[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 169 (Thursday, October 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6159-S6160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

    SENATE RESOLUTION 376--EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF A CAREER, 
            NONPARTISAN FOREIGN SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Harris, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Reed, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 376

       Whereas the Foreign Service of the United States (referred 
     to in this preamble as the ``Foreign Service''), established 
     under the Act of May 24, 1924 (commonly known as the ``Rogers 
     Act'') (43 Stat. 140, chapter 182), and strengthened by the 
     Foreign Service Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 999, chapter 957) and 
     the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.), 
     provides indispensable support to the President, the 
     Secretary of State, and other senior leaders in conducting 
     the foreign policy of the United States;
       Whereas the Foreign Service consists of members from the 
     Department of State, the United States Agency for 
     International Development, the Foreign Commercial Service, 
     the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Animal and Plant Health 
     Inspection Service, and the United States Agency for Global 
     Media;
       Whereas members of the Foreign Service take an oath to 
     defend the Constitution of the United States and to remain 
     above partisan and political considerations;
       Whereas members of the Foreign Service are deployed 
     worldwide--
       (1) to serve the people of the United States;
       (2) to advance the interests and values of the United 
     States; and
       (3) to project the leadership of the United States 
     globally;
       Whereas the work of the Foreign Service is vital to the 
     national security, foreign policy, and commercial interests 
     of the United States;
       Whereas members of the Foreign Service often serve in 
     extreme hardship and difficult security situations;
       Whereas not fewer than 250 members of the Foreign Service 
     have given their lives in

[[Page S6160]]

     service of the United States while serving the people of the 
     United States abroad;
       Whereas the presence of the Foreign Service abroad gives 
     the United States a competitive advantage in advancing the 
     interests of the United States;
       Whereas the knowledge and expertise of members of the 
     Foreign Service are invaluable in shaping the foreign policy 
     of the United States;
       Whereas, through diplomatic engagement, the Foreign Service 
     promotes partnerships that further good governance, the rule 
     of law, and democratic institutions; and
       Whereas the contributions of the Foreign Service are 
     extraordinarily valuable to the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) highlights--
       (A) the nonpartisan nature of the Foreign Service of the 
     United States (referred to in this resolution as the 
     ``Foreign Service''); and
       (B) the oath taken by members of the Foreign Service--
       (i) to defend the Constitution of the United States;
       (ii) to advance the foreign policy of the democratically 
     elected officials of the United States; and
       (iii) to serve the people of the United States;
       (2) recognizes the importance of a nonpartisan Foreign 
     Service in advancing the foreign policy of the United States;
       (3) calls on all people of the United States to respect the 
     nonpartisan, nonpolitical work of the Foreign Service;
       (4) condemns political retaliation against members of the 
     Foreign Service; and
       (5) urges all people of the United States to support a 
     strong Foreign Service as essential to the national security 
     and interests of the United States.

                          ____________________