; (B) defending human rights and fundamental freedoms; and (C) advancing the principles and practices expressed in the Charter of the Organization of American States, the American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man, and the Inter-American Democratic Charter; (2) establishing procedures to facilitate and formalize the participation of elected national legislators from OAS member states in OAS activities would contribute to the promotion of democratic principles and practices and strengthen a democratic culture in the Western Hemisphere; (3) increasing and strengthening the participation of elected national legislators from OAS member states in OAS activities would advance the principles and proposals expressed in section 4 of the Organization of American States Revitalization and Reform Act of 2013 ( Public Law 113–41 ; 127 Stat. 549); (4) the OAS General Assembly, OAS Permanent Council, and OAS Secretariat should take all necessary steps to ensure greater participation of elected national legislators from OAS member states in OAS activities; and (5) the OAS Permanent Council resolutions titled Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society in OAS Activities and Strategies for Increasing and Strengthening Participation by Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities should serve as important references for efforts to bolster the participation of elected national legislators from OAS member states in OAS activities. 4. Strengthening participation of legislators at the OAS (a) In general The Secretary of State, acting through the United States Mission to the Organization of American States, shall take all necessary steps to establish formal procedures for the Organization of American States that— (1) increase the participation of elected national legislators from OAS member state countries in OAS activities, specifically including activities that advance the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter