[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3492 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3492

   To address the importance of foreign affairs training to national 
                   security, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 12 (legislative day, January 10), 2022

Mr. Cardin (for himself and Mr. Hagerty) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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. 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 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 investment of time and resources by the Department 
        with respect to the training and education of its personnel is 
        considerably below the level of other Federal departments and 
        agencies in the national security field, and falls well below 
        the investments many allied and adversarial countries make in 
        the development of their diplomats;
            (3) 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 
        education of its personnel;
            (4) the Department must move beyond reliance on ``on-the-
        job training'' and other informal mentorship practices, which 
        lead to an inequality in skillset development and career 
        advancement opportunities, often particularly for minority 
        personnel, and toward a robust professional tradecraft training 
        continuum that will provide for greater equality in career 
        advancement;
            (5) the Department must clearly link training to 
        promotional opportunities, requiring officers to take certain 
        classes at institutions of the Department (or equivalent 
        courses at other institutions) at specific phases throughout 
        their careers and to participate in fellowship programs that 
        expose diplomats to other agencies, organizations, and 
        cultures;
            (6) the Foreign Service Institute and other training 
        facilities of the Department should seek to increase 
        substantially educational and training offerings to Department 
        personnel, including by developing new and innovative education 
        and training courses, methods, programs, and opportunities; and
            (7) 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 should 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 offerings, especially in the 
        introduction of new, innovative, and pilot model courses.

SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.

    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. 3. TRAINING FLOAT STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall develop and submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a strategy to establish a 
``training float'' to allow for a minimum of 10 percent and up to 15 
percent of officers of the Civil Service of the Department of State and 
the Foreign Service to participate in long-term training at any given 
time.
    (b) Identification of Steps.--The strategy required by subsection 
(a) shall identify steps necessary to ensure--
            (1) implementation of the training priorities described in 
        section 4;
            (2) sufficient training capacity and opportunities are 
        available to Civil Service and Foreign Service officers;
            (3) the use of mechanisms to ensure equitable distribution 
        of long-term training opportunities to Civil Service and 
        Foreign Service officers; and
            (4) the availability of resources and any additional 
        authorities necessary to facilitate the training float 
        described in subsection (a), including through programs at the 
        Foreign Service Institute, the Foreign Affairs Security 
        Training Center, and other facilities or programs operated by 
        the Department.
    (c) Identification of Training.--The strategy required by 
subsection (a) shall identify--
            (1) which types of training would be prioritized under the 
        training float;
            (2) the extent to which such training is already being 
        provided to Civil Service and Foreign Service officers by the 
        Department;
            (3) any factors in existence as of the date on which the 
        strategy is submitted that incentivize or disincentive such 
        training; and
            (4) why such training cannot be achieved without Foreign 
        Service officers leaving the workforce.
    (d) Considerations.--In developing the strategy required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall consider, in addition to 
training opportunities provided by the Department, training that could 
be provided by other United States Government training institutions and 
nongovernmental educational institutions.

SEC. 4. TRAINING PRIORITIZATION.

    In order to provide the Civil Service of the Department of State 
and the Foreign Service with the level of education and training needed 
to effectively advance United States interests across the world, the 
Secretary of State shall--
            (1) increase offerings provided by the Department--
                    (A) of interactive virtual instruction to make 
                training 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 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 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) 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.

SEC. 6. CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN TRAINING AT THE FOREIGN SERVICE 
              INSTITUTE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall establish a center 
to be known as the ``Center for Innovation in Training'' (in this 
section referred to as the ``Center'').
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Center shall be to allow the 
Foreign Service Institute to cyclically evaluate all courses and 
curriculum of the Institute in order to identify updates to such 
courses and curriculum necessary to meet the frequent changes in 
skillsets needed by officers to aptly prepare them to address ever-
changing global dynamics.
    (c) Supervision.--
            (1) In general.--The Center shall be led by an official 
        equivalent to the level of a Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
        State, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of State.
            (2) Terms.--The official described in paragraph (1) shall 
        serve for a term of at least 2 years and may be reappointed for 
        1 or more additional 2-year terms.
            (3) Qualifications.--The official described in paragraph 
        (1) shall be appointed from among individuals with experience 
        in technology, innovation, human capital, metrics, and 
        evaluation of adult learning.
            (4) Hiring authorities.--The official described in 
        paragraph (1) shall be--
                    (A) a highly qualified expert appointed by the 
                Secretary;
                    (B) an individual detailed to the Department under 
                the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 
                4701 et seq.); or
                    (C) an individual hired under a specialized hiring 
                authority equivalent to the authorities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), as determined by the 
                Secretary.

SEC. 7. 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.
    (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 and are eminent authorities 
        in the fields of diplomacy, management, leadership, technology, 
        and advanced international relations education.
            (3) Outside expertise.--Not fewer than \1/2\ of the 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) \1/3\ shall be appointed for a term of 3 years;
            (2) \1/3\ shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and
            (3) \1/3\ 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 Chief Learning Officer appointed 
        under section 11 in consultation with 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. 8. 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 7; and
            (2) report to the Director of the Foreign Service 
        Institute.
    (c) 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.
    (d) Term.--The Provost shall serve for a term of not fewer than 5 
years and may be reappointed for 1 additional term.
    (e) 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. 9. OTHER AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
              CONGRESSIONAL STAFF.

    (a) Other Agencies.--National security agencies other than the 
Department of State should increase the enrollment of their personnel 
in courses at the Foreign Service Institute and other training 
facilities of the Department to promote a whole-of-government approach 
to mitigating national security challenges.
    (b) Congressional Staff.--The Secretary of State shall budget for 
and offer opportunities for congressional staff to participate in 
education and training through the Foreign Service Institute.

SEC. 10. STRATEGY FOR RESIDENTIAL TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days 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 establishing 
residential training for the A-100 orientation course administered by 
the Foreign Service Institute.
    (b) Strategy Development.--In developing the strategy, the 
Secretary of State shall--
            (1) work with other national security departments and 
        agencies that employ residential training for their orientation 
        course; and
            (2) consider using the Foreign Affairs Security Training 
        Center in Blackstone, Virginia, a facility of the Department of 
        State.

SEC. 11. ESTABLISHMENT OF CHIEF LEARNING OFFICER POSITION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Department of State 
the position of Chief Learning Officer of the Department.
    (b) Appointment; Reporting.--The Chief Learning Officer shall--
            (1) be appointed by the Secretary of State; and
            (2) report to the Secretary.
    (c) Duties.--
            (1) Principal advisor.--The Chief Learning Officer shall be 
        the principal advisor to the Secretary of State and the Deputy 
        Secretaries of State on the intellectual preparation and 
        development of the entire workforce of the Department for 21st 
        century diplomacy, including all matters related to the 
        educational and training strategies, policies, plans, 
        activities, resources, personnel, and budget of the Department.
            (2) Oversight.--The Chief Learning Officer shall oversee--
                    (A) the Foreign Service Institute;
                    (B) the executive fellowship programs of the 
                Department;
                    (C) all rotations and exchanges of personnel of the 
                Department; and
                    (D) any educational components established by the 
                Department.
            (3) Responsibilities.--The Chief Learning Officer shall--
                    (A) serve as the Executive for Education and 
                Training of the Department;
                    (B) be responsible for education management, 
                policy, facilities, and oversight on all educational 
                matters of the Department;
                    (C) advise the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary of 
                State, and all Under Secretaries of State and the 
                staffs of such officials on all educational and 
                training matters, and all matters pertaining to human 
                capital, including recruitment, retention, promotion, 
                supervision, and assignments;
                    (D) develop and execute a comprehensive education 
                and training strategy for the Department;
                    (E) represent the Secretary and the Deputy 
                Secretary during the budget formulation process for all 
                education and related matters;
                    (F) formulate regulations, policies, strategies, 
                and guidance of the Department for diplomatic education 
                and training;
                    (G) oversee the Foreign Service Institute and the 
                personnel, resources, and facilities of the Institute, 
                including by establishing an independent Board of 
                Overseers of the Foreign Service Institute, appointing 
                the members of the Board, and serving as an ex officio 
                member of the Board;
                    (H) provide the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary 
                with proposed language for use in promotion policies of 
                the Department, including setting education, 
                professional development, and leadership development 
                attainment and performance standards to be required or 
                preferred for promotion;
                    (I) establish and chair a Secretary's Management 
                Council to coordinate and enforce policies relating to 
                education and training and promotion, supervision, and 
                assignments, the members of which shall be selected by 
                the Secretary and include the Under Secretary of State 
                for Administration and the Director General for Global 
                Talent Management, among others;
                    (J) serve as the liaison of the Department to 
                academia, learning enterprises within the United States 
                Government, and the education and learning sectors of 
                the private sector, and establish partnerships and 
                agreements for educational exchanges and experiential 
                learning assignments;
                    (K) modify academic curricula, academic research 
                programs, and faculty-hiring policies, and make key 
                personnel decisions, as required;
                    (L) conduct or direct assessments of the education 
                and training system of the Department to determine the 
                quality and relevance of academic programs;
                    (M) establish the academic standards for selection 
                and performance of faculty and students within the 
                Department;
                    (N) exercise decision authority on all additional 
                matters designated by the Secretary and Deputy 
                Secretary; and
                    (O) designate an individual to be responsible for 
                learning and training at every bureau of the Department 
                and United States embassy, and organize those 
                individuals into a network to collaborate on training 
                and education activities developing in the field.
    (d) Term.--The Chief Learning Officer shall serve for a term of not 
fewer than 3 years, and may be reappointed for 2 additional terms.
    (e) Compensation.--The rate of basic pay for the Chief Learning 
Officer shall be the greater of--
            (1) the highest rate of basic pay payable for a noncareer 
        appointee (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5, United 
        States Code); or
            (2) the rate of basic pay payable for a highly qualified 
        expert, as determined by the Secretary of State, in a position 
        at level III of the Executive Schedule.

SEC. 12. 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) the strategy developed by the Chief Learning Officer 
        under section 11(c)(3)(D);
            (2) the process used 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 
        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.
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