I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1253 
To modernize and streamline the public diplomacy capabilities of the Depart-
ment of State, increase evaluation of public diplomacy programming, 
enhance strategic planning for the Department’s public diplomacy phys-
ical presence abroad, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 23, 2021 
Mr. MEUSER (for himself and Mr. MCCAUL) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To modernize and streamline the public diplomacy capabili-
ties of the Department of State, increase evaluation of 
public diplomacy programming, enhance strategic plan-
ning for the Department’s public diplomacy physical 
presence abroad, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Public Diplomacy Mod-
ernization Act of 2021’’. 
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SEC. 2. AVOIDING DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS AND EF-
FORTS. 
The Secretary of State shall— 
(1) identify opportunities for greater efficiency 
of operations, including through improved coordina-
tion of efforts across public diplomacy bureaus and 
offices of the Department of State; and 
(2) maximize shared use of resources between, 
and within, such public diplomacy bureaus and of-
fices in cases in which programs, facilities, or admin-
istrative functions are duplicative or substantially 
overlapping. 
SEC. 3. IMPROVING RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF PUB-
LIC DIPLOMACY. 
(a) RESEARCH AND EVALUATION ACTIVITIES.—The 
Secretary of State, acting through the Director of Re-
search and Evaluation appointed pursuant to subsection 
(b), shall— 
(1) conduct regular research and evaluation of 
public diplomacy programs and activities of the De-
partment, including through the routine use of audi-
ence research, digital analytics, and impact evalua-
tions, to plan and execute such programs and activi-
ties; and 
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(2) make available to Congress the findings of 
the research and evaluations conducted under para-
graph (1). 
(b) DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of State shall appoint a Director of Research 
and Evaluation (referred to in this subsection as the 
‘‘Director’’) in the Office of Policy, Planning, and 
Resources for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs 
of the Department. 
(2) LIMITATION
ON
APPOINTMENT.—The ap-
pointment of the Director pursuant to paragraph (1) 
shall not result in an increase in the overall full-time 
equivalent positions within the Department of State. 
(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Director shall— 
(A) coordinate and oversee the research 
and evaluation of public diplomacy programs 
and activities of the Department of State in 
order to— 
(i) improve public diplomacy strate-
gies and tactics; and 
(ii) ensure that such programs and 
activities are increasing the knowledge, un-
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derstanding, and trust of the United 
States by relevant target audiences; 
(B) routinely organize and oversee audi-
ence research, digital analytics, and impact 
evaluations across all public diplomacy bureaus 
and offices of the Department; 
(C) support United States diplomatic 
posts’ public affairs sections; 
(D) share appropriate public diplomacy re-
search and evaluation information within the 
Department and with other appropriate Federal 
departments and agencies; 
(E) regularly design and coordinate stand-
ardized research questions, methodologies, and 
procedures to ensure that public diplomacy pro-
grams and activities across all public diplomacy 
bureaus and offices are designed to meet appro-
priate foreign policy objectives; and 
(F) report biannually to the United States 
Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy, 
through the Subcommittee on Research and 
Evaluation established pursuant to subsection 
(f), regarding the research and evaluation of all 
public diplomacy bureaus and offices. 
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(4) GUIDANCE AND TRAINING.—Not later than 
one year after the appointment of the Director pur-
suant to paragraph (1), the Director shall develop 
guidance and training, including curriculum for use 
by the Foreign Service Institute, for all public diplo-
macy officers of the Department regarding the read-
ing and interpretation of public diplomacy program 
and activity evaluation findings to ensure that such 
findings and related lessons learned are implemented 
in the planning and evaluation of all public diplo-
macy programs and activities of the Department. 
(c) PRIORITIZING RESEARCH AND EVALUATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of the Office of 
Policy, Planning, and Resources for Public Diplo-
macy and Public Affairs of the Department of State 
shall ensure that research and evaluation of public 
diplomacy and activities of the Department, as co-
ordinated and overseen by the Director pursuant to 
subsection (b), supports strategic planning and re-
source allocation across all public diplomacy bureaus 
and offices of the Department. 
(2) ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES.—Amounts al-
located for the purpose of research and evaluation of 
public diplomacy programs and activities of the De-
partment of State pursuant to subsection (b) shall 
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be made available to be disbursed at the direction of 
the Director of Research and Evaluation among the 
research and evaluation staff across all public diplo-
macy bureaus and offices of the Department. 
(3) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that the Department of State should 
gradually increase its allocation of funds made avail-
able under the headings ‘‘Educational and Cultural 
Exchange Programs’’ and ‘‘Diplomatic Programs’’ 
for research and evaluation of public diplomacy pro-
grams and activities of the Department pursuant to 
subsection (b) to a percentage of program funds that 
is commensurate with Federal Government best 
practices. 
(d) LIMITED EXEMPTION RELATING TO THE PAPER-
WORK REDUCTION ACT.—Chapter 35 of title 44, United 
States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Paperwork Reduc-
tion Act’’) shall not apply to the collection of information 
directed at any individuals conducted by, or on behalf of, 
the Department of State for the purpose of audience re-
search, monitoring, and evaluations, and in connection 
with the Department’s activities conducted pursuant to 
any of the following: 
(1) The Mutual Educational and Cultural Ex-
change Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.). 
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(2) Section 1287 of the National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 
114–328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note). 
(3) The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 
U.S.C. 2151 et seq.). 
(e) LIMITED EXEMPTION RELATING TO THE PRI-
VACY ACT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Department of State 
shall maintain, collect, use, and disseminate records 
(as such term is defined in section 552a(a)(4) of 
title 5, United States Code) for audience research, 
digital analytics, and impact evaluation of commu-
nications related to public diplomacy efforts intended 
for foreign audiences. 
(2) CONDITIONS.—Audience research, digital 
analytics, and impact evaluations under paragraph 
(1) shall be— 
(A) reasonably tailored to meet the pur-
poses of this subsection; and 
(B) carried out with due regard for privacy 
and civil liberties guidance and oversight. 
(f) UNITED STATES ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PUB-
LIC DIPLOMACY.— 
(1) SUBCOMMITTEE FOR RESEARCH AND EVAL-
UATION.—The United States Advisory Commission 
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on Public Diplomacy shall establish a Subcommittee 
on Research and Evaluation to monitor and advise 
regarding audience research, digital analytics, and 
impact evaluations carried out by the Department of 
State and the United States Agency for Global 
Media. 
(2) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Subcommittee on 
Research and Evaluation established pursuant to 
paragraph (1) shall submit to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
an annual report, in conjunction with the United 
States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy’s 
Comprehensive Annual Report on the performance 
of the Department of State and the United States 
Agency for Global Media, describing all actions 
taken by the Subcommittee pursuant to paragraph 
(1) and any findings made as a result of such ac-
tions. 
SEC. 4. PERMANENT REAUTHORIZATION OF THE UNITED 
STATES ADVISORY COMMISSION ON PUBLIC 
DIPLOMACY. 
Section 1334 of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Re-
structuring Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6553) is amended— 
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