19–010 

Calendar No. 525 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 112–220 

QUADRENNIAL DIPLOMACY AND 

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW ACT OF 2012 

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. KERRY, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 3341] 

The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under consideration the bill S. 3341, to require a quadrennial diplomacy and development review, and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon without amendment, and recommends that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Purpose ........................................................................................................... 1 

II. Committee Action .......................................................................................... 1 

III. Discussion ....................................................................................................... 2 

IV. Cost Estimate ................................................................................................. 3 

V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact .................................................................. 3 

VI. Changes in Existing Law .............................................................................. 3 

I. PURPOSE

The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 

2012 requires that the Secretary of State, under the direction of 

the President, conduct periodically scheduled reviews to guide the 

mission of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development in order to strengthen the accountability and 

effectiveness of United States diplomatic and foreign aid programs 

to reflect the new challenges of the 21st century and increase the 

effectiveness and efficiency of our diplomatic and development 

agencies. 

II. COMMITTEE ACTION

S. 3341 was introduced on June 26, 2012 by Senator Kerry. On 

September 19, 2012 the committee considered S. 3341 and ordered 

it reported without amendment by voice vote. 


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III. DISCUSSION

A. Summary of Legislation 

Section 2(a)(1) of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development 

Review (QDDR) establishes a requirement for a review of United 

States diplomacy and development every four years (during a year 

following a year evenly divisible by four). 

Section 2(a)(2) establishes that the scope of the effort shall be a 

comprehensive examination of the national diplomacy and development policy and strategic framework of the United States, intended 

to set priorities and make recommendations regarding U.S. diplomacy and development, including guidance on programs, budgets, 

policies, and authorities of the Department of State and the United 

States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

Section 2(a)(3) establishes a system for interagency consultations 

in the conduct of the diplomacy and development review, such that 

the Secretary of State, after consultations with the Department of 

State and USAID, should consult with the heads of other relevant 

Federal agencies, relevant congressional committees, and other relevant governmental and non-governmental entities. 

Section 2(b) sets the contents of the QDDR to place diplomacy 

and development efforts in the frame of national security strategy; 

provide analysis of State and foreign assistance bureaucracy organization and implementation metrics; and make recommendations 

for more efficient and effective allocation of resources. 

Section 2(c) establishes reporting timelines and contents, such 

that not later than the year following the year in which a quadrennial diplomacy and development review is conducted (but not later 

than the President submits the budget for the next fiscal year to 

Congress) the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report 

regarding that quadrennial diplomacy and development review. 

Section 2(d) provides authorities for the Secretary of State to establish an Office of Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review which the Secretary may, using only existing resources, staff 

in a manner to assist in discharging the functions of the quadrennial development and diplomacy review. 

Section 2(e) provides for the State Foreign Affairs Advisory 

Board to provide an independent assessment of the Quadrennial 

Diplomacy and Development Review. 

B. Committee Comments 

The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 

2012 clarifies the measures by which the administration and Congress assess and evaluate United States diplomacy and development efforts, with the aim of furthering effective and results-oriented diplomacy and development efforts essential for protecting 

and advancing U.S. national security interests. 

The committee recognizes that the QDDR, by necessity, must be 

a whole of government effort, and reflect appropriate participation 

and appropriate roles in a collaborative diplomacy and development 

review process by all stakeholders. The committee notes that the 

Administrator of USAID served as co-chair of the first quadrennial 

diplomacy and development review, completed in 2010, alongside 

the Secretary of State. 


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IV. COST ESTIMATE

Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing Rules of the Senate 

requires that committee reports on bills or joint resolutions contain 

a cost estimate for such legislation. To date, the committee has not 

received the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate for S. 3341. 

V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT

Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing Rules 

of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation. 

VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there are 

no changes in existing law made by this legislation. 

Æ 


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