§276m United States Delegation to Parliamentary Assembly of Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (csce)

Summary

Sets up a U.S. delegation of up to 17 members to meet each year with parliamentary groups from other CSCE countries. The group reviews how CSCE goals are being carried out, talks about topics from CSCE foreign ministers’ meetings and summits, and works to promote actions that improve cooperation and security in Europe. Members are picked differently in even and odd years. In 1992 and every even year after, the Speaker of the House picks 9 House members (at least 4, including the delegation Chairman, must be from the House Foreign Affairs Committee) and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate picks 8 Senators on the recommendation of Senate leaders (at least 4, including the Vice Chairman, must be from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unless changed). Starting in 1993 and every odd year, the Senate and House roles switch: the Senate picks 9 (with at least 4 from Foreign Relations including the Chairman) and the House picks 8 (with at least 4 from Foreign Affairs including the Vice Chairman). Each delegation has 2 secretaries for staff support, one named by the House Foreign Affairs Chair and one by the Senate delegation Chair. Up to $80,000 may be appropriated each year to help pay delegation expenses; half can be paid on vouchers approved by the Chairman and half on vouchers approved by the Vice Chairman, and the money stays available until spent. For any year money is provided, the delegation must send Congress a report of how it spent the funds, and the Chairman’s and Vice Chairman’s certificates are final for the auditors.