Establish an Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs.

This bill would create a new top U.S. diplomat focused on the Arctic. The Ambassador for Arctic Affairs would be appointed by the President with Senate approval and report to the Secretary of State. This person would represent the United States on Arctic issues and help coordinate U.S. government programs related to the region, especially those carried out overseas.

The Ambassador’s work would cover national security, energy, the environment, trade, and building and maintaining infrastructure. It also calls for working with other Arctic countries—United States, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia—promoting responsible use of natural resources, protecting wildlife and the environment, involving Arctic Indigenous peoples in decisions that affect them, and supporting scientific research and monitoring .

• Who is affected: U.S. foreign policy on the Arctic, Arctic Indigenous peoples, and federal agencies running Arctic-related programs or research.
• What changes: Creates an Ambassador to lead and coordinate U.S. efforts on Arctic security, cooperation, environment, energy, trade, infrastructure, and research.
• When: After the bill becomes law and the Ambassador is appointed and confirmed.