[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8012 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8012
To address the importance of foreign affairs training to national
security, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 9, 2022
Mr. Kim of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. Castro of Texas) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address the importance of foreign affairs training to national
security, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ``State Department Training
Modernization Act''.
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Department of State is a crucial national security
agency, whose employees, both Foreign Service and Civil
Service, require the best possible training and professional
development at every stage of their careers to prepare them to
promote and defend United States national interests and the
health and safety of United States citizens abroad;
(2) the Department faces increasingly complex and rapidly
evolving challenges, many of which are science and technology-
driven, and which demand continual, high-quality training and
professional development of its personnel;
(3) the new and evolving challenges of national security in
the 21st century necessitates the expansion of standardized
training and professional development opportunities linked to
equitable, accountable, and transparent promotion and
leadership practices for Department of State and other national
security agency personnel; and
(4) consistent with gift acceptance authority of the
Department and other applicable laws in effect as of the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Department and the Foreign
Service Institute may accept funds and other resources from
foundations, not-for-profit corporations, and other appropriate
sources to help the Department and the Institute enhance the
quantity and quality of training and professional development
offerings, especially in the introduction of new, innovative,
and pilot model courses.
SEC. 3. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 4. TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIZATION.
In order to provide the Civil Service of the Department of State
and the Foreign Service with the level of professional development and
training needed to effectively advance United States interests across
the world, the Secretary of State shall--
(1) increase relevant offerings provided by the
Department--
(A) of interactive virtual instruction to make
training and professional development more accessible
and useful to personnel deployed throughout the world;
or
(B) at partner organizations, including
universities, industry entities, and nongovernmental
organizations, throughout the United States to provide
useful outside perspectives to Department personnel to
provide such personnel--
(i) a more comprehensive outlook on
different sectors of United States society; and
(ii) practical experience dealing with
commercial corporations, universities, labor
unions, and other institutions critical to
United States diplomatic success;
(2) offer courses using computer-based or computer-assisted
simulations, allowing civilian officers to lead decision-making
in a crisis environment, and encourage officers of the
Department of State and reciprocally officers of other
Departments to participate in similar exercises held by the
Department of State or other government organizations and the
private sector; and
(3) increase the duration and expand the focus of certain
training and professional development courses, including by--
(A) extending the A-100 entry-level course to not
less than 12 weeks, better matching the length of
entry-level training and professional development
provided to the officers in other national security
departments and agencies; and
(B) extending the chief of mission course to not
less than 6 weeks for first time chiefs of mission and
creating a comparable 6-week course for new Assistant
Secretaries and Deputy Assistant Secretaries to more
accurately reflect the significant responsibilities
accompanying such roles.
SEC. 5. FELLOWSHIPS.
The Director General of the Foreign Service shall--
(1) establish new fellowship programs for Foreign Service
and Civil Service officers that include short- and long-term
opportunities at organizations, including--
(A) think tanks and nongovernmental organizations;
(B) the Department of Defense, the elements of the
intelligence community (as defined in section 3 of the
National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003)), and
other relevant Federal agencies;
(C) industry entities, especially such entities
related to technology, global operations, finance, and
other fields directly relevant to international
affairs; and
(D) schools of international relations and other
relevant programs at universities throughout the United
States; and
(2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, provide Congress with a report on how the
Department could expand the Pearson Fellows Program for Foreign
Service Officers and the Brookings Fellow Program for Civil
Servants at the Department of State to allow fellows in those
programs the opportunity to undertake a follow-on assignment
within the Department in an office that will benefit from
practical knowledge of the people and processes of Congress,
including offices other than the Legislative Affairs Bureau
(H), including--
(A) an assessment of the current state of
congressional fellowships, including the demand for
fellowships and the value the fellowships provide to
both the career of the officer and to the Department;
and
(B) an assessment of the options for making
congressional fellowships for both the Foreign and
Civil Services more career-enhancing.
SEC. 6. BOARD OF VISITORS OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall establish a Board
of Visitors of the Foreign Service Institute.
(b) Duties.--The Board of Visitors established under subsection (a)
shall provide the Secretary of State with independent advice and
recommendations on organizational management, strategic planning,
resource management, curriculum development, and other matters of
interest to the Foreign Service Institute, including regular
observations about how well the Department is integrating training and
professional development into the work of the bureau for Global Talent
Management (GTM).
(c) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Board shall be--
(A) nonpartisan; and
(B) composed of 12 members of whom--
(i) 2 shall be appointed by the Chairperson
of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate;
(ii) 2 shall be appointed by the Ranking
Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate;
(iii) 2 shall be appointed by the
Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
of the House of Representatives;
(iv) 2 shall be appointed by the Ranking
Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives; and
(v) 4 shall be appointed by the Secretary
of State.
(2) Qualifications.--Members of the Board shall be
appointed from among individuals who are not officers or
employees of the Federal Government, who have never been
members of the Senior Foreign Service or the Senior Executive
Service, and are eminent authorities in the fields of
diplomacy, management, leadership, economics, trade,
technology, and advanced international relations education.
(3) Outside expertise.--Not fewer than 6 members of the
Board shall have a minimum of 10 years of expertise outside the
field of diplomacy.
(d) Terms.--A member of the Board shall be appointed for a term of
3 years, except that of the members first appointed--
(1) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 3 years;
(2) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and
(3) 4 shall be appointed for a term of 1 year.
(e) Reappointment; Replacement.--A member of the Board may be
reappointed or replaced at the discretion of the official who made the
original appointment.
(f) Chairperson; Co-Chairperson.--
(1) Approval.--The Chairperson and Co-Chairperson of the
Board shall be approved by the Secretary of State based upon a
recommendation from the members of the Board.
(2) Service.--The Chairperson and Co-Chairperson shall
serve at the discretion of the Secretary.
(g) Meetings.--The Board shall meet--
(1) at the call of the Director of the Foreign Service
Institute and the Chairperson; and
(2) not fewer than 2 times per year.
(h) Compensation.--A member of the Board shall serve without
compensation, except a member of the Board shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57
of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular
places of business in the performance of services for the Board.
Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the
Secretary of State may accept the voluntary and uncompensated services
of members of the Board.
(i) Applicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the Board
established under this section.
SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROVOST OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Foreign Service
Institute the position of Provost.
(b) Appointment; Reporting.--The Provost shall--
(1) be appointed by the Board of Visitors of the Foreign
Service Institute of the Department of State established under
section 6; and
(2) report to the Director of the Foreign Service
Institute.
(c) Qualifications.--The Provost--
(1) may not be an individual who is an officer or employee
of the Federal Government or who has ever been a career member
of the Senior Foreign Service or the Senior Executive Service;
and
(2) shall be an eminent authority in the fields of
diplomacy, education, management, leadership, economics,
history, trade, or technology.
(d) Duties.--The Provost shall--
(1) oversee, review, evaluate, and coordinate the academic
curriculum for all courses taught and administered by the
Foreign Service Institute;
(2) coordinate the implementation of a letter or numerical
grading system for the performance of Foreign Service officers
in courses of the Foreign Service Institute; and
(3) report not less frequently than quarterly to the Board
of Visitors on curriculum developments and the performance of
Foreign Service officers.
(e) Term.--The Provost shall serve for a term of not fewer than 5
years and may be reappointed for 1 additional term.
(f) Compensation.--The Provost shall receive a salary commensurate
with the rank and experience of a member of the Senior Foreign Service
or the Senior Executive Service, as determined by the Board of
Visitors.
SEC. 8. OTHER AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
CONGRESSIONAL STAFF.
(a) Other Agencies.--National security agencies other than the
Department of State should be afforded the ability to increase the
enrollment of their personnel in courses at the Foreign Service
Institute and other training and professional development facilities of
the Department to promote a whole-of-government approach to mitigating
national security challenges.
(b) Congressional Staff.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall provide the
appropriate congressional committees with a report on offering training
and professional development opportunities at the Foreign Service
Institute and other such Department of State facilities for
congressional staff, to include budget impacts and potential course
offerings.
SEC. 9. STRATEGY FOR ADAPTING TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR MODERN
DIPLOMATIC NEEDS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop and submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy for how to adapt
and evolve training requirements to better meet the Department's
current and future needs for 21st century diplomacy.
(b) Elements.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall
include the following elements:
(1) Integrating training requirements into the Department
of State's promotion policies, including establishing
educational and professional development standards for training
and attainment to be used as a part of tenure and promotion
guidelines.
(2) Addressing multiple existing and emerging national
security challenges, including--
(A) democratic backsliding and authoritarianism;
(B) countering, and assisting United States allies
to address, state-sponsored disinformation, including
through the Global Engagement Center;
(C) cyber threats;
(D) aggression and malign influence;
(E) the implications of climate change for United
States diplomacy; and
(F) nuclear threats.
(3) Establishing residential training for the A-100
orientation course administered by the Foreign Service
Institute, and evaluating the feasibility of residential
training for long-term training opportunities.
(c) Utilization of Existing Resources.--In establishing the
residential training program pursuant to subsection (a)(3), the
Secretary of State shall work with other national security departments
and agencies that employ residential training for their orientation
course and consider using the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center
in Blackstone, Virginia, a facility of the Department of State.
SEC. 10. REPORT AND BRIEFING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report that includes--
(1) a strategy for broadening and deepening professional
development and training at the Department, including assessing
current and future needs for 21st century diplomacy;
(2) the process used and resources needed to implement the
strategy throughout the Department; and
(3) the results and impact of the strategy on the workforce
of the Department, particularly the relationship between
professional development and training and promotions for
Department personnel, and including the measurement and
evaluation methods used.
(b) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which the
Secretary of State submits the report required by subsection (a), and
annually thereafter for 2 years, the Secretary shall provide to the
appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the information
required to be included in the report.
SEC. 11. FOREIGN LANGUAGE MAINTENANCE INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
(a) Authorization.--The Secretary of State is authorized to
establish and implement an incentive program to encourage members of
the Foreign Service who possess language proficiency in any of the
languages that qualify for bonus points, as determined by the
Secretary, to maintain critical foreign language skills.
(b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the
appropriate congressional committees that includes a detailed plan for
implementing the program authorized under subsection (a), including
anticipated resource requirements.
SEC. 12. DEPARTMENT OF STATE WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that informed,
data-driven, and long-term workforce management, including with respect
to the Foreign Service, Civil Service, locally employed staff, and
contractors, is needed to align diplomatic priorities with the
appropriate personnel and resources.
(b) Annual Workforce Report.--
(1) In general.--In order to understand the Department of
State's long-term trends with respect to its workforce, the
Secretary of State shall, with input from relevant bureaus and
offices, including the Bureau of Global Talent Management, the
Bureau of Consular Affairs, and the Center for Analytics,
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
that details the Department of State's workforce, disaggregated
by Foreign Service, Civil Service, locally employed staff, and
contractors--
(A) the number of personnel who were hired;
(B) the number of personnel whose employment or
contract was terminated or voluntarily left the
Department;
(C) the number of personnel who were promoted,
including the grade to which they were promoted;
(D) the demographic breakdown of personnel; and
(E) the distribution of the Department of State's
workforce based on domestic and overseas assignments,
including a breakdown of the number of personnel in
geographic and functional bureaus, and the number of
personnel in overseas missions by region.
(2) Initial report.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall
submit the report described in paragraph (1) for each fiscal
year from fiscal years 2002 through 2022.
(3) Recurring report.--Not later than December 31, 2023,
and annually thereafter for 9 years, the Secretary of State
shall submit the report described in paragraph (1) for the
prior fiscal year.
(4) Use of report data.--The data in the reports required
under this subsection shall be used by Congress, in
coordination with the Secretary of State, to inform
recommendations on the appropriate size and composition of the
Department of State.
SEC. 13. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FILLING THE POSITION OF
UNDERSECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
It is the sense of Congress that since a vacancy in the position of
Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs is detrimental
to the national security interests of the United States, the President
should expeditiously nominate a qualified individual to such position
whenever such vacancy occurs to ensure that the bureaus reporting to
such position are able to fulfill their mission of--
(1) expanding and strengthening relationships between the
people of the United States and citizens of other countries;
and
(2) engaging, informing, and understanding the perspectives
of foreign audiences.
SEC. 14. REPORT ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY.
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees that includes--
(1) an evaluation of the May 2019 merger of the Bureau of
Public Affairs and the Bureau of International Information
Programs into the Bureau of Global Public Affairs with respect
to--
(A) the efficacy of the current bureau
configuration of the bureaus reporting to the Under
Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in
achieving the mission of the Department of State;
(B) the metrics before and after such merger,
including personnel data, disaggregated by positions
and location, content production, opinion polling,
program evaluations, and media appearances;
(C) the results of a survey of public diplomacy
practitioners to determine their opinion of the
efficacy of such merger and any adjustments that still
need to be made; and
(D) a plan for evaluating and monitoring, not less
frequently than once every 2 years, the programs,
activities, messaging, professional development
efforts, and structure of the Bureau of Global Public
Affairs, and submitting a summary of each such
evaluation to the appropriate congressional committees;
and
(2) a review of recent outside recommendations for
modernizing diplomacy at the Department of State with respect
to public diplomacy efforts, including--
(A) efforts in each of the bureaus reporting to the
Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs
to address issues of diversity and inclusion in their
work, structure, data collection, programming, and
personnel, including any collaboration with the Chief
Officer for Diversity and Inclusion;
(B) proposals to collaborate with think tanks and
academic institutions working on public diplomacy
issues to implement recent outside recommendations; and
(C) additional authorizations and appropriations
necessary to implement such recommendations.
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