	Introduction

The 115 th Congress has continued to debate the role of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Western Hemisphere and its utility for advancing U.S. objectives in the region. The United States helped found the OAS in 1948 to establish a multilateral forum in which the nations of the hemisphere could engage one another and address issues of mutual concern. As Congress continues to debate the utility of the OAS for advancing U.S. policies and considers appropriations and other legislation related to the organization, it might examine OAS activities in the hemisphere and the extent to which those activities align with U.S. objectives. According to the OAS Charter, as amended, the purpose of the organization is to
strengthen the peace and security of the continent; promote and consolidate representative democracy, with due respect for the principle of nonintervention; prevent possible causes of difficulties and ensure the pacific settlement of disputes that may arise among member states; provide for common action on the part of those states in the event of aggression; seek the solution of political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise among them; promote, by cooperative action, their economic, social, and cultural development; eradicate extreme poverty, which constitutes an obstacle to the full democratic development of the peoples of the hemisphere; and achieve an effective limitation of conventional weapons that will make it possible to devote the largest amount of resources to the economic and social development of member states. The United States is the top source of funding for the OAS, contributing an estimated $68 million in FY2017, which was equivalent to 44% of the organization's approved budget. U.S. voluntary contributions are intended to advance U.S. strategic goals in the organization and region. The Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2017, S. 1928 , which was reported in the Senate in November 2017, would establish a multilateral review task force to assess the effectiveness of U.S. investments in the OAS and other multilateral institutions. A companion bill, H.R. 4502 , was introduced in the House in November 2017. The reports ( H.Rept. 115-253 and S.Rept. 115-152 ) accompanying the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations measures for FY2018 that were passed by the House ( H.R. 3362 , included as Division G of House-passed H.R. 3354 ) and reported in the Senate ( S. 1780 ) recommend several U.S. voluntary contributions to the OAS. Issues for Congress

Congress plays an important role in determining U.S. policy toward the OAS. Congress appropriates funds for the assessed contribution of the United States, as well as voluntary contributions to support specific projects in the hemisphere. Some Members of Congress have criticized the OAS for failing to address the erosion of democratic institutions in countries such as Venezuela and Nicaragua, and have questioned whether the organization is meeting its obligations. The 115 th Congress has sought to utilize the OAS as part of its broader efforts to address the deterioration of democracy in Venezuela. In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 ( P.L. 115-31 ), Congress appropriated $4.5 million in voluntary contributions to the OAS for programs to promote and protect human rights. While some U.S. policymakers have expressed support for ratification, others have raised concerns about potential conflicts with U.S. law and international interference in U.S. domestic affairs. They opposed President Obama's efforts to normalize relations with Cuba and have lauded President Trump's decision to partially roll back U.S. engagement. Nevertheless, even when member states are incapable of establishing consensus on a given issue, the OAS continues to carry out a variety of activities to advance the organization's broad objectives: democracy promotion, human rights protection, economic and social development, and regional security cooperation. At the same time, OAS actions (or the lack thereof) do not always align with the organization's stated objectives, and the U.S. government's ability to advance its policy initiatives in the organization has declined over the past 15 years.
The Organization of American States (OAS) is a regional multilateral organization that includes all 35 independent countries of the Western Hemisphere (though Cuba currently does not participate). It was established in 1948 as a forum in which the nations of the hemisphere could engage one another and address issues of mutual concern. Today, the OAS concentrates on four broad objectives: democracy promotion, human rights protection, economic and social development, and regional security cooperation. It carries out a variety of activities to advance these goals, often providing policy guidance and technical assistance to member states. The United States is the largest financial contributor to the OAS, providing an estimated $68 million in FY2017—equivalent to 44% of the organization's total budget.
U.S. Policy
The United States historically has sought to use the OAS to advance economic, political, and security objectives in the Western Hemisphere. Although OAS actions frequently reflected U.S. policy during the 20th century, this has changed to a certain extent over the past 15 years. The organization's goals and day-to-day activities are still generally consistent with U.S. policy toward the region, but the U.S. government has struggled to obtain support from other member states on some high-profile issues, such as efforts to address the political crisis in Venezuela.
As the OAS's decisions have begun to reflect the increasing independence of its member states, U.S. policymakers occasionally have expressed concerns about the direction of the organization. In recent years, some Members of Congress have criticized the OAS for failing to address the erosion of democratic institutions in Venezuela and other nations and have questioned whether the United States should continue to fund the organization. Others argue that the OAS remains an important forum for advancing U.S. relations with the other nations of the hemisphere and that U.S. policy should seek to strengthen the organization and make it more effective.
Congressional Action
The 115th Congress has continued to shape U.S. policy toward the OAS through its legislative and oversight activities. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (P.L. 115-31), provided funding for the U.S. assessed contribution (membership dues) to the OAS, as well as $14.5 million in voluntary contributions to support the organization's anticorruption, human rights, democracy, and development assistance programs. Congress has yet to conclude action on FY2018 appropriations, but the House and Senate Appropriations Committees both have recommended providing voluntary contributions to the OAS in the reports (H.Rept. 115-253 and S.Rept. 115-152) accompanying their respective FY2018 foreign operations appropriations bills (H.R. 3362, included as Division G of House-passed H.R. 3354, and S. 1780). In November 2017, the Multilateral Aid Review Act of 2017 (S. 1928) was reported in the Senate and a companion bill (H.R. 4502) was introduced in the House. The measures would establish a multilateral review task force to assess the effectiveness of U.S. investments in the OAS and other multilateral institutions.
Congress also has held hearings to examine U.S. policy toward the OAS. On November 30, 2017, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing to consider President Trump's nomination of Carlos Trujillo to be the U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS. The committee reported the nomination favorably, but Trujillo has yet to receive a confirmation vote from the full Senate. On February 14, 2018, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, held a hearing on "Advancing U.S. Interests through the Organization of American States."