III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 376 

Emphasizing the importance of a career, nonpartisan Foreign Service of 

the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 24, 2019 

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. COONS, Ms. DUCKWORTH, 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. KAINE, Mr. REED, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. MARKEY) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Emphasizing the importance of a career, nonpartisan Foreign 

Service of the United States. 

Whereas the Foreign Service of the United States (referred 

to in this preamble as the ‘‘Foreign Service’’), established 

under the Act of May 24, 1924 (commonly known as the 

‘‘Rogers Act’’) (43 Stat. 140, chapter 182), and strengthened by the Foreign Service Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 999, 

chapter 957) and the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 

U.S.C. 3901 et seq.), provides indispensable support to 

the President, the Secretary of State, and other senior 

leaders in conducting the foreign policy of the United 

States; 

Whereas the Foreign Service consists of members from the 

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•SRES 376 IS 

national Development, the Foreign Commercial Service, 

the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service, and the United States Agency 

for Global Media; 

Whereas members of the Foreign Service take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States and to remain 

above partisan and political considerations; 

Whereas members of the Foreign Service are deployed worldwide— 

(1) to serve the people of the United States; 

(2) to advance the interests and values of the United 

States; and 

(3) to project the leadership of the United States 

globally; 

Whereas the work of the Foreign Service is vital to the national security, foreign policy, and commercial interests of 

the United States; 

Whereas members of the Foreign Service often serve in extreme hardship and difficult security situations; 

Whereas not fewer than 250 members of the Foreign Service 

have given their lives in service of the United States 

while serving the people of the United States abroad; 

Whereas the presence of the Foreign Service abroad gives the 

United States a competitive advantage in advancing the 

interests of the United States; 

Whereas the knowledge and expertise of members of the Foreign Service are invaluable in shaping the foreign policy 

of the United States; 

Whereas, through diplomatic engagement, the Foreign Service promotes partnerships that further good governance, 

the rule of law, and democratic institutions; and 


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•SRES 376 IS 

Whereas the contributions of the Foreign Service are extraordinarily valuable to the United States: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) highlights— 

3 (A) the nonpartisan nature of the Foreign 

4 Service of the United States (referred to in this 

5 resolution as the ‘‘Foreign Service’’); and 

6 (B) the oath taken by members of the For7 eign Service— 

8 (i) to defend the Constitution of the 

9 United States; 

10 (ii) to advance the foreign policy of 

11 the democratically elected officials of the 

12 United States; and 

13 (iii) to serve the people of the United 

14 States; 

15 (2) recognizes the importance of a nonpartisan 

16 Foreign Service in advancing the foreign policy of 

17 the United States; 

18 (3) calls on all people of the United States to 

19 respect the nonpartisan, nonpolitical work of the 

20 Foreign Service; 

21 (4) condemns political retaliation against mem22 bers of the Foreign Service; and 


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•SRES 376 IS 

1 (5) urges all people of the United States to sup2 port a strong Foreign Service as essential to the na3 tional security and interests of the United States. 

Æ 


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