(B) the cumulative length of the absence 
and of all previous absences from a position of 
employment with that employer by reason of 
service in the Reserve Corps does not exceed 
five years; and 
(C) the person reports to, or submits an 
application for reemployment to, such employer. 
(2) REEMPLOYMENT.—A person who is entitled 
to re-employment rights shall receive the same re- 
employment protections as a military member re-
ceives under sections 4321 to 4327 of title 38, 
United States Code. The provisions of paragraph (1) 
shall be interpreted consistent with the provisions in 
sections 4311 to 4319 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(3) RIGHT OF RETURN.—An employee serving 
under a career or career conditional appointment or 
the equivalent in an agency who transfers to or con-
verts to an appointment in the Department of State 
Reserve Corps with the consent of the head of that 
agency is entitled to be returned to the employee’s 
former position or a position of like seniority, status, 
and pay without grade or pay retention in the agen-
cy if the employee— 
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(A) is being separated from the Reserve 
Corps for reasons other than misconduct, ne-
glect of duty, or malfeasance; and 
(B) applies for return not later than 30 
days before the date of the termination of the 
employment in the Reserve Corps. 
SEC. 5. COORDINATOR FOR CRISIS COMMUNICATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall des-
ignate and maintain a senior official of the Department 
to serve as the Department’s Coordinator for Crisis Com-
munication (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Coordi-
nator’’) who— 
(1) shall be located in the Department’s Crisis 
Management and Strategy Unit established by sec-
tion 2(a); and 
(2) shall report to the Department’s senior offi-
cial leading crisis response efforts pursuant to sec-
tion 6404(a)(2) of the National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31; 
137 stat. 997; 22 U.S.C. 4865 note). 
(b) DUTIES.—The Coordinator, in cooperation with 
the relevant bureau office or operating unit, shall oversee 
the efforts of the Department relating to the following: 
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(1) Coordinating with the Bureau of Consular 
Affairs on messaging to United States citizens 
abroad regarding safety. 
(2) Communicating to civilians in impacted 
areas during contingencies. 
(3) Communicating to nongovernmental organi-
zations in impacted crisis zones on United States 
crisis response and emergency planning, to include 
Noncombatant Evacuation Operations. 
(4) Holding regular background briefings for 
Congress and other relevant audiences. 
(5) Coordinating efforts with the Department 
spokesperson. 
SEC. 6. FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE TRAINING. 
The Secretary shall direct the Foreign Service Insti-
tute (FSI) to review existing curriculum and courses to 
determine if other crisis management courses are required, 
such as a crisis management course for information tech-
nology professionals. In addition, the FSI should ensure 
that the ambassadorial seminar and Deputy Chief of Mis-
sion course include curriculum on crisis management, in-
cluding one or more of the following: 
(1) The use of regular internal town halls and 
targeted messages from the Ambassador or Deputy 
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Chief of Mission to support mission objectives dur-
ing crisis periods. 
(2) Established best practices for internal com-
munications specific to high threat posts. 
(3) Noncombatant Evacuation Operations and 
civilian-led evacuations. 
(4) Best practices for leading post efforts to 
communicate with and assist United States citizens. 
(5) How to conduct or participate in tabletop 
exercises and simulations, including those authorized 
in section 3. 
(6) Communicating with and assessing the 
needs of locally employed staff during emergencies. 
SEC. 7. ENHANCED AUTHORITIES TO PROTECT LOCALLY 
EMPLOYED STAFF DURING EMERGENCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In emergency situations, in addi-
tion to other authorities that may be available in emer-
gencies or other exigent circumstances, the Secretary is 
authorized to use funds made available to the Department 
to support locally employed staff and their immediate fam-
ily members, if appropriate, for— 
(1) providing transport or relocating locally em-
ployed staff and their immediate family members to 
a safe and secure environment; 
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(2) providing short-term housing or lodging for 
up to 6 months for locally employed staff and their 
immediate family members; and 
(3) procuring or providing other essential items 
and services to support the safety and security of lo-
cally employed staff and their immediate family 
members. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and an-
nually thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary shall 
submit to the appropriate congressional committees 
a report describing actions the Department has 
taken with regard to locally employed staff and their 
immediate family members following suspensions or 
closures of United States diplomatic posts in the 
previous year. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) summarize Department efforts to relo-
cate, temporarily house, or otherwise provide 
support authorized in this section to locally em-
ployed staff and their immediate family mem-
bers; 
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