I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 490 
To require a quadrennial review of the diplomatic strategy and structure 
of the Department of State and its related agencies to determine how 
the Department can best fulfill its mission in the 21st century and 
meet the challenges of a changing world. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 13, 2009 
Mr. THORNBERRY introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To require a quadrennial review of the diplomatic strategy 
and structure of the Department of State and its related 
agencies to determine how the Department can best ful-
fill its mission in the 21st century and meet the chal-
lenges of a changing world. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Quadrennial Foreign 
Affairs Review Act’’. 
SEC. 2. QUADRENNIAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS REVIEW. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The Department of State, established in 
1789, is responsible for representing the worldwide 
interests of the United States and for advancing the 
policies of the United States. 
(2) The Department operates over 250 posts in 
more than 180 countries throughout the world and 
has approximately 30,000 personnel. 
(3) There have been dramatic changes in the 
world in which the Department must function, in-
cluding changes in technology, changes in religious, 
ethnic, and regional conflicts, and changes in eco-
nomic, political, and military relationships. More-
over, the world has witnessed the spread of weapons 
of mass destruction and the spread of terrorism. 
Yet, there has been little change in the diplomatic 
strategy and structure of the Department or of its 
posts throughout the world. 
(4) The Department and all United States dip-
lomatic efforts should be the subject of a quadren-
nial review to determine how the Department can 
best fulfill its mission and meet the challenges of a 
changing world. 
(b) QUADRENNIAL REVIEW.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30 of 2012 and every four years thereafter, the 
Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on For-
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eign Affairs of the House of Representatives and to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a com-
prehensive examination of the diplomatic strategy and 
structure, foreign assistance programs, budget plans, per-
sonnel decisions, and public diplomacy plans of the De-
partment of State and its related agencies to determine 
the foreign affairs strategy of the United States to best 
meet the challenges of a changing world, together with the 
response report required under subsection (c)(2). Such 
comprehensive examination shall be referred to as a 
‘‘quadrennial review’’. 
(c) INVOLVEMENT OF NATIONAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
PANEL.— 
(1) SUBMISSION OF REVIEW TO PANEL.—Not 
later than July 30 of the year in which a quadren-
nial review is conducted, the Secretary of State shall 
submit to a National Foreign Affairs Panel (in this 
Act referred to as the ‘‘Panel’’), established in ac-
cordance with section 3, a copy of such quadrennial 
review. 
(2) RESPONSE REPORT.—Not later than Au-
gust 30 of the year in which a quadrennial review 
is submitted to a Panel under paragraph (1), such 
Panel shall submit to the Secretary a report re-
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sponding to the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of such quadrennial review. 
(d) CONTENTS
OF QUADRENNIAL REVIEW.—The 
quadrennial review shall include the following information: 
(1) A review of the current structures of the 
Department of State and its related agencies, includ-
ing the organization, staffing, and operation of 
United States embassies and consulates abroad, to 
determine how best to efficiently and effectively rep-
resent the interests of the United States throughout 
the world and advance the policies of the United 
States. 
(2) A review of the level of cooperation and de-
gree of integration of the Department of State with 
other Federal departments and agencies, including 
the Department of Defense, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Department of the Treas-
ury, the Department of Commerce, the Office of the 
United States Trade Representative, the Agency for 
International Development, the Drug Enforcement 
Agency, and the elements of the intelligence commu-
nity. 
(3) Recommendations related to how best to 
meet the anticipated roles and missions of such de-
partments and agencies in the future. 
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(4) A review of the efforts of the Department 
of State with respect to public diplomacy and any 
recommendations for changes or modifications in 
public diplomacy initiatives or programs in order to 
improve performance. 
(5) An examination of the assumptions used in 
the quadrennial review by the Secretary, including 
assumptions relating to cooperation between the De-
partment and other Federal departments and agen-
cies, communication with allies, levels of risk, real- 
time situational awareness, and immediate commu-
nication within the Department. 
(6) An examination of the forward presence and 
pre-positioning necessary for the Department to en-
gage in negotiation and conflict deterrence in re-
sponse to anticipated threats and conflicts. 
(7) An examination of the process of how the 
Department develops scenarios that may require a 
Department response, and recommendations for im-
proving this process to incorporate nontraditional 
threat planning scenarios and input from other Fed-
eral departments and agencies and nongovernmental 
organizations. 
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SEC. 3. NATIONAL FOREIGN AFFAIRS PANEL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than December 1 of 
the year immediately preceding the year in which a quad-
rennial review is conducted, the Secretary of State shall 
establish a nonpartisan, independent panel to be known 
as a National Foreign Affairs Panel. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A Panel shall be composed 
of a chairperson and eight other individuals ap-
pointed by the Secretary, in consultation with the 
chairman and ranking member of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the chairman and ranking member of the Committee 
on Foreign Relations of the Senate, from among in-
dividuals in the private sector who are recognized ex-
perts in matters relating to the foreign affairs and 
diplomacy interests of the United States. 
(2) QUORUM.—Five members of a Panel shall 
constitute a quorum. 
(c) DUTIES.—A Panel shall submit to the Secretary 
the response report required under section 2(c)(2). 
(d) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—A 
Panel may secure from the Department of State and its 
related agencies and from any other Federal department 
or agency such information as such Panel considers nec-
essary to carry out its duties under this Act. The head 
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of the department or agency concerned shall ensure that 
information requested by such Panel under this subsection 
is promptly provided to such Panel. 
(e) PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each mem-
ber of a Panel shall be compensated at a rate equal 
to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic 
pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, 
for each day (including travel time) during which 
such member is engaged in the performance of the 
duties of such Panel. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Members of a Panel 
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for em-
ployees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 
of title 5, United States Code, while away from their 
homes or regular places of business in the perform-
ance of services for such Panel. 
(3) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF.—With-
out regard to the civil service laws and regulations, 
the chairperson of a Panel may appoint and termi-
nate an Executive Director and a staff of not more 
than four additional individuals, none of whom may 
be current employees of the Department of State or 
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members of the Foreign Service, if such Panel deter-
mines that an executive director and staff are nec-
essary in order for such Panel to perform its duties 
effectively. The employment of an Executive Direc-
tor shall be subject to confirmation by a majority of 
members of such Panel. 
(4) COMPENSATION
OF
EXECUTIVE
DIREC-
TOR.—The chairperson may fix the compensation of 
the Executive Director, if one is appointed pursuant 
to paragraph (3), without regard to the provisions of 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 
5, United States Code, relating to classification of 
positions and General Schedule pay rates, except 
that the rate of pay for the Executive Director may 
not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Execu-
tive Schedule under section 5316 of such title. 
(5) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—An 
employee of the Federal Government may be de-
tailed to a Panel without reimbursement, and such 
detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil or 
foreign service status or privilege with respect to 
such employee. The Secretary shall ensure that a 
sufficient number of employees are detailed to a 
Panel to enable such Panel to carry out its duties 
effectively. 
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(6) TRAVEL
CONDITIONS.—To the maximum 
extent practicable, the members and employees of a 
Panel shall travel on Government aircraft, ships, ve-
hicles, or other conveyances when travel is necessary 
in the performance of the duties of such Panel, ex-
cept that no such aircraft, ship, vehicle, or other 
conveyance may be scheduled primarily for the 
transportation of any such member or employee 
when the cost of commercial transportation is less 
expensive. 
(f) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.— 
(1) USE OF THE MAILS.—A Panel may use the 
United States mails and obtain printing and binding 
services in the same manner and under the same 
conditions as other departments and agencies of the 
Federal Government. 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
AND
SUPPORT
SERV-
ICES.—The Secretary of State shall furnish a Panel 
with any administrative and support services re-
quested by such Panel. 
(3) GIFTS AND DONATIONS.—A Panel may ac-
cept, use, and dispose of gifts or donations of serv-
ices or property. 
(g) PAYMENT
OF PANEL EXPENSES.—The com-
pensation, travel expenses, and per diem allowances of 
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members and employees of a Panel shall be paid out of 
funds made available to the Department of State for the 
payment of compensation, travel allowances, and per diem 
allowances, respectively, of civilian employees of the De-
partment. Any other expenses of a Panel shall be paid out 
of funds made available to the Department for the pay-
ment of similar expenses incurred by the Department. 
(h) SUNSET PROVISION.—A Panel shall terminate 30 
days after the submission of the response report required 
under section 2(c)(2). 
Æ 
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