IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 828 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of science 

diplomacy, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 13, 2018 

Mr. FOSTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in 

support of science diplomacy, and for other purposes. 

Whereas the mission of the Department of State is to create 

a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the 

benefit of the American people and the international community; 

Whereas advancements in science and technology are dramatically changing the way personal and business affairs 

are conducted; 

Whereas the United States and international community 

must address an ever-growing array of complex global 

problems; 

Whereas science provides a common language through which 

individuals from different nations and distinct cultures 


khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 828 IH 

can communicate, cooperate, and work together toward 

common goals; 

Whereas science diplomacy is the use of scientific collaborations among nations to address the common problems 

facing 21st century humanity and to build constructive 

international partnerships; 

Whereas science and technology cooperation is one of our 

most effective ways of influencing and assisting other nations while building bridges between people and countries; 

Whereas through decades of international scientific cooperation, CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research near Geneva, Switzerland, became an example of 

how former political adversaries could come together 

through science to make a more peaceful and productive 

world; 

Whereas the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and 

Applications in the Middle East (SESAME), a scientific 

facility in Jordan, will bring together scientists from 

Israel, Iran, and the surrounding regions to work cooperatively on dozens of simultaneous experiments in fields 

ranging from biological and medical sciences to archeology; 

Whereas in response to a 1999 report conducted by the National Academy of Sciences, then-Secretary of State Madeline Albright created the position of Science and Technology Adviser; 

Whereas the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation of 

the Department of State encourages science, technology, 

and innovation ecosystems to support United States foreign and economic policy priorities; and 


khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 828 IH 

Whereas the Department of State should modernize its 

science and technology capabilities in order to carry out 

its mission more effectively in the 21st century: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes that the United States and inter3 national community must address a growing array of 

4 complex global challenges; 

5 (2) reaffirms that international scientific en6 gagement furthers the diplomatic and security inter7 ests of the United States; and 

8 (3) calls on the Secretary of State to— 

9 (A) develop science and technology-ori10 ented foresight assessments; 

11 (B) establish a Science and Technology 

12 Advisory Board comprised of independent ex13 perts to provide technical proficiency on science 

14 and technology issues related to the Depart15 ment’s foreign policy priorities; 

16 (C) provide the Science and Technology 

17 Adviser with the organizational status equiva18 lent to that of an Assistant Secretary; 

19 (D) evaluate the adequacy of the number 

20 of Foreign Service Officers in the Department’s 

21 workforce with technical backgrounds and proVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:39 Apr 13, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR828.IH HR828

khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 828 IH 

1 vide increased training and recruitment as nec2 essary; and 

3 (E) assess the feasibility of re-creating a 

4 Foreign Service Reserve Officer functional cone 

5 for recruiting experts in Science and Tech6 nology, and other specialty needs of the Depart7 ment of State. 

Æ 


khammond on DSK30JT082PROD with BILLS