[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5591-S5620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 3195. Mr. MARKEY (for himself and Mr. Cruz) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in subtitle H of title X, insert 
     the following:

     SEC. __. AM RADIO FOR EVERY VEHICLE.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) AM broadcast band.--The term ``AM broadcast band'' 
     means the band of frequencies between 535 kilohertz and 1705 
     kilohertz, inclusive.
       (2) AM broadcast station.--The term ``AM broadcast 
     station'' means a broadcast station licensed for the 
     dissemination of radio communications--
       (A) intended to be received by the public; and
       (B) operated on a channel in the AM broadcast band.
       (3) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
     the House of Representatives; and
       (C) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (4) Device.--The term ``device'' means a piece of equipment 
     or an apparatus that is designed--
       (A) to receive signals transmitted by a radio broadcast 
     station (as defined in section 3 of the Communications Act of 
     1934 (47 U.S.C. 153)); and
       (B) to play back content or programming derived from those 
     signals.
       (5) Digital audio am broadcast station.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``digital audio AM broadcast 
     station'' means an AM broadcast station that--
       (i) is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission; 
     and
       (ii) uses an In-band On-channel system (as defined in 
     section 73.402 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or a 
     successor regulation)) for broadcasting purposes.
       (B) Exclusion.--The term ``digital audio AM broadcast 
     station'' does not include an all-digital AM station (as 
     defined in section 73.402 of title 47, Code of Federal 
     Regulations (or a successor regulation)).
       (6) Manufacturer.--The term ``manufacturer'' has the 
     meaning given the term in section 30102(a) of title 49, 
     United States Code.
       (7) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term ``passenger motor 
     vehicle'' has the meaning given the term in section 32101 of 
     title 49, United States Code.
       (8) Receive.--The term ``receive'' means to receive a 
     broadcast signal via over-the-air transmission.
       (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Transportation.
       (10) Signal.--The term ``signal'' means radio frequency 
     energy that a holder of a radio station license granted or 
     authorized by the Federal Communications Commission pursuant 
     to sections 301 and 307 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
     U.S.C. 301, 307) intentionally emits or causes to be emitted 
     at a specified frequency for the purpose of transmitting 
     content or programming to the public.

[[Page S5592]]

       (11) Standard equipment.--The term ``standard equipment'' 
     means motor vehicle equipment (as defined in section 30102(a) 
     of title 49, United States Code) that--
       (A) is installed as a system, part, or component of a motor 
     vehicle as originally manufactured; and
       (B) the manufacturer of the motor vehicle recommends or 
     authorizes to be included in the motor vehicle for no 
     additional or separate monetary fee, payment, or surcharge, 
     beyond the base price of a motor vehicle.
       (b) AM Broadcast Stations Rule.--
       (1) Rule required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Federal Communications Commission, shall issue a rule--
       (A) requiring devices that can receive signals and play 
     content transmitted by AM broadcast stations be installed as 
     standard equipment in passenger motor vehicles--
       (i) manufactured in the United States, imported into the 
     United States, or shipped in interstate commerce; and
       (ii) manufactured after the effective date of the rule;
       (B) requiring access to AM broadcast stations in a manner 
     that is easily accessible to a driver after the effective 
     date of the rule; and
       (C) allowing a manufacturer to comply with that rule by 
     installing devices that can receive signals and play content 
     transmitted by digital audio AM broadcast stations as 
     standard equipment in passenger motor vehicles manufactured 
     in the United States, imported into the United States, or 
     shipped in interstate commerce after the effective date of 
     the rule.
       (2) Compliance.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in 
     issuing the rule required under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
     shall establish an effective date for the rule that is not 
     less than 2 years, but not more than 3 years, after the date 
     on which the rule is issued.
       (B) Certain manufacturers.--In issuing the rule required 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish an 
     effective date for the rule that is at least 4 years after 
     the date on which the rule is issued with respect to 
     manufacturers that manufactured not more than 40,000 
     passenger motor vehicles for sale in the United States in 
     2022.
       (3) Interim requirement.--For passenger motor vehicles 
     manufactured after the date of enactment of this Act and 
     manufactured in the United States, imported into the United 
     States, or shipped in interstate commerce between the period 
     of time beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and 
     ending on the effective date of the rule issued under 
     paragraph (1) that do not include devices that can receive 
     signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast 
     stations, the manufacturer of the passenger motor vehicles--
       (A) shall provide clear and conspicuous labeling to inform 
     purchasers of those passenger motor vehicles that the 
     passenger motor vehicles do not include devices that can 
     receive signals and play content transmitted by AM broadcast 
     stations; and
       (B) may not charge an additional or separate monetary fee, 
     payment, or surcharge, beyond the base price of the passenger 
     motor vehicles, for access to AM broadcast stations for the 
     period of time described in this paragraph.
       (4) Relationship to other laws.--When the rule issued under 
     paragraph (1) is in effect, a State or a political 
     subdivision of a State may not prescribe or continue in 
     effect a law, regulation, or other requirement applicable to 
     access to AM broadcast stations in passenger motor vehicles.
       (5) Enforcement.--
       (A) Civil penalty.--Any person failing to comply with the 
     rule issued under paragraph (1) shall be liable to the United 
     States Government for a civil penalty in accordance with 
     section 30165(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code.
       (B) Civil action.--The Attorney General may bring a civil 
     action in an appropriate district court of the United States 
     to enjoin a violation of the rule issued under paragraph (1) 
     in accordance with section 30163 of title 49, United States 
     Code.
       (6) Review.--Not less frequently than once every 5 years 
     after the date on which the Secretary issued the rule 
     required by paragraph (1), the Secretary, in coordination 
     with the Federal Communications Commission, shall submit to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress a report that shall 
     include an assessment of--
       (A) the impacts of the rule issued under that paragraph, 
     including the impacts on public safety; and
       (B) changes to communication technologies that enable 
     resilient and accessible alerts to drivers and passengers of 
     passenger motor vehicles.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3196. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

 DIVISION F--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025

     SEC. 9001. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This division may be cited as the 
     ``Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2025''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this 
     division is as follows:

 DIVISION F--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025

Sec. 9001. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 9002. Definitions.

                       TITLE I--WORKFORCE MATTERS

Sec. 9101. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Rogers Act; 
              creation of the Department of State.
Sec. 9102. Workforce modernization efforts.
Sec. 9103. Training float of the Department of State for Civil and 
              Foreign Service personnel.
Sec. 9104. Competitive local compensation plan.
Sec. 9105. Language incentive pay for civil service employees.
Sec. 9106. Strategy for targeted recruitment of civil servants.
Sec. 9107. Electronic medical records.
Sec. 9108. Options for comprehensive evaluations.
Sec. 9109. Portability of professional licenses.
Sec. 9110. Expanding opportunities for Department-paid student 
              internship program.
Sec. 9111. Career intermission program adjustment to enhance retention.
Sec. 9112. Professional counseling services.
Sec. 9113. Assignment process modernization.
Sec. 9114. Report on modifying consular tour and first tours 
              requirements.
Sec. 9115. Comprehensive policy on vetting and transparency.
Sec. 9116. Efficiency in employee survey creation and consolidation.
Sec. 9117. Per diem allowance for newly hired members of the Foreign 
              Service.
Sec. 9118. Termination of residential or motor vehicle leases and 
              telephone service contracts for members of the Foreign 
              Service.
Sec. 9119. Needs-based childcare subsidies enrollment period.
Sec. 9120. Comptroller General report on Department traveler 
              experience.
Sec. 9121. Quarterly report on global footprint.
Sec. 9122. Report on former Federal employees advising foreign 
              governments.
Sec. 9123. Job share and part-time employment opportunities.
Sec. 9124. Expansion of special rules for certain monthly workers' 
              compensation payments and other payments for personnel 
              under chief of mission authority.
Sec. 9125. Authority to provide or reimburse for certain security 
              services.

                 TITLE II--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

Sec. 9201. State-of-the-art building facilities.
Sec. 9202. Presence of chiefs of mission at diplomatic posts.
Sec. 9203. Periodic Inspector General reviews of chiefs of mission.
Sec. 9204. Special Envoy for Sudan.
Sec. 9205. Special Envoy for Belarus.
Sec. 9206. National Museum of American Diplomacy.
Sec. 9207. Authority to establish Negotiations Support Unit within 
              Department of State.
Sec. 9208. Restrictions on the use of funds for solar panels.
Sec. 9209. Responsiveness to Congressional Research Service inquiries.
Sec. 9210. Mission in a box.
Sec. 9211. Report on United States Consulate in Chengdu, People's 
              Republic of China.
Sec. 9212. Personnel reporting.
Sec. 9213. Support co-location with allied partner nations.
Sec. 9214. Streamline qualification of construction contract bidders.

          TITLE III--INFORMATION SECURITY AND CYBER DIPLOMACY

Sec. 9301. Supporting Department of State data analytics.
Sec. 9302. Realigning the Regional Technology Officer Program.
Sec. 9303. Measures to protect Department devices from the 
              proliferation and use of foreign commercial spyware.
Sec. 9304. Report on cloud computing in Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Sec. 9305. Information technology pilot projects.
Sec. 9306. Leveraging approved technology for administrative 
              efficiencies.
Sec. 9307. Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging 
              Technology.

                       TITLE IV--PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Sec. 9401. Africa broadcasting networks.
Sec. 9402. United States Agency for Global Media.
Sec. 9403. Extension of authorizations to support United States 
              participation in international fairs and expos.
Sec. 9404. Research and scholar exchange partnerships.

[[Page S5593]]

Sec. 9405. Waiver of United States residency requirement for children 
              of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty employees.

                      TITLE V--DIPLOMATIC SECURITY

Sec. 9501. Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act 
              requirements.
Sec. 9502. Congressional notification for Serious Security Incidents.
Sec. 9503. Notifications regarding security decisions at diplomatic 
              posts.
Sec. 9504. Security clearance suspension pay flexibilities.
Sec. 9505. Modification to notification requirement for security 
              clearance suspensions and revocations.

      TITLE VI--UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 9601. Personal service agreement authority for the United States 
              Agency for International Development.
Sec. 9602. Crisis operations and disaster surge staffing.
Sec. 9603. Education allowance while on military leave.
Sec. 9604. Inclusion in the pet transportation exception to the Fly 
              America Act.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 9701. Authorization of appropriations to promote United States 
              citizen employment at the United Nations and 
              international organizations.
Sec. 9702. Amendment to Rewards for Justice program.
Sec. 9703. Passport automation modernization.
Sec. 9704. Extension of certain payment in connection with the 
              International Space Station.
Sec. 9705. Support for congressional delegations.
Sec. 9706. Electronic communication with visa applicants.
Sec. 9707. Electronic transmission of visa information.
Sec. 9708. Inclusion of cost associated with producing reports.
Sec. 9709. Extensions.

     SEC. 9002. DEFINITIONS.

       In this division:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
       (3) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of State.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of State.
       (5) USAID.--The term ``USAID'' means the United States 
     Agency for International Development.

                       TITLE I--WORKFORCE MATTERS

     SEC. 9101. COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROGERS 
                   ACT; CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

        Congress recognizes and honors those who have served, or 
     are presently serving, in the diplomatic corps of the United 
     States, in commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Act 
     entitled, ``An Act for the reorganization and improvement of 
     the Foreign Service of the United States, and for other 
     purposes'' (43 stat. 140, chapter 182), commonly known as the 
     ``Rogers Act of 1924'', which on May 24, 1924, established 
     what has come to be known as the Foreign Service. Today, the 
     Department of State includes more than 13,000 Foreign Service 
     personnel working alongside more than 11,000 civil service 
     personnel and 45,000 locally engaged staff at more than 270 
     embassies and consulates.

     SEC. 9102. WORKFORCE MODERNIZATION EFFORTS.

        The Secretary should prioritize efforts to further 
     modernize the Department, including--
       (1) making workforce investments, including increasing 
     wages for locally employed staff and providing other non-cash 
     benefits, and hiring up to 100 new members of the Foreign 
     Service above projected attrition to reduce overseas 
     vacancies and mid-level staffing gaps;
       (2) utilizing authorities that allow the Department to 
     acquire or build and open new embassy compounds quicker and 
     at significantly less cost to get diplomats on the front 
     lines of strategic competition; and
       (3) modernizing legacy systems and human resource 
     processes.

     SEC. 9103. TRAINING FLOAT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR 
                   CIVIL AND FOREIGN SERVICE PERSONNEL.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a strategy 
     to establish and maintain a ``training float'' by January 1, 
     2027, to allow for a minimum of 8 percent and up to 10 
     percent of members of the Civil and Foreign Service to 
     participate in long-term training at any given time. The 
     strategy shall include--
       (1) a proposal to ensure that personnel in the training 
     float remain dedicated to training or professional 
     development activities;
       (2) recommendations to maintain, and an assessment of the 
     feasibility of maintaining, a minimum of 8 percent of 
     personnel in the float at any given time; and
       (3) any additional resources and authorities needed to 
     maintain a training float contemplated by this section.
       (b) Monitoring.--For any established training float, not 
     later than 120 days after enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary shall ensure that personnel in such training float 
     remain dedicated to training or professional development 
     activities.

     SEC. 9104. COMPETITIVE LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the effectiveness and stability of United States 
     foreign missions are linked to the dedication and expertise 
     of locally employed staff; and
       (2) ensuring competitive compensation packages benchmarked 
     against the local market is essential not only to retain 
     valuable talent but also to reflect a commitment to 
     employment practices abroad.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $47,500,000 for fiscal year 2025 to 
     support implementation of a global baseline for prevailing 
     wage rate goal for Local Compensation Plan positions at the 
     75th percentile.

     SEC. 9105. LANGUAGE INCENTIVE PAY FOR CIVIL SERVICE 
                   EMPLOYEES.

       The Secretary and Administrator may provide special 
     monetary incentives to acquire or retain proficiency in 
     foreign languages to civil service employees who serve in 
     domestic positions that require critical language skills. The 
     amounts of such incentives should be similar to the language 
     incentive pay provided to members of the Foreign Service 
     under the Foreign Service pursuant to section 704(b)(3) of 
     the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4024(b)(3)).

     SEC. 9106. STRATEGY FOR TARGETED RECRUITMENT OF CIVIL 
                   SERVANTS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees and the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives a strategy for targeted and 
     proactive recruitment to fill open civil service positions, 
     focusing on recruiting from schools or organizations, and on 
     platforms targeting those with relevant expertise related to 
     such positions.

     SEC. 9107. ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) Foreign Service personnel at the Department serve with 
     distinction in austere places and under challenging 
     conditions around the world with limited healthcare 
     availability;
       (2) the use of paper medical records, which require Foreign 
     Service personnel to carry files containing protected health 
     information from post to post, limits the availability of 
     their health information to Department medical personnel 
     during critical health incidents;
       (3) electronic medical records are necessary, particularly 
     as the Department opens new embassies in the South Pacific, 
     thousands of miles from the nearest Department medical 
     officer, who may not have access to up-to-date personnel 
     medical files;
       (4) the lack of electronic medical records is even more 
     important for mental health records, as the Department only 
     has a small number of regional medical officer psychiatrists 
     and relies heavily on telehealth for most Foreign Service 
     personnel; and
       (5) due to the critical need for electronic medical 
     records, it is imperative that the Department address the 
     situation quickly and focus on secure commercially available 
     or other successful systems utilized by public and private 
     sector organizations with a track record of successfully 
     implementing large-scale projects of this type.
       (b) Electronic Medical Records Requirement.--Not later than 
     December 31, 2027, the Secretary shall have fully implemented 
     an electronic medical records process or system for all 
     Foreign Service personnel and their Eligible Family Members 
     that eliminates reliance on paper medical records and 
     includes appropriate safeguards to protect personal privacy.
       (c) Report on Implementation.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate 
     and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the progress made towards meeting 
     the requirement under subsection (b).
       (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (A) An updated timeline for implementation.
       (B) An estimated completion date.
       (C) The amounts expended to date on the required electronic 
     medical records system.
       (D) The estimated amount needed to complete the system.
       (3) Termination of requirement.--The reporting requirement 
     under paragraph (1) shall cease upon notification to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that electronic medical 
     records have been completely

[[Page S5594]]

     implemented for all Foreign Service personnel.

     SEC. 9108. OPTIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATIONS.

       (a) In General.--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 options for 
     integrating 360-degree reviews in personnel files for 
     promotion panel consideration.
       (b) Evaluation Systems.--The report required by subsection 
     (a) shall include--
       (1) one or more options to integrate confidential 360-
     degree reviews, references, or evaluations by superiors, 
     peers, and subordinates, including consideration of automated 
     reference requests; and
       (2) other modifications or systems the Secretary considers 
     relevant.
       (c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     describe, with respect to each evaluation system included in 
     the report--
       (1) any legal constraints or considerations;
       (2) the timeline required for implementation;
       (3) any starting and recurring costs in comparison to 
     current processes;
       (4) the likely or potential implications for promotion 
     decisions and trends; and
       (5) the impact on meeting the personnel needs of the 
     Foreign Service.

     SEC. 9109. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 9 of the Foreign Service Act of 
     1980 (22 U.S.C. 4081 et seq.) is amended by adding after 
     section 908 (22 U.S.C. 4088) the following new section:

     ``SEC. 909. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES.

       ``(a) In General.--In any case in which a member of the 
     Foreign Service or the spouse of a member of the Foreign 
     Service has a covered United States license and such member 
     of the Foreign Service or spouse relocates his or her 
     residency because of an assignment or detail to a location 
     that is not in the jurisdiction of the licensing authority 
     that issued the covered license, such covered license shall 
     be considered valid at a similar scope of practice and in the 
     discipline applied for in the jurisdiction of such new 
     residency for the duration of such an assignment or detail if 
     such member of the Foreign Service or spouse--
       ``(1) provides a copy of the member's notification of 
     assignment to the licensing authority in the jurisdiction in 
     which the new residency is located;
       ``(2) remains in good standing with--
       ``(A) the licensing authority that issued the covered 
     license; and
       ``(B) every other licensing authority that has issued to 
     the member of the Foreign Service or spouse a license valid 
     at a similar scope of practice and in the discipline applied 
     in the jurisdiction of such licensing authority; and
       ``(3) submits to the authority of the licensing authority 
     in the new jurisdiction for the purposes of standards of 
     practice, discipline, and fulfillment of any continuing 
     education requirements.
       ``(b) Interstate Licensure Compacts.--If a member of the 
     Foreign Service or spouse of a member of the Foreign Service 
     is licensed and able to operate in multiple jurisdictions 
     through an interstate licensure compact, with respect to 
     services provided in the jurisdiction of the interstate 
     licensure compact by a licensee covered by such compact, the 
     member of the Foreign Service or spouse of a member of the 
     Foreign Service shall be subject to the requirements of the 
     compact or the applicable provisions of law of the applicable 
     State and not this section.
       ``(c) Covered License Defined.--In this section, the term 
     `covered license' means a professional license or 
     certificate--
       ``(1) that is in good standing with the licensing authority 
     that issued such professional license or certificate;
       ``(2) that the member of the Foreign Service or spouse of a 
     member of the Foreign Service has actively used during the 
     two years immediately preceding the relocation described in 
     subsection (a); and
       ``(3) that is not a license to practice law.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 
     of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 908 the following new 
     item:

``Sec. 909. Portability of professional licenses.''.

     SEC. 9110. EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEPARTMENT-PAID 
                   STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 9201 of the Department of State 
     Authorization Act of 2022 (22 U.S. 2737) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``or have 
     graduated from such an institution within the six months 
     preceding application to the Program'' after ``paragraph 
     (1)'';
       (2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``and gives preference 
     to individuals who have not previously completed internships 
     within the Department of State and the United States Agency 
     for International Development'' after ``career in foreign 
     affairs''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following subsections:
       ``(k) Work Hours Flexibility.--Students participating in 
     the Program may work fewer than 40 hours per week and a 
     minimum of 24 hours per week to accommodate their academic 
     schedules, provided that the total duration of the internship 
     remains consistent with program requirements.
       ``(l) Mentorship Program.--The Secretary and Administrator 
     are authorized to establish a mentoring and coaching program 
     that pairs Foreign Service or Civil Service employees with 
     interns who choose to participate throughout the duration of 
     their internship.''.

     SEC. 9111. CAREER INTERMISSION PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT TO ENHANCE 
                   RETENTION.

       (a) Authority to Extend Federal Employee Health Benefit 
     Coverage.--The Secretary and Administrator are authorized to 
     offer employees the option of extending Federal Employee 
     Health Benefit coverage during pre-approved leave without pay 
     for up to 3 years.
       (b) Responsibility for Premium Payments.--If an employee 
     elects to continue coverage pursuant to subsection (a) for 
     longer than 365 days, the employee shall be responsible for 
     100 percent of the premium (employee share and government 
     share) during such longer period.

     SEC. 9112. PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall seek to increase the 
     number of professional counselors, including licensed 
     clinical social workers, providing services for employees 
     under chief of mission authority. These positions may be 
     filled under Limited Non-Career Appointment terms.
       (b) Employment Targets.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this division, the Secretary shall 
     seek to employ not fewer than 4 additional professional 
     counselors, including licensed clinical social workers, in 
     the Bureau of Medical Services to work out of regional 
     medical centers abroad.

     SEC. 9113. ASSIGNMENT PROCESS MODERNIZATION.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall modernize the 
     Foreign Service bidding process, and specifically implement 
     the following elements:
       (1) A stable-pair matching, preference-ranking system for 
     non-directed Foreign Service employees and hiring bureaus, 
     allowing for a more strategic alignment of workforce and 
     resources.
       (2) Incorporation of lessons learned from the previous 
     stable-pair matching bidding pilot framework referred to as 
     ``iMatch'', but applied more expansively to include non-
     directed assignments up through FS-01 positions, taking 
     advantage of efficiency benefits such as tandem assignment 
     functionalities.
       (3) Mechanisms to ensure transparency, efficiency, 
     effectiveness, accountability, and flexibility in the 
     assignment process, while maintaining equal opportunities for 
     all officers.
       (4) An independent auditing process to ensure adherence to 
     established rules, effectiveness in meeting the Department's 
     needs, and prevention of bias or manipulation, including 
     through the use of protected categories in making assignment 
     decisions.
       (b) Consideration of Certain Promotion Issues.--In parallel 
     with assignment process modernization efforts, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (1) assess whether any point systems tied to promotion 
     incentives should consider service in hard-to-fill or 
     critical positions; and
       (2) assess whether the practice of dividing the assignment 
     process into winter and summer cycles is necessary or 
     efficient compared to stable matching processes.
       (c) Reporting and Oversight.--Not later than 18 months 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
     shall provide the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report on the implementation of the assignment process under 
     this section, including--
       (1) data on match rates, including in filling critical or 
     priority positions, officer and hiring office satisfaction, 
     and the impact on tandem placements;
       (2) recommendations for further modifications to the 
     bidding process;
       (3) an overview of the strategy used to communicate any 
     changes to the workforce; and
       (4) results of analysis into additional transparency 
     efforts, including those described in subsection (a)(3).

     SEC. 9114. REPORT ON MODIFYING CONSULAR TOUR AND FIRST TOURS 
                   REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--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 that evaluates 
     the feasibility of--
       (1) reducing, removing, and adding flexibility to the 
     directed consular tours requirements for non-consular-coned 
     generalist members of the Foreign Service; and
       (2) requiring that first tours for members of the Foreign 
     Service be assigned in the National Capital Region.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include a description of resources required to 
     implement the changes described in such subsection, a 
     timeline for implementation, and an assessment of the 
     benefits and consequences of such changes, including any 
     obstacles.

     SEC. 9115. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON VETTING AND TRANSPARENCY.

       (a) Comprehensive Policy on Vetting and Transparency.--Not 
     later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall develop a consistent and enhanced 
     vetting process to ensure that individuals with substantiated 
     claims of discrimination or harassment against them, to 
     include when administrative or disciplinary

[[Page S5595]]

     actions are taken, are not considered for assignments to 
     senior positions or promotions to senior grades within the 
     Foreign Service.
       (b) Elements of Comprehensive Vetting Policy.--Following 
     the conclusion of any investigation into an allegation of 
     discrimination or harassment, the Office of Civil Rights, 
     Office of Global Talent Management, and other offices with 
     responsibilities related to the investigation reporting 
     directly to the Secretary shall jointly or individually 
     submit a written summary of any findings of substantiated 
     allegations, along with a summary of findings to the 
     committee responsible for assignments to senior positions 
     prior to such committee rendering a recommendation for 
     assignment.
       (c) Response.--The Secretary shall develop a process for 
     candidates to respond to any allegations that are 
     substantiated and presented to the committee responsible for 
     assignments to senior positions.
       (d) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 
     years, the Secretary shall submit to the Department workforce 
     and the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
     number of candidates confirmed for senior diplomatic posts 
     against whom there were substantiated allegations described 
     in subsection (a).
       (e) Senior Positions Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``senior positions'' means Chief of Mission, Under Secretary, 
     Assistant Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Deputy Chief 
     of Mission, and Principal Officer (i.e., Consuls General) 
     positions.

     SEC. 9116. EFFICIENCY IN EMPLOYEE SURVEY CREATION AND 
                   CONSOLIDATION.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     employee surveys are crucial for understanding the needs and 
     concerns of the workforce, and are most effective when they 
     are strategically designed, collected, and the results 
     transparent where possible.
       (b) Consolidated Resource Requirement.--The Department 
     shall provide a consolidated resource of survey methods, best 
     practices, and a repository of survey data to avoid survey 
     fatigue, minimize duplicating surveys, increase confidence in 
     survey data, and facilitate data-informed decision-making.
       (c) Timing.--The Secretary should determine the overall 
     timing and administration of mandated surveys to ensure 
     maximum participation and robust data sets.

     SEC. 9117. PER DIEM ALLOWANCE FOR NEWLY HIRED MEMBERS OF THE 
                   FOREIGN SERVICE.

       (a) Per Diem Allowance.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any 
     newly hired Foreign Service employee who is in initial 
     orientation training, or any other training expected to last 
     less than 6 months in the Washington, D.C. area before 
     transferring to the employee's first assignment overseas or 
     domestically outside the Washington, D.C. area shall, for the 
     duration of such training, receive a per diem allowance at 
     the levels prescribed under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
     title 5, United States Code.
       (2) Limitation on lodging expenses.--A newly hired Foreign 
     Service employee may not receive any lodging expenses under 
     the applicable per diem allowance pursuant to paragraph (1) 
     if that employee--
       (A) has a permanent residence in the Washington, D.C., area 
     (not including government-supplied housing during such 
     orientation training or other training); and
       (B) does not vacate such residence during such orientation 
     training or other training.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``per diem allowance'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 5701 of title 5, United States Code; and
       (2) the term ``Washington, D.C., area'' means the 
     geographic area within a 50-mile radius of the Washington 
     Monument.

     SEC. 9118. TERMINATION OF RESIDENTIAL OR MOTOR VEHICLE LEASES 
                   AND TELEPHONE SERVICE CONTRACTS FOR MEMBERS OF 
                   THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

       Section 907 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 ( 22 U.S.C. 
     4087) is amended by striking ``Service who are posted abroad 
     at a Foreign Service post'' and inserting ``Foreign Service 
     who are posted in the United States or posted abroad''.

     SEC. 9119. NEEDS-BASED CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES ENROLLMENT PERIOD.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Department and USAID shall--
       (1) issue and maintain guidance on how to apply for any 
     program authorized under section 630 of the Treasury and 
     General Government Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-
     67; 115 Stat. 552); and
       (2) consider using maximum flexibilities to accept 
     applications throughout the year or in accordance with 
     Qualifying Life Event changes (as defined by the Federal 
     Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB)).

     SEC. 9120. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON DEPARTMENT TRAVELER 
                   EXPERIENCE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall conduct a review and submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on the effect 
     of section 40118 of title 49, United States Code (commonly 
     referred to as the ``Fly America Act'') on Department 
     travelers.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include an analysis of the extent to which the Fly 
     America Act--
       (1) disproportionately impacts Department personnel;
       (2) impacts travelers, including their ability to find 
     suitable flights and the ability to complete their travel in 
     a timely and effective manner;
       (3) increases or decreases costs to the United States 
     Government;
       (4) produces overly burdensome restrictions in times of 
     urgent travel such as Emergency Visitation Travel and 
     Ordered/Authorized Departure; and
       (5) a description of other relevant issues the Comptroller 
     General determines appropriate.

     SEC. 9121. QUARTERLY REPORT ON GLOBAL FOOTPRINT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter for 5 
     years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees and the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives a report on the global footprint of 
     the Department.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include, for each diplomatic post--
       (1) the number and type of Department employees assigned to 
     the post; and
       (2) the number of allocated positions that remain unfilled.
       (c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
     be submitted in classified form.

     SEC. 9122. REPORT ON FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ADVISING 
                   FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 3 
     years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees, the Select Committee on 
     Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence a report that identifies former 
     United States Government senior officials who have been 
     approved by the Secretary to advise foreign governments.
       (b) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
     annex.

     SEC. 9123. JOB SHARE AND PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and publish 
     a Department policy on job share and part-time employment 
     opportunities. The policy shall include a template for job 
     sharing arrangements, a database of job share and part-time 
     employment opportunities, and a point of contact in the 
     Bureau of Global Talent Management.
       (b) Workplace Flexibility Training.--The Secretary shall 
     incorporate training on workplace flexibility, including the 
     availability of job share and part-time employment 
     opportunities, into employee onboarding and every level of 
     supervisory training.
       (c) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
     following 5 years, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on workplace 
     flexibility at the Department, including data on the number 
     of employees utilizing job share or part-time employment 
     arrangements.

     SEC. 9124. EXPANSION OF SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN MONTHLY 
                   WORKERS' COMPENSATION PAYMENTS AND OTHER 
                   PAYMENTS FOR PERSONNEL UNDER CHIEF OF MISSION 
                   AUTHORITY.

       Section 901 of title IX of division J of the Further 
     Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A)--
       (i) by striking ``of a'' and inserting ``of an''; and
       (ii) by striking ``January 1, 2016'' and inserting 
     ``September 11, 2001'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``January 1, 2016'' and 
     inserting ``September 11, 2001''; and
       (C) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A), by striking ``January 1, 2016'' and inserting 
     ``September 11, 2001''; and
       (2) in subsection (h)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``January 1, 2016'' 
     and inserting ``September 11, 2001''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``January 1, 2016'' 
     and inserting ``September 11, 2001''.

     SEC. 9125. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE OR REIMBURSE FOR CERTAIN 
                   SECURITY SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary and the Administrator are 
     authorized to provide or reimburse for appropriate security 
     services to mitigate risks to certain employees or members of 
     their households resulting from or related to the employee's 
     official duties or affiliation with the Department or USAID. 
     These security equipment or services may include security 
     cameras and services to de-prioritize or remove internet 
     search results revealing personally identifiable information.
       (b) Required Policy.--Prior to providing or reimbursing 
     services pursuant to subsection (a), the Department shall 
     establish a policy that--
       (1) outlines the requirements for qualifying for provision 
     or reimbursement of services;
       (2) identifies the office responsible for vetting requests 
     for provision or reimbursement of services; and

[[Page S5596]]

       (3) mandates expeditious consideration of such requests.
       (c) Protection of Personal Information.--The Secretary and 
     the Administrator shall not collect personally identifiable 
     information on any United States citizens while undertaking 
     the activities described in subsection (a) unless the 
     collection is authorized by a court as part of a criminal 
     investigation.

                 TITLE II--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

     SEC. 9201. STATE-OF-THE-ART BUILDING FACILITIES.

       The Secretary should use existing waiver authorities to 
     expedite upgrades and critical maintenance for the Harry S. 
     Truman Federal Building, with the goal of having at least 85 
     percent of construction and upgrades completed by December 
     31, 2027.

     SEC. 9202. PRESENCE OF CHIEFS OF MISSION AT DIPLOMATIC POSTS.

       (a) Requirement for Arrival at Diplomatic Post Within 60 
     Days.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall require that to be 
     eligible for payment of travel expenses for initial arrival 
     at the assigned post, a chief of mission must arrive at the 
     post not later than 60 days after the date on which the chief 
     of mission was confirmed by the Senate.
       (2) Exceptions.--The restriction under paragraph (1) shall 
     not apply to a chief of mission who arrives later than 60 
     days after confirmation by the Senate if the delay was caused 
     by one or more of the following:
       (A) A flight delay that was outside of the control of the 
     chief of mission or the Department.
       (B) A natural disaster, global health emergency, or other 
     naturally occurring event that prevented the chief of mission 
     from entering the country of the assigned post.
       (C) Delay or refusal by the government of the host country 
     to accept diplomatic accreditation.
       (D) Family or medical emergency.
       (E) Extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the 
     chief of mission.
       (3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirement under 
     paragraph (1) upon a determination that extenuating 
     circumstances warrant such a waiver and upon submission of a 
     brief description of the determination to the appropriate 
     congressional committees.
       (4) Notification required.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, and in each case that 
     a chief of mission arrives at an assigned post more than 60 
     days after confirmation, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report identifying any 
     chief of mission who arrived at the assigned post more than 
     60 days after confirmation by the Senate, and includes a 
     description of the justification.
       (b) Notifications on Departures of Chiefs of Mission.--
     Beginning on April 1, 2025, for 5 years, the Secretary shall 
     notify the appropriate congressional committees of any chief 
     of mission who has permanently departed from the assigned 
     post within 90 days of the departure.

     SEC. 9203. PERIODIC INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEWS OF CHIEFS OF 
                   MISSION.

       (a) In General.--Beginning on April 1, 2025, and for a 3-
     year period thereafter, the Inspector General of the 
     Department of State shall conduct management reviews of 
     chiefs of mission, charge d'affaires, and other principal 
     officers assigned overseas during inspection visits, when 
     those officers have been at post more than 180 days.
       (b) Disposition.--Reviews conducted pursuant to subsection 
     (a) shall be provided to the rating officer for formal 
     discussion as part of the performance evaluation process. The 
     management review shall remain in the employee's personnel 
     file unless otherwise required by law. The subject of a 
     review conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall have the 
     opportunity to respond to and comment on the review, and the 
     response shall be included in the employee's file for 
     promotion panel review.
       (c) Notification Requirement in Case of Serious Management 
     Concerns.--The Inspector General of the Department of State 
     shall notify the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and the 
     appropriate congressional committees within 30 days of any 
     review in which serious management concerns are raised and 
     substantiated, and which is not otherwise submitted as part 
     of the periodic inspection or report.

     SEC. 9204. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SUDAN.

       (a) Establishment.--The President shall, with the advice 
     and consent of the Senate, appoint a Special Envoy for Sudan 
     at the Department (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Special Envoy''). The Special Envoy shall report directly 
     to the Secretary and should not hold another position in the 
     Department while holding the position of Special Envoy.
       (b) Duties.--The Special Envoy shall--
       (1) lead United States diplomatic efforts to support 
     negotiations and humanitarian response efforts related to 
     alleviating the crisis in Sudan;
       (2) be responsible for coordinating policy development and 
     execution related to ending the conflict and a future path to 
     national recovery and democratic transition in Sudan across 
     all bureaus in the Department and coordinating with 
     interagency partners; and
       (3) consult regularly with the appropriate congressional 
     committees, and keep such committees fully and currently 
     informed on the status of diplomatic efforts and 
     negotiations.
       (c) Staffing.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
     Special Envoy is staffed with personnel approved by the 
     envoy, including through reassignment of positions 
     responsible for issues related to Sudan that currently exist 
     within the Department, encouraging details or assignment of 
     employees of the Department from regional and functional 
     bureaus with expertise relevant to Sudan, or through request 
     for interagency details of individuals with relevant 
     experience from other United States Government departments or 
     agencies, including the Department of Treasury.
       (2) Briefing requirements.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department should 
     brief the appropriate congressional committees on the number 
     of full-time equivalent positions supporting the Special 
     Envoy and the relevant expertise and duties of any employees 
     of the Department serving as detailees.
       (d) Sunset.--The position of the Special Envoy for Sudan 
     shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 9205. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR BELARUS.

       Section 6406(d) of the Department of State Authorization 
     Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 118-31; 22 U.S.C. 5811 
     note) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Role.--The position of Special Envoy--
       ``(1) shall only exist while United States diplomatic 
     operations in Belarus at the United States Embassy in Minsk, 
     Belarus are suspended; and
       ``(2) shall oversee the operations and personnel of the 
     Belarus Affairs Unit.''.

     SEC. 9206. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

       Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 
     1956 is amended by adding after section 64 (22 U.S.C. 2735a) 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 65. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

       ``(a) Activities.--
       ``(1) Support authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     provide, by contract, grant, or otherwise, for the 
     performance of appropriate museum visitor and educational 
     outreach services and related events, including--
       ``(A) organizing programs and conference activities;
       ``(B) creating, designing, and installing exhibits; and
       ``(C) conducting museum shop services and food services in 
     the public exhibition and related physical and virtual space 
     utilized by the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
       ``(2) Recovery of costs.--The Secretary of State is 
     authorized to retain the proceeds obtained from customary and 
     appropriate fees charged for the use of facilities, including 
     venue rental for events consistent with the activities 
     described in subsection (a)(1) and museum shop services and 
     food services at the National Museum of American Diplomacy. 
     Such proceeds shall be retained as a recovery of the costs of 
     operating the Museum, credited to a designated Department 
     account that exists for the purpose of funding the Museum and 
     its programs and activities, and shall remain available until 
     expended.
       ``(b) Disposition of Documents, Artifacts, and Other 
     Articles.--
       ``(1) Property.--All historic documents, artifacts, or 
     other articles acquired by the Department of State for the 
     permanent museum collection and determined by the Secretary 
     of State to be suitable for display by the National Museum of 
     American Diplomacy shall be considered to be the property of 
     the United States Government and shall be subject to 
     disposition solely in accordance with this subsection.
       ``(2) Sale, trade, or transfer.--Whenever the Secretary of 
     State makes a determination described in paragraph (3) with 
     respect to a document, artifact, or other article described 
     in paragraph (1), taking into account considerations such as 
     the Museum's collections management policy and best 
     professional museum practice, the Secretary may sell at fair 
     market value, trade, or transfer such document, artifact, or 
     other article without regard to the requirements of subtitle 
     I of title 40, United States Code. The proceeds of any such 
     sale may be used solely for the advancement of the activities 
     described in subsection (a)(1) of the National Museum of 
     American Diplomacy and may not be used for any purpose other 
     than the acquisition and direct care of the collections of 
     the Museum.
       ``(3) Determinations prior to sale, trade, or transfer.--
     The determination described in this paragraph with respect to 
     a document, artifact, or other article described in paragraph 
     (1) is a determination that--
       ``(A) the document, artifact, or other article no longer 
     serves to further the mission of the National Museum of 
     American Diplomacy as set forth in the collections management 
     policy of the Museum;
       ``(B) the sale at a fair market price based on an 
     independent appraisal or trade or transfer of the document, 
     artifact, or other article would serve to maintain or enhance 
     the Museum collection; and
       ``(C) the sale, trade, or transfer of the document, 
     artifact, or other article would be in the best interests of 
     the United States.
       ``(4) Loans.--In addition to the authorization under 
     paragraph (2) relating to the sale, trade, or transfer of 
     documents, artifacts, or

[[Page S5597]]

     other articles described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of 
     State may--
       ``(A) loan the documents, artifacts, or other articles to 
     other institutions, both foreign and domestic, for repair, 
     study, or exhibition when not needed for use or display by 
     the National Museum of American Diplomacy; and
       ``(B) borrow documents, artifacts, or other articles from 
     other institutions or individuals, both foreign and domestic, 
     for activities consistent with subsection (a)(1).''.

     SEC. 9207. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH NEGOTIATIONS SUPPORT UNIT 
                   WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) there is a need for the United States Government to 
     maintain a permanent institutional hub for technical 
     expertise, strategic advice, and knowledge management in 
     negotiations, mediation, and peace processes in order to 
     prioritize and invest in diplomacy;
       (2) the United States plays a role in enabling and 
     supporting peace processes and complex political 
     negotiations, the success of which is essential to stability 
     and democracy around the world;
       (3) the meaningful engagement of conflict-affected 
     communities, particularly women, youth, and other impacted 
     populations, is vital to durable, implementable, and 
     sustainable peace;
       (4) negotiation requires a specific technical and 
     functional skillset, and thus institutional expertise in this 
     practice area should include trained practitioners and 
     subject matter experts;
       (5) such skills should continue to be employed as the 
     United States Government advises and contributes to peace 
     processes, including those where the United States plays a 
     supporting role or is led by multilateral and international 
     partners; and
       (6) training programs for United States diplomats should 
     draw upon this expertise and United States lessons learned to 
     help equip diplomats with skills to respond to peace 
     processes and complex political negotiations, and how to 
     request support.
       (b) Negotiations Support Unit.--Section 1 of the State 
     Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(p) Negotiations Support Unit.--
       ``(1) Authority to establish.--The Secretary of State may 
     establish within the Department of State a unit to be known 
     as the `Negotiations Support Unit' responsible for carrying 
     out the functions described in paragraph (2), as appropriate.
       ``(2) Functions.--The functions described in this paragraph 
     are the following:
       ``(A) Serving as a permanent institutional hub and resource 
     for negotiations and peace process expertise and knowledge 
     management.
       ``(B) Advising the Secretary of State, other relevant 
     senior officials, members of the Foreign Service, and 
     employees of the Department of State on the substance, 
     process, and strategy of negotiations, mediation, peace 
     processes, and other complex political negotiations from 
     strategy and planning to implementation.
       ``(C) Supporting the development and implementation of 
     United States policy related to complex political 
     negotiations and peace processes, including those led by 
     multilateral and international partners.
       ``(D) Advising on mediation and negotiations programs to 
     implement United States policy.
       ``(E) Supporting training for Foreign Services Officers and 
     civil servants on tailored negotiation and mediation skills.
       ``(F) Working with other governments, international 
     organizations, and nongovernmental organizations, as 
     appropriate, to support the development and implementation of 
     United States policy on peace processes and complex political 
     negotiations.
       ``(G) Any additional duties the Secretary of State may 
     prescribe.
       ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 for the 
     establishment of the Negotiations Support Unit under 
     paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 9208. RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF FUNDS FOR SOLAR PANELS.

       The Department may not use Federal funds to procure any 
     solar energy products that were manufactured in the Xinjiang 
     Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China or 
     other regions in the country, which are known to be produced 
     with forced labor.

     SEC. 9209. RESPONSIVENESS TO CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE 
                   INQUIRIES.

       (a) Findings.-- The Congressional Research Service is 
     charged with rendering effective and efficient service to 
     Congress and responding expeditiously, effectively, and 
     efficiently to the needs of Congress.
       (b) Responses.--The Secretary and Administrator shall 
     ensure that for any inquiry or request from the Congressional 
     Research Service related to its support of Members of 
     Congress and congressional staff--
       (1) an initial answer responsive to the request is sent 
     within 14 days of receipt of the inquiry;
       (2) a complete answer responsive to the request is sent 
     within 90 days of receipt of the inquiry, together with an 
     explanation as to why the request was delayed; and
       (3) Congressional Research Service staff shall be treated 
     as congressional staff for any informal discussions or 
     briefings.

     SEC. 9210. MISSION IN A BOX.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Increasing the United States' global diplomatic 
     footprint is imperative to advance United States' national 
     security interests, particularly in the face of a massive 
     diplomatic expansion of our strategic competitors.
       (2) Opening or re-opening diplomatic missions, often in 
     small island nations where there is no United States 
     Government presence, but one is needed to advance United 
     States strategic objectives.
       (3) Diplomatic missions should be resourced and equipped 
     for success upon opening to allow diplomats to focus on 
     advancing United States national interests in-country.
       (4) The United States can and should move more swiftly to 
     open new diplomatic missions and provide United States 
     diplomats and locally employed staff with a workplace that 
     meets locally appropriate quality, safety, and security 
     standards.
       (5) To do this, the Department must streamline and support 
     the process of opening new posts to identify efficiencies and 
     removing obstacles that are unduly complicating the opening 
     of new diplomatic missions, particularly in small island 
     states and similarly situated locations.
       (b) Report to Congress.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on how the 
     Department is creating a ``mission in a box'' concept to 
     provide new such diplomatic missions the needed resources and 
     authorities to quickly and efficiently stand up and operate a 
     mission from the moment United States personnel arrive, or 
     even before the opening of a new mission, particularly in 
     small island nations.
       (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include--
       (A) a list of authorities and processes related to the 
     opening of new diplomatic missions;
       (B) a list of authorities and processes related to the 
     opening of new diplomatic missions that the Department can 
     waive to expediently stand up new diplomatic missions;
       (C) essential functions that each new diplomatic mission 
     should be able to carry out independently upon opening;
       (D) a description of functions that another post or support 
     center will need to carry out to support the new mission;
       (E) a list of essential equipment and access to facilities, 
     including to support secure communications, that should be 
     provided to each new diplomatic mission, the approval of 
     which should be handled prior to or shortly after the opening 
     of the new diplomatic mission, including arrangements for 
     basic office equipment, vehicles, and housing;
       (F) the number of recommended locally engaged staff and 
     United States direct hires resident in-country;
       (G) the number of non-resident support staff who are 
     assigned to the new diplomatic mission, such as from another 
     post or regional support center;
       (H) a description of how medical and consular support 
     services could be provided;
       (I) procedures for requesting an expansion of the post's 
     functions or physical platform after opening, should that be 
     needed;
       (J) any other authorities or processes that may be required 
     to successfully and quickly stand up a new diplomatic 
     mission, including any new authorities the Department may 
     need;
       (K) a list of incentives, in addition to pay differentials, 
     being considered for such posts; and
       (L) a description of any specialized training, including 
     for management and security personnel supporting the 
     establishment of such new embassies that may be required.
       (c) Senior Official to Lead New Embassy Expansion.--
       (1) Designation.--The Secretary shall designate an 
     assistant secretary-level senior official to expedite and 
     make recommendations for the reform of procedures for opening 
     new diplomatic missions abroad, particularly in small island 
     states.
       (2) Responsibilities.--The senior official designated 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be responsible for proposing 
     policy and procedural changes to the Secretary to--
       (A) expediting the resourcing of new diplomatic missions by 
     waiving or reducing when possible mandatory processes 
     required to open new diplomatic missions, taking into account 
     the threat environment and circumstances in the host country;
       (B) when necessary, quickly adjudicating within the 
     Department any decision points that arise during the planning 
     and execution phases of the establishment of a new mission;
       (C) ensuring new missions receive the management and 
     operational support needed, including by designating such 
     support be undertaken by another post, regional support 
     center, or Department entities based in the United States; 
     and
       (D) ensuring that the authorities provided in the Secure 
     Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (title 
     VI of division A of appendix G of Public Law 106-113), as 
     amended by the Secure Embassy Construction and 
     Counterterrorism Act of 2022 (section 9301 of Public Law 117-
     263; 136 Stat. 3879), are fully utilized in the planning for 
     all new diplomatic missions.

[[Page S5598]]

       (d) New Diplomatic Mission Defined.--In this section, the 
     term ``new diplomatic mission'' means any bilateral 
     diplomatic mission opened since January 1, 2020, in a country 
     where there had not been a bilateral diplomatic mission since 
     the date that is 20 years before the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (e) Sunset.--The authorities and requirements of this 
     section shall terminate 5 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 9211. REPORT ON UNITED STATES CONSULATE IN CHENGDU, 
                   PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

        Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report on the effect of the 
     suspension of operations at of the United States Consulate 
     General in Chengdu, People's Republic of China, on July 27, 
     2020, on diplomatic and consular activities of the United 
     States in Southwestern China, including the provision of 
     consular services to United States citizens, and on relations 
     with the people of Southwestern China, including in areas 
     designated by the Government of the People's Republic of 
     China as autonomous.

     SEC. 9212. PERSONNEL REPORTING.

       Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, and at least every 120 days thereafter for 5 years, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report--
       (1) describing the on-board personnel levels, hiring, and 
     attrition of the Civil Service, Foreign Service, eligible 
     family members, locally employed staff, and contractor 
     workforce of the Department, on an operating unit-by-
     operating unit basis; and
       (2) including a status update on progress toward fiscal 
     year hiring plans for Foreign Service and Civil Service.

     SEC. 9213. SUPPORT CO-LOCATION WITH ALLIED PARTNER NATIONS.

       The Secretary, following consultation with the appropriate 
     congressional committees, may alter, repair, and furnish 
     United States Government-owned and leased space for use by 
     the government of a foreign country to facilitate co-location 
     of such government in such space, on such terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary may determine, including with 
     respect to reimbursement of all or part of the costs of such 
     alteration, repair, or furnishing. Reimbursements or advances 
     of funds pursuant to this section may be credited to the 
     currently applicable appropriation and shall be available for 
     the purposes for which such appropriation is authorized.

     SEC. 9214. STREAMLINE QUALIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT 
                   BIDDERS.

       Section 402 of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and 
     Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4852) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by inserting ``be awarded'' after ``joint venture 
     persons may'';
       (B) by striking ``bid on'' both places it appears; and
       (C) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$10,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$25,000,000''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph 1, by striking ``two'' and inserting 
     ``three''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``at a United States 
     diplomatic or consular establishment abroad'' and inserting 
     ``on a Federal contract abroad'';
       (ii) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (G);
       (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph 
     (E); and
       (iv) in subparagraph (E), as redesignated by clause (iii), 
     by striking ``80'' [both places it appears] and inserting 
     ``65''.

          TITLE III--INFORMATION SECURITY AND CYBER DIPLOMACY

     SEC. 9301. SUPPORTING DEPARTMENT OF STATE DATA ANALYTICS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department 
     of State for fiscal year 2025 $3,000,000 for bureaus to hire 
     Chief Data Officers through the ``Bureau Chief Data Officer 
     Program'', consistent with section 6302 of the Department of 
     State Authorization Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 
     118-31; 22 U.S.C. 2651a note).

     SEC. 9302. REALIGNING THE REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICER 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 9508(a)(1) of the Department of State 
     Authorizations Act of 2022 (division I of Public Law 117-263; 
     22 U.S.C. 10305(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``, and shall 
     be administered by the Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital 
     Policy'' before the period at the end.

     SEC. 9303. MEASURES TO PROTECT DEPARTMENT DEVICES FROM THE 
                   PROLIFERATION AND USE OF FOREIGN COMMERCIAL 
                   SPYWARE.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress''means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security of the House of Representatives.
       (1) Covered device.--The term ``covered device'' means any 
     electronic mobile device, including smartphones, tablet 
     computing devices, or laptop computing device, that is issued 
     by the Department for official use.
       (2) Foreign commercial spyware; spyware.--The terms 
     ``foreign commercial spyware'' and ``spyware'' have the 
     meanings given those terms in section 1102A of the National 
     Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3232a).
       (b) Protection of Covered Devices.--
       (1) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, in 
     consultation with the Director of the Cybersecurity and 
     Infrastructure Security Agency--
       (A) issue standards, guidance, best practices, and policies 
     for Department and USAID personnel to protect covered devices 
     from being compromised by foreign commercial spyware;
       (B) survey the processes used by the Department and USAID 
     to identify and catalog instances where a covered device was 
     compromised by foreign commercial spyware over the prior 2 
     years and it is reasonably expected to have resulted in an 
     unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information; and
       (C) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on the measures in place to identify and catalog 
     instances of such compromises for covered devices by foreign 
     commercial spyware, which may be submitted in classified 
     form.
       (2) Notifications.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
     on which an element of the Department becomes aware that a 
     covered device was compromised by foreign commercial spyware, 
     the Secretary, in coordination with relevant agencies, shall 
     notify the appropriate committees of Congress of the facts 
     concerning such targeting or compromise, including--
       (A) the location of the personnel whose covered device was 
     compromised;
       (B) the number of covered devices compromised;
       (C) an assessment by the Secretary of the damage to the 
     national security of the United States resulting from any 
     loss of data or sensitive information; and
       (D) an assessment by the Secretary of any foreign 
     government or foreign organization or entity, and, to the 
     extent possible, the foreign individuals, who directed and 
     benefitted from any information acquired from the compromise.

     SEC. 9304. REPORT ON CLOUD COMPUTING IN BUREAU OF CONSULAR 
                   AFFAIRS.

       Not later than 90 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 the Bureau 
     of Consular Affairs adoption of cloud-based products and 
     services as well as options to require enterprise-wide 
     adoption of cloud computing, including for all consular 
     operations.

     SEC. 9305. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROJECTS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of 
     State should, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of 
     the Bureau of Consular Affairs, prioritize information 
     technology systems with high potential to accelerate the 
     passport renewal processes, reduce processing times, and 
     reduce dependency on legacy systems.

     SEC. 9306. LEVERAGING APPROVED TECHNOLOGY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE 
                   EFFICIENCIES.

       The Secretary and Administrator shall ensure appropriate 
     and secure technological solutions are authorized and 
     available for employee use, where feasible, to promote 
     technological fluency in the workforce, including the 
     integration of secure tools in the evaluation process to 
     ensure performance management standards while maximizing 
     efficiency.

     SEC. 9307. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CRITICAL AND 
                   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an Office 
     of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Office''), which may be 
     located within the Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy.
       (b) Leadership.--
       (1) Special envoy.--The Office shall be headed by a Special 
     Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, who shall--
       (A) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
     and consent of the Senate; and
       (B) have the rank and status of ambassador; and
       (C) report to the Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and 
     Digital Policy.
       (c) Membership.--The Office may include representatives or 
     expert detailees from other key Federal agencies or research 
     and technology-focused fellowship programs, as determined by 
     the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology and 
     with the consent of the Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace 
     and Digital Policy, in coordination with appropriate senior 
     officials of the Department and such agencies.
       (d) Purposes.--The purposes of the Office shall include--
       (1) establishing, in coordination with relevant bureaus, 
     offices and other Federal agencies, an interagency security 
     review process for proposals regarding United States 
     Government-funded international collaboration on certain 
     critical and emerging technologies and associated research;
       (2) establishing and coordinating an interagency strategy 
     to facilitate international cooperation with United States 
     allies and partners regarding the development, use, and 
     deployment of critical and emerging technologies and 
     associated standards and safeguards for research security, 
     intellectual property protection, and illicit knowledge 
     transfer;

[[Page S5599]]

       (3) facilitating technology partnerships with countries and 
     relevant political and economic unions that are committed 
     to--
       (A) the rule of law and respect for human rights, including 
     freedom of speech, and expression;
       (B) the safe and responsible development and use of certain 
     critical and emerging technologies and the establishment of 
     related norms and standards, including for research security 
     and the protection of sensitive data and technology;
       (C) a secure internet architecture governed by a multi-
     stakeholder model instead of centralized government control;
       (D) secure and resilient supply chains;
       (E) robust international cooperation to promote open and 
     interoperable technological products and services that are 
     necessary to freedom, innovation, transparency, and privacy; 
     and
       (F) multilateral coordination, including through diplomatic 
     initiatives, information sharing, and other activities, to 
     defend the principles described in subparagraphs (A) through 
     (E) against efforts by state and non-state actors to 
     undermine them;
       (4) supporting efforts to harmonize technology governance 
     regimes with partners, coordinating on basic and pre-
     competitive research and development initiatives, and 
     collaborating to pursue such opportunities in certain 
     critical and emerging technologies;
       (5) coordinating with other technology partners on export 
     control policies for certain critical and emerging 
     technologies, including countering illicit knowledge and data 
     transfer related to certain critical and emerging technology 
     research;
       (6) conducting diplomatic engagement, in coordination with 
     other bureaus, offices, and relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies, with allies and partners to develop standards and 
     coordinate policies designed to counter illicit knowledge and 
     data transfer in academia related to critical and emerging 
     technology research;
       (7) coordinating with allies, partners, and other relevant 
     Federal agencies to prevent the exploitation of research 
     partnerships related to certain critical and emerging 
     technologies;
       (8) sharing information regarding the threat posed by the 
     transfer of certain critical and emerging technologies to 
     authoritarian governments, including the People's Republic of 
     China and the Russian Federation, and the ways in which 
     autocratic regimes are utilizing technology, including for 
     military and security purposes, to erode individual freedoms 
     and other foundations of open, democratic societies; and
       (9) collaborating with private companies, trade 
     associations, and think tanks to realize the purposes 
     described in paragraphs (1) through (8).
       (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
     following 5 years, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
     Director of National Intelligence and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress an unclassified 
     report, with a classified index, if necessary, regarding--
       (1) the activities of the Office related to paragraphs (1) 
     through (9) of subsection (d), including any cooperative 
     initiatives and partnerships pursued with United States 
     allies and partners, and the results of such activities, 
     initiatives, and partnerships;
       (2) the activities of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and the 
     Russian Federation in sectors related to certain critical and 
     emerging technologies and the threats they pose to the United 
     States; and
       (3) an inventory of all international research and 
     development programs for certain critical and emerging 
     technologies funded by the Department or USAID that include 
     participation by institutions or organizations that are 
     affiliated with, or receive support from, the Government of 
     the People's Republic of China or the Government of the 
     Russian Federation.
       (f) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress''means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
       (2) Certain critical and emerging technologies.--The term 
     ``certain critical and emerging technologies'' means the 
     technologies determined by the Secretary, in consultation 
     with other Federal agencies, from the critical and emerging 
     technologies list published by the National Science and 
     Technology Council (NSTC) at the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy, as amended by subsequent updates to the 
     list issued by the NSTC.

                       TITLE IV--PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

     SEC. 9401. AFRICA BROADCASTING NETWORKS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
     Agency for Global Media shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees and the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives a report on the resources and 
     timeline needed to establish within the Agency an 
     organization the mission of which shall be to promote 
     democratic values and institutions in Africa by providing 
     objective, accurate, and relevant news and information to the 
     people of Africa and counter disinformation from malign 
     actors, especially in countries in which a free press is 
     banned by the government or not fully established, about the 
     region, the world, and the United States through uncensored 
     news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

     SEC. 9402. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA.

       Section 306 of the United States International Broadcasting 
     Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6205) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsection 
     (g) and (h), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(f) Suspension and Debarment of Grantees.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a 
     grantee may not be debarred or suspended without consultation 
     with the Chief Executive Officer and a three-fourths majority 
     vote of the Advisory Board in support of such action.
       ``(2) Suspension.--
       ``(A) Criteria for suspension.--A grantee may not be 
     suspended unless the Advisory Board determines that the 
     criteria described in section 513.405 of title 22, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, have been met.
       ``(B) Suspending official.--The Advisory Board shall 
     collectively serve as the suspending official (as described 
     in section 513.105 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations).
       ``(3) Debarment.--
       ``(A) Criteria for debarment.--A grantee may not be 
     debarred unless the Advisory Board determines that one or 
     more of the causes described in section 513.305 of title 22, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, has been established.
       ``(B) Debarring official.--The Advisory Board shall 
     collectively serve as the debarring official (as described in 
     section 513.105 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations).''.

     SEC. 9403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATIONS TO SUPPORT UNITED 
                   STATES PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL FAIRS AND 
                   EXPOS.

       Section 9601 of the Department of State Authorizations Act 
     of 2022 (division I of Public Law 117-263; 136 Stat. 3909) is 
     amended in subsection (b), by striking ``fiscal years 2023 
     and 2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025, 
     2026, and 2027''.

     SEC. 9404. RESEARCH AND SCHOLAR EXCHANGE PARTNERSHIPS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) it is in the strategic interest of the United States to 
     strengthen relations with Sub-Saharan African states to 
     promote shared interests in the areas of--
       (A) democracy and good governance;
       (B) education and human capital;
       (C) trade and economic development;
       (D) science and technology;
       (E) biodiversity, food, and agriculture; and
       (F) the preservation and management of natural resources, 
     including critical minerals; and
       (2) historically Black colleges and universities (referred 
     to in this section as ``HBCUs'') have a long history of--
       (A) cultivating diaspora relations with Sub-Saharan African 
     states; and
       (B) developing innovative solutions to some of the world's 
     most pressing challenges.
       (b) Strengthened Partnerships.--The Secretary and the 
     Administrator should seek to strengthen and expand 
     partnerships and educational exchange opportunities, 
     including by working with HBCUs, which build the capacity and 
     expertise of students, scholars, and experts from Sub-Saharan 
     Africa in key development sectors.
       (d) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator is authorized 
     to--
       (1) provide technical assistance to HBCUs to assist in 
     fulfilling the goals of this section, including in developing 
     contracts, operating agreements, legal documents, and related 
     infrastructure; and
       (2) upon request, provide feedback to HBCUs, to the maximum 
     extent practicable, after a grant rejection from relevant 
     Federal programs in order to improve future grant 
     applications, as appropriate.

     SEC. 9405. WAIVER OF UNITED STATES RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR 
                   CHILDREN OF RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY 
                   EMPLOYEES.

       Section 320(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1431(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (1)(B), by striking ``; or'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (2) by adding at the end of the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) the child residing in the legal and physical custody 
     of a citizen parent who is residing abroad as a result of 
     employment with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.''.

                      TITLE V--DIPLOMATIC SECURITY

     SEC. 9501. SECURE EMBASSY CONSTRUCTION AND COUNTERTERRORISM 
                   ACT REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe new 
     guidance and requirements consistent with the Secure Embassy 
     Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (title VI of 
     division A of appendix

[[Page S5600]]

     G of Public Law 106-113), as amended by the Secure Embassy 
     Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 2022 (section 9301 
     of Public Law 117-263; 136 Stat. 3879) and submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report detailing such 
     guidance and requirements, including the impact of 
     implementation on United States diplomatic facilities and 
     construction projects.
       (b) Consequence for Noncompliance.--If the Secretary fails 
     to meet the requirement under subsection (a) no Federal funds 
     appropriated to the Department shall be used for official 
     travel by senior staff in the executive office of the 
     Diplomatic Security Service, including the Assistant 
     Secretary for Diplomatic Security, until such time as the 
     Secretary meets the requirement.
       (c) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the restriction in 
     subsection (b) to meet urgent and critical needs if the 
     Secretary provides written notification to the appropriate 
     congressional committees in advance of travel.

     SEC. 9502. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION FOR SERIOUS SECURITY 
                   INCIDENTS.

       Section 301(a) of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and 
     Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4833(a)), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
     (3) and (4), respectively;
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(2) Initial congressional notification.--The Secretary 
     shall notify the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the 
     Senate, and the Speaker and minority leader of the House of 
     Representatives not later than 8 days after a possible 
     Serious Security Incident has taken place. Such notification 
     shall include a preliminary description of the incident, of 
     an incident described in paragraph (1), including any known 
     individuals involved, when and where the incident took place, 
     and the next steps in the investigation.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph (1) of 
     this section, by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting 
     ``paragraph (3)''.

     SEC. 9503. NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING SECURITY DECISIONS AT 
                   DIPLOMATIC POSTS.

       Section 103(c) of section 103 of the Omnibus Diplomatic 
     Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4802(c)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
       (2) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``(1) The 
     Secretary''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) The Secretary of State shall notify the appropriate 
     congressional committees within 10 days of any decision to 
     retain authority over or approve decisions at an overseas 
     post, including the movement of personnel.''.

     SEC. 9504. SECURITY CLEARANCE SUSPENSION PAY FLEXIBILITIES.

       Section 610(c)(6) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 
     U.S.C. 4010(c)(6)) is amended by striking ``paragraph 1(B)'' 
     and inserting ``this subsection''.

     SEC. 9505. MODIFICATION TO NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR 
                   SECURITY CLEARANCE SUSPENSIONS AND REVOCATIONS.

       Section 6710(a) of the Department of State Authorization 
     Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 118-31; 22 U.S.C. 2651a 
     note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and moving such 
     subparagraphs, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right;
       (2) by striking ``In General.--With respect'' and inserting 
     the following: ``Notification.--
       ``(1) In general.--With respect'';
       (3) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``revocation on'' and all that follows 
     through ``or revocation'' and inserting ``revocation on--
       ``(A) the present employment status of the covered official 
     and whether the job duties of the covered official have 
     changed since such suspension or revocation;
       ``(B) the reason for such suspension or revocation;
       ``(C) the investigation of the covered official and the 
     results of such investigation; and
       ``(D) any negative fallout or impacts for the Department of 
     State, the United States Government, or national security of 
     the United States as a result of the actions for which the 
     security clearance was suspended or revoked.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Submission to intelligence communities.--To the 
     extent the basis for any suspension or revocation of a 
     security clearance is premised on the unauthorized release of 
     intelligence (as defined by section 3(1) of the National 
     Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(1)), the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent 
     Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
     Representatives shall be an appropriate congressional 
     committee for the purposes of this section.''.

      TITLE VI--UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

     SEC. 9601. PERSONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE 
                   UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL 
                   DEVELOPMENT.

        Section 636(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2396(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(17) employing individuals or organizations, by contract, 
     for services abroad for purposes of this Act and title II of 
     the Food for Peace Act, and individuals employed by contract 
     to perform such services shall not by virtue of such 
     employment be considered to be employees of the United States 
     Government (except that the Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development may determine the 
     applicability to such individuals of section 5 of the State 
     Department Basic Authorities Act of 1965 (22 U.S.C. 2672) 
     regarding tort claims when such claims arise in foreign 
     countries in connection with United States operations abroad, 
     and of any other law administered by the Administrator 
     concerning the employment of such individuals abroad), and 
     such contracts are authorized to be negotiated, the terms of 
     the contracts to be prescribed, and the work to be performed, 
     where necessary, without regard to such statutory provisions 
     as relate to the negotiation, making, and performance of 
     contracts and performance of work in the United States.''.

     SEC. 9602. CRISIS OPERATIONS AND DISASTER SURGE STAFFING.

       Section 625 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2385) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(k) Crisis Operations and Disaster Surge Staffing.--(1) 
     The United States Agency for International Development is 
     authorized to appoint personnel in the excepted service using 
     funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made 
     available under the heading `Transition Initiatives' in an 
     Act making appropriations for the Department of State, 
     Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to carry out the 
     provisions of part I and chapter 4 of part II of this Act of 
     and section 509(b) of the Global Fragility Act of 2019 (title 
     V of division J of Public Law 116-94) to prevent or respond 
     to foreign crises and contexts with growing instability;
       ``(2) Funds authorized to carry out such purposes may be 
     made available for the operating expenses and administrative 
     costs of such personnel and may remain attributed to any 
     minimum funding requirement for which they were originally 
     made available.
       ``(3) The Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development shall coordinate with the Office of 
     Personnel Management on implementation of the appointment 
     authority under paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 9603. EDUCATION ALLOWANCE WHILE ON MILITARY LEAVE.

       Section 908 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
     4088) is amended by inserting ``or United States Agency for 
     International Development'' after ``A Department''.

     SEC. 9604. INCLUSION IN THE PET TRANSPORTATION EXCEPTION TO 
                   THE FLY AMERICA ACT.

       Section 6224(a)(1) of the Department of State Authorization 
     Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 118-31; 22 U.S.C. 
     4081a) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
       (1) by striking ``the Department is'' and inserting ``the 
     Department and the United States Agency for International 
     Development (USAID), and other United States Government 
     employees under chief of mission authority are''; and
       (2) by striking ``Department personnel'' and inserting 
     ``Department and USAID personnel, and other United States 
     Government employees under chief of mission authority''.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 9701. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO PROMOTE UNITED 
                   STATES CITIZEN EMPLOYMENT AT THE UNITED NATIONS 
                   AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The President should direct United States 
     departments and agencies to, in coordination with the 
     Secretary --
       (1) fund and recruit Junior Professional Officers for 
     positions at the United Nations and related specialized and 
     technical organizations; and
       (2) facilitate secondments, details, and transfers to 
     agencies and specialized and technical bodies of the United 
     Nations.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated an additional $20,000,000 for each of the 
     fiscal years 2025 through 2031 for the Secretary to support 
     Junior Professional Officers, details, transfers, and interns 
     that advance United States interests at multilateral 
     institutions and international organizations, including to 
     recruit, train, and host events related to such positions, 
     and to promote United States citizen candidates for 
     employment and leadership positions at multilateral 
     institutions and international organizations.
       (c) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.
       (d) Congressional Notification.--Not later than 15 days 
     prior to the obligation of funds authorized to be 
     appropriated under this section, the Secretary shall submit 
     to the appropriate congressional committees and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives a notification 
     outlining the amount and proposed use of such funds.

     SEC. 9702. AMENDMENT TO REWARDS FOR JUSTICE PROGRAM.

       Section 36(b) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act 
     of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (13), by striking ``; or'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;

[[Page S5601]]

       (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(15) the restraining, seizing, forfeiting, or 
     repatriating of stolen assets linked to foreign government 
     corruption and the proceeds of such corruption.''.

     SEC. 9703. PASSPORT AUTOMATION MODERNIZATION.

       The Act entitled ``An Act to regulate the issue and 
     validity of passports, and for other purposes'', approved 
     July 3, 1926 (44 Stat. 887, 22 U.S.C. 211a), is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and through the use of Department of 
     State electronic systems,'' after ``the insular possessions 
     of the United States,''; and
       (2) by striking ``person'' and inserting ``entity''.

     SEC. 9704. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN PAYMENT IN CONNECTION WITH 
                   THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

       Section 7(1) of Public Law 106-178 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is 
     amended, in the undesignated matter following subparagraph 
     (B), by striking ``December 31, 2025'' and inserting 
     ``December 31, 2030''.

     SEC. 9705. SUPPORT FOR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) congressional travel is essential to fostering 
     international relations, understanding global issues first-
     hand, and jointly advancing United States interests abroad; 
     and
       (2) only in close coordination and thanks to the dedication 
     of personnel at United States embassies, consulates, and 
     other missions abroad can the success of these vital trips be 
     possible.
       (b) In General.--The Secretary shall reaffirm to all 
     diplomatic posts the importance of Congressional travel and 
     shall require all such posts to support congressional travel 
     by members and staff of the appropriate congressional 
     committees fully, by making such support available on any day 
     of the week, including Federal and local holidays and, to the 
     extent practical, requiring the direct involvement of mid-
     level or senior officers.
       (c) Exception for Simultaneous High-level Visits.--The 
     requirement under subsection (a) does not apply in the case 
     of a simultaneous visit from the President, the First Lady or 
     First Gentleman, the Vice President, the Secretary of State, 
     or the Secretary of Defense.
       (d) Training.--The Secretary shall require all designated 
     control officers to have been trained on supporting 
     congressional travel at posts abroad prior to the assigned 
     congressional visit.

     SEC. 9706. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION WITH VISA APPLICANTS.

       Section 833(a)(5)(A) of the International Marriage Broker 
     Regulation Act of 2005 (8 U.S.C. 1375a(a)(5)(A)) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(vi) Mailings under this subsection may be transmitted by 
     electronic means, including electronic mail. The Secretary of 
     State may communicate with visa applicants using personal 
     contact information provided to them or to the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security by the applicant, petitioner, or designated 
     agent or attorney.''.

     SEC. 9707. ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF VISA INFORMATION.

       Section 222 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1202) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(i) Electronic Transmission.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of the immigration laws (as such term is defined in 
     section 101(a)(17) of this Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)), all 
     requirements in the immigration laws for communications with 
     visa applicants shall be deemed satisfied if electronic 
     communications are sent to the applicant using personal 
     contact information at an address for such communications 
     provided by the applicant, petitioner, or designated agent or 
     attorney. The Secretary of State shall take appropriate 
     actions to allow applicants to update their personal contact 
     information and to ensure that electronic communications can 
     be securely transmitted to applicants.''.

     SEC. 9708. INCLUSION OF COST ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCING 
                   REPORTS.

       (a) Estimated Cost of Reports.--Beginning on October 1, 
     2026, and for the next three fiscal years, the Secretary 
     shall require that any report produced for external 
     distribution, including for distribution to Congress, include 
     the total estimated cost of producing such report and the 
     estimated number of personnel hours.
       (b) Annual Total Cost of Reports.--Not later than 90 days 
     after the end of each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 
     2025, and for the next three fiscal years, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and 
     the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     an annual report listing the reports issued for the prior 
     fiscal year, the frequency of each report, the total 
     estimated cost associated with producing such report, and the 
     estimated number of personnel hours.

     SEC. 9709. EXTENSIONS.

       (a) Passport Fees.--Section 1(b)(2) of the Passport Act of 
     June 4, 1920 (22 U.S.C. 214(b)(2)) shall be applied by 
     striking ``September 30, 2010'' and inserting ``September 30, 
     2028''.
       (b) USAID Civil Service Annuitant Waiver.--Section 
     625(j)(1)(B) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2385(j)(1)(B)) shall be applied by striking ``October 1, 
     2010'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.
       (c) Overseas Pay Comparability and Limitation.--
       (1) In general.--The authority provided under section 1113 
     of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-
     32; 123 Stat. 1904) shall remain in effect through September 
     30, 2026.
       (2) Limitation.--The authority described in paragraph (1) 
     may not be used to pay an eligible member of the Foreign 
     Service (as defined in section 1113(b) of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-32; 123 Stat. 1904)) 
     a locality-based comparability payment (stated as a 
     percentage) that exceeds two-thirds of the amount of the 
     locality-based comparability payment (stated as a percentage) 
     that would be payable to such member under section 5304 of 
     title 5, United States Code, if such member's official duty 
     station were in the District of Columbia.
       (d) Inspector General Annuitant Waiver.--The authorities 
     provided under section 1015(b) of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-212; 124 Stat. 
     2332)--
       (1) shall remain in effect through September 30, 2026; and
       (2) may be used to facilitate the assignment of persons for 
     oversight of programs in Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, 
     Venezuela, and Yemen.
       (e) Security Review Committees.--The authority provided 
     under section 301(a)(3) of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security 
     and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4831(a)(3)) shall 
     remain in effect for facilities in Afghanistan and shall 
     apply to facilities in Ukraine through September 30, 2026, 
     except that the notification and reporting requirements 
     contained in such section shall include the appropriate 
     congressional committees, the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3197. Mr. MANCHIN (for himself and Mr. Risch) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title X, add the following:

          Subtitle I--International Nuclear Energy Act of 2024

     SEC. 1099A. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``International Nuclear 
     Energy Act of 2024''.

     SEC. 1099B. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Advanced nuclear reactor.--The term ``advanced nuclear 
     reactor'' means--
       (A) a nuclear fission reactor, including a prototype plant 
     (as defined in sections 50.2 and 52.1 of title 10, Code of 
     Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)), with 
     significant improvements compared to reactors operating on 
     October 19, 2016, including improvements such as--
       (i) additional inherent safety features;
       (ii) lower waste yields;
       (iii) improved fuel and material performance;
       (iv) increased tolerance to loss of fuel cooling;
       (v) enhanced reliability or improved resilience;
       (vi) increased proliferation resistance;
       (vii) increased thermal efficiency;
       (viii) reduced consumption of cooling water and other 
     environmental impacts;
       (ix) the ability to integrate into electric applications 
     and nonelectric applications;
       (x) modular sizes to allow for deployment that corresponds 
     with the demand for electricity or process heat; and
       (xi) operational flexibility to respond to changes in 
     demand for electricity or process heat and to complement 
     integration with intermittent renewable energy or energy 
     storage;
       (B) a fusion reactor; and
       (C) a radioisotope power system that utilizes heat from 
     radioactive decay to generate energy.
       (2) Ally or partner nation.--The term ``ally or partner 
     nation'' means--
       (A) the Government of any country that is a member of the 
     Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development;
       (B) the Government of the Republic of India; and
       (C) the Government of any country designated as an ally or 
     partner nation by the Secretary of State for purposes of this 
     subtitle.
       (3) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committees on Foreign Relations and Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Energy and 
     Commerce of the House of Representatives.
       (4) Assistant.--The term ``Assistant'' means the Assistant 
     to the President and Director for International Nuclear 
     Energy Policy described in section 1099C(a)(1)(D).
       (5) Associated entity.--The term ``associated entity'' 
     means an entity that--

[[Page S5602]]

       (A) is owned, controlled, or operated by--
       (i) an ally or partner nation; or
       (ii) an associated individual; or
       (B) is organized under the laws of, or otherwise subject to 
     the jurisdiction of, a country described in paragraph (2), 
     including a corporation that is incorporated in a country 
     described in that paragraph.
       (6) Associated individual.--The term ``associated 
     individual'' means a foreign national who is a national of a 
     country described in paragraph (2).
       (7) Civil nuclear.--The term ``civil nuclear'' means 
     activities relating to--
       (A) nuclear plant construction;
       (B) nuclear fuel services;
       (C) nuclear energy financing;
       (D) nuclear plant operations;
       (E) nuclear plant regulation;
       (F) nuclear medicine;
       (G) nuclear safety;
       (H) community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity 
     to nuclear sites;
       (I) infrastructure support for nuclear energy;
       (J) nuclear plant decommissioning;
       (K) nuclear liability;
       (L) safe storage and safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel;
       (M) environmental safeguards;
       (N) nuclear nonproliferation and security; and
       (O) technology related to the matters described in 
     subparagraphs (A) through (N).
       (8) Embarking civil nuclear nation.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``embarking civil nuclear 
     nation'' means a country that--
       (i) does not have a civil nuclear energy program;
       (ii) is in the process of developing or expanding a civil 
     nuclear energy program, including safeguards and a legal and 
     regulatory framework, for--

       (I) nuclear safety;
       (II) nuclear security;
       (III) radioactive waste management;
       (IV) civil nuclear energy;
       (V) environmental safeguards;
       (VI) community engagement in areas in reasonable proximity 
     to nuclear sites;
       (VII) nuclear liability; or
       (VIII) advanced nuclear reactor licensing;

       (iii) is in the process of selecting, developing, 
     constructing, or utilizing advanced light water reactors, 
     advanced nuclear reactors, or advanced civil nuclear 
     technologies; or
       (iv) is eligible to receive development lending from the 
     World Bank.
       (B) Exclusions.--The term ``embarking civil nuclear 
     nation'' does not include--
       (i) the People's Republic of China;
       (ii) the Russian Federation;
       (iii) the Republic of Belarus;
       (iv) the Islamic Republic of Iran;
       (v) the Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
       (vi) the Republic of Cuba;
       (vii) the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela;
       (viii) the Syrian Arab Republic;
       (ix) Burma; or
       (x) any other country--

       (I) the property or interests in property of the government 
     of which are blocked pursuant to the International Emergency 
     Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); or
       (II) the government of which the Secretary of State has 
     determined has repeatedly provided support for acts of 
     international terrorism for purposes of--

       (aa) section 620A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
     (22 U.S.C. 2371(a));
       (bb) section 40(d) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 
     U.S.C. 2780(d));
       (cc) section 1754(c)(1)(A)(i) of the Export Control Reform 
     Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c)(1)(A)(i)); or
       (dd) any other relevant provision of law.
       (9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.
       (10) Spent nuclear fuel.--The term ``spent nuclear fuel'' 
     has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Nuclear 
     Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).
       (11) U.S. nuclear energy company.--The term ``U.S. nuclear 
     energy company'' means a company that--
       (A) is organized under the laws of, or otherwise subject to 
     the jurisdiction of, the United States; and
       (B) is involved in the nuclear energy industry.

     SEC. 1099C. CIVIL NUCLEAR COORDINATION AND STRATEGY.

       (a) White House Focal Point on Civil Nuclear 
     Coordination.--
       (1) Sense of congress.--Given the critical importance of 
     developing and implementing, with input from various agencies 
     throughout the executive branch, a cohesive policy with 
     respect to international efforts related to civil nuclear 
     energy, it is the sense of Congress that--
       (A) there should be a focal point within the White House, 
     which may, if determined to be appropriate, report to the 
     National Security Council, for coordination on issues 
     relating to those efforts;
       (B) to provide that focal point, the President should 
     establish, within the Executive Office of the President, an 
     office, to be known as the ``Office of the Assistant to the 
     President and Director for International Nuclear Energy 
     Policy'' (referred to in this subsection as the ``Office'');
       (C) the Office should act as a coordinating office for--
       (i) international civil nuclear cooperation; and
       (ii) civil nuclear export strategy;
       (D) the Office should be headed by an individual appointed 
     as an Assistant to the President with the title of ``Director 
     for International Nuclear Energy Policy''; and
       (E) the Office should--
       (i) coordinate civil nuclear export policies for the United 
     States;
       (ii) develop, in coordination with the officials described 
     in paragraph (2), a cohesive Federal strategy for engagement 
     with foreign governments (including ally or partner nations 
     and the governments of embarking civil nuclear nations), 
     associated entities, and associated individuals with respect 
     to civil nuclear exports;
       (iii) coordinate with the officials described in paragraph 
     (2) to ensure that necessary framework agreements and trade 
     controls relating to civil nuclear materials and technologies 
     are in place for key markets; and
       (iv) develop--

       (I) a whole-of-government coordinating strategy for civil 
     nuclear cooperation;
       (II) a whole-of-government strategy for civil nuclear 
     exports; and
       (III) a whole-of-government approach to support appropriate 
     foreign investment in civil nuclear energy projects supported 
     by the United States in embarking civil nuclear nations.

       (2) Officials described.--The officials referred to in 
     paragraph (1)(E) are--
       (A) appropriate officials of any Federal agency that the 
     President determines to be appropriate; and
       (B) appropriate officials representing foreign countries 
     and governments, including--
       (i) ally or partner nations;
       (ii) embarking civil nuclear nations; and
       (iii) any other country or government that the Assistant 
     (if appointed) and the officials described in subparagraph 
     (A) jointly determine to be appropriate.
       (b) Nuclear Exports Working Group.--
       (1) Establishment.--There is established a working group, 
     to be known as the ``Nuclear Exports Working Group'' 
     (referred to in this subsection as the ``working group'').
       (2) Composition.--The working group shall be composed of--
       (A) senior-level Federal officials, selected internally by 
     the applicable Federal agency or organization, from any 
     Federal agency or organization that the President determines 
     to be appropriate; and
       (B) other senior-level Federal officials, selected 
     internally by the applicable Federal agency or organization, 
     from any other Federal agency or organization that the 
     Secretary determines to be appropriate.
       (3) Reporting.--The working group shall report to the 
     appropriate White House official, which may be the Assistant 
     (if appointed).
       (4) Duties.--The working group shall coordinate, not less 
     frequently than quarterly, with the Civil Nuclear Trade 
     Advisory Committee of the Department of Commerce, the Nuclear 
     Energy Advisory Committee of the Department of Energy, and 
     other advisory or stakeholder groups, as necessary, to 
     maintain an accurate and up-to-date knowledge of the standing 
     of civil nuclear exports from the United States, including 
     with respect to meeting the targets established as part of 
     the 10-year civil nuclear trade strategy described in 
     paragraph (5)(A).
       (5) Strategy.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the working group shall establish a 
     10-year civil nuclear trade strategy, including biennial 
     targets for the export of civil nuclear technologies, 
     including light water and non-light water reactors and 
     associated equipment and technologies, civil nuclear 
     materials, and nuclear fuel that align with meeting 
     international energy demand while seeking to avoid or reduce 
     emissions.
       (B) Collaboration required.--In establishing the strategy 
     under subparagraph (A), the working group shall collaborate 
     with--
       (i) any Federal agency that the President determines to be 
     appropriate; and
       (ii) representatives of private industry.

     SEC. 1099D. ENGAGEMENT WITH ALLY OR PARTNER NATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The President shall launch, in accordance 
     with applicable nuclear technology export laws (including 
     regulations), an international initiative to modernize the 
     civil nuclear outreach to embarking civil nuclear nations.
       (b) Financing.--In carrying out the initiative described in 
     subsection (a), the President, acting through an appropriate 
     Federal official, who may be the Assistant (if appointed) or 
     the Chief Executive Officer of the International Development 
     Finance Corporation, if determined to be appropriate, and in 
     coordination with the officials described in section 
     1099C(a)(2), may, if the President determines to be 
     appropriate, seek to establish cooperative financing 
     relationships for the export of civil nuclear technology, 
     components, materials, and infrastructure to embarking civil 
     nuclear nations.
       (c) Activities.--In carrying out the initiative described 
     in subsection (a), the President shall--
       (1) assist nongovernmental organizations and appropriate 
     offices, administrations, agencies, laboratories, and 
     programs of the Department of Energy and other relevant 
     Federal agencies and offices in providing education and 
     training to foreign governments in nuclear safety, security, 
     and safeguards--
       (A) through engagement with the International Atomic Energy 
     Agency; or
       (B) independently, if the applicable entity determines that 
     it would be more advantageous under the circumstances to 
     provide

[[Page S5603]]

     the applicable education and training independently;
       (2) assist the efforts of the International Atomic Energy 
     Agency to expand the support provided by the International 
     Atomic Energy Agency to embarking civil nuclear nations for 
     nuclear safety, security, and safeguards;
       (3) coordinate the work of the Chief Executive Officer of 
     the United States International Development Finance 
     Corporation and the Export-Import Bank of the United States 
     to expand outreach to the private investment community to 
     create public-private financing relationships to assist in 
     the adoption of civil nuclear technologies by embarking civil 
     nuclear nations, including through exports from the United 
     States;
       (4) seek to better coordinate, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, the work carried out by any Federal agency that 
     the President determines to be appropriate; and
       (5) coordinate the work of the Export-Import Bank of the 
     United States to improve the efficient and effective 
     exporting and importing of civil nuclear technologies and 
     materials.

     SEC. 1099E. COOPERATIVE FINANCING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALLY OR 
                   PARTNER NATIONS AND EMBARKING CIVIL NUCLEAR 
                   NATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The President shall designate an 
     appropriate White House official, who may be the Assistant 
     (if appointed), and the Chief Executive Officer of the United 
     States International Development Finance Corporation to 
     coordinate with the officials described in section 
     1099C(a)(2) to develop, as the President determines to be 
     appropriate, financing relationships with ally or partner 
     nations to assist in the adoption of civil nuclear 
     technologies exported from the United States or ally or 
     partner nations to embarking civil nuclear nations.
       (b) United States Competitiveness Clauses.--
       (1) Definition of united states competitiveness clause.--In 
     this subsection, the term ``United States competitiveness 
     clause'' means any United States competitiveness provision in 
     any agreement entered into by the Department of Energy, 
     including--
       (A) a cooperative agreement;
       (B) a cooperative research and development agreement; and
       (C) a patent waiver.
       (2) Consideration.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
     relevant officials described in that subsection shall 
     consider the impact of United States competitiveness clauses 
     on any financing relationships entered into or proposed to be 
     entered into under that subsection.
       (3) Waiver.--The Secretary shall facilitate waivers of 
     United States competitiveness clauses as necessary to 
     facilitate financing relationships with ally or partner 
     nations under subsection (a).

     SEC. 1099F. COOPERATION WITH ALLY OR PARTNER NATIONS ON 
                   ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR DEMONSTRATION AND 
                   COOPERATIVE RESEARCH FACILITIES FOR CIVIL 
                   NUCLEAR ENERGY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Secretary and the Secretary of 
     Commerce, shall conduct bilateral and multilateral meetings 
     with not fewer than 5 ally or partner nations, with the aim 
     of enhancing nuclear energy cooperation among those ally or 
     partner nations and the United States, for the purpose of 
     developing collaborative relationships with respect to 
     research, development, licensing, and deployment of advanced 
     nuclear reactor technologies for civil nuclear energy.
       (b) Requirement.--The meetings described in subsection (a) 
     shall include--
       (1) a focus on cooperation to demonstrate and deploy 
     advanced nuclear reactors, with an emphasis on U.S. nuclear 
     energy companies, during the 10-year period beginning on the 
     date of enactment of this Act to provide options for 
     addressing energy security and climate change; and
       (2) a focus on developing a memorandum of understanding or 
     any other appropriate agreement between the United States and 
     ally or partner nations with respect to--
       (A) the demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear 
     reactors; and
       (B) the development of cooperative research facilities.
       (c) Financing Arrangements.--In conducting the meetings 
     described in subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Secretary and the Secretary of 
     Commerce, shall seek to develop financing arrangements to 
     share the costs of the demonstration and deployment of 
     advanced nuclear reactors and the development of cooperative 
     research facilities with the ally or partner nations 
     participating in those meetings.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, the Secretary of State, 
     and the Secretary of Commerce shall jointly submit to 
     Congress a report highlighting potential partners--
       (1) for the establishment of cost-share arrangements 
     described in subsection (c); or
       (2) with which the United States may enter into agreements 
     with respect to--
       (A) the demonstration of advanced nuclear reactors; or
       (B) cooperative research facilities.

     SEC. 1099G. INTERNATIONAL CIVIL NUCLEAR ENERGY COOPERATION.

       Section 959B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
     16279b) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``The Secretary'' and inserting the following:
       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary'';
       (2) in subsection (a) (as so designated)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``financing,''; and
       (ii) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``preparations for''; 
     and
       (ii) in subparagraph (C)(v), by striking the period at the 
     end and inserting a semicolon; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) to support, with the concurrence of the Secretary of 
     State, the safe, secure, and peaceful use of civil nuclear 
     technology in countries developing nuclear energy programs, 
     with a focus on countries that have increased civil nuclear 
     cooperation with the Russian Federation or the People's 
     Republic of China; and
       ``(4) to promote the fullest utilization of the reactors, 
     fuel, equipment, services, and technology of U.S. nuclear 
     energy companies (as defined in section 1099B of the 
     International Nuclear Energy Act of 2024) in civil nuclear 
     energy programs outside the United States through--
       ``(A) bilateral and multilateral arrangements developed and 
     executed with the concurrence of the Secretary of State that 
     contain commitments for the utilization of the reactors, 
     fuel, equipment, services, and technology of U.S. nuclear 
     energy companies (as defined in that section);
       ``(B) the designation of 1 or more U.S. nuclear energy 
     companies (as defined in that section) to implement an 
     arrangement under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary 
     determines that the designation is necessary and appropriate 
     to achieve the objectives of this section; and
       ``(C) the waiver of any provision of law relating to 
     competition with respect to any activity related to an 
     arrangement under subparagraph (A) if the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of 
     Commerce, determines that a waiver is necessary and 
     appropriate to achieve the objectives of this section.''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Requirements.--The program under subsection (a) shall 
     be supported in consultation with the Secretary of State and 
     implemented by the Secretary--
       ``(1) to facilitate, to the maximum extent practicable, 
     workshops and expert-based exchanges to engage industry, 
     stakeholders, and foreign governments with respect to 
     international civil nuclear issues, such as--
       ``(A) training;
       ``(B) financing;
       ``(C) safety;
       ``(D) security;
       ``(E) safeguards;
       ``(F) liability;
       ``(G) advanced fuels;
       ``(H) operations; and
       ``(I) options for multinational cooperation with respect to 
     the disposal of spent nuclear fuel (as defined in section 2 
     of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101)); 
     and
       ``(2) in coordination with any Federal agency that the 
     President determines to be appropriate.
       ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsection 
     (a)(3) $15,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
     2028.''.

     SEC. 1099H. INTERNATIONAL CIVIL NUCLEAR PROGRAM SUPPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Secretary and the Assistant (if 
     appointed), shall launch an international initiative 
     (referred to in this section as the ``initiative'') to 
     provide financial assistance to, and facilitate the building 
     of technical capacities by, in accordance with this section, 
     embarking civil nuclear nations for activities relating to 
     the development of civil nuclear energy programs.
       (b) Financial Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the initiative, the 
     Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and 
     the Assistant (if appointed), may award grants of financial 
     assistance to embarking civil nuclear nations in accordance 
     with this subsection--
       (A) for activities relating to the development of civil 
     nuclear energy programs; and
       (B) to facilitate the building of technical capacities for 
     those activities.
       (2) Amount.--The amount of a grant of financial assistance 
     under paragraph (1) shall be not more than $5,500,000.
       (3) Limitations.--The Secretary of State, in coordination 
     with the Secretary and the Assistant (if appointed), may 
     award--
       (A) not more than 1 grant of financial assistance under 
     paragraph (1) to any 1 embarking civil nuclear nation each 
     fiscal year; and
       (B) not more than a total of 5 grants of financial 
     assistance under paragraph (1) to any 1 embarking civil 
     nuclear nation.
       (c) Senior Advisors.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the initiative, the 
     Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary and 
     the Assistant (if appointed), may provide financial 
     assistance to an embarking civil nuclear nation for the 
     purpose of contracting with a U.S. nuclear energy company to 
     hire 1 or more senior advisors to assist the embarking civil 
     nuclear

[[Page S5604]]

     nation in establishing a civil nuclear program.
       (2) Requirement.--A senior advisor described in paragraph 
     (1) shall have relevant experience and qualifications to 
     advise the embarking civil nuclear nation on, and facilitate 
     on behalf of the embarking civil nuclear nation, 1 or more of 
     the following activities:
       (A) The development of financing relationships.
       (B) The development of a standardized financing and project 
     management framework for the construction of nuclear power 
     plants.
       (C) The development of a standardized licensing framework 
     for--
       (i) light water civil nuclear technologies; and
       (ii) non-light water civil nuclear technologies and 
     advanced nuclear reactors.
       (D) The identification of qualified organizations and 
     service providers.
       (E) The identification of funds to support payment for 
     services required to develop a civil nuclear program.
       (F) Market analysis.
       (G) The identification of the safety, security, safeguards, 
     and nuclear governance required for a civil nuclear program.
       (H) Risk allocation, risk management, and nuclear 
     liability.
       (I) Technical assessments of nuclear reactors and 
     technologies.
       (J) The identification of actions necessary to participate 
     in a global nuclear liability regime based on the Convention 
     on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, with Annex, 
     done at Vienna September 12, 1997 (TIAS 15-415).
       (K) Stakeholder engagement.
       (L) Management of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
       (M) Any other major activities to support the establishment 
     of a civil nuclear program, such as the establishment of 
     export, financing, construction, training, operations, and 
     education requirements.
       (3) Clarification.--Financial assistance under this 
     subsection may be provided to an embarking civil nuclear 
     nation in addition to any financial assistance provided to 
     that embarking civil nuclear nation under subsection (b).
       (d) Limitation on Assistance to Embarking Civil Nuclear 
     Nations.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
     of this Act, the Offices of the Inspectors General for the 
     Department of State and the Department of Energy shall 
     coordinate--
       (1) to establish and submit to the appropriate committees 
     of Congress a joint strategic plan to conduct comprehensive 
     oversight of activities authorized under this section to 
     prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; and
       (2) to engage in independent and effective oversight of 
     activities authorized under this section through joint or 
     individual audits, inspections, investigations, or 
     evaluations.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of State to carry out the 
     initiative $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 
     2028.

     SEC. 1099I. BIENNIAL CABINET-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 
                   ON NUCLEAR SAFETY, SECURITY, SAFEGUARDS, AND 
                   SUSTAINABILITY.

       (a) In General.--The President, in coordination with 
     international partners, as determined by the President, and 
     industry, shall hold a biennial conference on civil nuclear 
     safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability (referred to 
     in this section as a ``conference'').
       (b) Conference Functions.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     each conference should--
       (1) be a forum in which ally or partner nations may engage 
     with each other for the purpose of reinforcing the commitment 
     to--
       (A) nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and 
     sustainability;
       (B) environmental safeguards; and
       (C) local community engagement in areas in reasonable 
     proximity to nuclear sites; and
       (2) facilitate--
       (A) the development of--
       (i) joint commitments and goals to improve--

       (I) nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and 
     sustainability;
       (II) environmental safeguards; and
       (III) local community engagement in areas in reasonable 
     proximity to nuclear sites;

       (ii) stronger international institutions that support 
     nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and sustainability;
       (iii) cooperative financing relationships to promote 
     competitive alternatives to Chinese and Russian financing;
       (iv) a standardized financing and project management 
     framework for the construction of civil nuclear power plants;
       (v) a standardized licensing framework for civil nuclear 
     technologies;
       (vi) a strategy to change internal policies of 
     multinational development banks, such as the World Bank, to 
     support the financing of civil nuclear projects;
       (vii) a document containing any lessons learned from 
     countries that have partnered with the Russian Federation or 
     the People's Republic of China with respect to civil nuclear 
     power, including any detrimental outcomes resulting from that 
     partnership; and
       (viii) a global civil nuclear liability regime;
       (B) cooperation for enhancing the overall aspects of civil 
     nuclear power, such as--
       (i) nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and 
     sustainability;
       (ii) nuclear laws (including regulations);
       (iii) waste management;
       (iv) quality management systems;
       (v) technology transfer;
       (vi) human resources development;
       (vii) localization;
       (viii) reactor operations;
       (ix) nuclear liability; and
       (x) decommissioning; and
       (C) the development and determination of the mechanisms 
     described in paragraphs (7) and (8) of section 1099J(a), if 
     the President intends to establish an Advanced Reactor 
     Coordination and Resource Center as described in that 
     section.
       (c) Input From Industry and Government.--It is the sense of 
     Congress that each conference should include a meeting that 
     convenes nuclear industry leaders and leaders of government 
     agencies with expertise relating to nuclear safety, security, 
     safeguards, or sustainability to discuss best practices 
     relating to--
       (1) the safe and secure use, storage, and transport of 
     nuclear and radiological materials;
       (2) managing the evolving cyber threat to nuclear and 
     radiological security; and
       (3) the role that the nuclear industry should play in 
     nuclear and radiological safety, security, and safeguards, 
     including with respect to the safe and secure use, storage, 
     and transport of nuclear and radiological materials, 
     including spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.

     SEC. 1099J. ADVANCED REACTOR COORDINATION AND RESOURCE 
                   CENTER.

       (a) In General.--The President shall consider the 
     feasibility of leveraging existing activities or frameworks 
     or, as necessary, establishing a center, to be known as the 
     ``Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center'' 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Center''), for the 
     purposes of--
       (1) identifying qualified organizations and service 
     providers--
       (A) for embarking civil nuclear nations;
       (B) to develop and assemble documents, contracts, and 
     related items required to establish a civil nuclear program; 
     and
       (C) to develop a standardized model for the establishment 
     of a civil nuclear program that can be used by the 
     International Atomic Energy Agency;
       (2) coordinating with countries participating in the Center 
     and with the Nuclear Exports Working Group established under 
     section 1099C(b)--
       (A) to identify funds to support payment for services 
     required to develop a civil nuclear program;
       (B) to provide market analysis; and
       (C) to create--
       (i) project structure models;
       (ii) models for electricity market analysis;
       (iii) models for nonelectric applications market analysis; 
     and
       (iv) financial models;
       (3) identifying and developing the safety, security, 
     safeguards, and nuclear governance required for a civil 
     nuclear program;
       (4) supporting multinational regulatory standards to be 
     developed by countries with civil nuclear programs and 
     experience;
       (5) developing and strengthening communications, 
     engagement, and consensus-building;
       (6) carrying out any other major activities to support 
     export, financing, education, construction, training, and 
     education requirements relating to the establishment of a 
     civil nuclear program;
       (7) developing mechanisms for how to fund and staff the 
     Center; and
       (8) determining mechanisms for the selection of the 
     location or locations of the Center.
       (b) Objective.--The President shall carry out subsection 
     (a) with the objective of establishing the Center if the 
     President determines that it is feasible to do so.

     SEC. 1099K. STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE FUND WORKING GROUP.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a working group, 
     to be known as the ``Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working 
     Group'' (referred to in this section as the ``working 
     group'') to provide input on the feasibility of establishing 
     a program to support strategically important capital-
     intensive infrastructure projects.
       (b) Composition.--The working group shall be--
       (1) led by a White House official, who may be the Assistant 
     (if appointed), who shall serve as the White House focal 
     point with respect to matters relating to the working group; 
     and
       (2) composed of--
       (A) senior-level Federal officials, selected by the head of 
     the applicable Federal agency or organization, from any 
     Federal agency or organization that the President determines 
     to be appropriate;
       (B) other senior-level Federal officials, selected by the 
     head of the applicable Federal agency or organization, from 
     any other Federal agency or organization that the Secretary 
     determines to be appropriate; and
       (C) any senior-level Federal official selected by the White 
     House official described in paragraph (1) from any Federal 
     agency or organization.
       (c) Reporting.--The working group shall report to the 
     National Security Council.
       (d) Duties.--The working group shall--
       (1) provide direction and advice to the officials described 
     in section 1099C(a)(2)(A) and appropriate Federal agencies, 
     as determined by the working group, with respect to the 
     establishment of a Strategic Infrastructure Fund (referred to 
     in this subsection as the ``Fund'') to be used--
       (A) to support those aspects of projects relating to--

[[Page S5605]]

       (i) civil nuclear technologies; and
       (ii) microprocessors; and
       (B) for strategic investments identified by the working 
     group; and
       (2) address critical areas in determining the appropriate 
     design for the Fund, including--
       (A) transfer of assets to the Fund;
       (B) transfer of assets from the Fund;
       (C) how assets in the Fund should be invested; and
       (D) governance and implementation of the Fund.
       (e) Report Required.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the working group shall submit to 
     the committees described in paragraph (2) a report on the 
     findings of the working group that includes suggested 
     legislative text for how to establish and structure a 
     Strategic Infrastructure Fund.
       (2) Committees described.--The committees referred to in 
     paragraph (1) are--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Armed 
     Services, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works, and the Committee 
     on Finance of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Armed Services, the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the 
     Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.
       (3) Administration of the fund.--The report submitted under 
     paragraph (1) shall include suggested legislative language 
     requiring all expenditures from a Strategic Infrastructure 
     Fund established in accordance with this section to be 
     administered by the Secretary of State (or a designee of the 
     Secretary of State).

     SEC. 1099L. JOINT ASSESSMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
                   INDIA ON NUCLEAR LIABILITY RULES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of State, in consultation 
     with the heads of other relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies, shall establish and maintain within the U.S.-India 
     Strategic Security Dialogue a joint consultative mechanism 
     with the Government of the Republic of India that convenes on 
     a recurring basis--
       (1) to assess the implementation of the Agreement for 
     Cooperation between the Government of the United States of 
     America and the Government of India Concerning Peaceful Uses 
     of Nuclear Energy, signed at Washington October 10, 2008 
     (TIAS 08-1206);
       (2) to discuss opportunities for the Republic of India to 
     align domestic nuclear liability rules with international 
     norms; and
       (3) to develop a strategy for the United States and the 
     Republic of India to pursue bilateral and multilateral 
     diplomatic engagements related to analyzing and implementing 
     those opportunities.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 years, 
     the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of 
     other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall submit 
     to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that 
     describes the joint assessment developed pursuant to 
     subsection (a)(1).

     SEC. 1099M. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this subtitle may be construed to alter or 
     otherwise affect the interpretation or implementation of 
     section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 
     2153).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3198. Mr. MANCHIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 7024, to make improvements to the child tax 
credit, to provide tax incentives to promote economic growth, to 
provide special rules for the taxation of certain residents of Taiwan 
with income from sources within the United States, to provide tax 
relief with respect to certain Federal disasters, to make improvements 
to the low-income housing tax credit, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title I, insert the following:

     SEC. 106. REDUCTION OF THRESHOLD AMOUNT.

       (a) In General.--Section 24(h)(3) is amended by striking 
     ``$400,000 in the case of a joint return ($200,000 in any 
     other case)'' and inserting ``$150,000 in the case of a joint 
     return ($75,000 in any other case)''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 
     2022.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3199. Mr. PADILLA submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle C of title XXVIII, add the 
     following:

     SEC. 2836. LAND CONVEYANCE AND AUTHORIZATION FOR INTERIM 
                   LEASE, DEFENSE FUEL SUPPORT POINT SAN PEDRO, 
                   LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

       (a) Conveyance Authorized.--The Secretary of the Navy (in 
     this section referred to as the ``Secretary''), may convey to 
     the city of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita, California, or 
     both, at a cost less than fair market value, all right, 
     title, and interest of the United States in and to parcels of 
     real property, including any improvements therein or thereon, 
     known as the ballfields and the firing range at Naval Weapons 
     Station Seal Beach, Defense Fuel Support Point, San Pedro, 
     California, as further described in subsection (h), for the 
     purposes of permitting the city of Los Angeles or the city of 
     Lomita (as appropriate) to use such conveyed parcel of real 
     property for park and recreational activities or law 
     enforcement affiliated purposes, as set forth in subsection 
     (e).
       (b) Interim Lease.--
       (1) In general.--Until such time as a parcel of real 
     property described in subsection (a) is conveyed to the city 
     of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita (as appropriate), the 
     Secretary may lease such parcel or a portion of such parcel 
     to either the city of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita at no 
     cost for a term of not more than 3 years.
       (2) Limitation.--If the conveyance under subsection (a) of 
     a parcel leased under paragraph (1), is not completed within 
     the period of the lease term, the Secretary shall have no 
     further obligation to make any part of such parcel available 
     for use by the city of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita (as 
     appropriate).
       (c) Consideration.--
       (1) Consideration required.--As consideration for a 
     conveyance under subsection (a), the city of Los Angeles or 
     the city of Lomita (as appropriate) shall pay to the 
     Secretary an amount determined by the Secretary, which may 
     consist of cash payment, in-kind consideration as described 
     under paragraph (2), or a combination thereof.
       (2) In-kind consideration.--In-kind consideration provided 
     by the city of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita (as 
     appropriate) under this subsection may include--
       (A) the acquisition, construction, provision, improvement, 
     maintenance, repair, or restoration (including environmental 
     restoration), or combination thereof, of any property, 
     facility, or infrastructure with proximity to Naval Weapons 
     Station Seal Beach, that the Secretary considers acceptable; 
     or
       (B) the delivery of services relating to the needs of Naval 
     Weapons Station Seal Beach that the Secretary considers 
     acceptable.
       (3) Treatment of amounts received for conveyance.--Cash 
     payments received under paragraph (1) as reimbursement for 
     costs incurred by the Secretary to carry out a conveyance 
     under subsection (a) shall be--
       (A) credited to and merged with the fund or account used to 
     cover the costs incurred by the Secretary in carrying out the 
     conveyance or an appropriate fund or account available to the 
     Secretary for the purposes for which the costs were paid; and
       (B) available for the same purposes and subject to the same 
     conditions and limitations as amounts in such fund or 
     account.
       (4) Payment of costs of conveyance.--
       (A) Payment required.--The Secretary shall require the city 
     of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita (as appropriate) to 
     cover costs (except costs for environmental remediation of 
     the property) to be incurred by the Secretary, or to 
     reimburse the Secretary for costs incurred by the Secretary, 
     to carry out a conveyance under subsection (a) or an inteirm 
     lease under subsection (b), including costs for environmental 
     and real estate due diligence and any other administrative 
     costs related to the conveyance or lease execution.
       (B) Refund of excess amounts.--If amounts collected from 
     the city of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita under 
     subparagraph (A) exceed the costs actually incurred by the 
     Secretary to carry out a conveyance under subsection (a) or 
     an interim lease execution under subsection (b), the 
     Secretary shall refund the excess amount to the city of Los 
     Angeles or the city of Lomita (as appropriate).
       (d) Valuation.--The values of the property interests to be 
     conveyed by the Secretary under subsection (a) shall be 
     determined by an independent appraiser selected by the 
     Secretary and in accordance with the Uniform Standards of 
     Professional Appraisal Practice.
       (e) Conditions of Conveyance.--A conveyance under 
     subsection (a) shall be subject to all existing easements, 
     restrictions, and covenants of record and the following 
     conditions:
       (1) The parcels of real property described in paragraphs 
     (1) and (2) of subsection (h) shall be used solely for park 
     and recreational activities, which may include ancillary uses 
     such as vending and restrooms.
       (2) The parcel of real property described in paragraph (3) 
     of subsection (h) shall be used solely for law enforcement 
     affiliated purposes.
       (3) The city of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita (as 
     appropriate) may not use Federal funds to cover any portion 
     of the amounts required by subsection (c) to be paid.
       (f) Reversionary Interest.--
       (1) In general.--If the Secretary determines at any time 
     that a parcel of real property conveyed under subsection (a) 
     is not being used in accordance with the purpose of the 
     conveyance specified in this section, all right, title, and 
     interest in and to the land, including any improvements 
     thereon, shall, at the option of the Secretary, revert to and 
     become the property of the United States,

[[Page S5606]]

     and the United States shall have the right of immediate entry 
     onto such real property.
       (2) Opportunity for hearing.--A determination by the 
     Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be made on the record 
     after an opportunity for a hearing.
       (g) Conveyance Agreement.--A conveyance of land under 
     subsection (a) shall be accomplished--
       (1) using a quitclaim deed or other legal instrument; and
       (2) upon terms and conditions mutually satisfactory to the 
     Secretary and the city of Los Angeles or the city of Lomita 
     (as appropriate), including such additional terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate to protect 
     the interests of the United States.
       (h) Description of Property.--The parcels of real property 
     that may be conveyed under subsection (a) are the following:
       (1) The City of Lomita Ballfield Parcel consisting of 
     approximately 5.7 acres.
       (2) The City of Los Angeles Ballfield Parcels consisting of 
     approximately 15.3 acres.
       (3) The firing range located at 2981 North Gaffey Street, 
     San Pedro, California, consisting of approximately 3.2 acres.
       (i) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section affects 
     the application of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
     Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601 et 
     seq.).
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3200. Mr. MANCHIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill H.R. 7024, to make improvements to the child tax 
credit, to provide tax incentives to promote economic growth, to 
provide special rules for the taxation of certain residents of Taiwan 
with income from sources within the United States, to provide tax 
relief with respect to certain Federal disasters, to make improvements 
to the low-income housing tax credit, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title I, insert the following:

     SEC. 106. ENSURING THAT CHILD TAX CREDIT DOES NOT EXCEED 
                   PROJECTED COST.

       (a) Reduction of Child Tax Credit in Case of Unanticipated 
     Deficit Increase.--
       (1) In general.--In the case of the first taxable year 
     beginning after any applicable fiscal year for which there is 
     an unanticipated deficit increase, the amount of the credit 
     allowable under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986 with respect to such taxable year shall be reduced by an 
     amount equal to the applicable percentage of the amount of 
     the credit otherwise allowable under such section (as 
     determined without regard to this section) with respect to 
     such taxable year.
       (2) Nonapplication to subsequent taxable years.--Any 
     reduction pursuant to paragraph (1) in the amount of the 
     credit allowable under section 24 of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 for a taxable year shall not apply to any 
     subsequent taxable year.
       (b) Applicable Percentage.--
       (1) In general.--For purposes of subsection (a), with 
     respect to any applicable fiscal year, the applicable 
     percentage shall be the amount (expressed as a percentage) 
     equal to the quotient of--
       (A) the unanticipated deficit increase with respect to such 
     fiscal year, divided by
       (B) the projected child tax credit cost for such fiscal 
     year.
       (2) Determination.--
       (A) Treasury report.--Not later than July 31 of each 
     applicable fiscal year, the Secretary shall, based on the 
     most recent information available, submit a report to 
     Congress containing--
       (i) an estimate of the total amount of credits allowed to 
     all taxpayers under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986 for the taxable year ending during such fiscal year,
       (ii) a determination as to whether there was an 
     unanticipated deficit increase for such fiscal year, and
       (iii) in the case of a determination under clause (ii) that 
     there was an unanticipated deficit increase for such fiscal 
     year, the projected applicable percentage with respect to the 
     first taxable year beginning after such fiscal year.
       (B) CBO report.--
       (i) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the issuance 
     of the report described in subparagraph (A), the Director of 
     the Congressional Budget Office shall publish a report 
     containing--

       (I) estimates and determinations, as made by the 
     Congressional Budget Office in consultation with the Joint 
     Committee on Taxation, with respect to the items described in 
     clauses (i) through (iii) of subparagraph (A), and
       (II) an explanation of any differences between the 
     estimates and determinations described in subclause (I) and 
     the estimates and determinations described in subparagraph 
     (A).

       (ii) Provision of necessary information.--Notwithstanding 
     section 6103(j)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the 
     Secretary shall provide the Congressional Budget Office with 
     any return information necessary to prepare the report 
     described in clause (i), provided that such information is 
     provided in a manner to ensure that such information cannot 
     be associated with, or otherwise identify, directly or 
     indirectly, a particular taxpayer.
       (C) Resolution of conflicting estimates.--In preparing the 
     report required under subparagraph (D)--
       (i) the Secretary shall review the report described in 
     subparagraph (B)(i), and
       (ii) if the Secretary determines that there is a 
     significant difference between the reports described in 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i), the Secretary shall consult 
     with the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives regarding 
     that difference, which shall include, to the extent 
     practicable, written communication to those committees that 
     affords such committees the opportunity to comment before the 
     issuance of the report described in subparagraph (D).
       (D) Final report.--Not later than 45 days after the 
     publication of the report described in subparagraph (B)(i), 
     if the Secretary determines that there was an unanticipated 
     deficit increase for the applicable fiscal year described in 
     subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish on the public 
     website of the Internal Revenue Service--
       (i) the applicable percentage with respect to the first 
     taxable year beginning after such fiscal year, and
       (ii) the resulting reduction in the amount of the credit 
     allowable under section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986 for such taxable year.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Applicable fiscal year.--The term ``applicable fiscal 
     year'' means fiscal year 2024 and each of the 9 succeeding 
     fiscal years.
       (2) Projected child tax credit cost.--The term ``projected 
     child tax credit cost'' means, with respect to any fiscal 
     year, the sum of--
       (A) the estimated cost to the Government for such fiscal 
     year attributable to section 24 of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986 in the Budget and Economic Outlook: 2024 to 2034 
     Supplemental Revenue Projections of the Congressional Budget 
     Office, published February 7, 2024, and
       (B) the amount equal to the sum of--
       (i) the absolute value of the amount of the reduction in 
     revenue attributable to this title in the Congressional 
     Budget Office cost estimate for H.R. 7024, Tax Relief for 
     American Families and Workers Act of 2024, as published 
     January 25, 2024, for such fiscal year, and
       (ii) the amount of direct spending attributable to this 
     title in the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate for 
     H.R. 7024, Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act 
     of 2024, as published January 25, 2024, for such fiscal year.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate.
       (4) Unanticipated deficit increase.--The term 
     ``unanticipated deficit increase'' means, with respect to any 
     fiscal year, the excess (if any) of--
       (A) the sum of--
       (i) the absolute value of the amount of the reduction in 
     revenue attributable to section 24 of the Internal Revenue 
     Code of 1986 for such fiscal year, and
       (ii) the amount of direct spending attributable to section 
     24 of such Code for such fiscal year, over
       (B) the projected child tax credit cost for such fiscal 
     year.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3201. Ms. COLLINS proposed an amendment to the bill S. 133, to 
extend the National Alzheimer's Project; as follows:

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``NAPA Reauthorization Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PROJECT.

       Section 2 of the National Alzheimer's Project Act (42 
     U.S.C. 11225) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and coordination of'' 
     and inserting ``on, and coordination of,'';
       (B) in paragraph (4)--
       (i) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively; and
       (ii) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so 
     redesignated, the following:
       ``(A) promotion of healthy aging and reduction and 
     mitigation of risk factors for Alzheimer's;'';
       (C) in paragraph (5)--
       (i) by inserting ``and other underserved populations, 
     including individuals with developmental disabilities such as 
     Down syndrome,'' after ``populations''; and
       (ii) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
       (D) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (7); and
       (E) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
       ``(6) provide information on, and promote the adoption of, 
     healthy behaviors that may reduce the risk of cognitive 
     decline and promote and protect cognitive health; and'';
       (2) in subsection (d)(2)--
       (A) by inserting ``, across public and private sectors,'' 
     after ``Nation's progress''; and
       (B) by inserting ``, including consideration of public-
     private collaborations, as appropriate'' before the period;
       (3) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(xi) A designee of the Department of Justice.

[[Page S5607]]

       ``(xii) A designee of the Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency.
       ``(xiii) A designee of the Social Security Administration.
       ``(xiv) 2 or more other designees, as determined by the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, at least one of whom 
     has expertise in risk factors associated with the development 
     or the progression of Alzheimer's.''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (B)--

       (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``12'' 
     and inserting ``15'';
       (II) in clause (v)--

       (aa) by striking ``2 researchers'' and inserting ``3 
     researchers''; and
       (bb) by striking ``; and'' and inserting ``, including at 
     least one researcher with demonstrated experience in 
     recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups into 
     research or clinical trials related to dementia;'';

       (III) in clause (vi), by striking the period and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (IV) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(vii) 1 individual with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's 
     disease; and
       ``(viii) 1 representative from a historically underserved 
     population whose lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer's is 
     markedly higher than that of other populations.'';
       (B) in paragraph (5)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A)--

       (I) by striking ``an initial evaluation'' and inserting 
     ``annual evaluations''; and
       (II) by striking ``research, clinical'' and inserting 
     ``research, risk reduction, public health, clinical'';

       (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``initial'';
       (iii) in subparagraph (C)--

       (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking 
     ``initial''; and
       (II) in clause (ii), by inserting ``and reduce 
     disparities'' before the semicolon; and

       (iv) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``annually 
     thereafter, an evaluation'' and inserting ``annual 
     evaluations''; and
       (C) in paragraph (6), by striking ``2025'' and inserting 
     ``2035'';
       (4) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by adding ``and'' after the semicolon;
       (ii) by striking ``that includes an evaluation'' and 
     inserting ``that includes--
       ``(A) an evaluation;''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) a summary of the Secretary's process for identifying 
     and updating what conditions constitute Alzheimer's 
     disease;''; and
       (B) in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), by inserting ``and reduce 
     disparities'' before the semicolon; and
       (5) in subsection (h), by striking ``2025'' and inserting 
     ``2035''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3202. Mr. CORNYN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title XV, add the following:

                       Subtitle E--SAFE Orbit Act

     SEC. 1549. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Situational Awareness 
     of Flying Elements in Orbit Act'' or the ``SAFE Orbit Act''.

     SEC. 1550. SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND SPACE TRAFFIC 
                   COORDINATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce shall facilitate 
     safe operations in space and encourage the development of 
     commercial space capabilities by acquiring and disseminating 
     unclassified data, analytics, information, and services on 
     space activities.
       (b) Acquisition of Data.--The Assistant Secretary of 
     Commerce for Space Commerce (established under section 
     50702(b) of title 51, United States Code, as amended by 
     section 1551) is authorized to acquire--
       (1) data, analytics, information, and services, including 
     with respect to--
       (A) location tracking data;
       (B) positional and orbit determination information; and
       (C) conjunction data messages; and
       (2) such other data, analytics, information, and services 
     as the Secretary of Commerce determines necessary to avoid 
     collisions of space objects.
       (c) Database on Satellite Location and Behavior.--The 
     Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce shall 
     provide access for the public, at no charge, a fully updated, 
     unclassified database of information concerning space objects 
     and behavior, which shall include--
       (1) the data and information acquired under subsection (b), 
     except to the extent that such data or information is 
     classified or a trade secret (as defined in section 1839 of 
     title 18, United States Code); and
       (2) the provision of basic space situational awareness 
     services and space traffic coordination based on the data 
     referred to in paragraph (1), including basic analytics, 
     tracking calculations, and conjunction data messages.
       (d) Basic Space Situational Awareness Services.--The 
     Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce--
       (1) shall provide to satellite operators, at no charge, 
     basic space situational awareness services, including the 
     data, analytics, information, and services described in 
     subsection (b);
       (2) in carrying out paragraph (1), may not compete with 
     private sector space situational awareness products, to the 
     maximum extent practicable; and
       (3) not less frequently than every 3 years, shall review 
     the basic space situational awareness services described in 
     paragraph (1) to ensure that such services provided by the 
     Federal Government do not compete with space situational 
     awareness services offered by the private sector.
       (e) Requirements for Data Acquisition and Dissemination.--
     In acquiring data, analytics, information, and services under 
     subsection (b) and disseminating data, analytics, 
     information, and services under subsections (c) and (d), the 
     Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce shall--
       (1) leverage commercial capabilities to the maximum extent 
     practicable;
       (2) prioritize the acquisition of data, analytics, 
     information, and services from commercial industry located in 
     or licensed in the United States to supplement data collected 
     by United States Government agencies, including the 
     Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration;
       (3) appropriately protect proprietary data, information, 
     and systems of firms located in the United States, including 
     by using appropriate infrastructure and cybersecurity 
     measures, including measures set forth in the most recent 
     version of the Cybersecurity Framework, or successor 
     document, maintained by the National Institute of Standards 
     and Technology;
       (4) facilitate the development of standardization and 
     consistency in data reporting, in collaboration with 
     satellite owners and operators, commercial space situational 
     awareness data and service providers, the academic community, 
     nonprofit organizations, and the Director of the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology; and
       (5) encourage foreign governments to participate in 
     unclassified data sharing arrangements for space situational 
     awareness and space traffic coordination.
       (f) Other Transaction Authority.--In carrying out the 
     activities required by this section, the Secretary of 
     Commerce shall enter into such contracts, leases, cooperative 
     agreements, or other transactions as may be necessary.

     SEC. 1551. OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCE.

       (a) Definitions.--
       (1) In general.--Section 50701 of title 51, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 50701. Definitions

       ``In this chapter:
       ``(1) Assistant secretary.--The term `Assistant Secretary' 
     means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce.
       ``(2) Bureau.--The term `Bureau' means the Bureau of Space 
     Commerce established under section 50702.
       ``(3) Orbital debris.--The term `orbital debris'--
       ``(A) means--
       ``(i) any human-made space object orbiting Earth that--

       ``(I) no longer serves an intended purpose;
       ``(II) has reached the end of its mission; or
       ``(III) is incapable of safe maneuver or operation; and

       ``(ii) a rocket body and other hardware left in orbit as a 
     result of normal launch and operational activities; and
       ``(B) includes fragmentation debris produced by failure or 
     collision of human-made space objects.
       ``(4) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of Commerce.
       ``(5) Space object.--The term `space object' means any 
     object launched into space or created in space robotically or 
     by humans, including the component parts of such an object.
       ``(6) Space situational awareness.--The term `space 
     situational awareness' means--
       ``(A) the identification, characterization, tracking, and 
     the predicted movement and behavior of space objects and 
     orbital debris; and
       ``(B) the understanding of the space operational 
     environment.
       ``(7) Space traffic coordination.--The term `space traffic 
     coordination' means the planning, assessment, and 
     coordination of activities to enhance the safety, stability, 
     and sustainability of operations in the space environment.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 
     507 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 50701 and inserting the 
     following:

``50701. Definitions.''.
       (b) Transition of Office to Bureau.--Subsection (a) of 
     section 50702 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, 
     which, not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, shall be elevated by the Secretary of Commerce 
     from an office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration to a bureau reporting directly to the Office 
     of the Secretary of Commerce''.
       (c) Additional Functions of Bureau.--Subsection (c) of such 
     section is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and

[[Page S5608]]

       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) to perform space situational awareness and space 
     traffic management duties pursuant to the SAFE Orbit Act.''.
       (d) Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce.--
       (1) In general.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(b) Assistant Secretary.--The Bureau shall be headed by 
     the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Space Commerce, who 
     shall--
       ``(1) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
     and consent of the Senate;
       ``(2) report directly to the Secretary of Commerce; and
       ``(3) have a rate of pay that is equal to the rate payable 
     for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 
     title 5.''.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--
       (A) Section 50702(d) of title 51, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (i) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Director'' and 
     inserting ``Assistant Secretary''; and
       (ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``Director'' and inserting ``Assistant Secretary''.
       (B) Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``Assistant Secretaries of Commerce (11)'' and 
     inserting ``Assistant Secretaries of Commerce (12)''.
       (3) References.--On and after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, any reference in any law or regulation to the 
     Director of the Office of Space Commerce shall be deemed to 
     be a reference to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for 
     Space Commerce.
       (e) Transition Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
     submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
     that sets forth transition and continuity of operations plans 
     for the functional and administrative transfer of the Office 
     of Space Commerce from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration to a bureau reporting to the Office of the 
     Secretary of Commerce.
       (2) Goal.--The goal of transition and continuity of 
     operations planning shall be to minimize the cost and 
     administrative burden of establishing the Bureau of Space 
     Commerce while maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of 
     the functions and responsibilities of the Bureau of Space 
     Commerce, in accordance with this section and the amendments 
     made by this section.
       (3) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this 
     subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
     means--
       (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3203. Mr. PADILLA submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. IMPROVING CYBERSECURITY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS OF 
                   THE U.S. ACADEMIC RESEARCH FLEET.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) U.S. academic research fleet.--The term ``U.S. Academic 
     Research Fleet'' means the United States-flagged vessels 
     that--
       (A) have been accepted into, and are active participants 
     administered within, the University-National Oceanographic 
     Laboratory System;
       (B) are operated as oceanographic research vessels by 
     research universities and laboratories;
       (C) receive funding from the National Science Foundation; 
     and
       (D) have achieved designation as a member vessel through a 
     standard evaluation process.
       (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation.
       (3) Oceanographic research vessel.--The term 
     ``oceanographic research vessel'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code.
       (b) Plan to Improve Cybersecurity and Telecommunications of 
     U.S. Academic Research Fleet.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director shall, in consultation 
     with the head of any Federal agency, university, or 
     laboratory that owns or operates a vessel of the U.S. 
     Academic Research Fleet, submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Space, Science, and Technology of the House of 
     Representatives a plan to improve the cybersecurity and 
     telecommunications of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet.
       (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include--
       (A) an assessment of the telecommunications and networking 
     needs of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, consistent with 
     the typical scientific mission of that vessel;
       (B) in accordance with guidance issued by the Cybersecurity 
     and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Institute 
     for Standards and Technology, an assessment of cybersecurity 
     needs appropriate for--
       (i) the ownership of vessels within the U.S. Academic 
     Research Fleet; and
       (ii) the typical research functions and topics of such 
     vessels;
       (C) an assessment of the costs necessary to meet the needs 
     described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), including--
       (i) any necessary equipment, such as satellite 
     communications equipment, software, high-performance 
     computing clusters shipboard and shoreside, or enterprise 
     hardware; and
       (ii) estimated personnel costs in excess of current 
     expenditures, including any necessary training, support, or 
     logistics;
       (D) an assessment of the time required to implement any 
     upgrades required to meet the needs described in 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B) under varying budgets and funding 
     scenarios;
       (E) the adoption of common solutions or consortial 
     licensing agreements, or by centralizing elements of fleet 
     cybersecurity, telecommunications or data management at a 
     single facility; and
       (F) in consultation with any non-Federal owners of a vessel 
     of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, a spending plan for the 
     National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, 
     non-Federal owners of vessels of the U.S. Academic Research 
     Fleet, users of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet, or any 
     combination thereof, to provide funding to cover the costs 
     described in subparagraph (C).
       (3) Considerations.--The Director shall, in preparing the 
     plan required by paragraph (1), consider--
       (A) the network capabilities, including speed and bandwidth 
     targets, necessary to meet the scientific mission needs of 
     each class of vessel within the U.S. Academic Research Fleet 
     for such purposes as--
       (i) executing the critical functions and communications of 
     the vessel;
       (ii) providing network access for the health and well-being 
     of deployed personnel, including communications to conduct 
     telemedicine (including mental health care), counseling, 
     interviews with crisis response providers, and other remote 
     individual care and services;
       (iii) as necessary to meet operations, uploading any 
     scientific data to a shoreside server, including the copying 
     of data off ship for disaster recovery or risk mitigation 
     purposes;
       (iv) as appropriate, conducting real-time streaming to 
     enable shore-based observers to participate in ship-based 
     maintenance or research activities;
       (v) real-time coordinated viewing of--

       (I) scientific instrumentation so that it is possible to 
     conduct scientific surveys and seafloor mapping with fully 
     remote subject-matter experts; and
       (II) critical operational technology by manufacturers and 
     vendors so that it is possible to carry out maintenance and 
     repairs to systems with limited expertise on the vessel, with 
     fully remote subject-matter experts advising; and

       (vi) as appropriate, enabling video communications to allow 
     improved outreach to, and other educational services for, k-
     12 students, including occasional remote classroom teaching 
     for instructors at sea to improve oceanographic access for 
     students; and
       (B) in consultation with the Director of the Cybersecurity 
     and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Director of the 
     National Institute for Standards and Technology, and the 
     heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate--
       (i) the cybersecurity recommendations in the report of the 
     private scientific advisory group known as JASON entitled 
     ``Cybersecurity at NSF Major Facilities'' (JSR-21-10E) and 
     dated October 2021 as applied to the U.S. Academic Research 
     Fleet;
       (ii) aligning with international standards and guidance for 
     information security, including the use of encryption for 
     sensitive information, the detection and handling of security 
     incidents, and other areas determined relevant by the 
     Director;
       (iii) facilitating access to cybersecurity personnel and 
     training of research and support personnel; and
       (iv) the requirements for controlled unclassified or 
     classified information.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3204. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4638, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2025 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

       DIVISION _--NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM 
                            REAUTHORIZATION

     SEC. __01. SHORT TITLE.

       This division may be cited as the ``National Earthquake 
     Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2024''.

[[Page S5609]]

  


     SEC. __02. MODIFICATION OF FINDINGS.

       Section 2 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 
     (42 U.S.C. 7701) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``50 States, and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico,'' and inserting ``States and Tribal jurisdictions'';
       (B) by striking ``of them'' and inserting ``States''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following: ``Almost half of 
     the United States population resides in areas that are at 
     risk or experiencing a damaging earthquake during the 50-year 
     period beginning on the date of the enactment of the National 
     Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 
     2024'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by inserting after the first sentence the following: 
     ``A 2023 report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
     and the United States Geological Survey (FEMA P-366) 
     estimates the annualized earthquake losses to the national 
     building stock is $14,700,000,000 per year and the total 
     economic exposure to earthquake losses (buildings and 
     contents) across the nation is $107,800,000,000,000.''; and
       (B) in the third sentence--
       (i) by striking ``and construction'' and inserting ``, 
     construction, evaluation, and retrofitting'';
       (ii) by striking ``and (E)'' and inserting the following: 
     ``(E) inventories of buildings and infrastructure with high 
     seismic risk, especially those that are critical to community 
     resilience, (F) programs that require or incentivize 
     replacement or retrofit of existing buildings and 
     infrastructure with high seismic risk, especially those that 
     are critical to community resilience, and (G)'';
       (3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``Tribal,'' after 
     ``local,'';
       (4) in paragraph (4), by striking ``could provide'' and all 
     that follows through the period at the end and inserting ``is 
     necessary to provide the scientific understanding needed to 
     improve and expand the earthquake early warning system.'';
       (5) in paragraph (8), by striking ``cave-ins'' and 
     inserting ``collapse'';
       (6) in paragraph (9)--
       (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``and local'' and 
     inserting ``local, and Tribal government''; and
       (B) in the second sentence, by striking ``transfer 
     knowledge and information to'' and inserting ``exchange 
     knowledge and information between''; and
       (C) in the third sentence, by striking ``specifications, 
     criteria'' and inserting ``guidelines, codes, standards'';
       (7) in paragraph (12)--
       (A) in the second sentence--
       (i) by striking ``When earthquakes occur, the built 
     environment is generally'' and inserting ``Relatively newer 
     buildings and infrastructure have generally been'';
       (ii) by striking ``and is'' and inserting ``when 
     earthquakes occur, but most are''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following: ``In addition, 
     buildings and infrastructure built to older codes and 
     standards may pose significant risk of injury, loss of life, 
     or irreparable damage. A 2021 report submitted to Congress 
     pursuant to section 8(b), as amended by section 5 of the 
     National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization 
     Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-307), by the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency and the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology (FEMA P2090/NST SP-1254) provides recommendations 
     for improving post-earthquake functional recovery time of the 
     built environment to support community resilience goals and 
     many of these recommendations still need to be 
     implemented.''; and
       (8) in paragraph (13)--
       (A) in the first sentence, by inserting ``in 2011'' after 
     ``a study'';
       (B) in the second sentence, by inserting ``(in 2011 
     dollars)'' after ``$300,000,000''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following: ``The cost of 
     actual seismic retrofits to reduce known risks is not 
     included in such valuation.''.

     SEC. __03. MODIFICATION OF PURPOSE.

       Section 3 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 
     (42 U.S.C. 7702) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, local, and 
     Tribal government''; and
       (B) by striking ``locations and structures'' and inserting 
     ``buildings and infrastructure'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``and construction'' and inserting ``, 
     construction, evaluation, and retrofitting''; and
       (B) by inserting ``housing and care facilities for 
     vulnerable populations,'' after ``occupancy buildings''; and
       (3) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, local, and 
     Tribal government''; and
       (B) by striking ``encourage consideration of'' and 
     inserting ``incorporate''.

     SEC. __04. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS.

       Section 4 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 
     (42 U.S.C. 7703) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including secondary 
     effects such as earthquake-caused tsunamis''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(11) The term `Tribal government' has the meaning given 
     the term `tribal government' in section in section 421 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 658).
       ``(12) The term `functional recovery' means a post-
     earthquake performance state in which a building or lifeline 
     infrastructure system is maintained, or restored, to safely 
     and adequately support the basic intended functions 
     associated with the pre-earthquake use or occupancy of a 
     building, or the pre-earthquake service level of a lifeline 
     infrastructure system.
       ``(13) The term `earthquake forecast' means a statement of 
     probabilities that 1 or more earthquakes within a clearly 
     specified magnitude range may occur within a specified time 
     interval and geographic region.''.

     SEC. __05. IMPROVEMENTS TO NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS 
                   REDUCTION PROGRAM.

       (a) Program Activities.--Subsection (a)(2) of section 5 of 
     the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704) 
     is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) in the matter before clause (i)--
       (i) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, local, and 
     Tribal''; and
       (ii) by striking ``and constructing'' and inserting ``, 
     designing, constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting'';
       (B) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:
       ``(ii) development of standards, guidelines, and voluntary 
     standards, guidelines, and consensus codes for earthquake 
     hazards reduction for buildings, structures, and lifeline 
     infrastructure, including post-earthquake recovery-based 
     performance objectives that address reoccupancy and downtime 
     of community-prioritized buildings, structures, and services 
     provided by lifeline infrastructure;'';
       (C) in clause (iii), by striking ``and hazards reduction; 
     and'' and inserting ``functional recovery, and other hazards 
     reduction topics;'';
       (D) in clause (iv)--
       (i) by inserting ``and maintaining'' after ``publishing'';
       (ii) by inserting ``in coordination with the National 
     Tsunami Hazards Mitigation Program, tsunami susceptibility,'' 
     after ``liquefaction susceptibility,''; and
       (iii) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon; and
       (E) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(v) subject to the availability of funds, development of 
     best practices and guidelines to create an inventory of and 
     conduct seismic performance evaluations of buildings, 
     structures, and lifeline infrastructure with high seismic 
     risk, especially those that are critical to community 
     resilience; and
       ``(vi) subject to the availability of funds, the provision 
     of technical assistance upon request by a State, local, or 
     Tribal government regarding--

       ``(I) the creation of an inventory of buildings, 
     structures, and lifeline infrastructure;
       ``(II) the performance of seismic performance evaluations; 
     and
       ``(III) cost-effective best practices for retrofitting 
     existing buildings, structures, and lifeline 
     infrastructure.'';

       (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (3) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); 
     and
       (4) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
       ``(D) improve the understanding of--
       ``(i) the multiple hazards associated with earthquakes, 
     including liquefaction, tsunamis, landslides, structural 
     fires, and the compounding effects of climate on these 
     hazards; and
       ``(ii) potential mitigation measures for such hazards; 
     and''.
       (b) Duties of Interagency Coordinating Committee on 
     Earthquake Hazards Reduction.--Subsection (a)(3)(D)(ii) of 
     such section is amended--
       (1) in subclause (V), by inserting ``and associated 
     secondary hazards'' before the period at the end; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(VIII) Coordinating with the Chair of the Federal 
     Communications Commission on the timely broadcasting of 
     emergency alerts generated by the earthquake early warning 
     system.''.

       (c) Biennial Report.--Subsection (a)(4)(A) of such section 
     is amended by striking ``under paragraph (3)(D)(i)(I)'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``under paragraph 
     (3)(D)(ii)(I)''.
       (d) Advisory Committee.--Subsection (a)(5)(A) of such 
     section is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``the Chair of the Scientific Earthquake 
     Studies Advisory Committee and'' after ``including'';
       (2) by striking ``and local government'' and inserting ``, 
     local, and Tribal governments''; and
       (3) by inserting ``social,'' after ``scientific,''.
       (e) Lead Agency for Responsibilities of Program Agencies.--
     Subsection (b)(1) of such section is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by striking ``and local'' and inserting ``local, and 
     Tribal governments''; and
       (B) by striking ``plan and constructing'' and inserting 
     ``planning, designing, constructing, evaluating, and 
     retrofitting'';
       (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
     subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
       ``(C) improve the understanding of earthquake-caused fires 
     and support the development of engineering tools and 
     construction methods that mitigate the risk of fire following 
     earthquakes;

[[Page S5610]]

       ``(D) develop, in coordination with the Administrator of 
     the Federal Emergency Management Agency, best practices and 
     guidelines for a State, local, or Tribal government to create 
     an inventory of buildings, structures, or lifeline 
     infrastructure that are critical to community resilience or 
     otherwise have high seismic risk;
       ``(E) provide, in coordination with the Administrator of 
     the Federal Emergency Management Agency, technical assistance 
     to a State, local, or Tribal government requesting such 
     assistance with respect to the creation of an inventory of 
     buildings, structures, or lifeline infrastructure;''.
       (f) Responsibilities of Federal Emergency Management 
     Agency.--Subsection (b)(2) of such section is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) in clause (i)--
       (i) by inserting ``and Tribal governments'' after 
     ``States'';
       (ii) by inserting ``and performance evaluations'' after 
     ``safety inspections''; and
       (iii) by inserting ``and improve post-earthquake functional 
     recovery'' after ``seismic safety'';
       (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``, including Tribal 
     entities,'' after ``appropriate audiences'';
       (C) in clause (iii)--
       (i) by striking ``of seismic resistant'' and inserting ``to 
     all appropriate audiences, including Tribal governments, 
     of''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``that enhance seismic safety, improve 
     post-earthquake functional recovery, and reduce losses from 
     earthquakes'' after ``and lifeline infrastructure'';
       (D) in clause (iv)--
       (i) in striking ``and local'' and inserting ``, local, and 
     Tribal''; and
       (ii) by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
       (E) by redesignating clause (v) as clause (vi); and
       (F) by inserting after clause (iv) the following:
       ``(v) shall provide technical assistance to State, local, 
     or Tribal governmental entities in the creation of evacuation 
     plans in the event of an earthquake, landslide, tsunami, or 
     other earthquake-related hazard; and''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting ``and 
     tribal'' after ``State'';
       (B) in the matter before clause (i), by inserting ``or 
     Tribal government'' after ``State''; and
       (C) in clause (i), by striking ``safety'' and inserting 
     ``performance, community resilience, or public awareness''.
       (g) Responsibilities of United States Geological Survey.--
     Subsection (b)(3) of such section is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and local'' and 
     inserting ``, local, and Tribal'';
       (2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``, the Chair of the 
     Federal Communications Commission,'' after ``Agency'';
       (3) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (K) as 
     subparagraphs (L) through (Q), respectively;
       (4) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
       ``(D) coordinate with the Administrator of the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Administrator 
     of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on data sharing 
     and resource allocation to support a timely response to 
     oceanic earthquakes and tsunamis;
       ``(E) in consultation with the Chair of the Federal 
     Communications Commission, ensure that earthquake alerts and 
     early warnings are broadcast as rapidly and reliably as 
     possible, in the predominant languages in the affected 
     region, to ensure maximum warning time for nearby persons;
       ``(F) expand the earthquake early warning system within and 
     to additional high risk hazard areas, including making 
     improvements as practicable to improve detection and increase 
     the time between warning messages and perceptible ground 
     motion;
       ``(G) coordinating with affected State and Tribal 
     governments on earthquake early warning system improvements;
       ``(H) issue earthquake forecasts, when appropriate, for 
     aftershocks associated with significant earthquakes in the 
     United States;'';
       (5) in subparagraph (I), as redesignated by paragraph (3), 
     by inserting ``the Chair of the Federal Communications 
     Commission,'' after ``Agency,'';
       (6) in subparagraph (L), as redesignated by paragraph (3), 
     by striking ``; and'' and inserting a semicolon;
       (7) in subparagraph (M), as redesignated by paragraph (3), 
     by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
     and
       (8) in subparagraph (O), as redesignated by paragraph (3), 
     by inserting ``maps of natural hazards associated with 
     earthquakes and''.
       (h) Responsibilities of National Science Foundation.--
     Subsection (b)(4)(A) of such section is amended--
       (1) in clause (iii), by inserting ``including updated 
     tsunami and liquefaction risk maps,''; and
       (2) in clause (vii), by striking ``Historically Black 
     Colleges and Universities and those serving large proportions 
     of Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and 
     other underrepresented populations'' and inserting 
     ``institutions described in section 371(a) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))''.

     SEC. __06. SEISMIC PERFORMANCE PROPERTY STANDARDS.

       Section 947 of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable 
     Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 7704a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``safety'' both places 
     it appears and inserting ``performance''; and
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``shake-related property 
     damage'' and inserting ``seismic-related property damage to 
     improve the post-earthquake functional recovery time''.

     SEC. __07. SEISMIC STANDARDS.

       Section 8 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 
     (42 U.S.C. 7705b) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``under paragraph (1)'' 
     and inserting ``under subsection (a)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Implementation of Recommendations.--Each Program 
     agency, as part of their Program responsibilities, shall 
     execute research, projects, grants, and other activities that 
     support, promote, advance, or otherwise implement the 
     recommendations in the report submitted pursuant to 
     subsection (b) to improve the performance of the built 
     environment in terms of post-earthquake reoccupancy and 
     functional recovery time.
       ``(d) Biennial Reports.--
       ``(1) Biennial reports to interagency coordinating 
     committee.--No later than September 30, 2025, and not less 
     frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, each Program 
     agency shall submit to the Interagency Coordinating Committee 
     a report on activities and progress made to support, promote, 
     or advance the implementation of the recommendations included 
     in the report submitted pursuant to subsection (b).
       ``(2) Inclusion in biennial reports of interagency 
     coordinating committee.--The Interagency Coordinating 
     Committee shall include the information received under 
     paragraph (1) in each biennial report submitted under section 
     5(a)(4), including consideration of a prioritized work plan 
     to coordinate activities among the Program agencies and the 
     necessary Program budget to fully implement the 
     recommendations described in paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. __08. IMPROVEMENTS TO POST-EARTHQUAKE INVESTIGATIONS 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 11 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 
     (42 U.S.C. 7705e) is amended, in the matter before paragraph 
     (1)--
       (1) in the first sentence, by inserting ``domestic and 
     international'' after ``investigate major''; and
       (2) in the fifth sentence, by inserting ``Federal Emergency 
     Management'' before ``Agency''.

     SEC. __09. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) General Authorization for Program.--Subsection (a)(8) 
     of section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 
     (42 U.S.C. 7706) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``, and'' and 
     inserting a comma; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:
       ``(K) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2024,
       ``(L) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2025,
       ``(M) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2026,
       ``(N) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
       ``(O) $10,590,000 for fiscal year 2028,''.
       (b) United States Geological Survey.--Subsection (b)(2) of 
     such section is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``; and'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(K) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2024, of which not less 
     than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of 
     the Advanced National Seismic System established under 
     section 13;
       ``(L) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2025, of which not less 
     than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of 
     the Advanced National Seismic System established under 
     section 13;
       ``(M) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2026, of which not less 
     than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of 
     the Advanced National Seismic System established under 
     section 13;
       ``(N) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2027, of which not less 
     than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of 
     the Advanced National Seismic System established under 
     section 13; and
       ``(O) $100,900,000 for fiscal year 2028, of which not less 
     than $36,000,000 shall be made available for completion of 
     the Advanced National Seismic System established under 
     section 13.''.
       (c) National Science Foundation.--Subsection (c)(2) of such 
     section is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``, and'' and 
     inserting a comma;
       (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a comma; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(K) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2024,
       ``(L) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2025,
       ``(M) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2026,
       ``(N) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
       ``(O) $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2028.''.
       (d) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--
     Subsection (d)(2) of such section is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``, and'' and 
     inserting a comma;
       (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting a comma; and
       (3) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following:

[[Page S5611]]

       ``(K) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2024,
       ``(L) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2025,
       ``(M) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2026,
       ``(N) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2027, and
       ``(O) $5,900,000 for fiscal year 2028,''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3205. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 1241 and insert the following:

     SEC. 1241. INDO-PACIFIC SECURITY ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE.

       (a) Additional Authority for Use of United States Inventory 
     and Inventory From Other Sources.--
       (1) In general.--The President may, on a grant or lease 
     basis not to exceed $500,000,000 in any fiscal year, make 
     available to the foreign military and national security 
     forces and ministries of defense (or security agencies 
     serving a similar defense function) of foreign partners, and 
     to regional organizations with security missions, defense 
     articles to replenish comparable stocks that such forces or 
     such institutions have provided to other foreign military or 
     national security forces or ministries of defense (or 
     security agencies serving a similar defense function) of 
     foreign partners in the Indo-Pacific region, or to regional 
     organizations with security missions in the Indo-Pacific 
     region.
       (2) Applicability of other law.--The provision of defense 
     articles under this section shall be subject to the 
     requirements of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 
     et seq.), including sections 3 and 36 of that Act (22 U.S.C. 
     2753, 2776).
       (b) Termination.--The authority provided by this section 
     shall terminate on December 31, 2027.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 3206. Mr. CARDIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

 DIVISION F--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025

     SEC. 9001. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This division may be cited as the 
     ``Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2025''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this 
     division is as follows:

 DIVISION F--DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025

Sec. 9001. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 9002. Definitions.

                       TITLE I--WORKFORCE MATTERS

Sec. 9101. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Rogers Act; 
              creation of the Department of State.
Sec. 9102. Workforce modernization efforts.
Sec. 9103. Training float of the Department of State for Civil and 
              Foreign Service personnel.
Sec. 9104. Competitive local compensation plan.
Sec. 9105. Language incentive pay for civil service employees.
Sec. 9106. Strategy for targeted recruitment of civil servants.
Sec. 9107. Electronic medical records.
Sec. 9108. Options for comprehensive evaluations.
Sec. 9109. Portability of professional licenses.
Sec. 9110. Expanding opportunities for Department-paid student 
              internship program.
Sec. 9111. Career intermission program adjustment to enhance retention.
Sec. 9112. Professional counseling services.
Sec. 9113. Assignment process modernization.
Sec. 9114. Report on modifying consular tour and first tours 
              requirements.
Sec. 9115. Comprehensive policy on vetting and transparency.
Sec. 9116. Efficiency in employee survey creation and consolidation.
Sec. 9117. Per diem allowance for newly hired members of the Foreign 
              Service.
Sec. 9118. Termination of residential or motor vehicle leases and 
              telephone service contracts for members of the Foreign 
              Service.
Sec. 9119. Needs-based childcare subsidies enrollment period.
Sec. 9120. Comptroller General report on Department traveler 
              experience.
Sec. 9121. Quarterly report on global footprint.
Sec. 9122. Report on former Federal employees advising foreign 
              governments.
Sec. 9123. Job share and part-time employment opportunities.
Sec. 9124. Expansion of special rules for certain monthly workers' 
              compensation payments and other payments for personnel 
              under chief of mission authority.
Sec. 9125. Authority to provide or reimburse for certain security 
              services.

                 TITLE II--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

Sec. 9201. State-of-the-art building facilities.
Sec. 9202. Presence of chiefs of mission at diplomatic posts.
Sec. 9203. Periodic Inspector General reviews of chiefs of mission.
Sec. 9204. Special Envoy for Sudan.
Sec. 9205. Special Envoy for Belarus.
Sec. 9206. National Museum of American Diplomacy.
Sec. 9207. Authority to establish Negotiations Support Unit within 
              Department of State.
Sec. 9208. Restrictions on the use of funds for solar panels.
Sec. 9209. Responsiveness to Congressional Research Service inquiries.
Sec. 9210. Mission in a box.
Sec. 9211. Report on United States Consulate in Chengdu, People's 
              Republic of China.
Sec. 9212. Personnel reporting.
Sec. 9213. Support co-location with allied partner nations.
Sec. 9214. Streamline qualification of construction contract bidders.

          TITLE III--INFORMATION SECURITY AND CYBER DIPLOMACY

Sec. 9301. Supporting Department of State data analytics.
Sec. 9302. Realigning the Regional Technology Officer Program.
Sec. 9303. Measures to protect Department devices from the 
              proliferation and use of foreign commercial spyware.
Sec. 9304. Report on cloud computing in Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Sec. 9305. Information technology pilot projects.
Sec. 9306. Leveraging approved technology for administrative 
              efficiencies.
Sec. 9307. Office of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging 
              Technology.

                       TITLE IV--PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Sec. 9401. Africa broadcasting networks.
Sec. 9402. United States Agency for Global Media.
Sec. 9403. Extension of authorizations to support United States 
              participation in international fairs and expos.
Sec. 9404. Research and scholar exchange partnerships.
Sec. 9405. Waiver of United States residency requirement for children 
              of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty employees.

                      TITLE V--DIPLOMATIC SECURITY

Sec. 9501. Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act 
              requirements.
Sec. 9502. Congressional notification for Serious Security Incidents.
Sec. 9503. Notifications regarding security decisions at diplomatic 
              posts.
Sec. 9504. Security clearance suspension pay flexibilities.
Sec. 9505. Modification to notification requirement for security 
              clearance suspensions and revocations.

      TITLE VI--UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 9601. Personal service agreement authority for the United States 
              Agency for International Development.
Sec. 9602. Crisis operations and disaster surge staffing.
Sec. 9603. Education allowance while on military leave.
Sec. 9604. Inclusion in the pet transportation exception to the Fly 
              America Act.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 9701. Authorization of appropriations to promote United States 
              citizen employment at the United Nations and 
              international organizations.
Sec. 9702. Amendment to Rewards for Justice program.
Sec. 9703. Passport automation modernization.
Sec. 9704. Extension of certain payment in connection with the 
              International Space Station.
Sec. 9705. Support for congressional delegations.
Sec. 9706. Electronic communication with visa applicants.
Sec. 9707. Electronic transmission of visa information.
Sec. 9708. Inclusion of cost associated with producing reports.
Sec. 9709. Extensions.

     SEC. 9002. DEFINITIONS.

       In this division:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the United States Agency for International 
     Development.
       (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee 
     on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

[[Page S5612]]

       (3) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of State.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of State.
       (5) USAID.--The term ``USAID'' means the United States 
     Agency for International Development.

                       TITLE I--WORKFORCE MATTERS

     SEC. 9101. COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROGERS 
                   ACT; CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

        Congress recognizes and honors those who have served, or 
     are presently serving, in the diplomatic corps of the United 
     States, in commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Act 
     entitled, ``An Act for the reorganization and improvement of 
     the Foreign Service of the United States, and for other 
     purposes'' (43 stat. 140, chapter 182), commonly known as the 
     ``Rogers Act of 1924'', which on May 24, 1924, established 
     what has come to be known as the Foreign Service. Today, the 
     Department of State includes more than 13,000 Foreign Service 
     personnel working alongside more than 11,000 civil service 
     personnel and 45,000 locally engaged staff at more than 270 
     embassies and consulates.

     SEC. 9102. WORKFORCE MODERNIZATION EFFORTS.

        The Secretary should prioritize efforts to further 
     modernize the Department, including--
       (1) making workforce investments, including increasing 
     wages for locally employed staff and providing other non-cash 
     benefits, and hiring up to 100 new members of the Foreign 
     Service above projected attrition to reduce overseas 
     vacancies and mid-level staffing gaps;
       (2) utilizing authorities that allow the Department to 
     acquire or build and open new embassy compounds quicker and 
     at significantly less cost to get diplomats on the front 
     lines of strategic competition; and
       (3) modernizing legacy systems and human resource 
     processes.

     SEC. 9103. TRAINING FLOAT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOR 
                   CIVIL AND FOREIGN SERVICE PERSONNEL.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and 
     submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a strategy 
     to establish and maintain a ``training float'' by January 1, 
     2027, to allow for a minimum of 8 percent and up to 10 
     percent of members of the Civil and Foreign Service to 
     participate in long-term training at any given time. The 
     strategy shall include--
       (1) a proposal to ensure that personnel in the training 
     float remain dedicated to training or professional 
     development activities;
       (2) recommendations to maintain, and an assessment of the 
     feasibility of maintaining, a minimum of 8 percent of 
     personnel in the float at any given time; and
       (3) any additional resources and authorities needed to 
     maintain a training float contemplated by this section.
       (b) Monitoring.--For any established training float, not 
     later than 120 days after enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary shall ensure that personnel in such training float 
     remain dedicated to training or professional development 
     activities.

     SEC. 9104. COMPETITIVE LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the effectiveness and stability of United States 
     foreign missions are linked to the dedication and expertise 
     of locally employed staff; and
       (2) ensuring competitive compensation packages benchmarked 
     against the local market is essential not only to retain 
     valuable talent but also to reflect a commitment to 
     employment practices abroad.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $47,500,000 for fiscal year 2025 to 
     support implementation of a global baseline for prevailing 
     wage rate goal for Local Compensation Plan positions at the 
     75th percentile.

     SEC. 9105. LANGUAGE INCENTIVE PAY FOR CIVIL SERVICE 
                   EMPLOYEES.

       The Secretary and Administrator may provide special 
     monetary incentives to acquire or retain proficiency in 
     foreign languages to civil service employees who serve in 
     domestic positions that require critical language skills. The 
     amounts of such incentives should be similar to the language 
     incentive pay provided to members of the Foreign Service 
     under the Foreign Service pursuant to section 704(b)(3) of 
     the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4024(b)(3)).

     SEC. 9106. STRATEGY FOR TARGETED RECRUITMENT OF CIVIL 
                   SERVANTS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees and the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives a strategy for targeted and 
     proactive recruitment to fill open civil service positions, 
     focusing on recruiting from schools or organizations, and on 
     platforms targeting those with relevant expertise related to 
     such positions.

     SEC. 9107. ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) Foreign Service personnel at the Department serve with 
     distinction in austere places and under challenging 
     conditions around the world with limited healthcare 
     availability;
       (2) the use of paper medical records, which require Foreign 
     Service personnel to carry files containing protected health 
     information from post to post, limits the availability of 
     their health information to Department medical personnel 
     during critical health incidents;
       (3) electronic medical records are necessary, particularly 
     as the Department opens new embassies in the South Pacific, 
     thousands of miles from the nearest Department medical 
     officer, who may not have access to up-to-date personnel 
     medical files;
       (4) the lack of electronic medical records is even more 
     important for mental health records, as the Department only 
     has a small number of regional medical officer psychiatrists 
     and relies heavily on telehealth for most Foreign Service 
     personnel; and
       (5) due to the critical need for electronic medical 
     records, it is imperative that the Department address the 
     situation quickly and focus on secure commercially available 
     or other successful systems utilized by public and private 
     sector organizations with a track record of successfully 
     implementing large-scale projects of this type.
       (b) Electronic Medical Records Requirement.--Not later than 
     December 31, 2027, the Secretary shall have fully implemented 
     an electronic medical records process or system for all 
     Foreign Service personnel and their Eligible Family Members 
     that eliminates reliance on paper medical records and 
     includes appropriate safeguards to protect personal privacy.
       (c) Report on Implementation.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate 
     and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives a report on the progress made towards meeting 
     the requirement under subsection (b).
       (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (A) An updated timeline for implementation.
       (B) An estimated completion date.
       (C) The amounts expended to date on the required electronic 
     medical records system.
       (D) The estimated amount needed to complete the system.
       (3) Termination of requirement.--The reporting requirement 
     under paragraph (1) shall cease upon notification to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that electronic medical 
     records have been completely implemented for all Foreign 
     Service personnel.

     SEC. 9108. OPTIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATIONS.

       (a) In General.--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 options for 
     integrating 360-degree reviews in personnel files for 
     promotion panel consideration.
       (b) Evaluation Systems.--The report required by subsection 
     (a) shall include--
       (1) one or more options to integrate confidential 360-
     degree reviews, references, or evaluations by superiors, 
     peers, and subordinates, including consideration of automated 
     reference requests; and
       (2) other modifications or systems the Secretary considers 
     relevant.
       (c) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
     describe, with respect to each evaluation system included in 
     the report--
       (1) any legal constraints or considerations;
       (2) the timeline required for implementation;
       (3) any starting and recurring costs in comparison to 
     current processes;
       (4) the likely or potential implications for promotion 
     decisions and trends; and
       (5) the impact on meeting the personnel needs of the 
     Foreign Service.

     SEC. 9109. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 9 of the Foreign Service Act of 
     1980 (22 U.S.C. 4081 et seq.) is amended by adding after 
     section 908 (22 U.S.C. 4088) the following new section:

     ``SEC. 909. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES.

       ``(a) In General.--In any case in which a member of the 
     Foreign Service or the spouse of a member of the Foreign 
     Service has a covered United States license and such member 
     of the Foreign Service or spouse relocates his or her 
     residency because of an assignment or detail to a location 
     that is not in the jurisdiction of the licensing authority 
     that issued the covered license, such covered license shall 
     be considered valid at a similar scope of practice and in the 
     discipline applied for in the jurisdiction of such new 
     residency for the duration of such an assignment or detail if 
     such member of the Foreign Service or spouse--
       ``(1) provides a copy of the member's notification of 
     assignment to the licensing authority in the jurisdiction in 
     which the new residency is located;
       ``(2) remains in good standing with--
       ``(A) the licensing authority that issued the covered 
     license; and
       ``(B) every other licensing authority that has issued to 
     the member of the Foreign Service or spouse a license valid 
     at a similar

[[Page S5613]]

     scope of practice and in the discipline applied in the 
     jurisdiction of such licensing authority; and
       ``(3) submits to the authority of the licensing authority 
     in the new jurisdiction for the purposes of standards of 
     practice, discipline, and fulfillment of any continuing 
     education requirements.
       ``(b) Interstate Licensure Compacts.--If a member of the 
     Foreign Service or spouse of a member of the Foreign Service 
     is licensed and able to operate in multiple jurisdictions 
     through an interstate licensure compact, with respect to 
     services provided in the jurisdiction of the interstate 
     licensure compact by a licensee covered by such compact, the 
     member of the Foreign Service or spouse of a member of the 
     Foreign Service shall be subject to the requirements of the 
     compact or the applicable provisions of law of the applicable 
     State and not this section.
       ``(c) Covered License Defined.--In this section, the term 
     `covered license' means a professional license or 
     certificate--
       ``(1) that is in good standing with the licensing authority 
     that issued such professional license or certificate;
       ``(2) that the member of the Foreign Service or spouse of a 
     member of the Foreign Service has actively used during the 
     two years immediately preceding the relocation described in 
     subsection (a); and
       ``(3) that is not a license to practice law.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 2 
     of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to section 908 the following new 
     item:

``Sec. 909. Portability of professional licenses.''.

     SEC. 9110. EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEPARTMENT-PAID 
                   STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 9201 of the Department of State 
     Authorization Act of 2022 (22 U.S. 2737) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by inserting ``or have 
     graduated from such an institution within the six months 
     preceding application to the Program'' after ``paragraph 
     (1)'';
       (2) in subsection (c), by inserting ``and gives preference 
     to individuals who have not previously completed internships 
     within the Department of State and the United States Agency 
     for International Development'' after ``career in foreign 
     affairs''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following subsections:
       ``(k) Work Hours Flexibility.--Students participating in 
     the Program may work fewer than 40 hours per week and a 
     minimum of 24 hours per week to accommodate their academic 
     schedules, provided that the total duration of the internship 
     remains consistent with program requirements.
       ``(l) Mentorship Program.--The Secretary and Administrator 
     are authorized to establish a mentoring and coaching program 
     that pairs Foreign Service or Civil Service employees with 
     interns who choose to participate throughout the duration of 
     their internship.''.

     SEC. 9111. CAREER INTERMISSION PROGRAM ADJUSTMENT TO ENHANCE 
                   RETENTION.

       (a) Authority to Extend Federal Employee Health Benefit 
     Coverage.--The Secretary and Administrator are authorized to 
     offer employees the option of extending Federal Employee 
     Health Benefit coverage during pre-approved leave without pay 
     for up to 3 years.
       (b) Responsibility for Premium Payments.--If an employee 
     elects to continue coverage pursuant to subsection (a) for 
     longer than 365 days, the employee shall be responsible for 
     100 percent of the premium (employee share and government 
     share) during such longer period.

     SEC. 9112. PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall seek to increase the 
     number of professional counselors, including licensed 
     clinical social workers, providing services for employees 
     under chief of mission authority. These positions may be 
     filled under Limited Non-Career Appointment terms.
       (b) Employment Targets.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this division, the Secretary shall 
     seek to employ not fewer than 4 additional professional 
     counselors, including licensed clinical social workers, in 
     the Bureau of Medical Services to work out of regional 
     medical centers abroad.

     SEC. 9113. ASSIGNMENT PROCESS MODERNIZATION.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall modernize the 
     Foreign Service bidding process, and specifically implement 
     the following elements:
       (1) A stable-pair matching, preference-ranking system for 
     non-directed Foreign Service employees and hiring bureaus, 
     allowing for a more strategic alignment of workforce and 
     resources.
       (2) Incorporation of lessons learned from the previous 
     stable-pair matching bidding pilot framework referred to as 
     ``iMatch'', but applied more expansively to include non-
     directed assignments up through FS-01 positions, taking 
     advantage of efficiency benefits such as tandem assignment 
     functionalities.
       (3) Mechanisms to ensure transparency, efficiency, 
     effectiveness, accountability, and flexibility in the 
     assignment process, while maintaining equal opportunities for 
     all officers.
       (4) An independent auditing process to ensure adherence to 
     established rules, effectiveness in meeting the Department's 
     needs, and prevention of bias or manipulation, including 
     through the use of protected categories in making assignment 
     decisions.
       (b) Consideration of Certain Promotion Issues.--In parallel 
     with assignment process modernization efforts, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (1) assess whether any point systems tied to promotion 
     incentives should consider service in hard-to-fill or 
     critical positions; and
       (2) assess whether the practice of dividing the assignment 
     process into winter and summer cycles is necessary or 
     efficient compared to stable matching processes.
       (c) Reporting and Oversight.--Not later than 18 months 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
     shall provide the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report on the implementation of the assignment process under 
     this section, including--
       (1) data on match rates, including in filling critical or 
     priority positions, officer and hiring office satisfaction, 
     and the impact on tandem placements;
       (2) recommendations for further modifications to the 
     bidding process;
       (3) an overview of the strategy used to communicate any 
     changes to the workforce; and
       (4) results of analysis into additional transparency 
     efforts, including those described in subsection (a)(3).

     SEC. 9114. REPORT ON MODIFYING CONSULAR TOUR AND FIRST TOURS 
                   REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) In General.--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 that evaluates 
     the feasibility of--
       (1) reducing, removing, and adding flexibility to the 
     directed consular tours requirements for non-consular-coned 
     generalist members of the Foreign Service; and
       (2) requiring that first tours for members of the Foreign 
     Service be assigned in the National Capital Region.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include a description of resources required to 
     implement the changes described in such subsection, a 
     timeline for implementation, and an assessment of the 
     benefits and consequences of such changes, including any 
     obstacles.

     SEC. 9115. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON VETTING AND TRANSPARENCY.

       (a) Comprehensive Policy on Vetting and Transparency.--Not 
     later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary shall develop a consistent and enhanced 
     vetting process to ensure that individuals with substantiated 
     claims of discrimination or harassment against them, to 
     include when administrative or disciplinary actions are 
     taken, are not considered for assignments to senior positions 
     or promotions to senior grades within the Foreign Service.
       (b) Elements of Comprehensive Vetting Policy.--Following 
     the conclusion of any investigation into an allegation of 
     discrimination or harassment, the Office of Civil Rights, 
     Office of Global Talent Management, and other offices with 
     responsibilities related to the investigation reporting 
     directly to the Secretary shall jointly or individually 
     submit a written summary of any findings of substantiated 
     allegations, along with a summary of findings to the 
     committee responsible for assignments to senior positions 
     prior to such committee rendering a recommendation for 
     assignment.
       (c) Response.--The Secretary shall develop a process for 
     candidates to respond to any allegations that are 
     substantiated and presented to the committee responsible for 
     assignments to senior positions.
       (d) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 
     years, the Secretary shall submit to the Department workforce 
     and the appropriate congressional committees a report on the 
     number of candidates confirmed for senior diplomatic posts 
     against whom there were substantiated allegations described 
     in subsection (a).
       (e) Senior Positions Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``senior positions'' means Chief of Mission, Under Secretary, 
     Assistant Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Deputy Chief 
     of Mission, and Principal Officer (i.e., Consuls General) 
     positions.

     SEC. 9116. EFFICIENCY IN EMPLOYEE SURVEY CREATION AND 
                   CONSOLIDATION.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     employee surveys are crucial for understanding the needs and 
     concerns of the workforce, and are most effective when they 
     are strategically designed, collected, and the results 
     transparent where possible.
       (b) Consolidated Resource Requirement.--The Department 
     shall provide a consolidated resource of survey methods, best 
     practices, and a repository of survey data to avoid survey 
     fatigue, minimize duplicating surveys, increase confidence in 
     survey data, and facilitate data-informed decision-making.
       (c) Timing.--The Secretary should determine the overall 
     timing and administration of mandated surveys to ensure 
     maximum participation and robust data sets.

     SEC. 9117. PER DIEM ALLOWANCE FOR NEWLY HIRED MEMBERS OF THE 
                   FOREIGN SERVICE.

       (a) Per Diem Allowance.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any 
     newly hired Foreign Service employee who is in initial 
     orientation training, or any other training expected to

[[Page S5614]]

     last less than 6 months in the Washington, D.C. area before 
     transferring to the employee's first assignment overseas or 
     domestically outside the Washington, D.C. area shall, for the 
     duration of such training, receive a per diem allowance at 
     the levels prescribed under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 
     title 5, United States Code.
       (2) Limitation on lodging expenses.--A newly hired Foreign 
     Service employee may not receive any lodging expenses under 
     the applicable per diem allowance pursuant to paragraph (1) 
     if that employee--
       (A) has a permanent residence in the Washington, D.C., area 
     (not including government-supplied housing during such 
     orientation training or other training); and
       (B) does not vacate such residence during such orientation 
     training or other training.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``per diem allowance'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 5701 of title 5, United States Code; and
       (2) the term ``Washington, D.C., area'' means the 
     geographic area within a 50-mile radius of the Washington 
     Monument.

     SEC. 9118. TERMINATION OF RESIDENTIAL OR MOTOR VEHICLE LEASES 
                   AND TELEPHONE SERVICE CONTRACTS FOR MEMBERS OF 
                   THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

       Section 907 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 ( 22 U.S.C. 
     4087) is amended by striking ``Service who are posted abroad 
     at a Foreign Service post'' and inserting ``Foreign Service 
     who are posted in the United States or posted abroad''.

     SEC. 9119. NEEDS-BASED CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES ENROLLMENT PERIOD.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Department and USAID shall--
       (1) issue and maintain guidance on how to apply for any 
     program authorized under section 630 of the Treasury and 
     General Government Appropriations Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-
     67; 115 Stat. 552); and
       (2) consider using maximum flexibilities to accept 
     applications throughout the year or in accordance with 
     Qualifying Life Event changes (as defined by the Federal 
     Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB)).

     SEC. 9120. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON DEPARTMENT TRAVELER 
                   EXPERIENCE.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall conduct a review and submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on the effect 
     of section 40118 of title 49, United States Code (commonly 
     referred to as the ``Fly America Act'') on Department 
     travelers.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include an analysis of the extent to which the Fly 
     America Act--
       (1) disproportionately impacts Department personnel;
       (2) impacts travelers, including their ability to find 
     suitable flights and the ability to complete their travel in 
     a timely and effective manner;
       (3) increases or decreases costs to the United States 
     Government;
       (4) produces overly burdensome restrictions in times of 
     urgent travel such as Emergency Visitation Travel and 
     Ordered/Authorized Departure; and
       (5) a description of other relevant issues the Comptroller 
     General determines appropriate.

     SEC. 9121. QUARTERLY REPORT ON GLOBAL FOOTPRINT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter for 5 
     years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees and the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives a report on the global footprint of 
     the Department.
       (b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a) 
     shall include, for each diplomatic post--
       (1) the number and type of Department employees assigned to 
     the post; and
       (2) the number of allocated positions that remain unfilled.
       (c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
     be submitted in classified form.

     SEC. 9122. REPORT ON FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ADVISING 
                   FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 3 
     years, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees, the Select Committee on 
     Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence a report that identifies former 
     United States Government senior officials who have been 
     approved by the Secretary to advise foreign governments.
       (b) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified 
     annex.

     SEC. 9123. JOB SHARE AND PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish and publish 
     a Department policy on job share and part-time employment 
     opportunities. The policy shall include a template for job 
     sharing arrangements, a database of job share and part-time 
     employment opportunities, and a point of contact in the 
     Bureau of Global Talent Management.
       (b) Workplace Flexibility Training.--The Secretary shall 
     incorporate training on workplace flexibility, including the 
     availability of job share and part-time employment 
     opportunities, into employee onboarding and every level of 
     supervisory training.
       (c) Annual Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
     following 5 years, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on workplace 
     flexibility at the Department, including data on the number 
     of employees utilizing job share or part-time employment 
     arrangements.

     SEC. 9124. EXPANSION OF SPECIAL RULES FOR CERTAIN MONTHLY 
                   WORKERS' COMPENSATION PAYMENTS AND OTHER 
                   PAYMENTS FOR PERSONNEL UNDER CHIEF OF MISSION 
                   AUTHORITY.

       Section 901 of title IX of division J of the Further 
     Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (22 U.S.C. 2680b) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A)--
       (i) by striking ``of a'' and inserting ``of an''; and
       (ii) by striking ``January 1, 2016'' and inserting 
     ``September 11, 2001'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``January 1, 2016'' and 
     inserting ``September 11, 2001''; and
       (C) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph 
     (A), by striking ``January 1, 2016'' and inserting 
     ``September 11, 2001''; and
       (2) in subsection (h)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``January 1, 2016'' 
     and inserting ``September 11, 2001''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``January 1, 2016'' 
     and inserting ``September 11, 2001''.

     SEC. 9125. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE OR REIMBURSE FOR CERTAIN 
                   SECURITY SERVICES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary and the Administrator are 
     authorized to provide or reimburse for appropriate security 
     services to mitigate risks to certain employees or members of 
     their households resulting from or related to the employee's 
     official duties or affiliation with the Department or USAID. 
     These security equipment or services may include security 
     cameras and services to de-prioritize or remove internet 
     search results revealing personally identifiable information.
       (b) Required Policy.--Prior to providing or reimbursing 
     services pursuant to subsection (a), the Department shall 
     establish a policy that--
       (1) outlines the requirements for qualifying for provision 
     or reimbursement of services;
       (2) identifies the office responsible for vetting requests 
     for provision or reimbursement of services; and
       (3) mandates expeditious consideration of such requests.
       (c) Protection of Personal Information.--The Secretary and 
     the Administrator shall not collect personally identifiable 
     information on any United States citizens while undertaking 
     the activities described in subsection (a) unless the 
     collection is authorized by a court as part of a criminal 
     investigation.

                 TITLE II--ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS

     SEC. 9201. STATE-OF-THE-ART BUILDING FACILITIES.

       The Secretary should use existing waiver authorities to 
     expedite upgrades and critical maintenance for the Harry S. 
     Truman Federal Building, with the goal of having at least 85 
     percent of construction and upgrades completed by December 
     31, 2027.

     SEC. 9202. PRESENCE OF CHIEFS OF MISSION AT DIPLOMATIC POSTS.

       (a) Requirement for Arrival at Diplomatic Post Within 60 
     Days.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall require that to be 
     eligible for payment of travel expenses for initial arrival 
     at the assigned post, a chief of mission must arrive at the 
     post not later than 60 days after the date on which the chief 
     of mission was confirmed by the Senate.
       (2) Exceptions.--The restriction under paragraph (1) shall 
     not apply to a chief of mission who arrives later than 60 
     days after confirmation by the Senate if the delay was caused 
     by one or more of the following:
       (A) A flight delay that was outside of the control of the 
     chief of mission or the Department.
       (B) A natural disaster, global health emergency, or other 
     naturally occurring event that prevented the chief of mission 
     from entering the country of the assigned post.
       (C) Delay or refusal by the government of the host country 
     to accept diplomatic accreditation.
       (D) Family or medical emergency.
       (E) Extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the 
     chief of mission.
       (3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirement under 
     paragraph (1) upon a determination that extenuating 
     circumstances warrant such a waiver and upon submission of a 
     brief description of the determination to the appropriate 
     congressional committees.
       (4) Notification required.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, and in each case that 
     a chief of mission arrives at an assigned post more than 60 
     days after confirmation, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report identifying any 
     chief of mission who arrived at the assigned post

[[Page S5615]]

     more than 60 days after confirmation by the Senate, and 
     includes a description of the justification.
       (b) Notifications on Departures of Chiefs of Mission.--
     Beginning on April 1, 2025, for 5 years, the Secretary shall 
     notify the appropriate congressional committees of any chief 
     of mission who has permanently departed from the assigned 
     post within 90 days of the departure.

     SEC. 9203. PERIODIC INSPECTOR GENERAL REVIEWS OF CHIEFS OF 
                   MISSION.

       (a) In General.--Beginning on April 1, 2025, and for a 3-
     year period thereafter, the Inspector General of the 
     Department of State shall conduct management reviews of 
     chiefs of mission, charge d'affaires, and other principal 
     officers assigned overseas during inspection visits, when 
     those officers have been at post more than 180 days.
       (b) Disposition.--Reviews conducted pursuant to subsection 
     (a) shall be provided to the rating officer for formal 
     discussion as part of the performance evaluation process. The 
     management review shall remain in the employee's personnel 
     file unless otherwise required by law. The subject of a 
     review conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall have the 
     opportunity to respond to and comment on the review, and the 
     response shall be included in the employee's file for 
     promotion panel review.
       (c) Notification Requirement in Case of Serious Management 
     Concerns.--The Inspector General of the Department of State 
     shall notify the Secretary, the Deputy Secretary, and the 
     appropriate congressional committees within 30 days of any 
     review in which serious management concerns are raised and 
     substantiated, and which is not otherwise submitted as part 
     of the periodic inspection or report.

     SEC. 9204. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SUDAN.

       (a) Establishment.--The President shall, with the advice 
     and consent of the Senate, appoint a Special Envoy for Sudan 
     at the Department (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Special Envoy''). The Special Envoy shall report directly 
     to the Secretary and should not hold another position in the 
     Department while holding the position of Special Envoy.
       (b) Duties.--The Special Envoy shall--
       (1) lead United States diplomatic efforts to support 
     negotiations and humanitarian response efforts related to 
     alleviating the crisis in Sudan;
       (2) be responsible for coordinating policy development and 
     execution related to ending the conflict and a future path to 
     national recovery and democratic transition in Sudan across 
     all bureaus in the Department and coordinating with 
     interagency partners; and
       (3) consult regularly with the appropriate congressional 
     committees, and keep such committees fully and currently 
     informed on the status of diplomatic efforts and 
     negotiations.
       (c) Staffing.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
     Special Envoy is staffed with personnel approved by the 
     envoy, including through reassignment of positions 
     responsible for issues related to Sudan that currently exist 
     within the Department, encouraging details or assignment of 
     employees of the Department from regional and functional 
     bureaus with expertise relevant to Sudan, or through request 
     for interagency details of individuals with relevant 
     experience from other United States Government departments or 
     agencies, including the Department of Treasury.
       (2) Briefing requirements.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department should 
     brief the appropriate congressional committees on the number 
     of full-time equivalent positions supporting the Special 
     Envoy and the relevant expertise and duties of any employees 
     of the Department serving as detailees.
       (d) Sunset.--The position of the Special Envoy for Sudan 
     shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 9205. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR BELARUS.

       Section 6406(d) of the Department of State Authorization 
     Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 118-31; 22 U.S.C. 5811 
     note) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Role.--The position of Special Envoy--
       ``(1) shall only exist while United States diplomatic 
     operations in Belarus at the United States Embassy in Minsk, 
     Belarus are suspended; and
       ``(2) shall oversee the operations and personnel of the 
     Belarus Affairs Unit.''.

     SEC. 9206. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

       Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 
     1956 is amended by adding after section 64 (22 U.S.C. 2735a) 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 65. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

       ``(a) Activities.--
       ``(1) Support authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     provide, by contract, grant, or otherwise, for the 
     performance of appropriate museum visitor and educational 
     outreach services and related events, including--
       ``(A) organizing programs and conference activities;
       ``(B) creating, designing, and installing exhibits; and
       ``(C) conducting museum shop services and food services in 
     the public exhibition and related physical and virtual space 
     utilized by the National Museum of American Diplomacy.
       ``(2) Recovery of costs.--The Secretary of State is 
     authorized to retain the proceeds obtained from customary and 
     appropriate fees charged for the use of facilities, including 
     venue rental for events consistent with the activities 
     described in subsection (a)(1) and museum shop services and 
     food services at the National Museum of American Diplomacy. 
     Such proceeds shall be retained as a recovery of the costs of 
     operating the Museum, credited to a designated Department 
     account that exists for the purpose of funding the Museum and 
     its programs and activities, and shall remain available until 
     expended.
       ``(b) Disposition of Documents, Artifacts, and Other 
     Articles.--
       ``(1) Property.--All historic documents, artifacts, or 
     other articles acquired by the Department of State for the 
     permanent museum collection and determined by the Secretary 
     of State to be suitable for display by the National Museum of 
     American Diplomacy shall be considered to be the property of 
     the United States Government and shall be subject to 
     disposition solely in accordance with this subsection.
       ``(2) Sale, trade, or transfer.--Whenever the Secretary of 
     State makes a determination described in paragraph (3) with 
     respect to a document, artifact, or other article described 
     in paragraph (1), taking into account considerations such as 
     the Museum's collections management policy and best 
     professional museum practice, the Secretary may sell at fair 
     market value, trade, or transfer such document, artifact, or 
     other article without regard to the requirements of subtitle 
     I of title 40, United States Code. The proceeds of any such 
     sale may be used solely for the advancement of the activities 
     described in subsection (a)(1) of the National Museum of 
     American Diplomacy and may not be used for any purpose other 
     than the acquisition and direct care of the collections of 
     the Museum.
       ``(3) Determinations prior to sale, trade, or transfer.--
     The determination described in this paragraph with respect to 
     a document, artifact, or other article described in paragraph 
     (1) is a determination that--
       ``(A) the document, artifact, or other article no longer 
     serves to further the mission of the National Museum of 
     American Diplomacy as set forth in the collections management 
     policy of the Museum;
       ``(B) the sale at a fair market price based on an 
     independent appraisal or trade or transfer of the document, 
     artifact, or other article would serve to maintain or enhance 
     the Museum collection; and
       ``(C) the sale, trade, or transfer of the document, 
     artifact, or other article would be in the best interests of 
     the United States.
       ``(4) Loans.--In addition to the authorization under 
     paragraph (2) relating to the sale, trade, or transfer of 
     documents, artifacts, or other articles described in 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may--
       ``(A) loan the documents, artifacts, or other articles to 
     other institutions, both foreign and domestic, for repair, 
     study, or exhibition when not needed for use or display by 
     the National Museum of American Diplomacy; and
       ``(B) borrow documents, artifacts, or other articles from 
     other institutions or individuals, both foreign and domestic, 
     for activities consistent with subsection (a)(1).''.

     SEC. 9207. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH NEGOTIATIONS SUPPORT UNIT 
                   WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) there is a need for the United States Government to 
     maintain a permanent institutional hub for technical 
     expertise, strategic advice, and knowledge management in 
     negotiations, mediation, and peace processes in order to 
     prioritize and invest in diplomacy;
       (2) the United States plays a role in enabling and 
     supporting peace processes and complex political 
     negotiations, the success of which is essential to stability 
     and democracy around the world;
       (3) the meaningful engagement of conflict-affected 
     communities, particularly women, youth, and other impacted 
     populations, is vital to durable, implementable, and 
     sustainable peace;
       (4) negotiation requires a specific technical and 
     functional skillset, and thus institutional expertise in this 
     practice area should include trained practitioners and 
     subject matter experts;
       (5) such skills should continue to be employed as the 
     United States Government advises and contributes to peace 
     processes, including those where the United States plays a 
     supporting role or is led by multilateral and international 
     partners; and
       (6) training programs for United States diplomats should 
     draw upon this expertise and United States lessons learned to 
     help equip diplomats with skills to respond to peace 
     processes and complex political negotiations, and how to 
     request support.
       (b) Negotiations Support Unit.--Section 1 of the State 
     Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(p) Negotiations Support Unit.--
       ``(1) Authority to establish.--The Secretary of State may 
     establish within the Department of State a unit to be known 
     as the `Negotiations Support Unit' responsible for carrying 
     out the functions described in paragraph (2), as appropriate.
       ``(2) Functions.--The functions described in this paragraph 
     are the following:

[[Page S5616]]

       ``(A) Serving as a permanent institutional hub and resource 
     for negotiations and peace process expertise and knowledge 
     management.
       ``(B) Advising the Secretary of State, other relevant 
     senior officials, members of the Foreign Service, and 
     employees of the Department of State on the substance, 
     process, and strategy of negotiations, mediation, peace 
     processes, and other complex political negotiations from 
     strategy and planning to implementation.
       ``(C) Supporting the development and implementation of 
     United States policy related to complex political 
     negotiations and peace processes, including those led by 
     multilateral and international partners.
       ``(D) Advising on mediation and negotiations programs to 
     implement United States policy.
       ``(E) Supporting training for Foreign Services Officers and 
     civil servants on tailored negotiation and mediation skills.
       ``(F) Working with other governments, international 
     organizations, and nongovernmental organizations, as 
     appropriate, to support the development and implementation of 
     United States policy on peace processes and complex political 
     negotiations.
       ``(G) Any additional duties the Secretary of State may 
     prescribe.
       ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 for the 
     establishment of the Negotiations Support Unit under 
     paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 9208. RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF FUNDS FOR SOLAR PANELS.

       The Department may not use Federal funds to procure any 
     solar energy products that were manufactured in the Xinjiang 
     Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China or 
     other regions in the country, which are known to be produced 
     with forced labor.

     SEC. 9209. RESPONSIVENESS TO CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE 
                   INQUIRIES.

       (a) Findings.-- The Congressional Research Service is 
     charged with rendering effective and efficient service to 
     Congress and responding expeditiously, effectively, and 
     efficiently to the needs of Congress.
       (b) Responses.--The Secretary and Administrator shall 
     ensure that for any inquiry or request from the Congressional 
     Research Service related to its support of Members of 
     Congress and congressional staff--
       (1) an initial answer responsive to the request is sent 
     within 14 days of receipt of the inquiry;
       (2) a complete answer responsive to the request is sent 
     within 90 days of receipt of the inquiry, together with an 
     explanation as to why the request was delayed; and
       (3) Congressional Research Service staff shall be treated 
     as congressional staff for any informal discussions or 
     briefings.

     SEC. 9210. MISSION IN A BOX.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Increasing the United States' global diplomatic 
     footprint is imperative to advance United States' national 
     security interests, particularly in the face of a massive 
     diplomatic expansion of our strategic competitors.
       (2) Opening or re-opening diplomatic missions, often in 
     small island nations where there is no United States 
     Government presence, but one is needed to advance United 
     States strategic objectives.
       (3) Diplomatic missions should be resourced and equipped 
     for success upon opening to allow diplomats to focus on 
     advancing United States national interests in-country.
       (4) The United States can and should move more swiftly to 
     open new diplomatic missions and provide United States 
     diplomats and locally employed staff with a workplace that 
     meets locally appropriate quality, safety, and security 
     standards.
       (5) To do this, the Department must streamline and support 
     the process of opening new posts to identify efficiencies and 
     removing obstacles that are unduly complicating the opening 
     of new diplomatic missions, particularly in small island 
     states and similarly situated locations.
       (b) Report to Congress.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     appropriate congressional committees a report on how the 
     Department is creating a ``mission in a box'' concept to 
     provide new such diplomatic missions the needed resources and 
     authorities to quickly and efficiently stand up and operate a 
     mission from the moment United States personnel arrive, or 
     even before the opening of a new mission, particularly in 
     small island nations.
       (2) Elements.--The report required under paragraph (1) 
     shall include--
       (A) a list of authorities and processes related to the 
     opening of new diplomatic missions;
       (B) a list of authorities and processes related to the 
     opening of new diplomatic missions that the Department can 
     waive to expediently stand up new diplomatic missions;
       (C) essential functions that each new diplomatic mission 
     should be able to carry out independently upon opening;
       (D) a description of functions that another post or support 
     center will need to carry out to support the new mission;
       (E) a list of essential equipment and access to facilities, 
     including to support secure communications, that should be 
     provided to each new diplomatic mission, the approval of 
     which should be handled prior to or shortly after the opening 
     of the new diplomatic mission, including arrangements for 
     basic office equipment, vehicles, and housing;
       (F) the number of recommended locally engaged staff and 
     United States direct hires resident in-country;
       (G) the number of non-resident support staff who are 
     assigned to the new diplomatic mission, such as from another 
     post or regional support center;
       (H) a description of how medical and consular support 
     services could be provided;
       (I) procedures for requesting an expansion of the post's 
     functions or physical platform after opening, should that be 
     needed;
       (J) any other authorities or processes that may be required 
     to successfully and quickly stand up a new diplomatic 
     mission, including any new authorities the Department may 
     need;
       (K) a list of incentives, in addition to pay differentials, 
     being considered for such posts; and
       (L) a description of any specialized training, including 
     for management and security personnel supporting the 
     establishment of such new embassies that may be required.
       (c) Senior Official to Lead New Embassy Expansion.--
       (1) Designation.--The Secretary shall designate an 
     assistant secretary-level senior official to expedite and 
     make recommendations for the reform of procedures for opening 
     new diplomatic missions abroad, particularly in small island 
     states.
       (2) Responsibilities.--The senior official designated 
     pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be responsible for proposing 
     policy and procedural changes to the Secretary to--
       (A) expediting the resourcing of new diplomatic missions by 
     waiving or reducing when possible mandatory processes 
     required to open new diplomatic missions, taking into account 
     the threat environment and circumstances in the host country;
       (B) when necessary, quickly adjudicating within the 
     Department any decision points that arise during the planning 
     and execution phases of the establishment of a new mission;
       (C) ensuring new missions receive the management and 
     operational support needed, including by designating such 
     support be undertaken by another post, regional support 
     center, or Department entities based in the United States; 
     and
       (D) ensuring that the authorities provided in the Secure 
     Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (title 
     VI of division A of appendix G of Public Law 106-113), as 
     amended by the Secure Embassy Construction and 
     Counterterrorism Act of 2022 (section 9301 of Public Law 117-
     263; 136 Stat. 3879), are fully utilized in the planning for 
     all new diplomatic missions.
       (d) New Diplomatic Mission Defined.--In this section, the 
     term ``new diplomatic mission'' means any bilateral 
     diplomatic mission opened since January 1, 2020, in a country 
     where there had not been a bilateral diplomatic mission since 
     the date that is 20 years before the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.
       (e) Sunset.--The authorities and requirements of this 
     section shall terminate 5 years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 9211. REPORT ON UNITED STATES CONSULATE IN CHENGDU, 
                   PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

        Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees a report on the effect of the 
     suspension of operations at of the United States Consulate 
     General in Chengdu, People's Republic of China, on July 27, 
     2020, on diplomatic and consular activities of the United 
     States in Southwestern China, including the provision of 
     consular services to United States citizens, and on relations 
     with the people of Southwestern China, including in areas 
     designated by the Government of the People's Republic of 
     China as autonomous.

     SEC. 9212. PERSONNEL REPORTING.

       Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, and at least every 120 days thereafter for 5 years, 
     the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report--
       (1) describing the on-board personnel levels, hiring, and 
     attrition of the Civil Service, Foreign Service, eligible 
     family members, locally employed staff, and contractor 
     workforce of the Department, on an operating unit-by-
     operating unit basis; and
       (2) including a status update on progress toward fiscal 
     year hiring plans for Foreign Service and Civil Service.

     SEC. 9213. SUPPORT CO-LOCATION WITH ALLIED PARTNER NATIONS.

       The Secretary, following consultation with the appropriate 
     congressional committees, may alter, repair, and furnish 
     United States Government-owned and leased space for use by 
     the government of a foreign country to facilitate co-location 
     of such government in such space, on such terms and 
     conditions as the Secretary may determine, including with 
     respect to reimbursement of all or part of the costs of such 
     alteration, repair, or furnishing. Reimbursements or advances 
     of funds pursuant to this section may be credited to the 
     currently applicable appropriation and shall be available for 
     the purposes for which such appropriation is authorized.

     SEC. 9214. STREAMLINE QUALIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT 
                   BIDDERS.

       Section 402 of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and 
     Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4852) is amended--

[[Page S5617]]

       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by inserting ``be awarded'' after ``joint venture 
     persons may'';
       (B) by striking ``bid on'' both places it appears; and
       (C) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$10,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$25,000,000''; and
       (2) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph 1, by striking ``two'' and inserting 
     ``three''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``at a United States 
     diplomatic or consular establishment abroad'' and inserting 
     ``on a Federal contract abroad'';
       (ii) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (G);
       (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph 
     (E); and
       (iv) in subparagraph (E), as redesignated by clause (iii), 
     by striking ``80'' [both places it appears] and inserting 
     ``65''.

          TITLE III--INFORMATION SECURITY AND CYBER DIPLOMACY

     SEC. 9301. SUPPORTING DEPARTMENT OF STATE DATA ANALYTICS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department 
     of State for fiscal year 2025 $3,000,000 for bureaus to hire 
     Chief Data Officers through the ``Bureau Chief Data Officer 
     Program'', consistent with section 6302 of the Department of 
     State Authorization Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 
     118-31; 22 U.S.C. 2651a note).

     SEC. 9302. REALIGNING THE REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY OFFICER 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 9508(a)(1) of the Department of State 
     Authorizations Act of 2022 (division I of Public Law 117-263; 
     22 U.S.C. 10305(a)(1)) is amended by inserting ``, and shall 
     be administered by the Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital 
     Policy'' before the period at the end.

     SEC. 9303. MEASURES TO PROTECT DEPARTMENT DEVICES FROM THE 
                   PROLIFERATION AND USE OF FOREIGN COMMERCIAL 
                   SPYWARE.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress''means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Homeland 
     Security of the House of Representatives.
       (1) Covered device.--The term ``covered device'' means any 
     electronic mobile device, including smartphones, tablet 
     computing devices, or laptop computing device, that is issued 
     by the Department for official use.
       (2) Foreign commercial spyware; spyware.--The terms 
     ``foreign commercial spyware'' and ``spyware'' have the 
     meanings given those terms in section 1102A of the National 
     Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3232a).
       (b) Protection of Covered Devices.--
       (1) Requirement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, in 
     consultation with the Director of the Cybersecurity and 
     Infrastructure Security Agency--
       (A) issue standards, guidance, best practices, and policies 
     for Department and USAID personnel to protect covered devices 
     from being compromised by foreign commercial spyware;
       (B) survey the processes used by the Department and USAID 
     to identify and catalog instances where a covered device was 
     compromised by foreign commercial spyware over the prior 2 
     years and it is reasonably expected to have resulted in an 
     unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information; and
       (C) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on the measures in place to identify and catalog 
     instances of such compromises for covered devices by foreign 
     commercial spyware, which may be submitted in classified 
     form.
       (2) Notifications.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
     on which the Department becomes aware that a covered device 
     was seriously compromised by foreign commercial spyware, the 
     Secretary, in coordination with relevant agencies, shall 
     notify the appropriate committees of Congress of the facts 
     concerning such targeting or compromise, including--
       (A) the location of the personnel whose covered device was 
     compromised;
       (B) the number of covered devices compromised;
       (C) an assessment by the Secretary of the damage to the 
     national security of the United States resulting from any 
     loss of data or sensitive information; and
       (D) an assessment by the Secretary of any foreign 
     government or foreign organization or entity, and, to the 
     extent possible, the foreign individuals, who directed and 
     benefitted from any information acquired from the compromise.
       (3) Annual report.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 5 
     years, the Secretary, in coordination with relevant agencies, 
     shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report regarding any covered device that was compromised by 
     foreign commercial spyware, including the information 
     described in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (2).

     SEC. 9304. REPORT ON CLOUD COMPUTING IN BUREAU OF CONSULAR 
                   AFFAIRS.

       Not later than 90 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 the Bureau 
     of Consular Affairs adoption of cloud-based products and 
     services as well as options to require enterprise-wide 
     adoption of cloud computing, including for all consular 
     operations.

     SEC. 9305. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROJECTS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of 
     State should, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of 
     the Bureau of Consular Affairs, prioritize information 
     technology systems with high potential to accelerate the 
     passport renewal processes, reduce processing times, and 
     reduce dependency on legacy systems.

     SEC. 9306. LEVERAGING APPROVED TECHNOLOGY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE 
                   EFFICIENCIES.

       The Secretary and Administrator shall ensure appropriate 
     and secure technological solutions are authorized and 
     available for employee use, where feasible, to promote 
     technological fluency in the workforce, including the 
     integration of secure tools in the evaluation process to 
     ensure performance management standards while maximizing 
     efficiency.

     SEC. 9307. OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CRITICAL AND 
                   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an Office 
     of the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Office''), which may be 
     located within the Bureau for Cyberspace and Digital Policy.
       (b) Leadership.--
       (1) Special envoy.--The Office shall be headed by a Special 
     Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology, who shall--
       (A) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice 
     and consent of the Senate; and
       (B) have the rank and status of ambassador; and
       (C) report to the Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and 
     Digital Policy.
       (c) Membership.--The Office may include representatives or 
     expert detailees from other key Federal agencies or research 
     and technology-focused fellowship programs, as determined by 
     the Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology and 
     with the consent of the Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace 
     and Digital Policy, in coordination with appropriate senior 
     officials of the Department and such agencies.
       (d) Purposes.--The purposes of the Office shall include--
       (1) establishing, in coordination with relevant bureaus, 
     offices and other Federal agencies, an interagency security 
     review process for proposals regarding United States 
     Government-funded international collaboration on certain 
     critical and emerging technologies and associated research;
       (2) establishing and coordinating an interagency strategy 
     to facilitate international cooperation with United States 
     allies and partners regarding the development, use, and 
     deployment of critical and emerging technologies and 
     associated standards and safeguards for research security, 
     intellectual property protection, and illicit knowledge 
     transfer;
       (3) facilitating technology partnerships with countries and 
     relevant political and economic unions that are committed 
     to--
       (A) the rule of law and respect for human rights, including 
     freedom of speech, and expression;
       (B) the safe and responsible development and use of certain 
     critical and emerging technologies and the establishment of 
     related norms and standards, including for research security 
     and the protection of sensitive data and technology;
       (C) a secure internet architecture governed by a multi-
     stakeholder model instead of centralized government control;
       (D) robust international cooperation to promote open and 
     interoperable technological products and services that are 
     necessary to freedom, innovation, transparency, and privacy; 
     and
       (E) multilateral coordination, including through diplomatic 
     initiatives, information sharing, and other activities, to 
     defend the principles described in subparagraphs (A) through 
     (D) against efforts by state and non-state actors to 
     undermine them;
       (4) supporting efforts to harmonize technology governance 
     regimes with partners, coordinating on basic and pre-
     competitive research and development initiatives, and 
     collaborating to pursue such opportunities in certain 
     critical and emerging technologies;
       (5) coordinating with other technology partners on export 
     control policies for certain critical and emerging 
     technologies, including countering illicit knowledge and data 
     transfer related to certain critical and emerging technology 
     research;
       (6) conducting diplomatic engagement, in coordination with 
     other bureaus, offices, and relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies, with allies and partners to develop standards and 
     coordinate policies designed to counter illicit knowledge and 
     data transfer in academia related to certain critical and 
     emerging technology research;
       (7) coordinating with allies, partners, and other relevant 
     Federal agencies to prevent the exploitation of research 
     partnerships related to certain critical and emerging 
     technologies;
       (8) sharing information regarding the threat posed by the 
     transfer of certain critical and emerging technologies to 
     authoritarian governments, including the People's

[[Page S5618]]

     Republic of China and the Russian Federation, and the ways in 
     which autocratic regimes are utilizing technology, including 
     for military and security purposes, to erode individual 
     freedoms and other foundations of open, democratic societies; 
     and
       (9) collaborating with private companies, trade 
     associations, and think tanks to realize the purposes 
     described in paragraphs (1) through (8).
       (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the 
     following 5 years, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
     Director of National Intelligence and the heads of other 
     relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress an unclassified 
     report, with a classified index, if necessary, regarding--
       (1) the activities of the Office related to paragraphs (1) 
     through (9) of subsection (d), including any cooperative 
     initiatives and partnerships pursued with United States 
     allies and partners, and the results of such activities, 
     initiatives, and partnerships;
       (2) the activities of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and the 
     Russian Federation in sectors related to certain critical and 
     emerging technologies and the threats they pose to the United 
     States; and
       (3) an inventory of all international research and 
     development programs for certain critical and emerging 
     technologies funded by the Department or USAID that include 
     participation by institutions or organizations that are 
     affiliated with, or receive support from, the Government of 
     the People's Republic of China or the Government of the 
     Russian Federation.
       (f) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress''means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
       (2) Certain critical and emerging technologies.--The term 
     ``certain critical and emerging technologies'' means the 
     technologies determined by the Secretary, in consultation 
     with other Federal agencies, from the critical and emerging 
     technologies list published by the National Science and 
     Technology Council (NSTC) at the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy, as amended by subsequent updates to the 
     list issued by the NSTC.

                       TITLE IV--PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

     SEC. 9401. AFRICA BROADCASTING NETWORKS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States 
     Agency for Global Media shall submit to the appropriate 
     congressional committees and the Committee on Appropriations 
     of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives a report on the resources and 
     timeline needed to establish within the Agency an 
     organization the mission of which shall be to promote 
     democratic values and institutions in Africa by providing 
     objective, accurate, and relevant news and information to the 
     people of Africa and counter disinformation from malign 
     actors, especially in countries in which a free press is 
     banned by the government or not fully established, about the 
     region, the world, and the United States through uncensored 
     news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

     SEC. 9402. UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA.

       Section 306 of the United States International Broadcasting 
     Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6205) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsection 
     (g) and (h), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(f) Suspension and Debarment of Grantees.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a 
     grantee may not be debarred or suspended without consultation 
     with the Chief Executive Officer and a three-fourths majority 
     vote of the Advisory Board in support of such action.
       ``(2) Suspension.--
       ``(A) Criteria for suspension.--A grantee may not be 
     suspended unless the Advisory Board determines that the 
     criteria described in section 513.405 of title 22, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, have been met.
       ``(B) Suspending official.--The Advisory Board shall 
     collectively serve as the suspending official (as described 
     in section 513.105 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations).
       ``(3) Debarment.--
       ``(A) Criteria for debarment.--A grantee may not be 
     debarred unless the Advisory Board determines that one or 
     more of the causes described in section 513.305 of title 22, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, has been established.
       ``(B) Debarring official.--The Advisory Board shall 
     collectively serve as the debarring official (as described in 
     section 513.105 of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations).''.

     SEC. 9403. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATIONS TO SUPPORT UNITED 
                   STATES PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL FAIRS AND 
                   EXPOS.

       Section 9601 of the Department of State Authorizations Act 
     of 2022 (division I of Public Law 117-263; 136 Stat. 3909) is 
     amended in subsection (b), by striking ``fiscal years 2023 
     and 2024'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025, 
     2026, and 2027''.

     SEC. 9404. RESEARCH AND SCHOLAR EXCHANGE PARTNERSHIPS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) it is in the strategic interest of the United States to 
     strengthen relations with Sub-Saharan African states to 
     promote shared interests in the areas of--
       (A) democracy and good governance;
       (B) education and human capital;
       (C) trade and economic development;
       (D) science and technology;
       (E) biodiversity, food, and agriculture; and
       (F) the preservation and management of natural resources, 
     including critical minerals; and
       (2) historically Black colleges and universities (referred 
     to in this section as ``HBCUs'') have a long history of--
       (A) cultivating diaspora relations with Sub-Saharan African 
     states; and
       (B) developing innovative solutions to some of the world's 
     most pressing challenges.
       (b) Strengthened Partnerships.--The Secretary and the 
     Administrator should seek to strengthen and expand 
     partnerships and educational exchange opportunities, 
     including by working with HBCUs, which build the capacity and 
     expertise of students, scholars, and experts from Sub-Saharan 
     Africa in key development sectors.
       (d) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator is authorized 
     to--
       (1) provide technical assistance to HBCUs to assist in 
     fulfilling the goals of this section, including in developing 
     contracts, operating agreements, legal documents, and related 
     infrastructure; and
       (2) upon request, provide feedback to HBCUs, to the maximum 
     extent practicable, after a grant rejection from relevant 
     Federal programs in order to improve future grant 
     applications, as appropriate.

     SEC. 9405. WAIVER OF UNITED STATES RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR 
                   CHILDREN OF RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY 
                   EMPLOYEES.

       Section 320(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1431(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (1)(B), by striking ``; or'' and 
     inserting a semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (2) by adding at the end of the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) the child residing in the legal and physical custody 
     of a citizen parent who is residing abroad as a result of 
     employment with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.''.

                      TITLE V--DIPLOMATIC SECURITY

     SEC. 9501. SECURE EMBASSY CONSTRUCTION AND COUNTERTERRORISM 
                   ACT REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe new 
     guidance and requirements consistent with the Secure Embassy 
     Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (title VI of 
     division A of appendix G of Public Law 106-113), as amended 
     by the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act 
     of 2022 (section 9301 of Public Law 117-263; 136 Stat. 3879) 
     and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report detailing such guidance and requirements, including 
     the impact of implementation on United States diplomatic 
     facilities and construction projects.
       (b) Consequence for Noncompliance.--If the Secretary fails 
     to meet the requirement under subsection (a) no Federal funds 
     appropriated to the Department shall be used for official 
     travel by senior staff in the executive office of the 
     Diplomatic Security Service, including the Assistant 
     Secretary for Diplomatic Security, until such time as the 
     Secretary meets the requirement.
       (c) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the restriction in 
     subsection (b) to meet urgent and critical needs if the 
     Secretary provides written notification to the appropriate 
     congressional committees in advance of travel.

     SEC. 9502. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION FOR SERIOUS SECURITY 
                   INCIDENTS.

       Section 301(a) of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and 
     Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4833(a)), is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
     (3) and (4), respectively;
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(2) Initial congressional notification.--The Secretary 
     shall notify the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the 
     Senate, and the Speaker and minority leader of the House of 
     Representatives not later than 8 days after a possible 
     Serious Security Incident has taken place. Such notification 
     shall include a preliminary description of the incident, of 
     an incident described in paragraph (1), including any known 
     individuals involved, when and where the incident took place, 
     and the next steps in the investigation.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (4), as redesignated by paragraph (1) of 
     this section, by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting 
     ``paragraph (3)''.

     SEC. 9503. NOTIFICATIONS REGARDING SECURITY DECISIONS AT 
                   DIPLOMATIC POSTS.

       Section 103(c) of section 103 of the Omnibus Diplomatic 
     Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4802(c)) is 
     amended--

[[Page S5619]]

       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
       (2) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting ``(1) The 
     Secretary''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) The Secretary of State shall notify the appropriate 
     congressional committees within 10 days of any decision to 
     retain authority over or approve decisions at an overseas 
     post, including the movement of personnel.''.

     SEC. 9504. SECURITY CLEARANCE SUSPENSION PAY FLEXIBILITIES.

       Section 610(c)(6) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 
     U.S.C. 4010(c)(6)) is amended by striking ``paragraph 1(B)'' 
     and inserting ``this subsection''.

     SEC. 9505. MODIFICATION TO NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR 
                   SECURITY CLEARANCE SUSPENSIONS AND REVOCATIONS.

       Section 6710(a) of the Department of State Authorization 
     Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 118-31; 22 U.S.C. 2651a 
     note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and moving such 
     subparagraphs, as so redesignated, 2 ems to the right;
       (2) by striking ``In General.--With respect'' and inserting 
     the following: ``Notification.--
       ``(1) In general.--With respect'';
       (3) in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``revocation on'' and all that follows 
     through ``or revocation'' and inserting ``revocation on--
       ``(A) the present employment status of the covered official 
     and whether the job duties of the covered official have 
     changed since such suspension or revocation;
       ``(B) the reason for such suspension or revocation;
       ``(C) the investigation of the covered official and the 
     results of such investigation; and
       ``(D) any negative fallout or impacts for the Department of 
     State, the United States Government, or national security of 
     the United States as a result of the actions for which the 
     security clearance was suspended or revoked.''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Submission to intelligence communities.--To the 
     extent the basis for any suspension or revocation of a 
     security clearance is premised on the unauthorized release of 
     intelligence (as defined by section 3(1) of the National 
     Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(1)), the Select 
     Committee on Intelligence of the Senate and the Permanent 
     Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
     Representatives shall be an appropriate congressional 
     committee for the purposes of this section.''.

      TITLE VI--UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

     SEC. 9601. PERSONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE 
                   UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL 
                   DEVELOPMENT.

        Section 636(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2396(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(17) employing individuals or organizations, by contract, 
     for services abroad for purposes of this Act and title II of 
     the Food for Peace Act, and individuals employed by contract 
     to perform such services shall not by virtue of such 
     employment be considered to be employees of the United States 
     Government (except that the Administrator of the United 
     States Agency for International Development may determine the 
     applicability to such individuals of section 5 of the State 
     Department Basic Authorities Act of 1965 (22 U.S.C. 2672) 
     regarding tort claims when such claims arise in foreign 
     countries in connection with United States operations abroad, 
     and of any other law administered by the Administrator 
     concerning the employment of such individuals abroad), and 
     such contracts are authorized to be negotiated, the terms of 
     the contracts to be prescribed, and the work to be performed, 
     where necessary, without regard to such statutory provisions 
     as relate to the negotiation, making, and performance of 
     contracts and performance of work in the United States.''.

     SEC. 9602. CRISIS OPERATIONS AND DISASTER SURGE STAFFING.

       Section 625 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
     U.S.C. 2385) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(k) Crisis Operations and Disaster Surge Staffing.--(1) 
     The United States Agency for International Development is 
     authorized to appoint personnel in the excepted service using 
     funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made 
     available under the heading `Transition Initiatives' in an 
     Act making appropriations for the Department of State, 
     Foreign Operations, and Related Programs to carry out the 
     provisions of part I and chapter 4 of part II of this Act of 
     and section 509(b) of the Global Fragility Act of 2019 (title 
     V of division J of Public Law 116-94) to prevent or respond 
     to foreign crises and contexts with growing instability;
       ``(2) Funds authorized to carry out such purposes may be 
     made available for the operating expenses and administrative 
     costs of such personnel and may remain attributed to any 
     minimum funding requirement for which they were originally 
     made available.
       ``(3) The Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development shall coordinate with the Office of 
     Personnel Management on implementation of the appointment 
     authority under paragraph (1).''.

     SEC. 9603. EDUCATION ALLOWANCE WHILE ON MILITARY LEAVE.

       Section 908 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
     4088) is amended by inserting ``or United States Agency for 
     International Development'' after ``A Department''.

     SEC. 9604. INCLUSION IN THE PET TRANSPORTATION EXCEPTION TO 
                   THE FLY AMERICA ACT.

       Section 6224(a)(1) of the Department of State Authorization 
     Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 118-31; 22 U.S.C. 
     4081a) is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
       (1) by striking ``the Department is'' and inserting ``the 
     Department and the United States Agency for International 
     Development (USAID), and other United States Government 
     employees under chief of mission authority are''; and
       (2) by striking ``Department personnel'' and inserting 
     ``Department and USAID personnel, and other United States 
     Government employees under chief of mission authority''.

                        TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 9701. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO PROMOTE UNITED 
                   STATES CITIZEN EMPLOYMENT AT THE UNITED NATIONS 
                   AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The President should direct United States 
     departments and agencies to, in coordination with the 
     Secretary --
       (1) fund and recruit Junior Professional Officers for 
     positions at the United Nations and related specialized and 
     technical organizations; and
       (2) facilitate secondments, details, and transfers to 
     agencies and specialized and technical bodies of the United 
     Nations.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated an additional $20,000,000 for each of the 
     fiscal years 2025 through 2031 for the Secretary to support 
     Junior Professional Officers, details, transfers, and interns 
     that advance United States interests at multilateral 
     institutions and international organizations, including to 
     recruit, train, and host events related to such positions, 
     and to promote United States citizen candidates for 
     employment and leadership positions at multilateral 
     institutions and international organizations.
       (c) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.
       (d) Congressional Notification.--Not later than 15 days 
     prior to the obligation of funds authorized to be 
     appropriated under this section, the Secretary shall submit 
     to the appropriate congressional committees and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives a notification 
     outlining the amount and proposed use of such funds.

     SEC. 9702. AMENDMENT TO REWARDS FOR JUSTICE PROGRAM.

       Section 36(b) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act 
     of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2708(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (13), by striking ``; or'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(15) the restraining, seizing, forfeiting, or 
     repatriating of stolen assets linked to foreign government 
     corruption and the proceeds of such corruption.''.

     SEC. 9703. PASSPORT AUTOMATION MODERNIZATION.

       The Act entitled ``An Act to regulate the issue and 
     validity of passports, and for other purposes'', approved 
     July 3, 1926 (44 Stat. 887, 22 U.S.C. 211a), is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and through the use of Department of 
     State electronic systems,'' after ``the insular possessions 
     of the United States,''; and
       (2) by striking ``person'' and inserting ``entity''.

     SEC. 9704. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN PAYMENT IN CONNECTION WITH 
                   THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

       Section 7(1) of Public Law 106-178 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is 
     amended, in the undesignated matter following subparagraph 
     (B), by striking ``December 31, 2025'' and inserting 
     ``December 31, 2030''.

     SEC. 9705. SUPPORT FOR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) congressional travel is essential to fostering 
     international relations, understanding global issues first-
     hand, and jointly advancing United States interests abroad; 
     and
       (2) only in close coordination and thanks to the dedication 
     of personnel at United States embassies, consulates, and 
     other missions abroad can the success of these vital trips be 
     possible.
       (b) In General.--The Secretary shall reaffirm to all 
     diplomatic posts the importance of Congressional travel and 
     shall require all such posts to support congressional travel 
     by members and staff of the appropriate congressional 
     committees fully, by making such support available on any day 
     of the week, including Federal and local holidays and, to the 
     extent practical, requiring the direct involvement of mid-
     level or senior officers.
       (c) Exception for Simultaneous High-level Visits.--The 
     requirement under subsection (a) does not apply in the case 
     of a simultaneous visit from the President, the

[[Page S5620]]

     First Lady or First Gentleman, the Vice President, the 
     Secretary of State, or the Secretary of Defense.
       (d) Training.--The Secretary shall require all designated 
     control officers to have been trained on supporting 
     congressional travel at posts abroad prior to the assigned 
     congressional visit.

     SEC. 9706. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION WITH VISA APPLICANTS.

       Section 833(a)(5)(A) of the International Marriage Broker 
     Regulation Act of 2005 (8 U.S.C. 1375a(a)(5)(A)) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new clause:
       ``(vi) Mailings under this subsection may be transmitted by 
     electronic means, including electronic mail. The Secretary of 
     State may communicate with visa applicants using personal 
     contact information provided to them or to the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security by the applicant, petitioner, or designated 
     agent or attorney.''.

     SEC. 9707. ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF VISA INFORMATION.

       Section 222 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
     U.S.C. 1202) is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(i) Electronic Transmission.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of the immigration laws (as such term is defined in 
     section 101(a)(17) of this Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17)), all 
     requirements in the immigration laws for communications with 
     visa applicants shall be deemed satisfied if electronic 
     communications are sent to the applicant using personal 
     contact information at an address for such communications 
     provided by the applicant, petitioner, or designated agent or 
     attorney. The Secretary of State shall take appropriate 
     actions to allow applicants to update their personal contact 
     information and to ensure that electronic communications can 
     be securely transmitted to applicants.''.

     SEC. 9708. INCLUSION OF COST ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCING 
                   REPORTS.

       (a) Estimated Cost of Reports.--Beginning on October 1, 
     2026, and for the next three fiscal years, the Secretary 
     shall require that any report produced for external 
     distribution, including for distribution to Congress, include 
     the total estimated cost of producing such report and the 
     estimated number of personnel hours.
       (b) Annual Total Cost of Reports.--Not later than 90 days 
     after the end of each fiscal year, beginning with fiscal year 
     2025, and for the next three fiscal years, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and 
     the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
     an annual report listing the reports issued for the prior 
     fiscal year, the frequency of each report, the total 
     estimated cost associated with producing such report, and the 
     estimated number of personnel hours.

     SEC. 9709. EXTENSIONS.

       (a) USAID Civil Service Annuitant Waiver.--Section 
     625(j)(1)(B) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2385(j)(1)(B)) shall be applied by striking ``October 1, 
     2010'' and inserting ``September 30, 2026''.
       (b) Overseas Pay Comparability and Limitation.--
       (1) In general.--The authority provided under section 1113 
     of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-
     32; 123 Stat. 1904) shall remain in effect through September 
     30, 2026.
       (2) Limitation.--The authority described in paragraph (1) 
     may not be used to pay an eligible member of the Foreign 
     Service (as defined in section 1113(b) of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-32; 123 Stat. 1904)) 
     a locality-based comparability payment (stated as a 
     percentage) that exceeds two-thirds of the amount of the 
     locality-based comparability payment (stated as a percentage) 
     that would be payable to such member under section 5304 of 
     title 5, United States Code, if such member's official duty 
     station were in the District of Columbia.
       (c) Inspector General Annuitant Waiver.--The authorities 
     provided under section 1015(b) of the Supplemental 
     Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-212; 124 Stat. 
     2332)--
       (1) shall remain in effect through September 30, 2026; and
       (2) may be used to facilitate the assignment of persons for 
     oversight of programs in Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, 
     Venezuela, and Yemen.
       (d) Security Review Committees.--The authority provided 
     under section 301(a)(3) of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security 
     and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (22 U.S.C. 4831(a)(3)) shall 
     remain in effect for facilities in Afghanistan and shall 
     apply to facilities in Ukraine through September 30, 2026, 
     except that the notification and reporting requirements 
     contained in such section shall include the appropriate 
     congressional committees, the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives.

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