Sec. 1276. Establishment of the Office of Subnational Diplomacy
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Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 ( 22 U.S.C. 2651a ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: There shall be established within the Department of State an Office of Subnational Diplomacy (in this subsection referred to as the Office ). The head of the Office shall be a full-time position filled by a senior Department official. The head of the Office shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs. The principal duty of the head of the Office shall be the overall supervision (including policy oversight of resources) of Federal support for subnational engagements by State and municipal governments with foreign governments.
The head of the Office shall be the principal adviser to the Secretary of State on subnational engagements and the principal official on such matters within the senior management of the Department of State. The additional duties of the head of the Office shall include the following: Coordinating overall United States policy and programs in support of subnational engagements by State and municipal governments with foreign governments, including with respect to the following: Coordinating resources across the Department of State and throughout the Federal Government in support of such engagements.
Identifying policy, program, and funding disputes among relevant Federal agencies regarding such coordination. Identifying gaps in Federal support for such engagements and developing corresponding policy or programmatic changes to address such gaps. Promoting United States foreign policy goals through support for subnational engagements and aligning subnational priorities with national foreign policy goals, as appropriate. Maintaining a public database of subnational engagements.
Providing advisory support to subnational engagements, including by assisting State and municipal governments to— develop, implement, and, as necessary, adjust global engagement and public diplomacy strategies; and implement programs to cooperate with foreign governments on policy priorities or managing shared resources. Facilitating linkages and networks between State and municipal governments and their foreign counterparts. Overseeing the work of Department of State detailees assigned to State and municipal governments pursuant to this subsection.
Negotiating agreements and memoranda of understanding with foreign governments to support subnational engagements and priorities. Promoting United States trade and foreign exports on behalf of United States businesses through exchanges between the United States and foreign state, municipal, and provincial governments, and by establishing a more enduring relationship overall between subnational governments. Coordinating subnational engagements with the associations of subnational elected leaders, including the U.S.
Conference of Mayors, National Governors Association, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, Council of State Governments, National Conference of State Legislators, and State International Development Offices. The Secretary of State, acting through the head of the Office, is authorized to detail a member of the civil service or Foreign Service to State and municipal governments on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis. Such details shall be for a period not to exceed 2 years, and shall be without interruption or loss of Foreign Service status or privilege.
Detailees under subparagraph
(A)shall carry out the following: Supporting the mission and objectives of the Office. Coordinating activities relating to State and municipal government subnational engagements with the Department of State, including the Office, Department leadership, and regional and functional bureaus of the Department, as appropriate. Engaging the Department of State and other Federal agencies regarding security, public health, trade promotion, and other programs executed at the State or municipal government level. Advising State and municipal government officials regarding questions of global affairs, foreign policy, cooperative agreements, and public diplomacy. Any other duties requested by State and municipal governments and approved by the Office. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the head of the Office shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that includes information relating to the following: The staffing plan (including permanent and temporary staff) for the Office. The funding level provided to the Office for the Office, together with a justification relating to such level. The status of filling the position of head of the Office. The rank and title granted to the head of the Office, together with a justification relating to such decision and an analysis of whether the rank and title of Ambassador-at-Large is required to fulfill the duties of the Office. A strategic plan for the Office. Any other matters as determined relevant by the head of the Office. Not later than 30 days after the submission of the report required under subparagraph
(A)and annually thereafter, the head of the Office shall brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the work of the Office and any changes made to the organizational structure or funding of the Office. Nothing in this subsection may be construed as precluding— the Office from being elevated to a bureau within the Department of State; or the head of the Office from being elevated to an Assistant Secretary, if such an Assistant Secretary position does not increase the number of Assistant Secretary positions at the Department above the number authorized under subsection (c)(1). In this subsection: The term municipal means, with respect to the government of a municipality in the United States, a municipality with a population of not fewer than 100,000 people. The term State means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States. The term subnational engagement means formal meetings or events between elected officials of State or municipal governments and their foreign counterparts. .
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Sec. 1276
Establishment of the Office of Subnational Diplomacy
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