[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 74 (Monday, May 1, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2653-S2654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORITIES ACT, FISCAL YEAR 2017, IMPROVEMENTS ACT
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Foreign Relations be discharged from further consideration of S. 371
and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 371) to make technical changes and other
improvements to the Department of State Authorities Act,
Fiscal Year 2017.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Corker
amendment at the desk be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be
considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 209) was agreed to, as follows:
(Purpose: To require that the comparative report on peacekeeping
operations include an assessment of the operational, structural, and
doctrinal differences between the military and civilian infrastructures
of the United States and United Nations and other assumptions that
impact cost estimates)
On page 6, beginning on line 9, strike ``and'' and all that
follows through line 17 and insert the following:
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) a comparison of the costs of current United Nations
peacekeeping operations, including the costs incurred by the
United States for such operations, and the estimated cost of
such operations if implemented unilaterally by the United
States;'';
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1), as amended by
paragraph (2) of this section, the following new paragraph:
``(2) an assessment of the operational, structural, and
doctrinal differences between the military and civilian
infrastructures of the United States and United Nations and
other assumptions that impact cost estimates; and''.
The bill (S. 371), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
S. 371
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Department of State
Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act''.
SEC. 2. OVERSIGHT BY COMMITTEES ON APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of
1986.--Section 104(a) of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and
Antiterrorism Act of 1986, as added by section 101 of the
Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public
Law 114-323), is amended by inserting ``and the Committees on
Appropriations of the Senate and the House of
Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional
committees''.
(b) Annual Report on Embassy Construction Costs.--Section
118(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal
Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by inserting ``and
the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House
of Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional
committees''.
(c) Oversight of and Accountability for Peacekeeper
Abuses.--Section 301(a) of the Department of State
Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is
amended by inserting ``and the Committees on Appropriations
of the Senate and the House of Representatives'' after
``appropriate congressional committees''.
(d) Workforce Rightsizing Report.--Section 405(c) of the
Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public
Law 114-323) is amended by inserting ``and the Committees on
Appropriations of the Senate and the House of
Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional
committees''.
(e) Consular Immunity.--Subsection (b)(2) of section 4 of
the Diplomatic Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 254c), as added by
section 501 of the Department of State Authorities Act,
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323), is amended by striking
``of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations'' and inserting ``and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations''.
(f) Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Report.--
Section 602(c) of the Department of State Authorities Act,
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``and the Committee on Appropriations''
after ``Committee on Foreign Affairs''; and
(2) by inserting ``and the Committee on Appropriations''
after ``Committee on Foreign Relations'';
SEC. 3. PEACEKEEPING TRAINING.
Section 301 of the Department of State Authorities Act,
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
(1) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``enhance the discovery''
and inserting ``investigate allegations'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``adequately respond to
complaints about such offenses by carrying out swift and
effective disciplinary action against the personnel'' and
inserting ``appropriately hold accountable personnel''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including
compensation to victims, as appropriate'' after ``responses
to such offenses'';
(2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``any individual who
commits an act'' and inserting ``personnel who are found to
have committed acts''; and
(3) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``noteworthy''.
SEC. 4. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY
GENERAL.
Section 310 of the Department of State Authorities Act,
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking ``The descriptions
referred to in subsection (a) shall include the following
elements'' and inserting ``In addition to the descriptions
referred to in subsection (a), each such candidate shall be
urged to describe the following''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``such l'' and inserting
``such agenda''.
SEC. 5. POLICY REGARDING THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL.
Section 311(a)(2) of the Department of State Authorities
Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; or'' and inserting
a semicolon; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(E) which has been designated as a Tier 3 country in the
annual Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report
under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22
U.S.C. 7107); or
``(F) which is identified as having failed to prevent or
address gross violations of human rights in the annual
Department of State
[[Page S2654]]
Human Rights Report under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
and the Trade Act of 1974.''.
SEC. 6. COMPARATIVE REPORT ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.
Section 313 of the Department of State Authorities Act,
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``and the Committees on Appropriations of
the Senate and the House of Representatives'' after
``appropriate congressional committees'';
(2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) a comparison of the costs of current United Nations
peacekeeping operations, including the costs incurred by the
United States for such operations, and the estimated cost of
such operations if implemented unilaterally by the United
States;'';
(3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (1), as amended by
paragraph (2) of this section, the following new paragraph:
``(2) an assessment of the operational, structural, and
doctrinal differences between the military and civilian
infrastructures of the United States and United Nations and
other assumptions that impact cost estimates; and''.
SEC. 7. LATERAL ENTRY INTO THE FOREIGN SERVICE.
Section 404(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act,
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by striking
``outstanding''.
SEC. 8. COMBATING INTOLERANCE.
The section heading of section 419 of the Department of
State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323)
is amended by striking ``ANTI-SEMITISM'' and inserting
``INTOLERANCE''.
SEC. 9. TECHNICAL CORRECTION REGARDING COMPLETION OF WESTERN
HEMISPHERE DRUG POLICY COMMISSION REPORT.
Section 603(f)(1) of the Department of State Authorities
Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by
striking ``section 362'' and inserting ``section 602(c)''.
SEC. 10. BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS.
Section 703(b)(2) of the Department of State Authorities
Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by
striking ``any significant restructuring,''.
SEC. 11. RANSOMS TO FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.
Section 709(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act,
Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by inserting
``, to the extent practicable,'' before ``transmit''.
SEC. 12. RESTORATION OF TIBET REPORT.
Section 613 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act,
Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228, 22 U.S.C. 6901 note),
as amended by section 715(b)(1) of the Department of State
Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323), is
further amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``In General'' and
inserting the following: ``Policy.--
``(1) In general.--'';
(2) by redesignating subsection (b) as paragraph (2) and
moving such paragraph, as so redesignated, two ems to the
right; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Periodic Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of the Department of State Authorities
Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act, and annually
thereafter until December 31, 2021, the President shall
transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
on--
``(1) the steps taken by the President and the Secretary in
accordance with subsection (a)(1); and
``(2) the status of any discussions between the People's
Republic of China and the Dalai Lama or his
representatives.''.
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