[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12335-12337]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENT OF STATE AUTHORITIES ACT, FISCAL YEAR 2017, IMPROVEMENTS ACT

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further 
consideration of the bill (S. 371) to make technical changes and other 
improvements to the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 
2017, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 371

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of State 
     Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act''.

     SEC. 2. OVERSIGHT BY COMMITTEES ON APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 
     1986.--Section 104(a) of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and 
     Antiterrorism Act of 1986, as added by section 101 of the 
     Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
     Law 114-323), is amended by inserting ``and the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional 
     committees''.
       (b) Annual Report on Embassy Construction Costs.--Section 
     118(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal 
     Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by inserting ``and 
     the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional 
     committees''.
       (c) Oversight of and Accountability for Peacekeeper 
     Abuses.--Section 301(a) of the Department of State 
     Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is 
     amended by inserting ``and the Committees on Appropriations 
     of the Senate and the House of Representatives'' after 
     ``appropriate congressional committees''.
       (d) Workforce Rightsizing Report.--Section 405(c) of the 
     Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
     Law 114-323) is amended by inserting ``and the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional 
     committees''.
       (e) Consular Immunity.--Subsection (b)(2) of section 4 of 
     the Diplomatic Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 254c), as added by 
     section 501 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323), is amended by striking 
     ``of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations'' and inserting ``and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations''.
       (f) Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Report.--
     Section 602(c) of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and the Committee on Appropriations'' 
     after ``Committee on Foreign Affairs''; and
       (2) by inserting ``and the Committee on Appropriations'' 
     after ``Committee on Foreign Relations'';

     SEC. 3. PEACEKEEPING TRAINING.

       Section 301 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``enhance the discovery'' 
     and inserting ``investigate allegations'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``adequately respond to 
     complaints about such offenses by carrying out swift and 
     effective disciplinary action against the personnel'' and 
     inserting ``appropriately hold accountable personnel''; and
       (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including 
     compensation to victims, as appropriate'' after ``responses 
     to such offenses'';
       (2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``any individual who 
     commits an act'' and inserting ``personnel who are found to 
     have committed acts''; and
       (3) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``noteworthy''.

     SEC. 4. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY 
                   GENERAL.

       Section 310 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``The descriptions 
     referred to in subsection (a) shall include the following 
     elements'' and inserting ``In addition to the descriptions 
     referred to in subsection (a), each such candidate shall be 
     urged to describe the following''; and
       (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``such l'' and inserting 
     ``such agenda''.

     SEC. 5. POLICY REGARDING THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS 
                   COUNCIL.

       Section 311(a)(2) of the Department of State Authorities 
     Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
     a semicolon; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(E) which has been designated as a Tier 3 country in the 
     annual Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 
     under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
     U.S.C. 7107); or
       ``(F) which is identified as having failed to prevent or 
     address gross violations of human rights in the annual 
     Department of State Human Rights Report under the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974.''.

     SEC. 6. COMPARATIVE REPORT ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.

       Section 313 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the Senate and the House of Representatives'' after 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'';
       (2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1) a comparison of the costs of current United Nations 
     peacekeeping operations, including the costs incurred by the 
     United States for such operations, and the estimated cost of 
     such operations if implemented unilaterally by the United 
     States;'';
       (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
       (4) by inserting after paragraph (1), as amended by 
     paragraph (2) of this section, the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) an assessment of the operational, structural, and 
     doctrinal differences between the military and civilian 
     infrastructures of the United States and United Nations and 
     other assumptions that impact cost estimates; and''.

     SEC. 7. LATERAL ENTRY INTO THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

       Section 404(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by striking 
     ``outstanding''.

     SEC. 8. COMBATING INTOLERANCE.

       The section heading of section 419 of the Department of 
     State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) 
     is amended by striking ``ANTI-SEMITISM'' and inserting 
     ``INTOLERANCE''.

     SEC. 9. TECHNICAL CORRECTION REGARDING COMPLETION OF WESTERN 
                   HEMISPHERE DRUG POLICY COMMISSION REPORT.

       Section 603(f)(1) of the Department of State Authorities 
     Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by 
     striking ``section 362'' and inserting ``section 602(c)''.

[[Page 12336]]



     SEC. 10. BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

       Section 703(b)(2) of the Department of State Authorities 
     Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by 
     striking ``any significant restructuring,''.

     SEC. 11. RANSOMS TO FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.

       Section 709(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by inserting 
     ``, to the extent practicable,'' before ``transmit''.

     SEC. 12. RESTORATION OF TIBET REPORT.

       Section 613 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228, 22 U.S.C. 6901 note), 
     as amended by section 715(b)(1) of the Department of State 
     Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323), is 
     further amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``In General'' and 
     inserting the following: ``Policy.--
       ``(1) In general.--'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as paragraph (2) and 
     moving such paragraph, as so redesignated, two ems to the 
     right; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Periodic Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of the Department of State Authorities 
     Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act, and annually 
     thereafter until December 31, 2021, the President shall 
     transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
     on--
       ``(1) the steps taken by the President and the Secretary in 
     accordance with subsection (a)(1); and
       ``(2) the status of any discussions between the People's 
     Republic of China and the Dalai Lama or his 
     representatives.''.

              Amendment Offered by Mr. Royce of California

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the 
desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Department of State 
     Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act''.

     SEC. 2. REPORTS.

       (a) Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 
     1986.--Section 104(a) of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and 
     Antiterrorism Act of 1986, as added by section 101 of the 
     Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
     Law 114-323), is amended by inserting ``and the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional 
     committees''.
       (b) Annual Report on Embassy Construction Costs.--Section 
     118(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal 
     Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by inserting ``and 
     the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House 
     of Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional 
     committees''.
       (c) Oversight of and Accountability for Peacekeeper 
     Abuses.--Section 301(a) of the Department of State 
     Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is 
     amended by inserting ``and the Committees on Appropriations 
     of the Senate and the House of Representatives'' after 
     ``appropriate congressional committees''.
       (d) Workforce Rightsizing Report.--Section 405(c) of the 
     Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public 
     Law 114-323) is amended by inserting ``and the Committees on 
     Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
     Representatives'' after ``appropriate congressional 
     committees''.
       (e) Consular Immunity.--Subsection (b)(2) of section 4 of 
     the Diplomatic Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 254c), as added by 
     section 501 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323), is amended by striking 
     ``of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations'' and inserting ``and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations''.
       (f) Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Report.--
     Section 602(c) of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and the Committee on Appropriations'' 
     after ``Committee on Foreign Affairs''; and
       (2) by inserting ``and the Committee on Appropriations'' 
     after ``Committee on Foreign Relations'';

     SEC. 3. PEACEKEEPING TRAINING.

       Section 301 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (e)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``enhance the discovery'' 
     and inserting ``investigate allegations'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``adequately respond to 
     complaints about such offenses by carrying out swift and 
     effective disciplinary action against the personnel'' and 
     inserting ``appropriately hold accountable personnel''; and
       (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including 
     compensation to victims, as appropriate'' after ``responses 
     to such offenses'';
       (2) in subsection (f)(2), by striking ``any individual who 
     commits an act'' and inserting ``personnel who are found to 
     have committed acts''; and
       (3) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``noteworthy''.

     SEC. 4. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY 
                   GENERAL.

       Section 310 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``The descriptions 
     referred to in subsection (a) shall include the following 
     elements'' and inserting ``In addition to the descriptions 
     referred to in subsection (a), each such candidate shall be 
     urged to describe the following''; and
       (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``such l'' and inserting 
     ``such agenda''.

     SEC. 5. POLICY REGARDING THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS 
                   COUNCIL.

       Section 311(a)(2) of the Department of State Authorities 
     Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end; 
     and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(E) which has been designated as a Tier 3 country in the 
     annual Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 
     under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 
     U.S.C. 7107); or
       ``(F) which is identified as having failed to prevent or 
     address gross violations of human rights in the annual 
     Department of State Human Rights Report under the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961 and the Trade Act of 1974; and''.

     SEC. 6. COMPARATIVE REPORT ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.

       Section 313 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and the Committees on Appropriations of 
     the Senate and the House of Representatives'' after 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'';
       (2) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
       ``(1) a comparison of the costs of current United Nations 
     peacekeeping operations, including the costs incurred by the 
     United States for such operations, and the estimated cost of 
     such operations if implemented unilaterally by the United 
     States;'';
       (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
       (4) by inserting after paragraph (1), as amended by 
     paragraph (2) of this section, the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) an assessment of the operational, structural, and 
     doctrinal differences between the military and civilian 
     infrastructures of the United States and United Nations and 
     other assumptions that impact cost estimates; and''.

     SEC. 7. LATERAL ENTRY INTO THE FOREIGN SERVICE.

       Section 404(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by striking 
     ``outstanding''.

     SEC. 8. COMBATING INTOLERANCE.

       The section heading of section 419 of the Department of 
     State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) 
     is amended by striking ``ANTI-SEMITISM'' and inserting 
     ``INTOLERANCE''.

     SEC. 9. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS REGARDING COMPLETION OF WESTERN 
                   HEMISPHERE DRUG POLICY COMMISSION REPORT.

       Section 603 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``section 362'' and 
     inserting ``section 602(c)''; and
       (2) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
       ``(h) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall serve 
     without pay or benefits.''.

     SEC. 10. TECHNICAL CORRECTION REGARDING POWERS OF WESTERN 
                   HEMISPHERE DRUG POLICY COMMISSION.

       Section 604 of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Commission may 
     solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or 
     devises of money, services, or property, both real and 
     personal, for the purpose of carrying out any duty, power, or 
     authority of the Commission.''.

     SEC. 11. BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

       Section 703(b)(2) of the Department of State Authorities 
     Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by 
     striking ``any significant restructuring,''.

     SEC. 12. RANSOMS TO FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS.

       Section 709(a) of the Department of State Authorities Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323) is amended by inserting 
     ``, to the extent practicable,'' before ``transmit''.

     SEC. 13. RESTORATION OF TIBET REPORT.

       Section 613 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, 
     Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228, 22 U.S.C. 6901 note), 
     as amended by section 715(b)(1) of the Department of State

[[Page 12337]]

     Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-323), is 
     further amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``In General'' and 
     inserting the following: ``Policy.--
       ``(1) In general.--'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as paragraph (2) and 
     moving such paragraph, as so redesignated, two ems to the 
     right; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Periodic Reports.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of the Department of State Authorities 
     Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act, and annually 
     thereafter until December 31, 2021, the President shall 
     transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report 
     on--
       ``(1) the steps taken by the President and the Secretary in 
     accordance with subsection (a)(1) to implement the Tibetan 
     Policy Act of 2002; and
       ``(2) the status of any discussions between the People's 
     Republic of China and the Dalai Lama or his representatives 
     or a successor selected by a method of the 14th Dalai Lama's 
     own choosing or the representatives of such successor.''.

     SEC. 14. DEPARTMENT OF STATE REORGANIZATIONS.

       The report required under subsection (l) of section 7034 of 
     the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31) 
     shall also be provided to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations in the Senate concurrent with the submission of 
     such report to the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate pursuant to such subsection.

  Mr. ROYCE of California (during the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask 
unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the third 
time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________