Sec. 7210. EXPEDITED OPENING OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
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## SEC. 7210 EXPEDITED OPENING OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ###
(a)Findings Congress makes the following findings: ####
(1)Increasing the United States’ global diplomatic footprint is imperative to advance United States’ national security interests, particularly in the face of a massive diplomatic expansion of our strategic competitors. ####
(2)Opening or re-opening diplomatic missions, often in small island nations where there is no United States Government presence, but one is needed to advance United States strategic objectives. ####
(3)Diplomatic missions should be resourced and equipped for success upon opening to allow diplomats to focus on advancing United States national interests in-country. ####
(4)The United States can and should move more swiftly to open new diplomatic missions and provide United States diplomats and locally employed staff with a workplace that meets locally appropriate quality, safety, and security standards. ####
(5)To do this, the Department must streamline and support the process of opening new posts to identify efficiencies and remove obstacles that are unduly complicating the opening of new diplomatic missions, particularly in small island states and similarly situated locations. ###
(b)Report to Congress ####
(1)In general Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on how the Department is creating a new framework to provide such diplomatic missions the needed resources and authorities to quickly and efficiently stand up and operate from the moment United States personnel arrive, or even before the opening of a new mission, particularly in small island nations. ####
(2)Elements The report required under paragraph
(1)shall include— #####
(A)a list of authorities and processes related to the opening of new diplomatic missions; #####
(B)a list of authorities and processes related to the opening of new diplomatic missions that the Department can waive to expediently stand up new diplomatic missions; #####
(C)essential functions that each new diplomatic mission should be able to carry out independently upon opening; #####
(D)a description of functions that another post or support center will need to carry out to support the new mission; #####
(E)a list of essential equipment and access to facilities, including to support secure communications, that should be provided to each new diplomatic mission, the approval of which should be handled prior to or shortly after the opening of the new diplomatic mission, including arrangements for basic office equipment, vehicles, and housing; #####
(F)the number of recommended locally engaged staff and United States direct hires resident in-country; #####
(G)the number of non-resident support staff who are assigned to the new diplomatic mission, such as from another post or regional support center; #####
(H)a description of how medical and consular support services could be provided; #####
(I)procedures for requesting an expansion or renovation of the post’s functions or physical platform after opening, should that be needed; #####
(J)any other authorities or processes that may be required to successfully and quickly stand up a new diplomatic mission, including any new authorities the Department may need; #####
(K)a list of incentives, in addition to pay differentials, being considered for such posts; #####
(L)a description of any specialized training, including for management and security personnel supporting the establishment of such new embassies that may be required; and #####
(M)a list of what steps the Department is taking to expedite embassy construction in Dublin, Ireland, consulate build-out in Nuuk, Greenland, and embassy renovations in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and projected new posts in the Caribbean and Pacific Islands. ###
(c)Senior Official to Lead New Embassy Expansion ####
(1)Designation The Secretary shall designate an assistant secretary-level senior official to expedite and make recommendations for the reform of procedures for opening new diplomatic missions abroad, particularly in small island states. ####
(2)Responsibilities The senior official designated pursuant to paragraph
(1)shall be responsible for proposing policy and procedural changes to the Secretary to— #####
(A)expediting the resourcing of new diplomatic missions by waiving or reducing when possible mandatory processes required to open new diplomatic missions, taking into account the threat environment and circumstances in the host country; #####
(B)when necessary, quickly adjudicating within the Department any decision points that arise during the planning and execution phases of the establishment of a new mission; #####
(C)ensuring new missions receive the management and operational support needed, including by designating such support be undertaken by another post, regional support center, or Department entities based in the United States; and #####
(D)ensuring that the authorities provided in the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 (title VI of division A of appendix G of Public Law 106–113), as amended by the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 2022 (section 9301 of Public Law 117–263; 136 Stat. 3879), are fully utilized in the planning for all new diplomatic missions. ###
(d)New Diplomatic Mission Defined In this section, the term “**new diplomatic mission**” means any bilateral diplomatic mission opened since January 1, 2020, in a country where there had not been a bilateral diplomatic mission since the date that is 20 years before the date of the enactment of this Act. ###
(e)Sunset The authorities and requirements of this section shall terminate 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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- Pub. L. 106-113
- 136 Stat. 3879
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Sec. 7210
EXPEDITED OPENING OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS
Pub. L.Pub. L. 106-113
Stat.136 Stat. 3879
Cites 3Cited by 0 across 0 sources