H.R. 9086
Foreign Service Modernization Act
Sponsor: Michael Lawler
3 cosponsors
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Foreign Service Modernization Act
This bill requires or authorizes certain actions related to U.S. Foreign Service (FS) management and operations, including an increased focus on expeditionary diplomacy (a concept that emphasizes diplomats conducting direct diplomacy in high-risk environments outside of the embassy), expanded hiring pathways, and additional training requirements.
For example, the bill requires the Department of State to establish
- a team to develop a plan to improve the capability and willingness of FS members and leaders to engage in expeditionary diplomacy;
- a program to recruit qualified veterans and separating military personnel into the FS, including by integrating FS recruitment into military transition programs; and
- a Diplomatic Reserve Corps pilot program to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a trained reserve cadre providing a surge workforce to support foreign affairs contingencies.
Additionally, the State Department is authorized to establish a structured training framework that is integrated into normal career progression with protected training periods (similar to the Armed Forces' professional military education model).
The bill specifies that FS members
- must successfully complete specified leadership and management training prior to assuming leadership assignments;
- who participate in approved external training, education, or details shall have certain employment protections (such as eligibility for promotions and pay increases on the same basis as those not on such assignments); and
- who undergo full-time, department-funded language training for more than six months must serve at least three consecutive tours in positions requiring proficiency in that language, with assignments beginning immediately after such language training.
Text of the bill
I General provisions
II Management of Service
III Appointments
IV Classification of Positions and Assignments
V Promotion and retention
VI Career development, training, and orientation
(a) In general. Section 701 (22 U.S.C. 4021), as amended by section 601, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
(i) List of critical foreign languages
(1) In general. Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and not less frequently than once every three years thereafter, the Secretary should designate, and make available to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, a list of critical foreign languages for purposes of this Act.
(2) Matters to be included. For each critical foreign language designated pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include information in the list describing—
(A) minimum tested levels at which a member of the Service shall be considered to be proficient in the language; and
(B) criteria for determining positions for which such critical foreign language capability is mission essential.
(3) Coordination. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that maintain foreign language capabilities, in order to promote interoperability, avoid duplication, and achieve cost savings to the taxpayer.
(4) Workforce planning. The Secretary should incorporate critical foreign language capability planning into the career development, training, and assignment processes under this chapter, including through—
(A) the use of training at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center;
(B) the use of limited noncareer appointments and recall and reappointment authorities under sections 308 and 309 to address temporary or surge requirements; and
(C) the development of a surge reserve of rehired officers and other appropriately cleared individuals with critical foreign language capabilities who may be activated rapidly in response to crises.
(5) Critical foreign language defined. In this subsection, the term critical foreign language means a foreign language identified by the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate—
(A) as essential to the protection of United States national security interests, United States economic prosperity, and the protection of United States citizens abroad;
(B) with respect to which required levels of proficiency are limited in the United States workforce relative to strategic needs and operational demand; and
(C) as corresponding to category I, II, III, or IV languages, as specified in section 3911.2 of volume 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual (3 FAM 3911.2) or successor guidance, encompassing difficult, hard, and super hard languages that are less commonly taught or studied in the United States.
(b) Critical foreign language requirement. Section 702 (22 U.S.C. 4022) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(c) Critical foreign language requirement. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall ensure that policies for the instruction, testing, and use of foreign languages explicitly support the preservation of capabilities with respect to critical foreign languages identified pursuant to section 701(i).
VII Other matters