Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of science diplomacy, and for other purposes.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Reaffirms that international scientific engagement furthers U.S. diplomatic and security interests.
Calls on the Department of State to establish a Science and Technology Advisory Board to provide technical proficiency on science and technology issues related to foreign policy priorities.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 828 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 828

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of 
               science diplomacy, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 2018

 Mr. Foster submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of 
               science diplomacy, and for other purposes.

Whereas the mission of the Department of State is to create a more secure, 
        democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people 
        and the international community;
Whereas advancements in science and technology are dramatically changing the way 
        personal and business affairs are conducted;
Whereas the United States and international community must address an ever-
        growing array of complex global problems;
Whereas science provides a common language through which individuals from 
        different nations and distinct cultures can communicate, cooperate, and 
        work together toward common goals;
Whereas science diplomacy is the use of scientific collaborations among nations 
        to address the common problems facing 21st century humanity and to build 
        constructive international partnerships;
Whereas science and technology cooperation is one of our most effective ways of 
        influencing and assisting other nations while building bridges between 
        people and countries;
Whereas through decades of international scientific cooperation, CERN, the 
        European Organization for Nuclear Research near Geneva, Switzerland, 
        became an example of how former political adversaries could come 
        together through science to make a more peaceful and productive world;
Whereas the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the 
        Middle East (SESAME), a scientific facility in Jordan, will bring 
        together scientists from Israel, Iran, and the surrounding regions to 
        work cooperatively on dozens of simultaneous experiments in fields 
        ranging from biological and medical sciences to archeology;
Whereas in response to a 1999 report conducted by the National Academy of 
        Sciences, then-Secretary of State Madeline Albright created the position 
        of Science and Technology Adviser;
Whereas the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation of the Department of 
        State encourages science, technology, and innovation ecosystems to 
        support United States foreign and economic policy priorities; and
Whereas the Department of State should modernize its science and technology 
        capabilities in order to carry out its mission more effectively in the 
        21st century: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes that the United States and international 
        community must address a growing array of complex global 
        challenges;
            (2) reaffirms that international scientific engagement 
        furthers the diplomatic and security interests of the United 
        States; and
            (3) calls on the Secretary of State to--
                    (A) develop science and technology-oriented 
                foresight assessments;
                    (B) establish a Science and Technology Advisory 
                Board comprised of independent experts to provide 
                technical proficiency on science and technology issues 
                related to the Department's foreign policy priorities;
                    (C) provide the Science and Technology Adviser with 
                the organizational status equivalent to that of an 
                Assistant Secretary;
                    (D) evaluate the adequacy of the number of Foreign 
                Service Officers in the Department's workforce with 
                technical backgrounds and provide increased training 
                and recruitment as necessary; and
                    (E) assess the feasibility of re-creating a Foreign 
                Service Reserve Officer functional cone for recruiting 
                experts in Science and Technology, and other specialty 
                needs of the Department of State.
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