117 HR 4589 IH: Diversity and Inclusion at the Department of State Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2021-07-21
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EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Diversity and Inclusion at the Department of State Act
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definition.Title I—Chief Diversity and Inclusion OfficerSec. 101. Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.Title II—Diversity in the Foreign Service and at the Department of StateSec. 201. Representation on Board of Examiners for the purposes of recruitment into the Foreign Service.Sec. 202. Promotion in the Foreign Service.Sec. 203. Mentorship program.Sec. 204. Senior Executive Service candidate development program.Sec. 205. Diversity defined in the Foreign Service Act of 1980.2.In this Act, the term diversity
means those classes of persons protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).<enum>I</enum><header>Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer</header><section id="HD62EF3F9486345D6AE80B2A5CDF3150E"><enum>101.</enum><header>Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer</header><subsection id="H66168232B963453BB6DD1680696F582D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2651a">22 U.S.C. 2651a</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:</text><quoted-block id="H13D22079B9444044950165889803AC3C" style="OLC"><subsection id="H9574882428BA4EA6AE5D238FA833660D"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer</header><paragraph id="H3A83D576036A48AAA2DEB2A6DA1B6B73"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established in the Department of State, in the office of the Deputy Secretary of State, a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, who shall—</text><subparagraph id="H5A6791FE076A4C1FA12DA7043B157CEB"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be appointed by the President;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDCAF3EADDEB74A31A7DFC81D209FE82E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">serve as the principal advisor to the Secretary of State on issues related to diversity and inclusion at the Department of State; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB150CFF1F7A54197B4F41545EF20AD53"><enum>(C)</enum><text>report directly to the Secretary of State.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBC23F3A464B34B3087E63CA5C59E0A79"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>The Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer shall be responsible for the following:</text><subparagraph id="H328FBADE3D9A451F8513C53219A99550" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Developing, implementing, and updating a diversity and inclusion strategic plan of the Department of State to eliminate barriers to the recruitment, promotion, and retention of traditionally underrepresented groups and to promote the implementation of diversity and inclusion practices and policies throughout the Department.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H217C9147FBAD4AEFAFF72CEAC863A63C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Establishing criteria and goals for individual offices and bureaus regarding assignments of personnel, in coordination with the Director General of the Foreign Service, to promote diversity and inclusion at the Department of State, and conducting annual reviews of individual bureaus on their actions taken to satisfy such criteria and goals.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEEBC5CC1928047F1A07ED2AD0EB3F740"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Serving as a permanent member of any departmental committees responsible for the selection of chiefs of mission and deputy chiefs of mission.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H65BD8591AF7B4769A548BB1AC4C8AC73"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Serving as the Executive Secretary for the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council established in subsection (i).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1F3352481C3A450C8AC3E398108119DE"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reviewing the implementation and effectiveness of the Department of State’s accountability mechanisms in eliminating discrimination and harassment.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF641BD89559B447995DC6D99F2DFB043"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Promoting mentorship and sponsorship for members belonging to traditionally underrepresented groups who are working for the Department of State.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H785BCE82413B435580DB8BD184B0E397"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Collaborating with appropriate counterparts from other Federal departments and agencies and the private sector, to share best practices and lessons learned with respect to promoting diversity and inclusion.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HDA7479EE62F8460FAC114F59035416B6" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Rank and status</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer shall be rank equivalent to an Assistant Secretary of State.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF07B1F14CA6C456ABCA224734CDEC714"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Bureau senior advisors</header><text>The Secretary of State shall appoint in each bureau of the Department of State a Senior Advisor with respect to matters relating to diversity and inclusion, to—</text><subparagraph id="HE87D1B5525384162995DB6756D524D96"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">serve as the principal advisor for such bureau and report directly to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H596050CA929B45E98343511CF6BC0847"><enum>(B)</enum><text>coordinate with the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer the activities of such bureau.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1D6AF6A136FF4A8381C134A991CE15B1"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Authority to collect information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To carry out the duties described in paragraph (2), the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer is authorized to—</text><subparagraph id="H83E58C05345F4202B6EE9DB78F4E6B95"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">collect and share with Department of State leadership, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and Federal departments and agencies, and, as appropriate, with Employee Affinity Groups, foreign affairs professional associations, and other organizations non-personally identifiable information on diversity in recruiting, hiring, assignments, promotions, attrition, and security clearances, including assignment restrictions, within the Department, including data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, national origin, and gender, and by office and bureau; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5028663AFC3F4BF5881A2458603A7272"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">appoint subject matter experts in accordance with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4701">42 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.</external-xref>) to analyze data, draft reports, and perform other tasks as directed by the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H53D0446A728841919194396C0187CE4E"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Reporting</header><text>Not later than January 30 of every year, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report—</text><subparagraph id="HA9037842E52C44BDBB15DC7C7B8519B2"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">detailing the criteria and goals for individual offices and bureaus of the Department of State with respect to diversity and inclusion;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7A1FC1BA735F4FEDAE2A568ABDBCA5AC"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assessments by the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer on the performance over the previous year of each such office and bureau to satisfy such criteria and goals; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF817AA8E74F4E62BFEAF5A27F75AAC9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>containing any other relevant information.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H90488CDAB20042AA864C2991518F41E8" commented="no"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Definition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection and subsection (j) (relating to the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council), the term <quote>diversity</quote> means those classes of persons protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/2000a">42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.</external-xref>) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/12101">42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3DDFF8868B8F4847BA80AD34FBDA7CFC" commented="no"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council</header><paragraph id="HBFF8845190844AB49018FEF3A09134E2" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary of State shall establish a Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council to coordinate the implementation of the Department of State’s diversity and inclusion strategic plans, initiatives, and policies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDCED3A56847A4A71A42C9A2E367F0F46" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Chair</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council shall be chaired by the Secretary of State. In the Secretary’s absence, the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer shall perform the duties of the chair.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H17CC63D8E5AC47409D0B2B783D0C9E9A" commented="no"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Composition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council shall include the following:</text><subparagraph id="HA7EFD80005834F1998ED63746CE24AB1" commented="no"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of State.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2A00359631FB46399A0E333410F5E1E8" commented="no"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H724F394532D449B18DA19D0B5B0227A3" commented="no"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director General of Global Talent Management.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8B0C23B5642043BCA2C6D22F359B042A" commented="no"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One individual from each Bureau, at the rank of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State or above.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9B3B8D0E90D743C09745DEC6CCE2502A" commented="no"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Any other individual determined appropriate by the Secretary of State.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HAD4CD122DCDA4994963BE0B8B1665AD9" commented="no"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Term</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Members of the Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Council shall be appointed in accordance with this subsection for a period of time as determined by the Secretary of State.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HD25C0103DD284D1C82ED4546E7FA3326"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Transition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The individual serving as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the Department of State may continue to serve in such position until such time as the appointment of the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the Department in accordance with subsection (i) of section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as added by subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="H96AB8177BD164A08AB12240797AB7AEB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the Department of State established pursuant to subsection (i) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as added by subsection (a), should be provided sufficient office space and support staff to ensure successful operation.</text></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Diversity in the Foreign Service and at the Department of State</header><section id="H731B94B86D8D4B22B615997E26A47D49"><enum>201.</enum><header>Representation on Board of Examiners for the purposes of recruitment into the Foreign Service</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that the Department of State Board of Examiners should reflect the diversity of the United States to facilitate the entry into the Foreign Service of individuals who satisfy the rigorous requirements of the Service and reflect the diversity of the American people.</text></section><section id="H757A2DFA3D114DE6B0335B41B461A425"><enum>202.</enum><header>Promotion in the Foreign Service</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended—</text><paragraph id="H36013E4B028B4A4282293504CCFB946E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section 602 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/4002">22 U.S.C. 4002</external-xref>), by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HFCFDF597497143EEB8E6A36D56796CF9" display-inline="no-display-inline"><subsection id="HC44DD644FB5447C7BDD67C19A9B2488E"><enum>(d)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than January 31 of each year, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that—</text><paragraph id="H533F9ABD5D7B4C529120515577F5A90A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>details the demographic composition of selection boards under this section and the Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service under section 211 convened in the previous year;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H626E5979223C46AD9D45C45DF632F59F" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text>may include information on the diversity of the members of such boards; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9F4619FB63DA42C6A091E0EF2426BB2E"><enum>(3)</enum><text>includes any other information the Secretary determines relevant.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H3AE792FAA7C041CBB920A255BFA93D92"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 603 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/4003">22 U.S.C. 4003</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph id="H4BFA382C515E4B81988E2DD86AB7DA2D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by inserting <quote>testimony from peers and subordinates,</quote> after <quote>supervisors,</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC688F28A88AF4E458F65A06033E3D3A6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><clause id="H3A5131EC0EAA42BCA0114F5417CF81D0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>, or</quote> and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; </text></clause><clause id="HB1CF7F68B6734E7384628BE032F438C9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and</text></clause><clause id="HF0A2A4E9B156410087443936EF023BAE"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting before paragraph (3), as so redesignated, the following new paragraphs:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H5C5E39F632724FF3952010286142FB2A" display-inline="no-display-inline"><paragraph id="HCCAFA47F370944828CE5B473D7AA263A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a record of supporting the recruitment and career development goals of members of the Foreign Service, such as serving as a mentor in mentorship program under section 709, participation in recruitment activities, or serving on the Board of Examiners or on selection boards;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H59A253AF9D26414086D5665794868130" commented="no"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a record of promoting and supporting diversity and inclusion at the Department of State, including in management practices;</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H745101F8A85D469E8A5066B2FA27736D"><enum>203.</enum><header>Mentorship program</header><subsection id="H019B200B8ADE445983F5618BED5A53D7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended by inserting after section 708 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/4028">22 U.S.C. 4028</external-xref>) the following new sections:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H6CF735A5E0A445649268B2F0FCBE5638" display-inline="no-display-inline"><section id="HBCC574E8881C48DA8DF31F88D8CF1744"><enum>709.</enum><header>Mentorship program</header><subsection id="HFAD05256D6884ED88A81B3CA734ECE8D"><enum>(a)</enum><text>The Secretary of State shall establish in the Department of State a mentorship program to match interested participants who are—</text><paragraph id="H6BD1E10F12074F52BDC2327FB4F634B0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>entry-level members of the Foreign Service; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAED9E8159B8D4A0ABC30B71FBCCC68FD"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">mid-level members of the Foreign Service.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HD812F4749CC842E79D861BDDC47790E2"><enum>(b)</enum><text>Individuals participating in the mentorship program under this section should participate for a minimum of two years.</text></subsection><subsection id="HB35DA8F991F14403A034D1A09FFE4D84" commented="no"><enum>(c)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The mentorship program established under this section may include members of Employee Affinity Groups as mentors, in addition to other individuals selected by the Secretary of State.</text></subsection><subsection id="H8CB1F72E28F74CA6B581FE627509F0CE"><enum>(d)</enum><text>Service as a mentor in the mentorship program may be considered as satisfying the criteria described in section 603(b)(1).</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="H7E86F31115F54E2CB755A0578B314773"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of contents in section 2 of the Foreign Service Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 707 the following new items:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H77225FAE5E80403EADB8FE1FD58F1CE0" display-inline="no-display-inline"><toc regeneration="no-regeneration"><toc-entry level="section">Sec. 708. Training for Foreign Service officers. </toc-entry><toc-entry level="section">Sec. 709. Mentorship program.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="HF74C90534A964683804F99779FF2539C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Mentorship program for civil service</header><paragraph id="H1F86531822F84A9BA35CBF24E325E368"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of State shall establish a mentorship program to match mentors with interested participants who are—</text><subparagraph id="HDB3E6970358A41A4AFA4C0E017D9919B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>members of the civil service at the GS–12 level and below; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3CBAFD52E83D4751BD9A721F4DE1FF0F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>members of the civil service from at the GS–13 level to the GS–15 level.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE86C2DAC81CA490FB874316236B07F82"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>Individuals participating in the civil service mentorship program under paragraph (1) should participate for a minimum of two years.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H83BD91CD647D4B85BA4B41BE962DED53"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Inclusion of Employee Affinity Groups</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Members of Employee Affinity Groups and other individuals selected by the Secretary of State may serve as mentors in the civil service mentorship program under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H295EB69A23FA4C0A8E08A702F38C9D5C"><enum>204.</enum><header>Senior Executive Service candidate development program</header><subsection id="H1A1C0C029509474CB549C6A3EEEC3A46"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of State shall offer the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program every three years to members of the civil service at the Department of State at the GS–14 and GS–15 levels.</text></subsection><subsection id="H74B4CA70BEEA465B9AD6364A98B7940A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, at the same time as each report required under section 313 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as added by section 2(a)(2), a report detailing disaggregated demographic information of candidates referred by each bureau of the Department of State to interview for the Senior Executive Service, including demographic information, disaggregated by bureau, relating to the diversity of such candidates.</text></subsection></section><section id="HDE8886D625514D43B6D7C51A34B1079F"><enum>205.</enum><header>Diversity defined in the Foreign Service Act of 1980</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 102 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/3902">22 U.S.C. 3902</external-xref>) is amended by—</text><paragraph id="H3D269A3E75C64A74837B642100DC9818"><enum>(1)</enum><text>redesignating paragraphs (5) through (12) as paragraphs (6) through (13), respectively; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8D40E800CCFB43839583E5CC44C751E3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:</text><quoted-block id="H413D9B1FCC4B409F9BACD33E122E425D" style="OLC"><paragraph id="H42E6CF26F3FF412FBC20530423B4DAA8"><enum>(5)</enum><text><quote>diversity</quote> has the meaning given such term in subsection (i) of section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/22/2651a">22 U.S.C. 2651a</external-xref>);</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section>