H. R. 2670—860 
working with the Office of Personnel Management and appropriate 
congressional committees to that end, and that the use of personal 
services contractors should not be relied upon to perform core 
Department functions indefinitely. 
(b) EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND CRISIS RESPONSE.—To assist 
the Department in addressing and responding to exigent cir-
cumstances and urgent crises abroad, the Department is authorized 
to employ, domestically and abroad, a limited number of personal 
services contractors in order to meet exigent needs, subject to 
the requirements of this section. 
(c) AUTHORITY.—The authority to employ personal services con-
tractors is in addition to any existing authorities to enter into 
personal services contracts and authority provided in the Afghani-
stan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (division C of Public 
Law 117–43). 
(d) EMPLOYING AND ALLOCATION OF PERSONNEL.—To meet the 
needs described in subsection (b) and subject to the requirements 
in subsection (e), the Department may— 
(1) enter into contracts to employ a total of up to 100 
personal services contractors at any given time for each of 
fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026; and 
(2) allocate up to 20 personal services contractors to a 
given bureau. 
(e) LIMITATION.—Employment authorized by this section shall 
not exceed two calendar years. 
(f) NOTIFICATION AND REPORTING TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 15 days after the use 
of authority under this section, the Secretary shall notify the 
appropriate congressional committees, the Committee on Appro-
priations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives of the number of personal 
services contractors being employed, the expected length of 
employment, the relevant bureau, the purpose for using per-
sonal services contractors, an indication of how many personal 
services contractors were previously employees of the Depart-
ment, and the justification, including the exigent circumstances 
requiring such use. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORTING.—Not later than December 1, 2024, 
and annually thereafter for two years, the Department shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees, the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report 
describing the number of personal services contractors 
employed pursuant to this section for the prior fiscal year, 
the length of employment, the relevant bureau by which they 
were employed pursuant to this section, the purpose for using 
personal services contractors, disaggregated demographic data 
of such contractors, an indication of how many personal services 
contractors were previously employees of the Department, and 
the justification for the employment, including the exigent cir-
cumstances. 
SEC. 6402. HARD-TO-FILL POSTS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the number of hard-to-fill vacancies at United States 
diplomatic missions is far too high, particularly in Sub-Saharan 
Africa;
H. R. 2670—861 
(2) these vacancies— 
(A) adversely impact the Department’s execution of 
regional strategies; 
(B) hinder the ability of the United States to effectively 
compete with strategic competitors, such as the People’s 
Republic of China and the Russian Federation; and 
(C) present a clear national security risk to the United 
States; and 
(3) if the Department is unable to incentivize officers to 
accept hard-to-fill positions, the Department should consider 
directed assignments, particularly for posts in Africa, and other 
means to more effectively advance the national interests of 
the United States. 
(b) REPORT ON DEVELOPMENT OF INCENTIVES FOR HARD-TO- 
FILL POSTS.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this division, the Secretary shall submit a report to the 
appropriate congressional committees on efforts to develop new 
incentives for hard-to-fill positions at United States diplomatic mis-
sions. The report shall include a description of the incentives devel-
oped to date and proposals to try to more effectively fill hard- 
to-fill posts. 
(c) STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF ALLOWING NON-CONSULAR FOR-
EIGN SERVICE OFFICERS GIVEN DIRECTED CONSULAR POSTS TO VOL-
UNTEER
FOR HARD-TO-FILL POSTS
IN UNDERSTAFFED REGIONS.— 
(1) STUDY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this division, the Secretary shall 
conduct a study on— 
(i) the number of Foreign Service positions vacant 
for six months or longer at overseas posts, including 
for consular, political, and economic positions, over the 
last five years, broken down by region, and a compari-
son of the proportion of vacancies between regions; 
and 
(ii) the feasibility of allowing first-tour Foreign 
Service generalists in non-Consular cones, directed for 
a consular tour, to volunteer for reassignment at hard- 
to-fill posts in understaffed regions. 
(B) MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED.—The study conducted 
under subparagraph (A) shall consider whether allowing 
first-tour Foreign Service generalists to volunteer as 
described in such subparagraph would address current 
vacancies and what impact the new mechanism would have 
on consular operations. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after completing the 
study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report containing 
the findings of the study. 
SEC. 6403. ENHANCED OVERSIGHT OF THE OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS. 
(a) REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS AND MANAGEMENT STRUC-
TURE.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment 
of this division, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report with any recommendations for 
the long-term structure and management of the Office of Civil 
Rights (OCR), including—
H. R. 2670—862 
(1) an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of OCR’s 
investigative processes and procedures; 
(2) any changes made within OCR to its investigative proc-
esses to improve the integrity and thoroughness of its investiga-
tions; and 
(3) any recommendations to improve the management 
structure, investigative process, and oversight of the Office. 
SEC. 6404. CRISIS RESPONSE OPERATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this division, the Secretary shall institute the 
following changes and ensure that the following elements have 
been integrated into the ongoing crisis response management and 
response by the Crisis Management and Strategy Office: 
(1) The Department’s crisis response planning and oper-
ations shall conduct, maintain, and update on a regular basis 
contingency plans for posts and regions experiencing or vulner-
able to conflict or emergency conditions, including armed con-
flict, natural disasters, significant political or military upheaval, 
and emergency evacuations. 
(2) The Department’s crisis response efforts shall be led 
by an individual with significant experience responding to prior 
crises, who shall be so designated by the Secretary. 
(3) The Department’s crisis response efforts shall provide 
at least quarterly updates to the Secretary and other relevant 
senior officials, including a plan and schedule to develop contin-
gency planning for identified posts and regions consistent with 
paragraph (1). 
(4) The decision to develop contingency planning for any 
particular post or region shall be made independent of any 
regional bureau. 
(5) The crisis response team shall develop and maintain 
best practices for evacuations, closures, and emergency condi-
tions. 
(b) UPDATES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this division, and every 180 days thereafter 
for the next five years, the Secretary shall submit to the appro-
priate congressional committees, the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives an update outlining the steps 
taken to implement this section, along with any other rec-
ommendations to improve the Department’s crisis management 
and response operations. 
(2) CONTENTS.—Each update submitted pursuant to para-
graph (1) should include— 
(A) a list of the posts whose contingency plans, 
including any noncombatant evacuation contingencies, has 
been reviewed and updated as appropriate during the pre-
ceding 180 days; and 
(B) an assessment of the Secretary’s confidence that 
each post— 
(i) has continuously reached out to United States 
persons in country to maintain and update contact 
information for as many such persons as practicable; 
and
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(ii) is prepared to communicate with such persons 
in an emergency or crisis situation. 
(3) FORM.—Each update submitted pursuant to paragraph 
(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
a classified annex. 
SEC. 6405. SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the United States must increase its diplomatic activity 
and presence in the Pacific, particularly among Pacific Island 
nations; and 
(2) the Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum— 
(A) should advance the United States partnership with 
Pacific Island Forum nations and with the organization 
itself on key issues of importance to the Pacific region; 
and 
(B) should coordinate policies across the Pacific region 
with like-minded democracies. 
(b) APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS 
FORUM.—Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act 
of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a), as amended by section 6303, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(o) SPECIAL ENVOY TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM.— 
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.—The President shall appoint, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate, a qualified individual 
to serve as Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum (referred 
to in this section as the ‘Special Envoy’). 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) SELECTION.—The Special Envoy shall be— 
‘‘(i) a United States Ambassador to a country that 
is a member of the Pacific Islands Forum; or 
‘‘(ii) a qualified individual who is not described 
in clause (i). 
‘‘(B) LIMITATIONS.—If the President appoints an 
Ambassador to a country that is a member of the Pacific 
Islands Forum to serve concurrently as the Special Envoy 
to the Pacific Islands Forum, such Ambassador— 
‘‘(i) may not begin service as the Special Envoy 
until he or she has been confirmed by the Senate 
for an ambassadorship to a country that is a member 
of the Pacific Islands Forum; and 
‘‘(ii) shall not receive additional compensation for 
his or her service as Special Envoy. 
‘‘(3) DUTIES.—The Special Envoy shall— 
‘‘(A) represent the United States in its role as dialogue 
partner to the Pacific Islands Forum; and 
‘‘(B) carry out such other duties as the President or 
the Secretary of State may prescribe.’’. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this division, the Secretary shall submit a report 
to the appropriate congressional committees that describes how 
the Department will increase its ability to recruit and retain highly- 
qualified ambassadors, special envoys, and other senior personnel 
in posts in Pacific island countries as the Department expands 
its diplomatic footprint throughout the region.