HR 6060 IH
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6060
To authorize certain activities by the Department of State, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 13, 2006
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. LANTOS, and Mr. PAYNE) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International
Relations
A BILL
To authorize certain activities by the Department of State, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Department of State
Authorities Act of 2006'.
(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Fraud prevention and detection account.
Sec. 3. Education allowances.
Sec. 4. Protection of refugees from North Korea.
Sec. 5. Interference with protective functions.
Sec. 6. Incitement to acts of discrimination.
Sec. 7. Persons excused from payment of fees for execution and issuance
of passports.
Sec. 8. Authority to administratively amend surcharges.
Sec. 9. Extension of privileges and immunities.
Sec. 10. Property disposition.
Sec. 11. Services for children with autism at overseas missions.
Sec. 12. Removal of contracting prohibition.
Sec. 13. Assistance for maternal and prenatal care for certain
individuals of Belarus and Ukraine affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
Sec. 14. Foreign Service pay for performance system.
Sec. 15. Pay for performance interim schedule.
Sec. 16. Uniform compensation for worldwide service.
Sec. 17. Technical and conforming amendments.
Sec. 18. Dual gateway policy of the Government of Ireland.
Sec. 19. Personal services contracting program.
Sec. 20. Worldwide availability.
SEC. 2. FRAUD PREVENTION AND DETECTION ACCOUNT.
Section 286(v)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1356(v)(2)(A)) is amended--
(1) in clause (i), by inserting `or primarily' after `exclusively';
and
(2) by amending clause (ii) to read as follows:
`(ii) otherwise to prevent and detect visa fraud, including
primarily fraud by applicants for visas described in subparagraph
(H)(i), (H)(ii), or (L) of section 101(a)(15), in cooperation with the
Secretary of Homeland Security or pursuant to the terms of a memorandum
of understanding or other agreement between the Secretary of State and
the Secretary of Homeland Security; and'.
SEC. 3. EDUCATION ALLOWANCES.
Section 5924(4) of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the first sentence of subparagraph (A), by inserting `United
States' after `nearest';
(2) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
`(B) The travel expenses of dependents of an employee to and from a
secondary or post-secondary educational institution, not to exceed one
annual trip each way for each dependent, except that an allowance payment
under subparagraph (A) may not be made for a dependent during the 12
months following the arrival of the dependent at the selected educational
institution under authority contained in this subparagraph.'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(D) Allowances provided pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) may
include, at the election of the employee, payment or reimbursement of the
costs incurred to store baggage for the employee's dependent at or in the
vicinity of the dependent's school during the dependent's annual trip
between the school and the employee's duty station, except that such
payment or reimbursement may not exceed the cost that the Government would
incur to transport the baggage in connection with the annual trip, and
such payment or reimbursement shall be in lieu of transportation of the
baggage.'.
SEC. 4. PROTECTION OF REFUGEES FROM NORTH KOREA.
(a) Responsibilities of the Special Envoy on Human Rights in North Korea-
Section 107(c) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (Public Law
108-333) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking `and' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting `;
and'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(7) help coordinate efforts by the Secretary of State to assist North
Korean refugees and migrants, including the activities directed by section
303.'.
(b) Reporting Requirements- Section 305(a) of the North Korean Human
Rights Act of 2004 is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking `and' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting `;
and'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(3) a detailed description of the measures undertaken by the Secretary
of State to carry out section 303, including country-specific information
with respect to United States efforts to secure the cooperation and
permission of the governments of countries in East and Southeast Asia to
facilitate United States processing of North Koreans seeking protection as
refugees. The information required by this paragraph may be provided in a
classified format, if necessary.'.
SEC. 5. INTERFERENCE WITH PROTECTIVE FUNCTIONS.
(a) Offense- Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
`Sec. 118. Interference with certain protective functions
`Any person who knowingly and willfully obstructs, resists, or interferes
with a Federal law enforcement agent engaged, within the United States or the
special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in the
performance of the protective functions authorized under section 37 of the
State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2709) or section 103
of the Diplomatic Security Act (22 U.S.C. 4802) shall be fined under this
title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such
chapter is amended by adding at the end the following:
`Sec. 118. Interference with certain protective functions.'.
SEC. 6. INCITEMENT TO ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION.
(a) Inclusion of Information Relating to Incitement to Acts of
Discrimination in Annual Country Reports on Human Right Practices-
(1) COUNTRIES RECEIVING ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE- Section 116(d) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (10), by striking `and' at the end;
(B) in paragraph (11)(C), by striking the period at the end and
inserting `; and'; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(12) wherever applicable, a description of the nature and extent
of--
`(A) propaganda in foreign government and foreign
government-controlled media and other sources, including foreign
government-produced educational materials and textbooks, that attempt to
justify or promote racial hatred or incite acts of violence against any
race or people;
`(B) complicity or involvement by the foreign government in the
creation of such propaganda or incitement of acts of violence against any
race or people; and
`(C) a description of the actions, if any, taken by the foreign
government to eliminate such propaganda or incitement.'.
(2) COUNTRIES RECEIVING SECURITY ASSISTANCE- Section 502B(b) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2304(b)) is amended by inserting
after the ninth sentence the following new sentence: `Each report under this
section shall also include, wherever applicable, a description of the nature
and extent of propaganda in foreign government and foreign
government-controlled media and other sources, including foreign
government-produced educational materials and textbooks, that attempt to
justify or promote racial hatred or incite acts of violence against any race
or people, complicity or involvement by the foreign government in the
creation of such propaganda or incitement of acts of violence against any
race or people, and a description of the actions, if any, taken by the
foreign government to eliminate such propaganda or incitement.'.
(b) Effective Date of Amendments- The amendments made by subsection (a)
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply beginning
with the first report submitted by the Secretary of State under sections
116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d)
and 2304(b)) after such date.
SEC. 7. PERSONS EXCUSED FROM PAYMENT OF FEES FOR EXECUTION AND ISSUANCE OF
PASSPORTS.
Section 1 of the Act of June 4, 1920 (22 U.S.C. 214) is amended--
(1) by striking `or from a widow' and inserting `from a widow';
and
(2) by inserting `; or from an individual or individuals abroad,
returning to the United States, when the Secretary determines that foregoing
the collection of such fee is justified for humanitarian reasons or for law
enforcement purposes' after `such member' the second place it appears.
SEC. 8. AUTHORITY TO ADMINISTRATIVELY AMEND SURCHARGES.
(a) In General- Beginning in fiscal year 2007 and thereafter, the
Secretary of State is authorized to amend administratively the amounts of the
surcharges related to consular services in support of enhanced border security
(provided for in the last paragraph under the heading `diplomatic and consular
programs' under title IV of division B of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2005 (Public Law 108-447)) that are in addition to the passport and immigrant
visa fees in effect on January 1, 2004.
(b) Requirements- In carrying out subsection (a) and the provision of law
described in such subsection, the Secretary shall meet the following
requirements:
(1) The amounts of the surcharges shall be reasonably related to the
costs of providing services in connection with the activity or item for
which the surcharges are charged.
(2) The aggregate amount of surcharges collected may not exceed the
aggregate amount obligated and expended for the costs related to consular
services in support of enhanced border security incurred in connection with
the activity or item for which the surcharges are charged.
(3) A surcharge may not be collected except to the extent the surcharge
will be obligated and expended to pay the costs related to consular services
in support of enhanced border security incurred in connection with the
activity or item for which the surcharge is charged.
(4) A surcharge shall be available for obligation and expenditure only
to pay the costs related to consular services in support of enhanced border
security incurred in providing services in connection with the activity or
item for which the surcharge is charged.
SEC. 9. EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.
(a) The African Union- Section 12 of the International Organizations
Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288f-2) is amended--
(1) in the header, by striking `ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY' and
inserting `AFRICAN UNION';
(2) by inserting `(a)' before `The provisions'; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
`(b) Under such terms and conditions as the President shall determine,
consistent with the purposes of this title, the President is authorized to
extend, or enter into an agreement to extend, to the African Union Mission to
the United States of America, and to its members, the privileges and
immunities enjoyed by diplomatic missions accredited to the United States, and
by members of such missions, subject to corresponding conditions and
obligations.'.
(b) Bank for International Settlements- The International Organizations
Immunities Act (22 U.S.C. 288 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`Sec. 17. The provisions of this title may be extended to the Bank for
International Settlements in the same manner, to the same extent, and subject
to the same conditions, as they may be extended to a public international
organization in which the United States participates pursuant to any treaty or
under the authority of any Act of Congress authorizing such participation or
making an appropriation for such participation.'.
(c) The Holy See- Under such terms and conditions as the President shall
determine, the President is authorized to extend, or to enter into an
agreement to extend, to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the
United Nations in New York, and to its members, the privileges and immunities
enjoyed by the diplomatic missions of member states to the United Nations, and
their members, subject to corresponding conditions and obligations.
SEC. 10. PROPERTY DISPOSITION.
Section 633(e) of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the
Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (division B of Public
Law 108-199; 22 U.S.C. 2078(e)) is amended--
(1) by striking `The United States, through the Department of State,
shall retain ownership of the Palazzo Corpi building in Istanbul, Turkey,
and the' and inserting `The'; and
(2) by striking `at such location' and inserting `at an appropriate
location'.
SEC. 11. SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AT OVERSEAS MISSIONS.
(a) Study- With respect to countries in which there is at least one
mission of the United States, the Secretary of State shall conduct a study of
the availability of programs that address the special needs of children with
autism, including the availability of speech therapists and pediatric
occupational therapists at Department of Defense sponsored schools. Such study
shall include the estimated incidence of autism among dependents of members of
the Foreign Service and dependents of specialist Foreign Service personnel.
Such study shall also include an analysis of the possibility of establishing
`Educational Centers of Excellence' for such children.
(b) Report- Not later than 30 days after the completion of the study
required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate a report containing the findings of the study
together with any recommendations for related action.
SEC. 12. REMOVAL OF CONTRACTING PROHIBITION.
Section 406 of the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of
1986 (22 U.S.C. 4856) is amended by striking subsection (c).
SEC. 13. ASSISTANCE FOR MATERNAL AND PRENATAL CARE FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS
OF BELARUS AND UKRAINE AFFECTED BY THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER.
Of the amounts made available for each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008
to carry out chapters 11 and 12 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq. and 2296 et seq.) and the FREEDOM Support Act (22
U.S.C. 5801 et seq.), such sums as may be necessary for each such fiscal year
are authorized to be available for assistance to improve maternal and prenatal
care, especially for the purpose of helping prevent birth defects and
pregnancy complications, for individuals in the Republic of Belarus and
Ukraine affected by the Chernobyl disaster.
SEC. 14. FOREIGN SERVICE PAY FOR PERFORMANCE SYSTEM.
(a) Purpose- The purposes of this section are--
(1) to recruit, retain, and reward high-performing Foreign Service
members required to be available for worldwide assignment;
(2) to ensure performance management that effectively communicates
performance expectations and makes meaningful distinctions based upon
relative performance; and
(3) to institute a worldwide pay system, consistent with the requirement
that Foreign Service members be available for worldwide assignment.
(b) Foreign Service Schedule- Section 403 of the Foreign Service Act of
1980 (22 U.S.C. 3963) is amended to read as follows:
`Sec. 403. Foreign service schedule
`(a) Establishment- The President shall establish, and periodically
adjust, a Foreign Service Schedule, which shall consist of 9 salary classes
that apply to members of the Service who are citizens of the United States and
for whom salary rates are not otherwise provided under this chapter. The
maximum salary rate for the highest class established under this section,
which shall be designated class 1, may not exceed the rate of basic pay for
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United
States Code.
`(b) Adjustments- Any adjustment in the basic salary rates for members of
the Service made at the time of a schedule adjustment under subsection (a)
shall be made in accordance with section 406.'.
(c) Within Class Salary Increases- Section 406 of the Foreign Service Act
of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3966) is amended to read as follows:
`Sec. 406. Within class salary increases
`(a) Determination- The Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and exclusive
discretion, shall determine which basic salary rate within a band of rates of
pay prescribed by the President under section 403(a) shall be paid to members
of the Service, taking into account individual performance, contribution to
the mission of the Department, or both, under a rigorous performance
management system that--
`(1) makes meaningful distinctions based upon relative performance;
and
`(2) clearly links individual pay and performance under precepts
prescribed by the Secretary.
`(b) Equal Basic Salary Adjustments- Notwithstanding subsection (a), the
Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and exclusive discretion, may provide equal
basic salary adjustments for all career candidates or other members of the
Service--
`(1) whose performance has not been reviewed by a selection board under
section 602; and
`(2) who are found to meet the standards of performance for their
class.
`(c) Performance-Based Salary Adjustments-
`(1) IN GENERAL- For performance-based pay adjustments, the Secretary in
the Secretary's sole and exclusive discretion, shall annually allocate an
amount equal to or greater than the sum of--
`(A) an amount that would be sufficient to fund increases under
section 406(a) of the Foreign Service Act as in effect on March 31, 2008;
and
`(B) the amount necessary to provide for pay adjustments based on
mission requirements, labor market conditions, availability of funds, pay
adjustments received by employees of other Federal agencies, and any other
relevant factors.
`(2) FLEXIBILITY- The formula set forth in paragraph (1) shall--
`(A) ensure that employees, in the aggregate, are not disadvantaged in
terms of the overall amount of pay available as a result of conversion to
the new foreign service performance-based compensation system;
and
`(B) provide flexibility to accommodate changes in the mix of
employees performing those functions, and other changed circumstances that
might impact pay levels.
`(3) LIMITATION- No performance-based salary adjustments authorized by
this section may be paid to any member of the Service if the performance of
the member falls below the standards of performance for the salary class of
the member.'.
(1) LOCALITY PAYMENTS FOR PRIOR SERVICE- A member of the Foreign Service
may not receive a locality payment under section 5304 of title 5, United
States Code, for service performed on or after the first day of the first
pay period beginning on or after April 1, 2008.
(2) PRIOR SERVICE PAY- Except as provided in section 16(c)(1), a member
of the Foreign Service may not receive a nonforeign area allowance or
differential under section 5941 of title 5, United States Code, for service
performed on or after the first day of the first pay period beginning on or
after April 1, 2008.
(e) Effective Date- This section and the amendments made by this section
shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or
after April 1, 2008.
SEC. 15. PAY FOR PERFORMANCE INTERIM SCHEDULE.
(1) IN GENERAL- Except as provided under subsection (b), the Foreign
Service Schedule established under section 403 of the Foreign Service Act of
1980, in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, including step
rates--
(A) shall be adjusted in accordance with section 5303 of title 5,
United States Code; and
(B) shall be capped at the maximum rate of basic pay for grade GS-15
of the General Schedule under section 5332 of that title.
(2) LOCALITY PAY- A member of the Service whose official duty station is
located in an applicable locality pay area shall continue to receive
locality-based comparability payments under section 5304 of that
title.
(b) Interim Foreign Service Schedule-
(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary of State shall establish an interim
Foreign Service Schedule for members of the Service designated class 1 or
below whose official duty station is not located in areas for which such
members receive payments pursuant to section 5304 or 5941 of title 5, United
States Code.
(2) INCREASED RATES- The rates under the Foreign Service Schedule
established under this subsection shall be 9 percent higher than the rates
under the Foreign Service Schedule described in subsection (a) unless a
different percentage is prescribed by the President. Each covered member
shall receive a corresponding increase in the member's rate of basic pay.
Any adjustment of the rates under the Foreign Service Schedule described in
subsection (a) shall result in a corresponding adjustment of rates under the
Foreign Service Schedule established under this subsection.
(3) CONVERSION RULES- The Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and
exclusive discretion, shall establish conversion rules for a member who is
transferred between the Foreign Service Schedule described in subsection (a)
and the Foreign Service Schedule established under this subsection due to a
change in official duty station.
(c) Step Increases- A member covered by the Foreign Service Schedule
(including the interim Foreign Service Schedule) shall receive within class
salary step increases in accordance with section 406 of the Foreign Service
Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3966), including step increases that become effective
on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after April 1,
2008.
(d) Effective Date- This section shall take effect beginning on the first
day of the first pay period beginning on or after April 1, 2007, and ending on
the effective date described in section 14(e).
SEC. 16. UNIFORM COMPENSATION FOR WORLDWIDE SERVICE.
(a) Transitions and Pay Formulas-
(1) TRANSITION DATE- Subject to paragraphs (2) through (4), a member of
the Service designated class 1 or below shall be converted to the new
Foreign Service Schedule established under section 403 of the Foreign
Service Act of 1980, as amended by section 14, on the first day of the first
pay period beginning on or after April 1, 2008.
(2) SIMULTANEOUS PAY ACTIONS- Subject to section 15(c), the Secretary,
in the Secretary's sole and exclusive discretion, shall determine whether
and how any applicable simultaneous pay actions will be applied in
connection with a conversion, under paragraph (1).
(3) PAY CONVERSION FORMULA- Any member described in paragraph (1) whose
official duty station is not located in an area for which members receive
payments pursuant to section 5304 or 5941 of title 5, United States Code,
shall receive an increase in the member's rate of basic pay upon conversion,
if necessary, to ensure that the resulting rate equals the sum of--
(A) the base rate under the Foreign Service Schedule described in
subsection (a) for the member's class and step; and
(B) the amount resulting from multiplying the rate described in
subparagraph (A) by the locality-based comparability percentage in effect
for the Washington, D.C. locality pay area at that time.
(4) LOCALITY-BASED PAY- Any member described in paragraph (1) whose
official duty station is located in an area for which such members receive
payments pursuant to section 5304 or 5941 of title 5, United States Code,
shall, upon conversion, cease to receive payments authorized under such
sections and shall receive instead an increase in the member's rate of basic
pay equivalent to the percentage value of the locality-based comparability
payment received by members of the Service designated class 1 or below whose
official duty station was Washington, D.C. on the date of conversion.
(b) Adjustments in the Rate of Basic Pay-
(1) IN GENERAL- After conversion to the Foreign Service Schedule
established under section 403 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended
by section 14, the Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and exclusive
discretion, may provide a special one-time adjustment in the rate of basic
pay for career candidates or other members of the Service--
(A) whose performance has not been reviewed by a selection board under
section 602 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 4002); and
(B) who, if not for such conversion, would have been scheduled to
receive a step increase after the date of conversion and before September
30, 2008.
(2) LIMITATIONS- Any such adjustment shall be prorated based on the
portion of the waiting period completed as of the day before conversion. No
adjustment under this subsection may result in a rate above the maximum rate
of the applicable rate range.
(c) Special Transitional Rules-
(1) SPECIAL RULES- The Secretary, in the Secretary's sole and exclusive
discretion, may establish special transitional rules to prevent a reduction
in a member's rate of pay due to a conversion to the Foreign Service
Schedule established under section 15(b). Notwithstanding subsection (a)(4),
such rules may authorize a member stationed in a nonforeign area to
temporarily continue to receive a portion of an allowance or post
differential under section 5941 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) APPLICABILITY- This subsection shall apply to a member who,
immediately before conversion--
(A) is entitled to a locality-based comparability payment under
section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, at a rate exceeding the
locality rate applicable in Washington, D.C., at that time; or
(B) is entitled to a nonforeign area allowance or differential under
section 5941 of such title.
(3) TREATMENT OF TEMPORARY ADJUSTMENT- Any temporary adjustment provided
to a member described in paragraph (2)(A) shall be treated as basic pay for
the same purposes as the locality-based comparability payment under section
5304 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 17. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
(a) Technical and Conforming Amendments to the Foreign Service Act- The
Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 402(a)(2) (22 U.S.C. 3962(a)(2))--
(A) by striking `The Secretary shall' and inserting `The Secretary, in
the Secretary's sole and exclusive discretion, shall';
(B) by striking `the Secretary may' and inserting `The Secretary, in
the Secretary's sole and exclusive discretion, may'; and
(C) by inserting `under precepts prescribed by the Secretary' after
`system';
(2) in section 602(a) (22 U.S.C. 4002(a)), by amending paragraph (3) to
read as follows:
`(3) approvals or denials of pay for performance salary adjustments
under sections 402(a)(2) and 406(a)';
(3) in section 605 (22 U.S.C. 4005)--
(i) by inserting `and pay for performance salary adjustments under
sections 402(a)(2) and 406(a)' after `Recommendations for promotion';
and
(ii) by inserting `and pay for performance salary adjustments' after
`shall make promotions'; and
(i) by inserting `or precepts prescribed by the Secretary' after
`set forth by regulation'; and
(ii) by inserting `or salary adjustment' after `delay the
promotion';
(4) in section 806(a)(9) (22 U.S.C. 4046(a)(9)), by adding at the end
the following: `This paragraph shall not apply to service performed on or
after the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after April 1,
2008.'; and
(5) in section 855(a)(3) (22 U.S.C. 4071d(a)(3)), by adding at the end
the following: `This paragraph shall not apply to service performed on or
after the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after April 1,
2008.'.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments to Title 5- Title 5, United States
Code, is amended--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by adding `or' at the end;
(ii) by striking subparagraph (B); and
(iii) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B);
and
(B) in section 5304(h)(1)(D)--
(i) in clause (v), by striking `or' at the end;
(ii) in clause (vi), by striking the period at the end and inserting
`; or'; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
`(vii) a position in the Foreign Service.'; and
(A) in section 5753(a)(2)(A), by inserting: `, excluding members of
the Foreign Service other than chiefs of mission and ambassadors at large'
before the semicolon at the end.
(B) in section 5754(a)(2)(A), by inserting: `, excluding members of
the Foreign Service other than chiefs of mission and ambassadors at large'
before the semicolon at the end.
(c) Effective Dates- The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)(1)
shall take effect on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or
after April 1, 2008.
SEC. 18. DUAL GATEWAY POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND.
(a) In General- The Secretary of State shall review the dual gateway
policy and determine the effects the discontinuation of such policy might have
on the economy of the United States and the economy of western Ireland before
the United States takes any action that could lead to the discontinuation of
such policy.
(b) Economic Impact Study- In determining the effects that the
discontinuation of such policy might have on the economy of the United States,
the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate departments
and agencies, shall consider the effects the discontinuation of such policy
might have on United States businesses operating in western Ireland, Irish
businesses operating in and around Shannon Airport, and United States air
carriers serving Ireland.
(c) Report- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on International
Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate a report describing the determinations made under
subsection (a), together with any recommendations for United States action.
(d) Definition- In this section, the term `dual gateway policy' means the
policy of the Government of Ireland requiring certain air carriers serving
Dublin Airport to undertake an equal numbers of flights to Shannon Airport and
Dublin Airport during each calendar year.
SEC. 19. PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTING PROGRAM.
Section 504 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003
(Public Law 107-228) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking `pilot';
(B) by striking `(in this section referred to as the `program')';
and
(C) by striking `producers, and writers' and inserting `and other
broadcasting specialists';
(3) in subsection (b)(4), by striking `60' and inserting `100';
and
(4) by striking subsection (c).
SEC. 20. WORLDWIDE AVAILABILITY.
Section 301(b) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3491(b)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: `At the time of entry
into the Service, each member of the Service must be worldwide available, as
determined by the Secretary of State through appropriate medical examinations,
unless the Secretary determines that a waiver of the worldwide availability
requirement is required to fulfill a compelling Service need. The Secretary
shall establish an internal administrative review process for medical
ineligibility determinations.'.
END