To provide certain authorities for the Department of State, and for other purposes.

Bill: 109-hr-4436
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2005-12-06 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Afghanistan
Americans in foreign countries
Biological warfare
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional oversight
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Death
Department of State
Destruction of property
Diplomats
Dismissal of employees
East Asia
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Epidemics
Epidemiology
Families
Federal employees
Foreign service
Fringe benefits
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Governmental investigations
Grievance procedures
Health
Housing and Community Development
International broadcasting
International cooperation in science
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Law
Medical economics
Middle East and North Africa
Military occupation
Northern Mariana Islands
Protection of officials
Recruiting of employees
Research centers
Salaries
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Singapore
South Asia
Student transportation
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs
Treaties

Summary:
action_date: 2005-12-06
text: 
Authorizes the Secretary of State to provide for U.S. participation in the Regional Emerging Disease Intervention Center (&quot;REDI Center&quot;) in Singapore. 
 
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to credit Department of State medical reimbursements to the currently available appropriation account, which shall be available for expenditure during the fiscal year received or longer as may be provided by law.
 
Amends the Diplomatic Security Act to authorize the Secretary to not convene an Accountability Review Board to conduct an inquiry for incidents that involve serious injury, loss of life, or significant property destruction at a U.S. mission in Iraq or Afghanistan during the period of October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2009. Requires the Secretary, in the case of such an incident, to: (1) notify the appropriate congressional committees; and (2) investigate the incident and report to such committees.
 
Increases the maximum post-differential and danger pay allowance for a Foreign Service employee to 35% of base pay.
 
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 respecting grievance procedures.
 
 Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to make the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program permanent, and increase personnel levels to 100. 
 
Authorizes the Department to provide in advance funds available for official residence expenses to those persons currently eligible to receive such reimbursement. 
 
Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to authorize the Broadcasting Board of Governors to pay the primary and secondary education costs of dependents of personnel stationed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, including certain transportation costs, if the Board determines that the schools available in the Commonwealth are unable to provide an adequate education. Limits such payments to amounts similarly permitted to Department of Defense (DOD) dependents' educational expenses in the Commonwealth.

action_date: 2005-12-14
text: 
(Sec. 1) Authorizes the Secretary of State to provide for U.S. participation in the Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Center (&quot;REDI Center&quot;) in Singapore. 
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) consult with the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate (Committees); and (2) report on REDI Center efforts respecting bioterrorism concerns.
 
(Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to credit Department of State medical reimbursements to the currently available appropriation account, which shall be available for expenditure during the fiscal year received or longer as may be provided by law.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Diplomatic Security Act to authorize the Secretary to not convene an Accountability Review Board to conduct an inquiry for incidents that involve serious injury, loss of life, or significant property destruction at a U.S. mission in Iraq or Afghanistan during the period of October 1, 2005, through September 30, 2009. 
 
Requires the Secretary, in the case of such an incident, to: (1) notify the Committees; and (2) investigate the incident and submit a report to such Committees.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004 to repeal the provision making United States Agency for International Development (USAID) post differential and danger pay increases for employees not in Iraq or Afghanistan subject to the provision of similar pay allowances for Department employees. 
 
Increases the maximum post-differential and danger pay allowance for a Foreign Service employee to 35% of base pay.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to the Committees and to the Committee on Government Reform of the House and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate respecting such increases' effect on &quot;hard-to-fill&quot; positions. 
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Foreign Service Grievance Board to retain an employee on the payroll while a grievance is being reviewed. 
 
 (Sec. 6) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to extend the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program through December 31, 2006.
 
(Sec. 7) Authorizes the Department to provide in advance funds available for official residence expenses to those persons currently eligible to receive such reimbursement. 
 
(Sec. 8) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to authorize the Broadcasting Board of Governors to pay the primary and secondary education costs of dependents of personnel stationed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, including certain transportation costs, if the Board determines that the schools available in the Commonwealth are unable to provide an adequate education. Limits such payments to amounts similarly permitted to Department of Defense (DOD) dependents' educational expenses in the Commonwealth.

action_date: 2005-12-15
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 14, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
(Sec. 1) Authorizes the Secretary of State to provide for U.S. participation in the Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Center (&quot;REDI Center&quot;) in Singapore. 
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) consult with the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate (Committees); and (2) report on REDI Center efforts respecting bioterrorism concerns.
 
(Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to credit Department of State medical reimbursements to the currently available appropriation account, which shall be available for expenditure during the fiscal year received or longer as may be provided by law.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Diplomatic Security Act to authorize the Secretary to not convene an Accountability Review Board to conduct an inquiry for incidents that involve serious injury, loss of life, or significant property destruction at a U.S. mission in Iraq or Afghanistan during the period of October 1, 2005, through September 30, 2009. 
 
Requires the Secretary, in the case of such an incident, to: (1) notify the Committees; and (2) investigate the incident and submit a report to such Committees.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004 to repeal the provision making United States Agency for International Development (USAID) post differential and danger pay increases for employees not in Iraq or Afghanistan subject to the provision of similar pay allowances for Department employees. 
 
Increases the maximum post-differential and danger pay allowance for a Foreign Service employee to 35% of base pay.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to the Committees and to the Committee on Government Reform of the House and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate respecting such increases' effect on &quot;hard-to-fill&quot; positions. 
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Foreign Service Grievance Board to retain an employee on the payroll while a grievance is being reviewed. 
 
 (Sec. 6) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to extend the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program through December 31, 2006.
 
(Sec. 7) Authorizes the Department to provide in advance funds available for official residence expenses to those persons currently eligible to receive such reimbursement. 
 
(Sec. 8) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to authorize the Broadcasting Board of Governors to pay the primary and secondary education costs of dependents of personnel stationed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, including certain transportation costs, if the Board determines that the schools available in the Commonwealth are unable to provide an adequate education. Limits such payments to amounts similarly permitted to Department of Defense (DOD) dependents' educational expenses in the Commonwealth.

action_date: 2005-12-22
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 14, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
(Sec. 1) Authorizes the Secretary of State to provide for U.S. participation in the Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Center (&quot;REDI Center&quot;) in Singapore. 
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) consult with the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate (Committees); and (2) report on REDI Center efforts respecting bioterrorism concerns.
 
(Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to credit Department of State medical reimbursements to the currently available appropriation account, which shall be available for expenditure during the fiscal year received or longer as may be provided by law.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Diplomatic Security Act to authorize the Secretary to not convene an Accountability Review Board to conduct an inquiry for incidents that involve serious injury, loss of life, or significant property destruction at a U.S. mission in Iraq or Afghanistan during the period of October 1, 2005, through September 30, 2009. 
 
Requires the Secretary, in the case of such an incident, to: (1) notify the Committees; and (2) investigate the incident and submit a report to such Committees.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004 to repeal the provision making United States Agency for International Development (USAID) post differential and danger pay increases for employees not in Iraq or Afghanistan subject to the provision of similar pay allowances for Department employees. 
 
Increases the maximum post-differential and danger pay allowance for a Foreign Service employee to 35% of base pay.
 
Directs the Secretary to report to the Committees and to the Committee on Government Reform of the House and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate respecting such increases' effect on &quot;hard-to-fill&quot; positions. 
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Foreign Service Grievance Board to retain an employee on the payroll while a grievance is being reviewed. 
 
 (Sec. 6) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to extend the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program through December 31, 2006.
 
(Sec. 7) Authorizes the Department to provide in advance funds available for official residence expenses to those persons currently eligible to receive such reimbursement. 
 
(Sec. 8) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to authorize the Broadcasting Board of Governors to pay the primary and secondary education costs of dependents of personnel stationed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, including certain transportation costs, if the Board determines that the schools available in the Commonwealth are unable to provide an adequate education. Limits such payments to amounts similarly permitted to Department of Defense (DOD) dependents' educational expenses in the Commonwealth.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-12-22
text: Became Public Law No: 109-140.
action_date: 2005-12-22
text: Became Public Law No: 109-140.
action_date: 2005-12-22
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2005-12-22
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2005-12-17
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2005-12-17
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2005-12-15
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2005-12-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2005-12-15
text: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S13687)
action_date: 2005-12-15
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S13687)
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H11607-11608)
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H11607-11608)
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4436.
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H11607-11609)
action_date: 2005-12-14
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2005-12-06
text: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-12-06
text: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-12-06
text: Referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2005-12-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-12-06
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 109-140