Title: A resolution emphasizing the importance of a career, nonpartisan Foreign Service of the United States.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution highlights the nonpartisan nature of the Foreign Service and the oath taken by Foreign Service members to defend the Constitution and serve the people of the United States. It also condemns political retaliation against Foreign Service members.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 376 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 376

Emphasizing the importance of a career, nonpartisan Foreign Service of 
                           the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 24, 2019

  Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, 
   Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Harris, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Reed, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
 Blumenthal, and Mr. Markey) submitted the following resolution; which 
           was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Emphasizing the importance of a career, nonpartisan Foreign Service of 
                           the United States.

Whereas the Foreign Service of the United States (referred to in this preamble 
        as the ``Foreign Service''), established under the Act of May 24, 1924 
        (commonly known as the ``Rogers Act'') (43 Stat. 140, chapter 182), and 
        strengthened by the Foreign Service Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 999, chapter 
        957) and the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.), 
        provides indispensable support to the President, the Secretary of State, 
        and other senior leaders in conducting the foreign policy of the United 
        States;
Whereas the Foreign Service consists of members from the Department of State, 
        the United States Agency for International Development, the Foreign 
        Commercial Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Animal and 
        Plant Health Inspection Service, and the United States Agency for Global 
        Media;
Whereas members of the Foreign Service take an oath to defend the Constitution 
        of the United States and to remain above partisan and political 
        considerations;
Whereas members of the Foreign Service are deployed worldwide--

    (1) to serve the people of the United States;

    (2) to advance the interests and values of the United States; and

    (3) to project the leadership of the United States globally;

Whereas the work of the Foreign Service is vital to the national security, 
        foreign policy, and commercial interests of the United States;
Whereas members of the Foreign Service often serve in extreme hardship and 
        difficult security situations;
Whereas not fewer than 250 members of the Foreign Service have given their lives 
        in service of the United States while serving the people of the United 
        States abroad;
Whereas the presence of the Foreign Service abroad gives the United States a 
        competitive advantage in advancing the interests of the United States;
Whereas the knowledge and expertise of members of the Foreign Service are 
        invaluable in shaping the foreign policy of the United States;
Whereas, through diplomatic engagement, the Foreign Service promotes 
        partnerships that further good governance, the rule of law, and 
        democratic institutions; and
Whereas the contributions of the Foreign Service are extraordinarily valuable to 
        the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) highlights--
                    (A) the nonpartisan nature of the Foreign Service 
                of the United States (referred to in this resolution as 
                the ``Foreign Service''); and
                    (B) the oath taken by members of the Foreign 
                Service--
                            (i) to defend the Constitution of the 
                        United States;
                            (ii) to advance the foreign policy of the 
                        democratically elected officials of the United 
                        States; and
                            (iii) to serve the people of the United 
                        States;
            (2) recognizes the importance of a nonpartisan Foreign 
        Service in advancing the foreign policy of the United States;
            (3) calls on all people of the United States to respect the 
        nonpartisan, nonpolitical work of the Foreign Service;
            (4) condemns political retaliation against members of the 
        Foreign Service; and
            (5) urges all people of the United States to support a 
        strong Foreign Service as essential to the national security 
        and interests of the United States.
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