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
Chapter 7 of title I (22 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.), as amended by sections 608, 609, and 610, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
712. Training relating to critical minerals
(a) People’s Republic of China
(1) In general. The Secretary, in consultation with the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs and the Director of the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center, shall establish an academic program focused on global supply chains and their relation to strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China.
(2) Training requirements. The academic program established under paragraph (1) shall be mandatory for—
(A) entry-level Service officers identified as Economic Officers prior to the end of the second tour in the Department; and
(B) Service officers identified as Economic Officers prior to deployment at a United States presence post abroad to fill a billet where the primary focus of the portfolio will be critical minerals or energy.
(3) Contents. The academic program established under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) Instruction on international documents, treaties, and agreements relevant to global energy and critical mineral supply chains.
(B) United States Government policies and strategies for mitigating vulnerabilities in global supply chains.
(C) Basic geological knowledge about critical minerals.
(D) Analysis of the effects of strategic competition, including with the People’s Republic of China, on United States interests.
(E) Regional- and country-specific instruction tailored to the resources, economy, and international trade relationships of the receiving country.
(F) Practical guidance for officers to advance United States foreign policy objectives in diplomacy, trade negotiations, multilateral forums, and crisis scenarios related to supply chains.
(G) Specialized training related to critical minerals as described in subsection (b).
(b) Critical mineral-Specific training relating to certain other countries
(1) In general. The Secretary shall require specialized training on critical minerals for Service officers identified as Economic Officers prior to deployment to United States presence posts in countries that—
(A) produce, process, refine, or export significant quantities of critical minerals;
(B) host critical mineral reserves of strategic importance to the United States; or
(C) play a significant role in global critical mineral supply chains, including through transportation, processing, or downstream manufacturing.
(2) Contents. The specialized training related to critical minerals required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An overview of United States critical minerals policy and interagency roles.
(B) Basic geological knowledge of critical minerals and extraction processes.
(C) Country- and region-specific analysis of critical mineral resources, governance, and market structures.
(D) Geopolitical and national security implications of critical mineral supply chains.
(E) Risk factors related to supply disruption, foreign ownership or control, corruption, and resource nationalism.
(F) Tools and best practices for advancing United States commercial, economic security, and strategic objectives related to critical minerals through diplomatic engagement.
VII Other matters