[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50802-50804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19449]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 196

[Public Notice 4077]


The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs 
Fellowship Program and Grants to Post-Secondary Institutions

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document establishes the rule by which the Department of 
State's Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs 
Fellowship program will be administered. The State Department Basic 
Authorities Act states that the Department shall establish regulations 
which will provide for a limit on the size of any specific grant and, 
regarding any grant to individuals, shall ensure no grant recipient 
receives grants from one or more Federal programs which in the 
aggregate would exceed the cost of his or her educational expenses and 
shall require satisfactory educational progress by grantees as a

[[Page 50803]]

condition of eligibility for continued participation in the program. 
This rule will facilitate the recruitment of a talented and diverse 
group of students into the Foreign Service.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 31, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Esper, Office of Recruitment/
Student Programs at (202) 261-8924.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/
Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program was established to recruit 
a talented and diverse group of students into the Foreign Service. The 
State Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2719) authorizes the 
Secretary of State to make grants to post-secondary education 
institutions or students for the purpose of increasing the level of 
knowledge and awareness of and interest in employment with the Foreign 
Service. The program provides scholarships to undergraduate and 
graduate students in academic programs relevant to international 
affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management 
and science policy. While in school, Fellows participate in one 
domestic and one overseas internship within the U.S. Department of 
State. After completing their academic training, and successfully 
passing the Foreign Service entry requirements, Fellows will enter the 
U.S. Department of State Foreign Service as Foreign Service Officers. 
Consideration is given to all qualified applicants who, in addition to 
outstanding leadership skills and academic achievement, demonstrate 
financial need. The number of fellowships awarded is determined by 
available funding.

Regulatory Findings

Administrative Procedure Act

    The Department is publishing this rule as a final rule after it was 
published as a proposed rule on January 11, 2002 (67 FR 1420). No 
comments were received regarding the final rule.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Department of State, in accordance with the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this regulation and, by 
approving it, certifies that this rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local and 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $1 
million or more in any year and it will not significantly or uniquely 
affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary 
under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

    This rule is not a major rule as defined by section 804 of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act of 1996. This rule will not 
result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; a 
major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse effects on 
competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on 
the ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign 
based companies in domestic and import markets.

Executive Order 12866

    The Department of State does not consider this rule to be a 
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, section 
3(f), Regulatory Planning and Review. In addition, the Department is 
exempt from Executive Order 12866 except to the extent that it is 
promulgating regulations in conjunction with a domestic agency that are 
significant regulatory actions. The Department has nevertheless 
reviewed the regulation to ensure its consistency with the regulatory 
philosophy and principles set forth in that Executive Order.

Executive Order 13132

    This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 
of Executive Order 13132, it is determined that this rule does not have 
sufficient federalism implications to require consultations or warrant 
the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The reporting or recordkeeping action required from the public 
under the rule requires the approval of the Office of Management and 
Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act. A Fellowship application form 
was forwarded to OMB as required. The Pickering Fellowship application 
form number is: DS-3091 and the number of the collection is: OMB 
1405-0143.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 196

    Education, Educational study programs, Grant programs--education, 
Grant programs--foreign affairs, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Scholarships and fellowships, Students.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the U.S. Department of 
State amends 22 CFR chapter I by adding part 196 to read as follows:

PART 196--THOMAS R. PICKERING FOREIGN AFFAIRS/GRADUATE FOREIGN 
AFFAIRS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Sec.
196.1   What is the Fellowship Program?
196.2   How is the Fellowship Program administered?
196.3   Grants to post-secondary education institutions.
196.4   Administering Office.

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2719.


Sec. 196.1  What is the Fellowship Program?

    The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs 
Fellowship Program is designed to attract outstanding men and women at 
the undergraduate and graduate educational levels for the purpose of 
increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of and employment with 
the Foreign Service, consistent with 22 U.S.C. 3905. The Program 
develops a source of trained men and women, from academic disciplines 
representing the skill needs of the Department, who are dedicated to 
representing the United States' interests abroad.


Sec. 196.2  How is the Fellowship Program administered?

    (a) Eligibility. Eligibility will be determined annually by the 
Department of State and publicized nationwide. Fellows must be United 
States citizens.
    (b) Provisions. The grant awarded to each individual student shall 
not exceed $250,000 for the total amount of time the student is in the 
program. Fellows are prohibited from receiving grants from one or more 
Federal programs, which in the aggregate would exceed the cost of his 
or her educational expenses. Continued eligibility for participation is 
contingent upon the Fellow's ability to meet the educational 
requirements set forth in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (c) Program requirements. Eligibility for participation in the 
program is conditional upon successful completion of pre-employment 
processing specified by the Department of State, including background 
investigation, medical examination, and drug testing. As a condition of 
eligibility for continued receipt of grant funds, fellows are required 
to complete prescribed coursework and maintain a satisfactory

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grade point average as determined by the Department of State. Fellows 
are also required to accept employment with the Department of State's 
Foreign Service upon successful completion of the program, and Foreign 
Service entry requirements. Fellows must continue employment for a 
period of one and one-half years for each year of education funded by 
the Department of State.


Sec. 196.3  Grants to post-secondary education institutions.

    The Department of State may make a grant to a post-secondary 
education institution for the purpose of increasing the level of 
knowledge and awareness of and interest in employment with the Foreign 
Service, consistent with 22 U.S.C. 3905, not to exceed $1,000,000, 
unless otherwise authorized by law.


Sec. 196.4  Administering office.

    The Department of State's Bureau of Human Resources, Office of 
Recruitment is responsible for administering the Thomas R. Pickering 
Foreign Affairs/Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program and grants 
to post-secondary institutions and may be contacted for more detailed 
information.

    Dated: July 17, 2002.
Ruben Torres,
Executive Director, Bureau of Human Resources, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 02-19449 Filed 8-5-02; 8:45 am]
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