Sec. 337. Language training for Foreign Service personnel
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In assigning Foreign Service officers with foreign language proficiency to posts abroad, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, prioritize the assignment of such officers to— such number of tours of duty in one or more countries in which the language or dialect of such proficiency is common as may be needed by such officers to use such proficiency; one or more tours of duty in one or more countries in which the language or dialect of such proficiency is not common, but in which such proficiency will facilitate the development by such officers of language proficiency in language or dialect common in such countries; or tours of duty described in both paragraphs
(1)and (2). The Secretary shall, acting through the Director General of the Foreign Service, submit to the appropriate congressional committees every three years— the results of a review of each Foreign Service position abroad that is language-designated, in order to determine whether a continuing requirement for foreign language proficiency for such position is warranted; and an explanation of any posts with language-designated positions at which language proficiency among Foreign Service personnel may be deficient to meet mission objectives, along with the steps the Department is taking to increase language proficiency in such posts. It is the sense of Congress that any savings realized by the Department as a result of the more efficient use of language training resources should be credited to the Foreign Service Institute and made available to the Institute for training. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the benefits of and challenges regarding officers serving repeat tours in the same geographic area or mission, and the impact repeat tours have on promotion and career development and advancement.