IIB 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2553 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 15, 2007 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

AN ACT 

To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 

1956 to provide for the establishment and maintenance 

of existing libraries and resource centers at United 

States diplomatic and consular missions to provide information about American culture, society, and history, and 

for other purposes. 


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HR 2553 RFS 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited at the ‘‘Public Diplomacy Re5 source Centers Act of 2007’’. 

6 SEC. 2. UNITED STATES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY. 

7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF LI8 BRARIES.—Section 1(b)(3) of the State Department Basic 

9 Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(b)(3)) is 

10 amended— 

11 (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 

12 the end; 

13 (2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period 

14 at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

15 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub16 paragraph: 

17 ‘‘(F) provide for the establishment of new 

18 and the maintenance of existing libraries and 

19 resource centers at or in connection with United 

20 States diplomatic and consular missions.’’. 

21 (b) OPERATION OF LIBRARIES.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall 

23 ensure that libraries and resource centers estab24 lished and maintained in accordance with subpara25 graph (F) of section 1(b)(3) of the State DepartVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:51 Oct 17, 2007 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2553.RFS H2553

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HR 2553 RFS 

1 ment Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by 

2 section 2(a)(3) of this Act) are open to the general 

3 public to the greatest extent practicable, subject to 

4 policies and procedures established by the Secretary 

5 to ensure the safety and security of United States 

6 diplomatic and consular missions and of United 

7 States officers, employees, and personnel posted at 

8 such missions at which such libraries are located. 

9 (2) JOHNNY GRANT FILM SERIES.—The Sec10 retary of State shall ensure that such libraries and 

11 resource centers schedule public showings of Amer12 ican films that showcase American culture, society, 

13 values, and history. Such public showings shall be 

14 known as the ‘‘Johnny Grant Film Series’’. 

15 (c) RECEIPT OF DONATIONS.—The Secretary of 

16 State may accept donations that are made to the libraries 

17 and resource centers authorized under this Act if the Sec18 retary determines that such receipt will not result in any 

19 cost to the Federal Government. 

20 (d) ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PUBLIC DIPLO21 MACY.—The Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy 

22 (authorized under section 1334 of the Foreign Affairs Re23 form and Restructuring Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6553)) 

24 shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

25 House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 


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HR 2553 RFS 

1 Relations of the Senate a report containing and evaluation 

2 of the functions and effectiveness of the libraries and re3 source centers that are authorized under this Act. 

4 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi5 tion to amounts that are otherwise authorized to be appro6 priated to the Department of State to carry out purposes 

7 similar to those required under this Act, there are author8 ized to the Secretary of State such sums as may be nec9 essary to carry out this Act. 

Passed the House of Representatives October 9, 

2007. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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