H. R. 7776—1496 
(1) implementing this section and section 102(b) of the 
Diplomatic Security Act (22 U.S.C. 4801), as amended by sub-
section (c); 
(2) encouraging and incentivizing appropriate Foreign 
Service personnel to regularly and meaningfully engage with 
civil society and other local actors in-country; 
(3) promoting a more effective culture of risk management 
and greater risk tolerance among all Foreign Service personnel, 
including through additional risk management training and 
education opportunities; and 
(4) incorporating the provisions of this section into the 
Foreign Affairs Manual regulations and implementing the 
Serious Security Incident Investigation Permanent Coordi-
nating Committee established and convened pursuant to section 
302(b) of the Diplomatic Security Act (22 U.S.C. 4832(b)) to 
more closely align Department procedures with the procedures 
used by other Federal departments and agencies to analyze, 
weigh, and manage risk. 
SEC. 9303. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNITED STATES EMBASSIES IN SOL-
OMON ISLANDS, KIRIBATI, AND TONGA AND A DIPLO-
MATIC PRESENCE IN VANUATU. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The Pacific Islands are vital to United States national 
security and national interests in the Indo-Pacific region and 
globally. 
(2) The Pacific Islands region spans 15 percent of the 
world’s surface area and controls access to open waters in 
the Central Pacific, sea lanes to the Western Hemisphere, 
supply lines to United States forward-deployed forces in East 
Asia, and economically important fisheries. 
(3) The Pacific Islands region is home to the State of 
Hawaii, 11 United States territories, United States Naval Base 
Guam, and United States Andersen Air Force Base. 
(4) Pacific Island countries cooperate with the United 
States and United States partners on maritime security and 
efforts to stop illegal, unreported, and destructive fishing. 
(5) The Pacific Islands are rich in biodiversity and are 
on the frontlines of environmental challenges and climate 
issues. 
(6) The People’s Republic of China seeks to increase its 
influence in the Pacific Islands region, including through infra-
structure development under the People’s Republic of China’s 
One Belt, One Road Initiative and its new security agreement 
with the Solomon Islands. 
(7) The United States closed its embassy in the Solomon 
Islands in 1993. 
(8) The United States Embassy in Papua New Guinea 
manages the diplomatic affairs of the United States to the 
Republic of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, and the United 
States Embassy in Fiji manages the diplomatic affairs of the 
United States to the Republic of Kiribati and the Kingdom 
of Tonga. 
(9) The United States requires a physical and more robust 
diplomatic presence in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Republic 
of Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, and the Kingdom of Tonga, 
to ensure the physical and operational security of our efforts
H. R. 7776—1497 
in those countries to deepen relations, protect United States 
national security, and pursue United States national interests. 
(10) Increasing the number of United States embassies 
dedicated solely to a Pacific Island country demonstrates the 
United States’ ongoing commitment to the region and to the 
Pacific Island countries. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF EMBASSIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—As soon as possible, the Secretary 
should— 
(A) establish physical United States embassies in the 
Republic of Kiribati and in the Kingdom of Tonga; 
(B) upgrade the United States consular agency in the 
Solomon Islands to an embassy; and 
(C) establish a physical United States Government 
presence in the Republic of Vanuatu. 
(2) OTHER STRATEGIES.— 
(A) 
PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.—In 
establishing 
embassies pursuant to paragraph (1) and creating the phys-
ical infrastructure to ensure the physical and operational 
safety of embassy personnel, the Secretary may pursue 
rent or purchase existing buildings or co-locate personnel 
in embassies of like-minded partners, such as Australia 
and New Zealand. 
(B) PERSONNEL.—In establishing a physical presence 
in the Republic of Vanuatu pursuant to paragraph (1), 
the Secretary may assign 1 or more United States Govern-
ment personnel to the Republic of Vanuatu as part of 
the United States mission in Papua New Guinea. 
(3) WAIVER
AUTHORITY.—The President may waive the 
requirements under paragraph (1) for a period of one year 
if the President determines and reports to Congress in advance 
that such waiver is necessary to protect the national security 
interests of the United States. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—Of the amounts 
authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State for 
Embassy Security, Construction, and Maintenance— 
(1) $40,200,000 is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2023— 
(A) to establish and maintain the 3 embassies author-
ized to be established under subsection (b); and 
(B) to establish a physical United States Government 
presence in the Republic of Vanuatu; 
(2) $3,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal 
year 2024— 
(A) to maintain such embassies; and 
(B) to establish a physical United States Government 
presence in the Republic of Vanuatu; 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) DEFINED TERM.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appro-
priate committees of Congress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives; and 
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives.
H. R. 7776—1498 
(2) PROGRESS REPORT.—Not later than 180 days following 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
that includes— 
(A) a description of the status of activities carried 
out to achieve the objectives described in this section; 
(B) an estimate of when embassies and a physical 
presence will be fully established pursuant to subsection 
(b)(1); and 
(C) an update on events in the Pacific Islands region 
relevant to the establishment of United States embassies, 
including activities by the People’s Republic of China. 
(3) REPORT ON FINAL DISPOSITION.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress 
that— 
(A) confirms the establishment of the 3 embassies and 
the physical presence required under subsection (b)(1); or 
(B) if the embassies and physical presence required 
in subsection (b)(1) have not been established, a justifica-
tion for such failure to comply with such requirement. 
TITLE XCIV—A DIVERSE WORKFORCE: 
RECRUITMENT, 
RETENTION, 
AND 
PROMOTION 
SEC. 9401. REPORT ON BARRIERS TO APPLYING FOR EMPLOYMENT 
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate 
congressional committees that— 
(1) identifies any barriers for applicants applying for 
employment with the Department; 
(2) provides demographic data of online applicants during 
the most recent 3 years disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, 
age, veteran status, disability, geographic region; 
(3) assesses any barriers that exist for applying online 
for employment with the Department, disaggregated by race, 
ethnicity, sex, age, veteran status, disability, geographic region; 
and 
(4) includes recommendations for addressing any dispari-
ties identified in the online application process. 
SEC. 
9402. 
COLLECTION, 
ANALYSIS, 
AND 
DISSEMINATION 
OF 
WORKFORCE DATA. 
(a) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report 
to 
the 
appropriate 
congressional 
committees 
that 
includes 
disaggregated demographic data and other information regarding 
the diversity of the workforce of the Department. 
(b) DATA.—The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include, to the maximum extent that the collection and dissemina-
tion of such data can be done in a way that protects the confiden-
tiality of individuals and is otherwise permissible by law—
H. R. 7776—1499 
(1) demographic data on each element of the workforce 
of the Department during the 3-year period ending on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, disaggregated by rank and 
grade or grade-equivalent, with respect to— 
(A) individuals hired to join the workforce; 
(B) individuals promoted, including promotions to and 
within the Senior Executive Service or the Senior Foreign 
Service; 
(C) individuals serving as special assistants in any 
of the offices of the Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary 
of State, the Counselor of the Department of State, the 
Secretary’s Policy Planning Staff, the Under Secretary of 
State for Arms Control and International Security, the 
Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, 
and Human Rights, the Under Secretary of State for Eco-
nomic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, the Under 
Secretary of State for Management, the Under Secretary 
of State for Political Affairs, and the Under Secretary of 
State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; 
(D) individuals serving in each bureau’s front office; 
(E) individuals serving as detailees to the National 
Security Council; 
(F) individuals serving on applicable selection boards; 
(G) members of any external advisory committee or 
board who are subject to appointment by individuals at 
senior positions in the Department; 
(H) individuals participating in professional develop-
ment programs of the Department and the extent to which 
such participants have been placed into senior positions 
within the Department after such participation; 
(I) individuals participating in mentorship or retention 
programs; and 
(J) individuals who separated from the agency, 
including individuals in the Senior Executive Service or 
the Senior Foreign Service; 
(2) an assessment of agency compliance with the essential 
elements identified in Equal Employment Opportunity Commis-
sion Management Directive 715, effective October 1, 2003; 
(3) data on the overall number of individuals who are 
part of the workforce, the percentages of such workforce cor-
responding to each element specified in paragraph (1), and 
the percentages corresponding to each rank, grade, or grade 
equivalent; and 
(4) the total amount of funds spent by the Department 
for the purposes of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and 
accessibility during each of the 4 previous fiscal years, 
disaggregated, to the extent practicable, by bureau and activity, 
including, as outlined in the Department’s 2022 Diversity, 
Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Strategic Plan— 
(A) workforce pay and compensation; 
(B) recruitment, hiring, promotions, and retention; 
(C) reasonable accommodations for disability and reli-
gion; 
(D) safe workplaces; and 
(E) addressing sexual harassment and discrimination.
H. R. 7776—1500 
(c) EFFECTIVENESS
OF
DEPARTMENT
EFFORTS.—The report 
required under subsection (a) shall describe and assess the effective-
ness of the efforts of the Department— 
(1) to propagate fairness, impartiality, and inclusion in 
the work environment, both domestically and abroad; 
(2) to enforce anti-harassment and anti-discrimination poli-
cies, both domestically and at posts overseas; 
(3) to refrain from engaging in unlawful discrimination 
in any phase of the employment process, including recruitment, 
hiring, evaluation, assignments, promotion, retention, and 
training; 
(4) to prevent retaliation against employees for partici-
pating in a protected equal employment opportunity activity 
or for reporting sexual harassment or sexual assault; 
(5) to provide reasonable accommodation for qualified 
employees and applicants with disabilities; 
(6) to recruit a representative workforce by— 
(A) recruiting women, persons with disabilities, and 
minorities; 
(B) recruiting at women’s colleges, historically Black 
colleges and universities, minority-serving institutions, and 
other institutions serving a significant percentage of 
minority students; 
(C) placing job advertisements in newspapers, maga-
zines, and job sites oriented toward women and minorities; 
(D) sponsoring and recruiting at job fairs in urban 
and rural communities and at land-grant colleges or univer-
sities; 
(E) providing opportunities through the Foreign Service 
Internship Program under chapter 12 of the Foreign Service 
Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4141 et seq.), and other hiring 
initiatives; 
(F) recruiting mid-level and senior-level professionals 
through programs designed to increase representation in 
international affairs of people belonging to traditionally 
underrepresented groups; 
(G) offering the Foreign Service written and oral 
assessment examinations in several locations throughout 
the United States or via online platforms to reduce the 
burden of applicants having to travel at their own expense 
to take either or both such examinations; 
(H) expanding the use of paid internships; and 
(I) supporting recruiting and hiring opportunities 
through— 
(i) the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs 
Fellowship Program; 
(ii) the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs 
Fellowship Program; and 
(iii) other initiatives, including agency-wide policy 
initiatives; and 
(7) to ensure transparency and accountability in the work 
of the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and the Secretary’s 
Office of Diversity and Inclusion, particularly by— 
(A) avoiding any duplication of existing diversity, 
equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts, including with 
the Bureau of Global Talent Management, the Office of 
Civil Rights, and other Department offices; and
H. R. 7776—1501 
(B) requiring measurable impacts in hiring, retention, 
and other aspects of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and 
Accessibility Strategic Plan. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the publication 
of the report required under subsection (a), and annually there-
after for the following 5 years, the Secretary shall submit 
a report to the appropriate congressional committees, and make 
such report available on the Department’s website, that 
includes, without compromising the confidentiality of individ-
uals and to the extent otherwise consistent with law— 
(A) disaggregated demographic data, to the maximum 
extent that collection of such data is permissible by law, 
relating to the workforce and information on the status 
of diversity and inclusion efforts of the Department; 
(B) an analysis of applicant flow data, to the maximum 
extent that collection of such data is permissible by law; 
and 
(C) disaggregated demographic data relating to partici-
pants in professional development programs of the Depart-
ment and the rate of placement into senior positions for 
participants in such programs. 
(2) COMBINATION WITH OTHER ANNUAL REPORT.—The report 
required under paragraph (1) may be combined with another 
annual report required by law, to the extent practicable. 
SEC. 9403. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND 
ASSISTANCE. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purposes of this section are— 
(1) to advance the values and interests of the United States 
overseas through programs that foster innovation, competitive-
ness, and a plethora of backgrounds, views, and experience 
in the formulation and implementation of United States foreign 
policy and assistance; and 
(2) to create opportunities for specialized research, edu-
cation, training, professional development, and leadership 
opportunities for individuals belonging to an underrepresented 
group within the Department and USAID. 
(b) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary and the Administrator of 
USAID shall conduct a study on the feasibility of establishing 
Centers of Excellence in Foreign Affairs and Assistance 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Centers of Excellence’’) 
within institutions that serve individuals belonging to an under-
represented group to focus on 1 or more of the areas described 
in paragraph (2). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—In conducting the study required under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary and the Administrator, respec-
tively, shall consider— 
(A) opportunities to enter into public-private partner-
ships that will— 
(i) increase interest in foreign affairs and foreign 
assistance Federal careers; 
(ii) 
prepare 
an 
assorted 
cadre 
of 
students 
(including nontraditional, mid-career, part-time, and
H. R. 7776—1502 
heritage students) and nonprofit or business profes-
sionals with the skills and education needed to mean-
ingfully contribute to the formulation and execution 
of United States foreign policy and assistance; 
(iii) support the conduct of research, education, 
and extension programs that reflect a wide range of 
perspectives and views of world regions and inter-
national affairs— 
(I) to assist in the development of regional 
and functional foreign policy skills; 
(II) to strengthen international development 
and humanitarian assistance programs; and 
(III) to strengthen democratic institutions and 
processes in policymaking, including in education, 
health, wealth, justice, and other sectors; 
(iv) enable domestic and international educational, 
internship, fellowship, faculty exchange, training, 
employment or other innovative programs to acquire 
or strengthen knowledge of foreign languages, cultures, 
societies, and international skills and perspectives; 
(v) support collaboration among institutions of 
higher education, including community colleges, non-
profit organizations, and corporations, to strengthen 
the engagement between experts and practitioners in 
the foreign affairs and foreign assistance fields; and 
(vi) leverage additional public-private partnerships 
with nonprofit organizations, foundations, corporations, 
institutions of higher education, and the Federal 
Government; and 
(B) budget and staffing requirements, including appro-
priate sources of funding, for the establishment and conduct 
of operations of such Centers of Excellence. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the 
appropriate congressional committees that contains the findings 
of the study conducted pursuant to subsection (b). 
SEC. 9404. PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE WORKFORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary should establish a mechanism 
to ensure that appointments or details of Department career 
employees to staff positions in the Office of the Secretary, the 
Office of the Deputy Secretary of State, the Office of the Counselor 
of the Department, any office of the Secretary’s Policy Planning 
Staff, and any office of an Under Secretary of State, and details 
to the National Security Council, are transparent, competitive, 
inclusive, and merit-based. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the 
appropriate congressional committees regarding the mechanism 
established pursuant to subsection (a). 
(c) AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) use transparent, competitive, inclusive, and merit-based 
processes for appointments and details to the staff positions 
specified in subsection (a); and
H. R. 7776—1503 
(2) ensure that such positions are equally available to 
all employees of the Civil Service and the Foreign Service 
of the Department. 
SEC. 9405. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this title may be construed as altering existing 
law regarding merit system principles. 
TITLE XCV—INFORMATION SECURITY 
AND CYBER DIPLOMACY 
SEC. 9501. UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL CYBERSPACE POLICY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—It is the policy of the United States— 
(1) to work internationally to promote an open, interoper-
able, reliable, and secure internet governed by the multi-stake-
holder model, which— 
(A) promotes democracy, the rule of law, and human 
rights, including freedom of expression; 
(B) supports the ability to innovate, communicate, and 
promote economic prosperity; and 
(C) is designed to protect privacy and guard against 
deception, malign influence, incitement to violence, harass-
ment and abuse, fraud, and theft; 
(2) to encourage and aid United States allies and partners 
in improving their own technological capabilities and resiliency 
to pursue, defend, and protect shared interests and values, 
free from coercion and external pressure; and 
(3) in furtherance of the efforts described in paragraphs 
(1) and (2)— 
(A) to provide incentives to the private sector to accel-
erate the development of the technologies referred to in 
such paragraphs; 
(B) to modernize and harmonize with allies and part-
ners export controls and investment screening regimes and 
associated policies and regulations; and 
(C) to enhance United States leadership in technical 
standards-setting bodies and avenues for developing norms 
regarding the use of digital tools. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—In implementing the policy described 
in subsection (a), the President, in consultation with outside actors, 
as appropriate, including private sector companies, nongovern-
mental organizations, security researchers, and other relevant 
stakeholders, in the conduct of bilateral and multilateral relations, 
shall strive— 
(1) to clarify the applicability of international laws and 
norms to the use of information and communications technology 
(referred to in this subsection as ‘‘ICT’’); 
(2) to reduce and limit the risk of escalation and retaliation 
in cyberspace, damage to critical infrastructure, and other mali-
cious cyber activity that impairs the use and operation of critical 
infrastructure that provides services to the public; 
(3) to cooperate with like-minded countries that share 
common values and cyberspace policies with the United States, 
including respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule 
of law, to advance such values and policies internationally;
H. R. 7776—1504 
(4) to encourage the responsible development of new, 
innovative technologies and ICT products that strengthen a 
secure internet architecture that is accessible to all; 
(5) to secure and implement commitments on responsible 
country behavior in cyberspace, including commitments by 
countries— 
(A) not to conduct, or knowingly support, cyber-enabled 
theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or 
other confidential business information, with the intent 
of providing competitive advantages to companies or 
commercial sectors; 
(B) to take all appropriate and reasonable efforts to 
keep their territories clear of intentionally wrongful acts 
using ICT in violation of international commitments; 
(C) not to conduct or knowingly support ICT activity 
that intentionally damages or otherwise impairs the use 
and operation of critical infrastructure providing services 
to the public, in violation of international law; 
(D) to take appropriate measures to protect the coun-
try’s critical infrastructure from ICT threats; 
(E) not to conduct or knowingly support malicious 
international activity that harms the information systems 
of authorized international emergency response teams (also 
known as ‘‘computer emergency response teams’’ or ‘‘cyber-
security incident response teams’’) of another country or 
authorize emergency response teams to engage in malicious 
international activity, in violation of international law; 
(F) to respond to appropriate requests for assistance 
to mitigate malicious ICT activity emanating from their 
territory and aimed at the critical infrastructure of another 
country; 
(G) not to restrict cross-border data flows or require 
local storage or processing of data; and 
(H) to protect the exercise of human rights and funda-
mental freedoms on the internet, while recognizing that 
the human rights that people have offline also need to 
be protected online; and 
(6) to advance, encourage, and support the development 
and adoption of internationally recognized technical standards 
and best practices. 
SEC. 9502. BUREAU OF CYBERSPACE AND DIGITAL POLICY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1 of the State Department Basic 
Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a), is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (i) and (j) as subsection 
(j) and (k), respectively; 
(2) by redesignating subsection (h) (as added by section 
361(a)(1) of division FF of the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2021 (Public Law 116–260)) as subsection (l); and 
(3) by inserting after subsection (h) the following: 
‘‘(i) BUREAU OF CYBERSPACE AND DIGITAL POLICY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established, within the Depart-
ment of State, the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy 
(referred to in this subsection as the ‘Bureau’). The head of 
the Bureau shall have the rank and status of ambassador 
and shall be appointed by the President, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate.