Sec. 115. Consular affairs and repatriation resources of the Department of State
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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 section: It shall be the policy of the United States, during any public health emergency caused by an epidemic or pandemic— to not leave any United States national involuntarily stranded in a foreign country; and to provide all appropriate and available assistance to United States nationals to facilitate their return to the United States, when requested, for the duration of the public health emergency.
In this subsection— the term tier two response means a single, comprehensive approach to incident management for the National Passport Center and the National Visa Center during a national emergency caused by an epidemic or pandemic, including— the promulgation of protocols for communication, information and planning, emergency assistance, logistics management and support, staffing, and financial management; and the identification of roles and responsibilities for response and staffing, critical infrastructure, and international and interagency coordination; and the term United States national means an individual who is— a United States citizen; or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States.
Whenever the Department of State issues a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory in response to an epidemic or pandemic, the Secretary shall establish, under the direction of the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, a Repatriation Task Force, which shall— formulate and implement policies that protect and advance United States interests in protecting and safeguarding the needs of United States nationals, including repatriation and other health and medical needs; ensure that procedures implemented by American Citizen Services are integrated into, and reflected in, the decision-making process within the Department of State; coordinate the functions of American Citizen Services, including repatriation, responding to health and medical needs, and other relevant functions, within the Department of State; manage, in coordination with relevant diplomatic posts, all communication and coordination with United States nationals regarding their needs, including repatriation and health and medical matters; incorporate the functions of American Citizen Services, including repatriation and other health and medical needs priorities, into the activities of the Department of State; coordinate efforts of the Department of State with relevant Federal departments and agencies to meet the needs of American Citizen Services, including repatriation and other health and medical needs; and support American Citizen Services with repatriation and other health and medical needs, including coordinating and providing resources to meet all repatriation needs.
The Secretary shall ensure that there are sufficient personnel serving in the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management and the Bureau of Consular Affairs or other Department of State personnel in the countries affected by the epidemic or pandemic, to carry out the responsibilities set forth in paragraph (3), including repatriation matters. Whenever the Department of State issues a Level 3 or Level 4 Travel Advisory in response to an epidemic or pandemic, the Secretary shall activate the National Passport Information Center and the National Visa Center to immediately provide tier two response.
Not later than 15 days before the Department of State intends to discontinue the repatriation services described in paragraph
(3)in any region, country, or part thereof during a public health emergency caused by an epidemic or pandemic affecting such region, country, or part, the Secretary of State shall notify, by all appropriate means, all United States nationals affected by this service interruption, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate , and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives of the date after which the Department of State will no longer provide such services to United States nationals seeking repatriation to the United States. .
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Sec. 115
Consular affairs and repatriation resources of the Department of State
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