I 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2553 

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 24, 2007 

Ms. WATSON (for herself and Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

A BILL 

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. 

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’’. 

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1 SEC. 2. UNITED STATES PUBLIC DIPLOMACY. 

2 (a) ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF LI3 BRARIES.—Section 1(b)(3) of the State Department Basic 

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

5 amended— 

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

7 the end; 

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

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

10 (3) by adding at the end the following new sub11 paragraph: 

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

13 and the maintenance of existing libraries and 

14 resource centers at or in connection with United 

15 States diplomatic and consular missions.’’. 

16 (b) OPERATION OF LIBRARIES.— 

17 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary for 

18 Public Diplomacy shall ensure that libraries and re19 source centers established and maintained in accord20 ance with subparagraph (F) of section 1(b)(3) of the 

21 State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as 

22 added by section 2(a)(3) of this Act) are open to the 

23 general public to the greatest extent practicable, 

24 subject to policies and procedures established by the 

25 Under Secretary to ensure the safety and security of 

26 United States diplomatic and consular missions and 

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1 of United States officers, employees, and personnel 

2 posted at such missions at which such libraries are 

3 located. 

4 (2) JOHNNY GRANT FILM SERIES.—The Under 

5 Secretary for Public Diplomacy shall ensure that 

6 such libraries and resource centers schedule public 

7 showings of American films that showcase American 

8 culture, society, values, and history. Such public 

9 showings shall be known as the ‘‘Johnny Grant Film 

10 Series’’. 

11 (c) RECEIPT OF DONATIONS.—The Under Secretary 

12 for Public Diplomacy may accept donations that are made 

13 to the libraries and resource centers authorized under this 

14 Act if the Under Secretary determines that such receipt 

15 will not result in any cost to the Federal Government. 

16 (d) ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PUBLIC DIPLO17 MACY.—The Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy 

18 (authorized under section 1334 of the Foreign Affairs Re19 form and Restructuring Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6553)) 

20 shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the 

21 House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 

22 Relations of the Senate a report containing and evaluation 

23 of the functions and effectiveness of the libraries and re24 source centers that are authorized under this Act. 

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1 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi2 tion to amounts that are otherwise authorized to be appro3 priated to the Department of State under the educational 

4 and cultural exchange programs account to carry out pur5 poses similar to those required under this Act, there are 

6 authorized to the Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy 

7 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act. 

Æ 

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