[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6060 Reported in House (RH)]
Union Calendar No. 425
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6060
[Report No. 109-706]
To authorize certain activities by the Department of State, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 13, 2006
Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Lantos, and Mr. Payne)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
International Relations
September 29, 2006
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize certain activities by the Department of State, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Department of
State Authorities Act of 2006''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Fraud prevention and detection account.
Sec. 3. Education allowances.
Sec. 4. Protection of refugees from North Korea.
Sec. 5. Interference with protective functions.
Sec. 6. Incitement to acts of discrimination.
Sec. 7. Persons excused from payment of fees for execution and issuance
of passports.
Sec. 8. Authority to administratively amend surcharges.
Sec. 9. Extension of privileges and immunities.
Sec. 10. Property disposition.
Sec. 11. Services for children with autism at overseas missions.
Sec. 12. Removal of contracting prohibition.
Sec. 13. Assistance for maternal and prenatal care for certain
individuals of Belarus and Ukraine affected
by the Chernobyl disaster.
Sec. 14. Foreign Service pay for performance system.
Sec. 15. Pay for performance interim schedule.
Sec. 16. Uniform compensation for worldwide service.
Sec. 17. Technical and conforming amendments.
Sec. 18. Dual gateway policy of the Government of Ireland.
Sec. 19. Personal services contracting program.
Sec. 20. Worldwide availability.
SEC. 2. FRAUD PREVENTION AND DETECTION ACCOUNT.
Section 286(v)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1356(v)(2)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (i), by inserting ``or primarily'' after
``exclusively''; and
(2) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:
``(ii) otherwise to prevent and detect visa
fraud, including primarily fraud by applicants
for visas described in subparagraph (H)(i),
(H)(ii), or (L) of section 101(a)(15), in
cooperation with the Secretary of Homeland
Security or pursuant to the terms of a
memorandum of understanding or other agreement
between the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Homeland Security; and''.
SEC. 3. EDUCATION ALLOWANCES.
Section 5924(4) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the first sentence of subparagraph (A), by inserting
``United States'' after ``nearest'';
(2) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
``(B) The travel expenses of dependents of an
employee to and from a secondary or post-secondary
educational institution, not to exceed one annual trip
each way for each dependent, except that an allowance
payment under subparagraph (A) may not be made for a
dependent during the 12 months following the arrival of
the dependent at the selected educational institution
under authority contained in this subparagraph.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) Allowances provided pursuant to subparagraphs
(A) and (B) may include, at the election of the
employee, payment or reimbursement of the costs
incurred to store baggage for the employee's dependent
at or in the vicinity of the dependent's school during
the dependent's annual trip between the school and the
employee's duty station, except that such payment or
reimbursement may not exceed the cost that the
Government would incur to transport the baggage in
connection with the annual trip, and such payment or
reimbursement shall be in lieu of transportation of the
baggage.''.
SEC. 4. PROTECTION OF REFUGEES FROM NORTH KOREA.
(a) Responsibilities of the Special Envoy on Human Rights in North
Korea.--Section 107(c) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004
(Public Law 108-333) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(7) help coordinate efforts by the Secretary of State to
assist North Korean refugees and migrants, including the
activities directed by section 303.''.
(b) Reporting Requirements.--Section 305(a) of the North Korean
Human Rights Act of 2004 is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) a detailed description of the measures undertaken by
the Secretary of State to carry out section 303, including
country-specific information with respect to United States
efforts to secure the cooperation and permission of the
governments of countries in East and Southeast Asia to
facilitate United States processing of North Koreans seeking
protection as refugees. The information required by this
paragraph may be provided in a classified format, if
necessary.''.
SEC. 5. INTERFERENCE WITH PROTECTIVE FUNCTIONS.
(a) Offense.--Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 118. Interference with certain protective functions
``Any person who knowingly and willfully obstructs, resists, or
interferes with a Federal law enforcement agent engaged, within the
United States or the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the
United States, in the performance of the protective functions
authorized under section 37 of the State Department Basic Authorities
Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2709) or section 103 of the Diplomatic Security
Act (22 U.S.C. 4802) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not
more than 1 year, or both.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 118. Interference with certain protective functions.''.
SEC. 6. INCITEMENT TO ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION.
(a) Inclusion of Information Relating to Incitement to Acts of
Discrimination in Annual Country Reports on Human Right Practices.--
(1) Countries receiving economic assistance.--Section
116(d) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2151n(d)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in paragraph (11)(C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(12) wherever applicable, a description of the nature and
extent of--
``(A) propaganda in foreign government and foreign
government-controlled media and other sources,
including foreign government-produced educational
materials and textbooks, that attempt to justify or
promote racial hatred or incite acts of violence
against any race or people;
``(B) complicity or involvement by the foreign
government in the creation of such propaganda or
incitement of acts of violence against any race or
people; and
``(C) a description of the actions, if any, taken
by the foreign government to eliminate such propaganda
or incitement.''.
(2) Countries receiving security assistance.--Section
502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2304(b)) is amended by inserting after the ninth sentence the
following new sentence: ``Each report under this section shall
also include, wherever applicable, a description of the nature
and extent of propaganda in foreign government and foreign
government-controlled media and other sources, including
foreign government-produced educational materials and
textbooks, that attempt to justify or promote racial hatred or
incite acts of violence against any race or people, complicity
or involvement by the foreign government in the creation of
such propaganda or incitement of acts of violence against any
race or people, and a description of the actions, if any, taken
by the foreign government to eliminate such propaganda or
incitement.''.
(b) Effective Date of Amendments.--The amendments made by
subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this
Act and apply beginning with the first report submitted by the
Secretary of State under sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)) after such
date.
SEC. 7. PERSONS EXCUSED FROM PAYMENT OF FEES FOR EXECUTION AND ISSUANCE
OF PASSPORTS.
Section 1 of the Act of June 4, 1920 (22 U.S.C. 214) is amended--
(1) by striking ``or from a widow'' and inserting ``from a
widow''; and
(2) by inserting ``; or from an individual or individuals
abroad, returning to the United States, when the Secretary
determines that foregoing the collection of such fee is
justified for humanitarian reasons or for law enforcement
purposes'' after ``such member'' the second place it appears.
SEC. 8. AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTRATIVELY AMEND SURCHARGES.
(a) In General.--Beginning in fiscal year 2007 and thereafter, the
Secretary of State is authorized to amend administratively the amounts
of the surcharges related to consular services in support of enhanced
border security (provided for in the last paragraph under the heading
``diplomatic and consular programs'' under title IV of division B of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-447)) that
are in addition to the passport and immigrant visa fees in effect on
January 1, 2004.
(b) Requirements.--In carrying out subsection (a) and the provision
of law described in such subsection, the Secretary shall meet the
following requirements:
(1) The amounts of the surcharges shall be reasonably
related to the costs of providing services in connection with
the activity or item for which the surcharges are charged.
(2) The aggregate amount of surcharges collected may not
exceed the aggregate amount obligated and expended for the
costs related to consular services in support of enhanced
border security incurred in connection with the activity or
item for which the surcharges are charged.
(3) A surcharge may not be collected except to the extent
the surcharge will be obligated and expended to pay the costs
related to consular services in support of enhanced border
security incurred in connection with the activity or item for
which the surcharge is charged.
(4) A surcharge shall be available for obligation and
expenditure only to pay the costs related to consular services
in support of enhanced border security incurred in providing
services in connection with the activity or item for which the
surcharge is charged.
SEC. 9. EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.
(a) The African Union.--Section 12 of the International
Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288f-2) is amended--
(1) in the header, by striking ``organization of african
unity'' and inserting ``african union'';
(2) by inserting ``(a)'' before ``The provisions''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(b) Under such terms and conditions as the President shall
determine, consistent with the purposes of this title, the President is
authorized to extend, or enter into an agreement to extend, to the
African Union Mission to the United States of America, and to its
members, the privileges and immunities enjoyed by diplomatic missions
accredited to the United States, and by members of such missions,
subject to corresponding conditions and obligations.''.
(b) Bank for International Settlements.--The International
Organizations Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 17. The provisions of this title may be extended to the
Bank for International Settlements in the same manner, to the same
extent, and subject to the same conditions, as they may be extended to
a public international organization in which the United States
participates pursuant to any treaty or under the authority of any Act
of Congress authorizing such participation or making an appropriation
for such participation.''.
(c) The Holy See.--Under such terms and conditions as the President
shall determine, the President is authorized to extend, or to enter
into an agreement to extend, to the Permanent Observer Mission of the
Holy See to the United Nations in New York, and to its members, the
privileges and immunities enjoyed by the diplomatic missions of member
states to the United Nations, and their members, subject to
corresponding conditions and obligations.
SEC. 10. PROPERTY DISPOSITION.
Section 633(e) of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State,
the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (division
B of Public Law 108-199; 22 U.S.C. 2078(e)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The United States, through the Department
of State, shall retain ownership of the Palazzo Corpi building
in Istanbul, Turkey, and the'' and inserting ``The''; and
(2) by striking ``at such location'' and inserting ``at an
appropriate location''.
SEC. 11. SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AT OVERSEAS MISSIONS.
(a) Study.--With respect to countries in which there is at least
one mission of the United States, the Secretary of State shall conduct
a study of the availability of programs that address the special needs
of children with autism, including the availability of speech
therapists and pediatric occupational therapists at Department of
Defense sponsored schools. Such study shall include the estimated
incidence of autism among dependents of members of the Foreign Service
and dependents of specialist Foreign Service personnel. Such study
shall also include an analysis of the possibility of establishing
``Educational Centers of Excellence'' for such children.
(b) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the completion of the
study required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report
containing the findings of the study together with any recommendations
for related action.
SEC. 12. REMOVAL OF CONTRACTING PROHIBITION.
Section 406 of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism
Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4856) is amended by striking subsection (c).
SEC. 13. ASSISTANCE FOR MATERNAL AND PRENATAL CARE FOR CERTAIN
INDIVIDUALS OF BELARUS AND UKRAINE AFFECTED BY THE
CHERNOBYL DISASTER.
Of the amounts made available for each of the fiscal years 2007 and
2008 to carry out chapters 11 and 12 of part I of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq. and 2296 et seq.) and
the FREEDOM Support Act (22 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.), such sums as may be
necessary for each such fiscal year are authorized to be available for
assistance to improve maternal and prenatal care, especially for the
purpose of helping prevent birth defects and pregnancy complications,
for individuals in the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine affected by the
Chernobyl disaster.
SEC. 14. FOREIGN SERVICE PAY FOR PERFORMANCE SYSTEM.
(a) Purpose.--The purposes of this section are--
(1) to recruit, retain, and reward high-performing Foreign
Service members required to be available for worldwide
assignment;
(2) to ensure performance management that effectively
communicates performance expectations and makes meaningful
distinctions based upon relative performance; and
(3) to institute a worldwide pay system, consistent with
the requirement that Foreign Service members be available for
worldwide assignment.
(b) Foreign Service Schedule.--Section 403 of the Foreign Service
Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3963) is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 403. Foreign service schedule
``(a) Establishment.--The President shall establish, and
periodically adjust, a Foreign Service Schedule, which shall consist of
9 salary classes that apply to members of the Service who are citizens
of the United States and for whom salary rates are not otherwise
provided under this chapter. The maximum salary rate for the highest
class established under this section, which shall be designated class
1, may not exceed the rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
``(b) Adjustments.--Any adjustment in the basic salary rates for
members of the Service made at the time of a schedule adjustment under
subsection (a) shall be made in accordance with section 406.''.
(c) Within Class Salary Increases.--Section 406 of the Foreign
Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3966) is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 406. Within class salary increases
``(a) Determination.--The Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and
exclusive discretion, shall determine which basic salary rate within a
band of rates of pay prescribed by the President under section 403(a)
shall be paid to members of the Service, taking into account individual
performance, contribution to the mission of the Department, or both,
under a rigorous performance management system that--
``(1) makes meaningful distinctions based upon relative
performance; and
``(2) clearly links individual pay and performance under
precepts prescribed by the Secretary.
``(b) Equal Basic Salary Adjustments.--Notwithstanding subsection
(a), the Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and exclusive discretion,
may provide equal basic salary adjustments for all career candidates or
other members of the Service--
``(1) whose performance has not been reviewed by a
selection board under section 602; and
``(2) who are found to meet the standards of performance
for their class.
``(c) Performance-Based Salary Adjustments.--
``(1) In general.--For performance-based pay adjustments,
the Secretary in the Secretary's sole and exclusive discretion,
shall annually allocate an amount equal to or greater than the
sum of--
``(A) an amount that would be sufficient to fund
increases under section 406(a) of the Foreign Service
Act as in effect on March 31, 2008; and
``(B) the amount necessary to provide for pay
adjustments based on mission requirements, labor market
conditions, availability of funds, pay adjustments
received by employees of other Federal agencies, and
any other relevant factors.
``(2) Flexibility.--The formula set forth in paragraph (1)
shall--
``(A) ensure that employees, in the aggregate, are
not disadvantaged in terms of the overall amount of pay
available as a result of conversion to the new foreign
service performance-based compensation system; and
``(B) provide flexibility to accommodate changes in
the mix of employees performing those functions, and
other changed circumstances that might impact pay
levels.
``(3) Limitation.--No performance-based salary adjustments
authorized by this section may be paid to any member of the
Service if the performance of the member falls below the
standards of performance for the salary class of the member.''.
(d) Exceptions.--
(1) Locality payments for prior service.--A member of the
Foreign Service may not receive a locality payment under
section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, for service
performed on or after the first day of the first pay period
beginning on or after April 1, 2008.
(2) Prior service pay.--Except as provided in section
16(c)(1), a member of the Foreign Service may not receive a
nonforeign area allowance or differential under section 5941 of
title 5, United States Code, for service performed on or after
the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after
April 1, 2008.
(e) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this
section shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period
beginning on or after April 1, 2008.
SEC. 15. PAY FOR PERFORMANCE INTERIM SCHEDULE.
(a) Rates of Pay.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided under subsection (b),
the Foreign Service Schedule established under section 403 of
the Foreign Service Act of 1980, in effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act, including step rates--
(A) shall be adjusted in accordance with section
5303 of title 5, United States Code; and
(B) shall be capped at the maximum rate of basic
pay for grade GS-15 of the General Schedule under
section 5332 of that title.
(2) Locality pay.--A member of the Service whose official
duty station is located in an applicable locality pay area
shall continue to receive locality-based comparability payments
under section 5304 of that title.
(b) Interim Foreign Service Schedule.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall establish
an interim Foreign Service Schedule for members of the Service
designated class 1 or below whose official duty station is not
located in areas for which such members receive payments
pursuant to section 5304 or 5941 of title 5, United States
Code.
(2) Increased rates.--The rates under the Foreign Service
Schedule established under this subsection shall be 9 percent
higher than the rates under the Foreign Service Schedule
described in subsection (a) unless a different percentage is
prescribed by the President. Each covered member shall receive
a corresponding increase in the member's rate of basic pay. Any
adjustment of the rates under the Foreign Service Schedule
described in subsection (a) shall result in a corresponding
adjustment of rates under the Foreign Service Schedule
established under this subsection.
(3) Conversion rules.--The Secretary, in the Secretary's
sole and exclusive discretion, shall establish conversion rules
for a member who is transferred between the Foreign Service
Schedule described in subsection (a) and the Foreign Service
Schedule established under this subsection due to a change in
official duty station.
(c) Step Increases.--A member covered by the Foreign Service
Schedule (including the interim Foreign Service Schedule) shall receive
within class salary step increases in accordance with section 406 of
the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3966), including step
increases that become effective on the first day of the first pay
period beginning on or after April 1, 2008.
(d) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect beginning on
the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after April 1,
2007, and ending on the effective date described in section 14(e).
SEC. 16. UNIFORM COMPENSATION FOR WORLDWIDE SERVICE.
(a) Transitions and Pay Formulas.--
(1) Transition date.--Subject to paragraphs (2) through
(4), a member of the Service designated class 1 or below shall
be converted to the new Foreign Service Schedule established
under section 403 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as
amended by section 14, on the first day of the first pay period
beginning on or after April 1, 2008.
(2) Simultaneous pay actions.--Subject to section 15(c),
the Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and exclusive
discretion, shall determine whether and how any applicable
simultaneous pay actions will be applied in connection with a
conversion, under paragraph (1).
(3) Pay conversion formula.--Any member described in
paragraph (1) whose official duty station is not located in an
area for which members receive payments pursuant to section
5304 or 5941 of title 5, United States Code, shall receive an
increase in the member's rate of basic pay upon conversion, if
necessary, to ensure that the resulting rate equals the sum
of--
(A) the base rate under the Foreign Service
Schedule described in subsection (a) for the member's
class and step; and
(B) the amount resulting from multiplying the rate
described in subparagraph (A) by the locality-based
comparability percentage in effect for the Washington,
D.C. locality pay area at that time.
(4) Locality-based pay.--Any member described in paragraph
(1) whose official duty station is located in an area for which
such members receive payments pursuant to section 5304 or 5941
of title 5, United States Code, shall, upon conversion, cease
to receive payments authorized under such sections and shall
receive instead an increase in the member's rate of basic pay
equivalent to the percentage value of the locality-based
comparability payment received by members of the Service
designated class 1 or below whose official duty station was
Washington, D.C. on the date of conversion.
(b) Adjustments in the Rate of Basic Pay.--
(1) In general.--After conversion to the Foreign Service
Schedule established under section 403 of the Foreign Service
Act of 1980, as amended by section 14, the Secretary, in the
Secretary's sole and exclusive discretion, may provide a
special one-time adjustment in the rate of basic pay for career
candidates or other members of the Service--
(A) whose performance has not been reviewed by a
selection board under section 602 of such Act (22
U.S.C. 4002); and
(B) who, if not for such conversion, would have
been scheduled to receive a step increase after the
date of conversion and before September 30, 2008.
(2) Limitations.--Any such adjustment shall be prorated
based on the portion of the waiting period completed as of the
day before conversion. No adjustment under this subsection may
result in a rate above the maximum rate of the applicable rate
range.
(c) Special Transitional Rules.--
(1) Special rules.--The Secretary, in the Secretary's sole
and exclusive discretion, may establish special transitional
rules to prevent a reduction in a member's rate of pay due to a
conversion to the Foreign Service Schedule established under
section 15(b). Notwithstanding subsection (a)(4), such rules
may authorize a member stationed in a nonforeign area to
temporarily continue to receive a portion of an allowance or
post differential under section 5941 of title 5, United States
Code.
(2) Applicability.--This subsection shall apply to a member
who, immediately before conversion--
(A) is entitled to a locality-based comparability
payment under section 5304 of title 5, United States
Code, at a rate exceeding the locality rate applicable
in Washington, D.C., at that time; or
(B) is entitled to a nonforeign area allowance or
differential under section 5941 of such title.
(3) Treatment of temporary adjustment.--Any temporary
adjustment provided to a member described in paragraph (2)(A)
shall be treated as basic pay for the same purposes as the
locality-based comparability payment under section 5304 of
title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 17. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Technical and Conforming Amendments to the Foreign Service
Act.--The Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) in section 402(a)(2) (22 U.S.C. 3962(a)(2))--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and
inserting ``The Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and
exclusive discretion, shall'';
(B) by striking ``the Secretary may'' and inserting
``The Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and exclusive
discretion, may''; and
(C) by inserting ``under precepts prescribed by the
Secretary'' after ``system'';
(2) in section 602(a) (22 U.S.C. 4002(a)), by amending
paragraph (3) to read as follows:
``(3) approvals or denials of pay for performance salary
adjustments under sections 402(a)(2) and 406(a)'';
(3) in section 605 (22 U.S.C. 4005)--
(A) in subsection (a)--
(i) by inserting ``and pay for performance
salary adjustments under sections 402(a)(2) and
406(a)'' after ``Recommendations for
promotion''; and
(ii) by inserting ``and pay for performance
salary adjustments'' after ``shall make
promotions''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) by inserting ``or precepts prescribed
by the Secretary'' after ``set forth by
regulation''; and
(ii) by inserting ``or salary adjustment''
after ``delay the promotion'';
(4) in section 806(a)(9) (22 U.S.C. 4046(a)(9)), by adding
at the end the following: ``This paragraph shall not apply to
service performed on or after the first day of the first pay
period beginning on or after April 1, 2008.''; and
(5) in section 855(a)(3) (22 U.S.C. 4071d(a)(3)), by adding
at the end the following: ``This paragraph shall not apply to
service performed on or after the first day of the first pay
period beginning on or after April 1, 2008.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments to Title 5.--Title 5,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in chapter 53--
(A) in section 5302(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by adding ``or''
at the end;
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as
subparagraph (B); and
(B) in section 5304(h)(1)(D)--
(i) in clause (v), by striking ``or'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (vi), by striking the period
at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(vii) a position in the Foreign
Service.''; and
(2) in chapter 57--
(A) in section 5753(a)(2)(A), by inserting: ``,
excluding members of the Foreign Service other than
chiefs of mission and ambassadors at large'' before the
semicolon at the end; and
(B) in section 5754(a)(2)(A), by inserting: ``,
excluding members of the Foreign Service other than
chiefs of mission and ambassadors at large'' before the
semicolon at the end.
(c) Effective Dates.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and
(b)(1) shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period
beginning on or after April 1, 2008.
SEC. 18. DUAL GATEWAY POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall review the dual
gateway policy and determine the effects the discontinuation of such
policy might have on the economy of the United States and the economy
of western Ireland before the United States takes any action that could
lead to the discontinuation of such policy.
(b) Economic Impact Study.--In determining the effects that the
discontinuation of such policy might have on the economy of the United
States, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other
appropriate departments and agencies, shall consider the effects the
discontinuation of such policy might have on United States businesses
operating in western Ireland, Irish businesses operating in and around
Shannon Airport, and United States air carriers serving Ireland.
(c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report describing the
determinations made under subsection (a), together with any
recommendations for United States action.
(d) Definition.--In this section, the term ``dual gateway policy''
means the policy of the Government of Ireland requiring certain air
carriers serving Dublin Airport to undertake an equal numbers of
flights to Shannon Airport and Dublin Airport during each calendar
year.
SEC. 19. PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTING PROGRAM.
Section 504 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year
2003 (Public Law 107-228) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``pilot'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``pilot'';
(B) by striking ``(in this section referred to as
the `program')''; and
(C) by striking ``producers, and writers'' and
inserting ``and other broadcasting specialists'';
(3) in subsection (b)(4), by striking ``60'' and inserting
``100''; and
(4) by striking subsection (c).
SEC. 20. WORLDWIDE AVAILABILITY.
Section 301(b) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C.
3491(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence:
``At the time of entry into the Service, each member of the Service
must be worldwide available, as determined by the Secretary of State
through appropriate medical examinations, unless the Secretary
determines that a waiver of the worldwide availability requirement is
required to fulfill a compelling Service need. The Secretary shall
establish an internal administrative review process for medical
ineligibility determinations.''.
Union Calendar No. 425
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6060
[Report No. 109-706]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize certain activities by the Department of State, and for
other purposes.
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September 29, 2006
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed