I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8780 
To improve hiring authorities available to the Secretary of State with respect 
to expertise on China, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 
Mr. BERA (for himself and Mr. BARR) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To improve hiring authorities available to the Secretary of 
State with respect to expertise on China, 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 ‘‘Expand eXpertise in 
China Education and Language Act’’ or the ‘‘EXCEL 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) strategic competition with the Government 
of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 
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Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the most signifi-
cant geostrategic challenge the United States faces 
to security and prosperity in the 21st century; 
(2) the United States Government needs to fur-
ther invest in relevant linguistic, cultural, and re-
gional expertise to effectively engage in strategic 
competition with the People’s Republic of China; and 
(3) existing hiring authorities across the Execu-
tive Branch are not being adequately utilized to 
bring in necessary expertise to win the strategic 
competition against the People’s Republic of China, 
and that agencies may benefit from additional flexi-
bility to recruit, hire, and retain talent. 
SEC. 3. HIRING ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE AT THE DEPART-
MENT OF STATE. 
(a) DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not more than 2 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
State shall appoint, without regard to the provisions 
of sections 3309 through 3318 of title V, no fewer 
than 31 candidates with linguistic, cultural, or re-
gional expertise relevant for strengthening United 
States understanding of and ability to compete with 
the People’s Republic of China directly to positions 
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in the competitive service, as defined in section 2102 
of that title. 
(2) TERMINATION.—The authority provided 
under subsection (a) shall terminate in 10 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM CONTRACTS.— 
(1) TRAINING.—The Secretary of State shall, to 
such extent or in such amounts as provided in ap-
propriations Acts, train Foreign Service and Civil 
Service employees who hold positions relevant to ad-
vancing United States policies toward competition 
with the PRC. 
(2) TOPICS COVERED.—The training shall cover 
the following topics: 
(A) The domestic and foreign policy objec-
tives of the PRC and the CCP, as demonstrated 
through publicly available speeches, and PRC 
and CCP documents. 
(B) The tools the PRC and the CCP use 
to achieve those objectives. 
(C) The role of ideology in shaping CCP 
policies and outlook. 
(D) Other topics deemed relevant by the 
China Strategic Advisory Board. 
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(3) CONTRACTING OR GRANTS FOR TRAINING.— 
The Secretary shall provide the training required in 
subsection (b) by obtaining assistance from knowl-
edgeable persons and organizations through— 
(A) entering into short-term and long-term 
contracts, including contracts for the services of 
consultants; 
(B) making grants available, or 
(C) other appropriate measures, as the 
Secretary deems necessary. 
SEC. 4. PROVIDING ENDURING STRATEGIC ADVICE VIA THE 
CHINA STRATEGIC ADVISORY BOARD. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an advi-
sory commission to be known as the ‘‘China Strategic Ad-
visory Board’’ (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Advisory 
Board’’). 
(b) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Advisory 
Board shall— 
(1) provide advice, expertise, and continuity in 
United States foreign policy matters pertaining to 
strategic competition with the PRC; 
(2) review recruitment, training, and retention 
of Civil Service and Foreign Service members with 
the expertise and experience necessary to support 
United States policy toward the PRC; and 
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(3) review programs across regional and func-
tional bureaus intended to respond to strategic com-
petition with the PRC, including the Counter PRC 
Malign Influence Fund. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Advisory Board 
shall consist of between 12 and 24 members, and 
shall have at least 10 years of demonstratable record 
of substantial experience pertaining to issues related 
to United States strategic competition with China. 
No sitting officer or employee of the United States 
Government shall be appointed to the Advisory 
Board. 
(2) APPOINTMENTS BY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.— 
The Democratic Party leaders in the House of Rep-
resentatives and in the Senate shall jointly make the 
following appointments: 
(A) One appointment with a term that ex-
pires on December 30, 2024. 
(B) One appointment with a term that ex-
pires on December 30, 2026. 
(C) One appointment with a term that ex-
pires on December 30, 2028. 
(3) APPOINTMENTS BY REPUBLICAN PARTY.— 
The Republican Party leaders in the House of Rep-
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resentatives and in the Senate shall jointly make the 
following appointments: 
(A) One appointment with a term that ex-
pires on December 30, 2024. 
(B) One appointment with a term that ex-
pires on December 30, 2026. 
(C) One appointment with a term that ex-
pires on December 30, 2028. 
(4) 
APPOINTMENTS
BY
PRESIDENT.—The 
President shall make the following appointments, 
with at least 2 of the appointees shall be between 
the ages of 30 and 50 years of age at the time of 
appointment: 
(A) Two appointments with a term that 
expires on December 30, 2024. 
(B) Two appointments with a term that 
expires on December 30, 2026. 
(C) Two appointments with a term that 
expires on December 30, 2028. 
(5) 
APPOINTMENTS
BY
SECRETARY
OF 
STATE.—The Secretary of State shall make the fol-
lowing appointments, totaling at least 6 appoint-
ments and no more than a maximum of 12 appoint-
ments: 
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(A) Two appointments with a term that 
expires on December 30, 2024. 
(B) Two appointments with a term that 
expires on December 30, 2026. 
(C) Two appointments with a term that 
expires on December 30, 2028. 
(D) The appointees shall meet the fol-
lowing criteria: 
(i) At least one of the appointees shall 
be between the ages of 30 and 50 years of 
age at the time of appointment. 
(ii) At least one shall be able to 
credibly represent the views of the United 
States business community. 
(iii) At least one shall have demon-
strable experience as a United States dip-
lomat. 
(6) DEADLINE.—Each appointing authority re-
ferred to in paragraphs (2) through (5) shall make 
appointments not later than January 1, 2023. 
(7) REPLACEMENT.—Each appointing authority 
referred to in paragraphs (2) through (5) shall make 
appointments to replace the appointees that the au-
thority appointed whose terms have expired. The ap-
pointing authority shall make replacement appoint-
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