[Pages S5261-S5262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3502. Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself and Mr. Rounds) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2296, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle A of title XII, add the following:

     SEC. 1210. YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS INITIATIVE.

       (a) Short Titles.--This section may be cited as the ``Young 
     African Leaders Initiative Act of 2025'' or the ``YALI Act of 
     2025''.
       (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Young African Leaders Initiative, launched in 2010, 
     is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of 
     African leaders;
       (2) Africa is a continent of strategic importance and it is 
     vital for the United States to support strong and enduring 
     partnerships with the next generation of African leaders;
       (3) the United States Government should prioritize 
     investments to build the capacity of emerging young African 
     leaders in sub-Saharan Africa, including through efforts 
     that--
       (A) enhance leadership skills;
       (B) encourage entrepreneurship;
       (C) strengthen public administration and the role of civil 
     society;
       (D) enhance peace and security in their respective 
     countries of origin and across Africa; and
       (E) connect young African leaders continentally and 
     globally across the private, civic, and public sectors;
       (4) youth in Africa have a positive impact on efforts to 
     foster economic growth, improve public sector transparency 
     and governance, and counter extremism, and should be an area 
     of focus for United States outreach on the African continent; 
     and
       (5) the Secretary of State should--
       (A) increase the number of fellows from Africa 
     participating in the Mandela Washington Fellowship above the 
     estimated 700 fellows who participated during fiscal year 
     2024; and
       (B) identify additional ways to connect YALI alumni to 
     United States public and private resources and institutions.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
       (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) YALI.--The term ``YALI'' means the Young African 
     Leaders Initiative established under this section.
       (d) Establishment.--There is established the Young African 
     Leaders Initiative (referred to in this section as ``YALI''), 
     which shall be carried out by the Secretary of State.
       (e) Purpose.--YALI shall seek to build the capacity of 
     young African leaders in sub-Saharan Africa in the areas of 
     business, civic engagement, or public administration, 
     including through efforts that--
       (1) support young African leaders by offering professional 
     development, training, and networking opportunities, 
     particularly in the areas of leadership, innovation, civic 
     engagement, elections, human rights, entrepreneurship, good 
     governance, peace and security, and public administration; 
     and
       (2) provide increased economic and technical assistance to 
     young African leaders to promote economic growth, strengthen 
     ties between United States and African businesses, build 
     resilience to predatory lending practices, and improve 
     capacity in key economic areas such as tendering, bidding, 
     and contract negotiations, budget management and oversight, 
     anti-corruption, and establishment of clear policy and 
     regulatory practices.
       (f) Fellowships.--
       (1) In general.--YALI shall support the participation in 
     the United States in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for 
     Young African Leaders of fellows from Africa who--
       (A) are between 25 and 35 years of age;
       (B) have demonstrated strong capabilities in 
     entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and leadership; 
     and
       (C) have had a positive impact in their communities, 
     organizations, or institutions.
       (2) Oversight.--The fellowships described in paragraph (1) 
     shall be overseen by the Secretary of State through the 
     Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
       (3) Eligibility.--The Secretary of State shall establish 
     and publish--
       (A) eligibility criteria for participation as a fellow 
     under paragraph (1); and
       (B) criteria for determining which eligible applicants will 
     be selected.
       (g) Reciprocal Exchanges.--Subject to the approval of the 
     Secretary of State, United States citizens may--
       (1) engage in reciprocal exchanges in connection with 
     alumni of the fellowship described in subsection (f); and
       (2) collaborate on projects with such fellowship alumni.
       (h) Regional Leadership Centers and Networks.--The 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development shall establish--
       (1) not fewer than 4 regional leadership centers in sub-
     Saharan Africa to offer in-person and online training 
     throughout the year on business and entrepreneurship, civic 
     leadership, and public management to young African leaders 
     who--
       (A) are between 18 and 35 years of age;
       (B) have demonstrated strong capabilities in 
     entrepreneurship, innovation, public service and leadership, 
     and peace-building and conflict resolution; and
       (C) have had a positive impact in their communities, 
     organizations, or institutions; and
       (2) an online network that provides information and courses 
     on, and connections with leaders in, the private and public 
     sectors of Africa.
       (i) Activities.--
       (1) United states-based activities.--The Secretary of 
     State, in coordination with the heads of relevant Federal 
     departments and agencies, shall oversee all United States-
     based activities carried out under YALI, including--
       (A) the participation of Mandela Washington Fellows in a 6-
     week Leadership Institute at a United States educational 
     institution in business, civic engagement, or public 
     management, including academic sessions, site visits, 
     professional networking opportunities, leadership training, 
     community service, and organized cultural activities; and
       (B) the participation by Mandela Washington fellows in an 
     annual Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit, to provide such 
     Fellows the opportunity to meet with United States leaders 
     from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

[[Page S5262]]

       (2) Africa-based activities.--The Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator for the United States 
     Agency for International Development and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal departments and agencies, should continue to 
     support YALI activities in sub-Saharan Africa, including--
       (A) continued leadership training and other professional 
     development opportunities for Mandela Washington Fellowship 
     for Young African Leaders alumni upon their return to their 
     home countries, including online courses, technical 
     assistance, and access to funding;
       (B) training for young African leaders at regional 
     leadership centers established pursuant to subsection (h), 
     and through online and in-person courses offered by such 
     centers; and
       (C) opportunities for networking and engagement with--
       (i) alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young 
     African Leaders;
       (ii) alumni of programs at regional leadership centers 
     established pursuant to subsection (h);
       (iii) United States and like-minded diplomatic missions, 
     business leaders, and others as appropriate; and
       (iv) where practicable and appropriate, other United 
     States-funded regional leadership programs, including the 
     Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), the Young 
     Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), the Young Pacific 
     Leaders (YPL), and the Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders 
     Initiative (YTILI), and through Department of State programs 
     such as the Community Engagement Exchange Program and other 
     initiatives.
       (3) Implementation.--The Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall carry out 
     this subsection by seeking to partner with the private 
     sector--
       (A) to pursue public-private partnerships;
       (B) to leverage private sector expertise;
       (C) to expand networking opportunities; and
       (D) to identify funding opportunities and fellowship and 
     employment opportunities for YALI.
       (j) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit a 
     plan to the appropriate congressional committees for 
     implementing YALI, including--
       (1) a description of clearly defined program goals, 
     targets, and planned outcomes for each year and for the 
     duration of implementation of the program;
       (2) a strategy to monitor and evaluate the program and 
     progress made toward achieving such goals, targets, and 
     planned outcomes; and
       (3) a strategy to ensure the program is promoting United 
     States foreign policy goals in Africa, including ensuring 
     that the program is clearly branded, paired with robust 
     public diplomacy efforts, and incorporates diversity among 
     participants as practicable, including countries and 
     communities in Africa facing economic distress, civil 
     conflict, marginalization, and other challenges.
       (k) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
     following 4 years, the Secretary of State, in coordination 
     with the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees, and publish in a publicly 
     accessible, internet-based form, a report that includes--
       (1) a description of the progress made toward achieving the 
     goals, targets, and planned outcomes described in subsection 
     (j)(1), including an overview of the program implemented in 
     the previous year and an estimated number of beneficiaries;
       (2) an assessment of how YALI is contributing to and 
     promoting United States-Africa relations, particularly in 
     areas of increased private sector investment, trade 
     promotion, support to civil society, improved public 
     administration, promoting peace and security, and fostering 
     entrepreneurship and youth empowerment;
       (3) recommendations for improvements or changes to YALI and 
     the implementation plan, if any, that would improve their 
     effectiveness during subsequent years of YALI's 
     implementation; and
       (4) for the first report submitted under this subsection, 
     an assessment of the feasibility of expanding YALI to 
     Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.
       (l) Sunset.--This section shall cease to have effect on the 
     date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
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