Sec. 6. Special Investigator for certain matters relating to the Agency
319 words·~1 min read·
/bill/118/hr/9499/ih/section-6A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this Act, the Chair of the Advisory Board shall appoint a Special Investigator to submit the report required by subsection (a). The individual appointed as Special Investigator shall have expertise in human resources, labor management, credentials screening, and oversight and accountability. Not later than 1 year after the effective date of this Act, the Special Investigator shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report on— the adequacy of the Agency’s hiring and employee vetting processes; the efficacy and feasibility of establishing an Office of Inspector General at the Agency; its recommendations with respect to the findings under paragraphs
(1)and (2); a fiscal and administrative cost-benefit analysis of establishing an independent Office of Inspector General within the Agency; an evaluation of the adequacy of the Department of State’s Office of Inspector General for oversight and accountability purposes at the Agency, with particular attention to investigation of matters potentially criminal in nature; a review of all incidents pertaining to, inter alia, fraud, misconduct, malfeasance, misstatements, misrepresentations, and security breaches at the Agency since January 1, 2019, and any disciplinary actions taken with respect to them; an overview of the Department of State and the Agency’s responsibilities regarding personnel and whistleblower complaints, with particular focus on areas for improvement; a determination as to whether the Agency has adequately coordinated with the Department of State regarding personnel misconduct and whistleblower complaints; the circumstances under which the Department of State refers whistleblower complaints to the Agency; any circumstances under which the Department of State is involved in Agency hiring decisions, including the Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security verifying Agency job applicants’ foreign education credentials; and an assessment of the Department of State and the Agency’s security clearance process, including outsourcing to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.