[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1581 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1581

To improve coordination, implementation, and oversight of United States 
  economic reconstruction assistance for Iraq, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 20, 2007

  Mr. Lantos introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the 
     Judiciary and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To improve coordination, implementation, and oversight of United States 
  economic reconstruction assistance for Iraq, 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 AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Iraq 
Reconstruction Improvement Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purposes.
Sec. 3. Definition.
   TITLE I--UNITED STATES ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQ

Sec. 101. Coordinator of United States Economic Reconstruction 
                            Assistance for Iraq.
Sec. 102. Efforts to promote capacity development in Iraq.
Sec. 103. Efforts to support anti-corruption activities in Iraq.
Sec. 104. Assistance to support reconstruction programs on the 
                            provincial and local levels in Iraq.
Sec. 105. Assistance to support private sector development and 
                            employment programs in Iraq.
Sec. 106. Assistance for refugees from Iraq and internally displaced 
                            persons in Iraq.
Sec. 107. Authorization for refugee admissions.
TITLE II--OVERSIGHT OF UNITED STATES RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQ

Sec. 201. Extension of authority of the Office of the Special Inspector 
                            General for Iraq Reconstruction.
Sec. 202. Assistance to support the Offices of the Inspector General of 
                            the Department of State and the United 
                            States Agency for International 
                            Development.
Sec. 203. Report to Congress.
TITLE III--ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN UNITED STATES CONTRACTING 
                       FOR RECONSTRUCTION IN IRAQ

Sec. 301. Prohibition on funding certain contracts.
Sec. 302. Report on audits and investigations of the Department of 
                            State and United States Agency for 
                            International Development.
Sec. 303. Assistance to improve the contracting capacity of the 
                            Department of State and United States 
                            Agency for International Development for 
                            Iraq.
 TITLE IV--BUILDING THE UNITED STATES STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION 
                                CAPACITY

Sec. 401. Civilian Active Response Corps.
Sec. 402. Civilian Reserve Readiness Corps.
Sec. 403. Stabilization and reconstruction strategy.
Sec. 404. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 405. Reports to Congress.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To promote the effectiveness and efficiency of United 
        States economic reconstruction assistance for Iraq.
            (2) To improve the capacity and capability of the 
        Government of Iraq, on all levels, to respond to the needs of 
        all segments of the population in all areas and communities and 
        properly execute the Iraqi budget for reconstruction, job 
        creation, and economic development in Iraq.
            (3) To ensure that United States economic reconstruction 
        assistance for Iraq is provided and implemented in a 
        transparent and accountable fashion.
            (4) To work with the Government of Iraq to ensure that 
        United States and Iraqi economic reconstruction assistance 
        programs are complementary and administered on a nonsectarian 
        basis and that government services are delivered in an even-
        handed and nonsectarian manner.
            (5) To enhance the long-term capacity of the Government of 
        the United States to respond and participate in stabilization 
        and reconstruction operations.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION.

    As used in this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional 
committees'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate.

   TITLE I--UNITED STATES ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQ

SEC. 101. COORDINATOR OF UNITED STATES ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION 
              ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQ.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President of the United States shall appoint 
a Coordinator of United States Economic Reconstruction Assistance for 
Iraq (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ``Coordinator''). 
The Coordinator shall be appointed by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate and shall report directly to the President.
    (b) Staff and Funding.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
Coordinator should be given adequate staff and funding to carry out the 
duties set forth in subsection (c).
    (c) Duties.--The Coordinator shall--
            (1) develop and implement an overall strategy for United 
        States economic reconstruction assistance for Iraq;
            (2) coordinate and ensure effective and efficient 
        implementation, management, oversight, and accountability of 
        United States economic reconstruction assistance policy and 
        programs for Iraq among all departments and agencies of the 
        Government of the United States that are implementing or 
        otherwise supporting such programs, including the Department of 
        State, the United States Agency for International Development, 
        the Department of Defense, the Department of the Treasury, and 
        the Department of Justice;
            (3) resolve policy and program disputes among departments 
        and agencies of the United States Government that are 
        implementing assistance programs or otherwise supporting 
        reconstruction in Iraq;
            (4) seek to work with the Government of Iraq, on the 
        national, provincial, and local levels, to prioritize and 
        respond to the needs of the people of Iraq in all areas and 
        communities;
            (5) coordinate with the Government of Iraq in its budgeting 
        and expenditures of Iraqi revenues to carry out economic 
        reconstruction activities; and
            (6) coordinate with other donors, international 
        organizations, and international financial institutions that 
        are providing economic reconstruction assistance for Iraq.
    (d) Rank and Status.--The Coordinator shall have the rank and 
status of ambassador.

SEC. 102. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT IN IRAQ.

    (a) Assistance To Promote Capacity Development.--
            (1) Assistance authorized.--The President of the United 
        States shall provide assistance to increase the capacity and 
        improve the sustainability of national, provincial, and local 
        governmental institutions in Iraq.
            (2) Activities supported.--Assistance provided under 
        paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used 
        to--
                    (A) provide technical assistance to all Iraqi 
                government ministries, on the national, provincial, and 
                local levels, to improve transparency, accountability, 
                and ability to respond to the needs of the Iraqi 
                people;
                    (B) promote the implementation of fiscal and 
                personnel management systems, including tracking and 
                expenditure systems for Iraqi revenues;
                    (C) provide training and technical assistance to 
                the Iraqi Ministry of Finance to better account for the 
                budgeting, expenditure, and execution of Iraqi 
                revenues;
                    (D) assist in developing ministry-wide recruitment 
                systems to build a cadre of qualified, trained, and 
                experienced Iraqi staff at the field, project, and 
                ministry level;
                    (E) create or improve existing databases and other 
                human resource information systems;
                    (F) provide technical assistance to improve the 
                capacity to fund the operations and maintenance of 
                completed projects;
                    (G) develop effective inventory control systems for 
                plant and project equipment;
                    (H) promote the establishment of mentoring programs 
                by trained and experienced Iraqi government ministry 
                officials, engineers, and other staff for less 
                experienced and trained Iraqi government ministry 
                staff;
                    (I) provide training to Iraqi government 
                ministries, on the national, provincial, and local 
                levels, to focus the delivery of basic services on a 
                customer-oriented basis;
                    (J) improve training on the operations and 
                maintenance of United States-funded and Iraqi-funded 
                projects; and
                    (K) support the expansion of the Iraq Local 
                Governance Program and National Capacity Development 
                Program funded or carried out by the United States 
                Agency for International Development.
    (b) Director of Capacity Development in Iraq.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Coordinator of United States 
        Economic Reconstruction Assistance for Iraq shall designate a 
        Director of Capacity Development in Iraq (hereinafter in this 
        subsection referred to as the ``Director''), who shall be an 
        official of the Government of the United States with experience 
        in post-conflict reconstruction and development assistance, 
        particularly reconstruction and development assistance for 
        Iraq.
            (2) Duties.--The Director shall--
                    (A) develop an inter-agency United States 
                Government detailed plan for capacity development in 
                Iraq, in consultation with the Government of Iraq, that 
                defines roles and responsibilities, establishes 
                clearly-defined goals and objectives, including the 
                identification of specific short-term and long-term 
                initiatives, outcome-related performance measures, 
                milestones for achieving stated objectives, and future 
                funding requirements;
                    (B) establish and implement the process by which 
                goals, objectives, and milestones can be measured with 
                respect to capacity development;
                    (C) coordinate the activities of the United States 
                government departments or agencies that are identified 
                in the plan developed under subparagraph (A) to engage 
                in capacity-development activities; and
                    (D) work with other bilateral and multilateral 
                donors in executing effective and comprehensive 
                capacity-development programs.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the President such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

SEC. 103. EFFORTS TO SUPPORT ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTIVITIES IN IRAQ.

    (a) Assistance To Support Anti-Corruption Activities.--
            (1) Assistance authorized.--The President of the United 
        States shall provide assistance to combat corruption, improve 
        transparency and accountability, increase the participatory 
        nature of governmental institutions and civil society 
        organizations in all areas and communities, and promote other 
        forms of good governance and management in all levels of 
        government in Iraq.
            (2) Activities supported.--Assistance provided under 
        paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used 
        to--
                    (A) support and provide training to the Iraqi Board 
                of Supreme Audit, Central Criminal Court of Iraq, the 
                Commission on Public Integrity or other similar entity 
                created by the Iraqi legislature, Ministry Inspectors 
                General, third-party monitoring of government 
                procurement processes, and other anti-corruption 
                agencies in Iraq;
                    (B) promote legal and judicial reforms that 
                criminalize corruption in procurement and other areas 
                facilitating Iraqi reconstruction and law enforcement 
                reforms that encourage prosecutions of such corruption;
                    (C) provide technical assistance to develop a legal 
                framework for commercial transactions that foster 
                business practices that promote transparent, ethical, 
                and competitive behavior in the economic sector, such 
                as commercial codes that incorporate international 
                standards and protection of core labor standards;
                    (D) provide training and technical assistance 
                relating to drafting anti-corruption and competitive 
                laws and administrative codes, and provide technical 
                assistance to Iraqi governmental ministries, on the 
                national, provincial, and local levels, implementing 
                such laws and regulations;
                    (E) promote the development of regulations relating 
                to financial disclosure for public officials, political 
                parties, and candidates for public offices;
                    (F) support transparent budgeting processes, 
                including increased assistance to the development of 
                the Financial Management Information System and other 
                mechanisms that promote respective budget preparation 
                and sound cash-management processes; and
                    (G) promote civil society's role in combating 
                corruption, including increased support for the Iraq 
                Civil Society Program and Civil Society Resource 
                Centers.
    (b) Establishment of Comprehensive Anti-Corruption Strategy.--The 
Coordinator of United States Economic Reconstruction Assistance for 
Iraq shall establish a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy for Iraq 
among all departments and agencies of the Government of the United 
States carrying out anti-corruption programs for Iraq. The strategy 
established under this subsection shall include--
            (1) interim and long-term objectives for each United States 
        anti-corruption program;
            (2) a baseline for each United States anti-corruption 
        program to identify a starting point for measuring progress;
            (3) the identification and prioritization of sectors that 
        require enhanced anti-corruption efforts; and
            (4) the identification of training solutions that cut 
        across United States Government departments and agencies to 
        avoid duplication and maximize resources.
    (c) Coordination of Anti-Corruption Efforts.--The Coordinator of 
United States Economic Reconstruction Assistance for Iraq shall seek to 
coordinate with the Government of Iraq and regional and international 
partners carrying out anti-corruption programs for Iraq on all matters 
relating to anti-corruption programs for Iraq.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the President such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

SEC. 104. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS ON THE 
              PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL LEVELS IN IRAQ.

    (a) Assistance Authorized.--The President of the United States 
shall provide assistance to support reconstruction programs on the 
provincial and local levels in Iraq, including, in particular, programs 
that are identified by Iraqi provincial and local leaders and carried 
out by Iraqi-led nongovernmental organizations or private entities with 
training and experience in reconstruction activities.
    (b) Activities Supported.--Assistance provided under subsection (a) 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used to--
            (1) provide technical and program support to the Iraqi 
        Provincial Reconstruction Development Councils; and
            (2) support and increase funding for the Iraq Community 
        Action Program and Community Stabilization Program funded or 
        carried out by the United States Agency for International 
        Development.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the President--
            (1) $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009 
        to support and increase funding for the Community Action 
        Program under subsection (b)(2) and
            (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
        years 2008 and 2009 to carry out the other provisions of this 
        section.

SEC. 105. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND 
              EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS IN IRAQ.

    (a) Assistance Authorized.--The President of the United States 
shall provide assistance to support private sector development and 
employment programs, including short-term job creation programs, for 
the people of Iraq. Assistance provided under this subsection shall be 
made available on an equitable basis in all regions of Iraq, as 
appropriate.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the President such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

SEC. 106. ASSISTANCE FOR REFUGEES FROM IRAQ AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED 
              PERSONS IN IRAQ.

    (a) Assistance for Iraqi Refugees.--
            (1) Assistance authorized.--The Secretary of State shall 
        provide assistance to support the humanitarian needs of 
        refugees from Iraq who have been outside Iraq in a country in 
        the Middle East region since no earlier than March 19, 2003.
            (2) Activities supported.--Assistance provided under 
        paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used 
        to provide food, housing, clothing, health care, water and 
        sanitation, education, vocational training, and registration, 
        protection, and monitoring services for Iraqi refugees.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Secretary $45,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 
        2009. Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
        appropriations under this paragraph are in addition to amounts 
        otherwise available for such purposes.
    (b) Waiver of Limitation on United States Emergency Refugee and 
Migration Assistance Fund.--Funds appropriated or otherwise made 
available under the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration 
Assistance Fund authorized under section 2(c)(2) of the Migration and 
Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (22 U.S.C. 2601(c)(2)) for fiscal years 
2008 and 2009 shall not be subject to the limitation contained in the 
second sentence of such section.
    (c) Assistance for Internally Displaced Persons in Iraq.--
            (1) Assistance authorized.--The Secretary of State shall 
        provide assistance to support the humanitarian needs of 
        internally displaced persons in Iraq who have been outside 
        their original place of residence since no earlier than March 
        19, 2003.
            (2) Activities supported.--Assistance provided under 
        paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be used 
        to provide food, housing, clothing, health care, water and 
        sanitation, safe transportation, education, and vocational 
        training for internally displaced persons in Iraq.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Secretary $60,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 
        2009. Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
        appropriations under this paragraph are in addition to amounts 
        otherwise available for such purposes.

SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION FOR REFUGEE ADMISSIONS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) Increase in numerical limitations.--In addition to the 
        numerical limitations provided for under subsections (a) and 
        (b) of section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1157), the number of refugees who may be admitted during 
        the remainder of fiscal year 2007 and during fiscal year 2008 
        under subsection (c) of such section shall be increased by not 
        fewer than 20,000 for the purpose of admitting refugees from 
        Iraq. Such refugees from Iraq shall be treated, for purposes of 
        such section, as refugees of special concern under the refugee 
        resettlement priority system.
            (2) Restriction on eligibility.--The increase in the 
        numerical limitation described in paragraph (1) shall apply 
        only to refugees from Iraq who have become refugees since no 
        earlier than March 19, 2003.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2008--
            (1) to the Department of Homeland Security, $10,000,000 for 
        expedited refugee processing and temporary expansion of the 
        Refugee Corps for such expedited processing; and
            (2) to the Office of Refugee Resettlement in the Department 
        of Health and Human Services, $30,000,000 for the resettlement 
        of refugees from Iraq.
    (c) Sense of Congress Relating to the Prioritization of Security 
Checks.--It is the sense of Congress that the Attorney General should 
instruct the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to place 
greater priority on the security checks conducted on refugees from 
Iraq, without any reduction in the care, thoroughness, or extensive 
process given to such checks, in order that such checks can be 
prioritized to provide to the Department of Homeland Security more 
expeditious decisions regarding the admission of refugees who are 
subject to such checks.
    (d) Refugees From Iraq Defined.--For purposes of this section, the 
term ``refugees from Iraq'' means a refugee described in subsection 
(a)(1) of section 106 or an internally displaced person described in 
subsection (c)(1) of such section.

TITLE II--OVERSIGHT OF UNITED STATES RECONSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE FOR IRAQ

SEC. 201. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF THE OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR 
              GENERAL FOR IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION.

    Section 3001(o)(1)(B) of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations 
Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, 
2004 (Public Law 108-106; 117 Stat. 1238; 5 U.S.C. App., note to 
section 8G of Public Law 95-452), as amended by section 1054(b) of 
Public Law 109-364 and section 2 of Public Law 109-440, is amended by 
striking ``fiscal year 2006'' and inserting ``any of the fiscal years 
2006 through 2009''.

SEC. 202. ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE OFFICES OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF 
              THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR 
              INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Assistance Authorized.--The President of the United States 
shall provide assistance to improve the auditing, investigation, and 
oversight capacity and capability of the Offices of the Inspector 
General of the Department of State and the United States Agency for 
International Development.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the President such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Office 
of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction should assist 
the Offices of the Inspector General of the Department of State and the 
United States Agency for International Development in improving their 
auditing, investigation, and oversight capacities and capabilities to 
ensure efficient and effective transition of responsibilities after the 
date on which the authority of the Office of the Special Inspector 
General for Iraq Reconstruction expires.

SEC. 203. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    The President of the United States shall, on a quarterly basis, 
transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
matters relevant to this Act, including the following:
            (1) Progress by Iraq in the economic and reconstruction 
        sector, including information regarding--
                    (A) unemployment levels, and the change in such 
                levels on a monthly basis;
                    (B) electricity, water, and oil production and 
                distribution rates;
                    (C) hunger, malnutrition and poverty levels, the 
                dependence of the population on government assistance 
                to prevent the increase in such levels, and the ability 
                of the Government of Iraq to prevent the increase in 
                such levels;
                    (D) an assessment of the humanitarian situation, 
                including ability of Iraqi civilians to travel freely 
                throughout the country, the number of Iraqi refugees 
                and internally displaced persons, and the change in 
                such numbers on a monthly basis;
                    (E) economic reforms by Government of Iraq that set 
                the framework for long-term economic growth, including 
                the level of private sector investment and laws enacted 
                by the Government of Iraq to ensure labor rights in 
                Iraq satisfy international labor standards;
                    (F) the amount of funds obligated and expended by 
                the Government of Iraq to improve the employment 
                situation in Iraq;
                    (G) the amount of funds obligated and expended by 
                the Government of Iraq on reconstruction, by sector; 
                and
                    (H) progress by the Government of Iraq in 
                fulfilling its obligations under the International 
                Compact with Iraq, including programs on good 
                governance, human rights protection, and anti-
                corruption.
            (2) Progress in obtaining support from other countries in 
        the region and around the world including information 
        regarding--
                    (A) the amount of new commitments and obligations 
                for reconstruction assistance, by country; and
                    (B) the amount of new debt relief provided by 
                countries other than the United States, by country.
            (3) Status of United States reconstruction efforts in Iraq, 
        including information regarding--
                    (A) a general description of existing programs in 
                each sector, including the amounts obligated and 
                expended during the last 60 days and the 
                accomplishments in the last 60 days and the obligation 
                of amounts and plans for programs for the next 60 days, 
                and any changes in priorities between and within 
                sectors between each reporting period;
                    (B) status of each provincial reconstruction team, 
                including the staffing of each reconstruction team, 
                including the ratio of civilian personnel to military 
                personnel, the activities of each such team, the 
                amounts expended by each such team, and the specific 
                outcomes of each such team;
                    (C) a general description of existing programs in 
                each sector and their relation to the International 
                Compact with Iraq and other priorities and commitments 
                identified by the Government of Iraq, on the national, 
                provincial, and local levels; and
                    (D) the accomplishments and obstacles in 
                coordinating United States reconstruction programs.

TITLE III--ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN UNITED STATES CONTRACTING 
                       FOR RECONSTRUCTION IN IRAQ

SEC. 301. PROHIBITION ON FUNDING CERTAIN CONTRACTS.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the 
funds appropriated or otherwise made available for reconstruction 
assistance for Iraq under the Economic Support Fund authorized under 
chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2346 et seq.) may be obligated or expended in connection with a 
contract entered into, or task order issued, after the date of the 
enactment of this Act with a contractor that--
            (1) assisted in the development of the request for proposal 
        for the contract or task order; or
            (2) during the previous 5 years--
                    (A) has been found by the Special Inspector General 
                for Iraq Reconstruction, the Department of State 
                Inspector General, or the U.S. Agency for International 
                Development Inspector General to have overcharged or 
                improperly billed the Federal Government by a total of 
                at least $10,000,000 through one or more overcharges;
                    (B) has been found by the Special Inspector General 
                for Iraq Reconstruction, the Department of State 
                Inspector General, or the U.S. Agency for International 
                Development Inspector General to have committed one or 
                more fraudulent acts resulting in total costs or losses 
                to the Federal Government of at least $10,000,000; or
                    (C) has been suspended or debarred for a period of 
                at least one year under the Federal suspension and 
                debarment regulations.
    (b) National Security Waiver.--The President of the United States 
may waive the restrictions under subsection (a) on a case-by-case basis 
if the President determines that such waiver is in the national 
security interest of the United States and transmits to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report describing the reasons for such 
determination.

SEC. 302. REPORT ON AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              STATE AND UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of 
State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
that lists and describes audits and investigations conducted by the 
Offices of the Inspector General of the Department of State and the 
United States Agency for International Development of cost plus fixed 
fee contracts, indefinite quantity contracts, task orders, and other 
contracts related to economic reconstruction activities in Iraq.
    (b) Contents.--The Secretary of State shall identify in the report 
submitted under subsection (a)--
            (1) any such cost plus fixed fee contract, indefinite 
        quantity contract, task order, or other contract that the 
        Inspector General of the Department of State or the Inspector 
        General of the United States Agency for International 
        Development determines involves costs that are unjustified, 
        unsupported, or questionable, including any charges assessed on 
        goods or services not provided in connection with such cost 
        plus fixed fee contract, indefinite quantity contract, task 
        order, or other contract;
            (2) the amount of the unjustified, unsupported, or 
        questionable costs and the percentage of the total value of the 
        cost plus fixed fee contract, indefinite quantity contract, 
        task order, or other contract that such costs represent;
            (3) the company or companies implementing such cost plus 
        fixed fee contract, indefinite quantity contract, task order, 
        or other contract with the Department of State or United States 
        Agency of International Development that was convicted of 
        committing fraud or corruption; and
            (4) the company or companies that were suspended or 
        debarred from receiving contract in cases of fraud or 
        corruption.

SEC. 303. ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE THE CONTRACTING CAPACITY OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR 
              INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR IRAQ.

    (a) Assistance Authorized.--The President of the United States 
shall provide assistance to improve and increase the contracting 
capacity for the Department of State and the United States Agency for 
International Development for reconstruction activities in Iraq.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the President such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

 TITLE IV--BUILDING THE UNITED STATES STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION 
                                CAPACITY

SEC. 401. CIVILIAN ACTIVE RESPONSE CORPS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with 
the Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
Development, shall establish a Civilian Active Response Corps 
(hereinafter in this section referred to as the ``Corps'') to provide 
assistance in support of stabilization and reconstruction operations in 
foreign countries or regions that are in, are in transition from, or 
are likely to enter into, conflict or civil strife.
    (b) Composition.--The Secretary and Administrator shall coordinate 
in the identification and training, and if necessary, in the 
recruitment and hiring, of necessary personnel with the skills 
necessary to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction operations 
for the Corps established in accordance with subsection (a). Such 
personnel shall be composed of employees of United States civilian 
agencies or non-Federal government employees.
    (c) Use of Corps.--The members of the Corps shall be available if 
the President determines that it is in the national security interests 
of the United States to engage in stabilization and reconstruction 
operations in a country or region that is in, is in transition from, or 
is likely to enter into, conflict or civil strife.
    (d) Training and Education Programs.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization of the 
        Department of State and the Administrator, is authorized to 
        conduct and arrange for training and education of the Corps.
            (2) Emphasis.--Training and education shall emphasize 
        acquisition of general skills needed to operate in a post-
        conflict environment and training specific to the job skill set 
        for which the member has been identified to participate in the 
        Corps.
            (3) Contents.--Training and education may consist of--
                    (A) conducting inter-agency training, including 
                training related to inter-agency decision-making, 
                operational planning, and execution simulations, for 
                mid-level government officials and managers to prepare 
                such officials and managers to address stabilization 
                and reconstruction operations;
                    (B) conducting advanced training related to 
                stabilization and reconstruction operations for members 
                of the Corps;
                    (C) conducting pre-deployment training related to 
                stabilization and reconstruction operations for 
                civilians and military-civil affairs personnel;
                    (D) conducting exercises related to stabilization 
                and reconstruction operations for United States and 
                international experts;
                    (E) developing a uniform set of operating 
                procedures for stabilization and reconstruction 
                operations; and
                    (F) conducting ongoing monitoring and evaluations 
                and post-operation reviews of stabilization and 
                reconstruction operations to establish lessons learned.
    (e) Facilities.--Training and education programs shall be 
coordinated with and utilize to the extent possible existing programs 
and facilities, such as the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs 
Training Center (commonly referred to as the ``Foreign Service 
Institute''), the National Defense University, the Center for 
Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies at the Naval Postgraduate 
School, and the United States Institute for Peace.
    (f) Employment Authority.--The full-time personnel authorized to be 
employed in the Corps under subsection (b) shall be in addition to any 
other full-time personnel of the Department of State or the United 
States Agency for International Development authorized to be employed 
under any other provision of law.

SEC. 402. CIVILIAN RESERVE READINESS CORPS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with 
the heads of other relevant Executive departments and agencies, shall 
establish a Civilian Reserve Readiness Corps comprised of personnel who 
are trained and available as needed to perform services necessary to 
carry out the purpose of the Civilian Active Response Corps under 
section 401(c). The Civilian Reserve Readiness Corps shall constitute a 
reserve component of the Civilian Active Response Corps.
    (b) Federal Employees.--The Civilian Reserve Readiness Corps may 
include employees of the Department of State, including foreign 
national employees (as defined in section 103(6) of the Foreign Service 
Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3903(6))), employees of the United States Agency 
for International Development, employees of any other Executive 
department or agency (as such term is defined in section 105 of title 
5, United States Code), and employees from the legislative and judicial 
branches who--
            (1) have the training and skills necessary to enable them 
        to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction operations 
        under section 401; and
            (2) have volunteered for deployment to carry out such 
        stabilization and reconstruction operations.
    (c) Non-Federal Employees.--The Secretary is authorized to employ 
retired employees, contractor personnel, nongovernmental organization 
personnel, and State and local government employees who--
            (1) have the training and skills necessary to enable them 
        to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction operations 
        under this section; and
            (2) have volunteered to carry out such stabilization and 
        reconstruction operations.
    (d) Use of Civilian Reserve.--The Secretary may deploy members of 
the reserve component in support of stabilization and reconstruction 
operations in a foreign country or region if the President makes a 
determination that it is important to the security interests of the 
United States for the employees described in subsections (b) and (c) to 
assist in stabilizing and reconstructing a country or region that is at 
risk of, in, or is in transition from conflict or civil strife.
    (e) Authority To Hire Retired Employees.--Section 824(g)(1) of the 
Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4064(g)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
            (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) to facilitate the assignment of persons to 
                any country that is subject to a determination made 
                pursuant to section 401(c) of the Iraq Reconstruction 
                Improvement Act of 2007 or to any posts vacated by 
                members of the Service assigned to such a country, if 
                the annuitant is employed in a position for which there 
                is exceptional difficulty recruiting or retaining a 
                qualified employee.''.

SEC. 403. STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall develop an inter-
agency strategy to respond to stabilization and reconstruction 
operations.
    (b) Contents.--The strategy shall include the following:
            (1) identification of and efforts to improve the skills 
        sets needed to respond to and support stabilization and 
        reconstruction operations in foreign countries or regions that 
        are in, are in transition from, or are likely to enter into, 
        conflict or civil strife;
            (2) identification of specific Federal departments and 
        agencies that can adequately satisfy the skills sets referred 
        in paragraph (1);
            (3) efforts to increase training of Federal civilian 
        personnel in stabilization and reconstruction operations;
            (4) efforts to develop a database of proven and best 
        practices based on previous stabilization and reconstruction 
        operations; and
            (5) a plan to coordinate the activities of Federal 
        departments and agencies involved in stabilization and 
        reconstruction operations.

SEC. 404. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    To carry out this title, there are authorized to be appropriated to 
the President $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 and 2009.

SEC. 405. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    (a) Strategy Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the strategy developed 
under section 403.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report on the status of efforts to establish 
the Civilian Active Response Corps. The report shall include 
recommendations--
            (1) for any legislation necessary to implement Section 401; 
        and
            (2) concerning the regulation and structure of the Civilian 
        Active Response Corps, including recommendations related to pay 
        and employment security for, and benefit and retirement matters 
        related to, members of the Corps.
    (c) Additional Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of efforts 
to establish the Civilian Reserve Readiness Corps, including any 
legislation necessary to implement section 402.
                                 <all>