[Senate Report 112-220]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 525
112th Congress  }                                           {    Report
  2d Session    }             SENATE                        {   112-220
=======================================================================
 
                       QUADRENNIAL DIPLOMACY AND 
                     DEVELOPMENT REVIEW ACT OF 2012 

                                _______
                                

               September 19, 2012.--Ordered to be printed

          Mr. Kerry, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 3341]

    The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under 
consideration the bill S. 3341, to require a quadrennial 
diplomacy and development review, and for other purposes, 
reports favorably thereon without amendment, and recommends 
that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page

  I. Purpose..........................................................1
 II. Committee Action.................................................1
III. Discussion.......................................................2
 IV. Cost Estimate....................................................3
  V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................3
 VI. Changes in Existing Law..........................................3

                               I. PURPOSE

    The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 
2012 requires that the Secretary of State, under the direction 
of the President, conduct periodically scheduled reviews to 
guide the mission of the State Department and the U.S. Agency 
for International Development in order to strengthen the 
accountability and effectiveness of United States diplomatic 
and foreign aid programs to reflect the new challenges of the 
21st century and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of 
our diplomatic and development agencies.

                          II. COMMITTEE ACTION

    S. 3341 was introduced on June 26, 2012 by Senator Kerry. 
On September 19, 2012 the committee considered S. 3341 and 
ordered it reported without amendment by voice vote.

                            III. DISCUSSION

A. Summary of Legislation

    Section 2(a)(1) of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and 
Development Review (QDDR) establishes a requirement for a 
review of United States diplomacy and development every four 
years (during a year following a year evenly divisible by 
four).
    Section 2(a)(2) establishes that the scope of the effort 
shall be a comprehensive examination of the national diplomacy 
and development policy and strategic framework of the United 
States, intended to set priorities and make recommendations 
regarding U.S. diplomacy and development, including guidance on 
programs, budgets, policies, and authorities of the Department 
of State and the United States Agency for International 
Development (USAID).
    Section 2(a)(3) establishes a system for interagency 
consultations in the conduct of the diplomacy and development 
review, such that the Secretary of State, after consultations 
with the Department of State and USAID, should consult with the 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, relevant 
congressional committees, and other relevant governmental and 
non-governmental entities.
    Section 2(b) sets the contents of the QDDR to place 
diplomacy and development efforts in the frame of national 
security strategy; provide analysis of State and foreign 
assistance bureaucracy organization and implementation metrics; 
and make recommendations for more efficient and effective 
allocation of resources.
    Section 2(c) establishes reporting timelines and contents, 
such that not later than the year following the year in which a 
quadrennial diplomacy and development review is conducted (but 
not later than the President submits the budget for the next 
fiscal year to Congress) the Secretary of State shall submit to 
Congress a report regarding that quadrennial diplomacy and 
development review.
    Section 2(d) provides authorities for the Secretary of 
State to establish an Office of Quadrennial Diplomacy and 
Development Review which the Secretary may, using only existing 
resources, staff in a manner to assist in discharging the 
functions of the quadrennial development and diplomacy review.
    Section 2(e) provides for the State Foreign Affairs 
Advisory Board to provide an independent assessment of the 
Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review.

B. Committee Comments

    The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 
2012 clarifies the measures by which the administration and 
Congress assess and evaluate United States diplomacy and 
development efforts, with the aim of furthering effective and 
results-oriented diplomacy and development efforts essential 
for protecting and advancing U.S. national security interests.
    The committee recognizes that the QDDR, by necessity, must 
be a whole of government effort, and reflect appropriate 
participation and appropriate roles in a collaborative 
diplomacy and development review process by all stakeholders. 
The committee notes that the Administrator of USAID served as 
co-chair of the first quadrennial diplomacy and development 
review, completed in 2010, alongside the Secretary of State.

                           IV. COST ESTIMATE

    Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing Rules of the 
Senate requires that committee reports on bills or joint 
resolutions contain a cost estimate for such legislation. To 
date, the committee has not received the Congressional Budget 
Office cost estimate for S. 3341.

                   V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

    Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is 
no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation.

                      VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there 
are no changes in existing law made by this legislation.

                                  
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