to support partnerships between the United States and international and private industry partners in the development of infrastructure and policies that expand economic growth in outer space, including— (I) countering malign efforts by foreign adversaries and other actors that threaten United States interests in civil and commercial space; (II) expanding access to foreign markets for United States commercial industry, including by encouraging reforms that reduce barriers to trade and cooperation with United States civil and commercial space actors; and (III) providing assistance to foreign governments and organizations, including national, regional, and international institutions, on such terms and conditions as the Secretary may determine. (ix) Leading bilateral and multilateral engagements related to civil and commercial space activities, resilient space services, burden sharing, and other matters related to international space law and diplomacy and other United States international obligations and commitments. (x) In accordance with the National Space Policy, leading United States Government engagement with international Global Navigation Satellite Systems providers to ensure compatibility and encourage interoperability of civil global navigation satellite services based on United States-based global positioning systems, including through the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems. (xi) Leading Department efforts to implement international arrangements and promote cooperation on Earth observation satellite systems. (xii) Leading Department engagement in multilateral and bilateral forums on international space policy, space law, and commercial and civil treaties or agreements. (xiii) Leading Department efforts on transparency in space by maintaining the official United States space object registry and promoting best practices for safe operations in space, preservation of the space environment, space traffic coordination, and space situational awareness. (xiv) Leading Department efforts to align foreign space law, regulatory, and policy frameworks with United States-endorsed models, approaches, and best practices. (xv) Performing such other duties as the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment may from time to time designate. (C) First appointment On the date of the enactment of this Act, the individual serving as the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs on the day before such date of enactment shall be the Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs. Any subsequent appointment of an individual to the position of Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. (D) Bureau The Secretary shall establish a Bureau of Water, Environment, and Space Affairs, which shall perform such functions related to space, oceans, environmental quality, fisheries, wildlife, and wildlife trafficking, and conservation affairs, as the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment may prescribe. (E) Assistant Secretary The Assistant Secretary for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs shall be the head of the Bureau of Water, Environment, and Space Affairs..