Department of State Authorities Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-6060
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2006-09-13 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Accidents
Administrative fees
Africa
Africa (Sub-Saharan)
Airlines
Airports
Americans in foreign countries
Autism
Aviation agreements
Belarus
Border patrols
Child health
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Commercial blacklisting
Congressional reporting requirements
Crime and Law Enforcement
Department of State
Diplomats
East Asia
Economic assistance
Economic impact statements
Economic research
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency Management
Environmental Protection
Europe
Families
Federal employees
Federal office buildings
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign service
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government service contracts
Government travel
Governmental investigations
Health
Higher education
Human rights
Immigration
Infrastructure
International agencies
International banking
International broadcasting
International cooperation
International propaganda
Ireland
Law
Libya
Maternal health services
Medical tests
Middle East and North Africa
Minorities
North Korea
Occupational therapy
Passports
Pay equity
Performance measurement
Physical examinations
Privileges and immunities
Protection of officials
Racial discrimination
Racial violence
Radioactive pollution
Refugees
Religion
Salaries
School health programs
Secondary education
Teaching materials
Textbooks
Transportation and Public Works
Travel costs
Turkey
Ukraine
United Nations
User charges
Vatican
Visas
Women

Summary:
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: 
Department of State Authorities Act of 2006 - Provides certain authorities for the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors. 
 
Amends provisions respecting: (1) fraud prevention; (2) protective functions; (3) education allowances; (4) property disposition; (5) protection of North Korean refugees; (6) discrimination; (7) passport fees; (8) personal services contracting; (9) contracting prohibition; (10) Foreign Service compensation; (11) maternal and prenatal care for persons in Belarus and Ukraine affected by Chernobyl; and (12) the dual gateway policy of Ireland.
 
Authorizes the President to extend privileges and immunities to the African Union (AU), the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, and the Bank for International Settlements.

action_date: 2006-12-09
text: 
Department of State Authorities Act of 2006 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit the use of H-1, H-2, and L-visa fraud prevention fees for other visa fraud prevention in addition to being used primarily for H-1, H-2, and L-visa fraud prevention.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends civil service law to grant an allowance for an employee's dependents for travel expenses to and from a secondary or post-secondary educational institution, except for the 12 months following the dependent's arrival at the educational institution. Authorizes as part of such allowance a limited payment or reimbursement for the dependent's baggage storage costs incurred during one trip per year between the school and the employee's duty station.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends federal criminal law to provide that any person who knowingly and willfully obstructs, resists, or interferes with a federal law enforcement agent engaged, within the United States or the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in the performance of specified protective functions shall be fined and/or imprisoned for up to one year.
 
(Sec. 5) Permits passport fee waiver for an individual returning from abroad for humanitarian or law enforcement purposes.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes, as of FY2007, the Secretary of State to administratively amend consular service surcharges related to border security that are in addition to passport and immigrant visa fees in effect as of January 1, 2004. Sets forth surcharge requirements.
 
(Sec. 7) Amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to authorize the President to extend privileges and immunities to the African Union Mission to the United States of America and to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.
 
(Sec. 8) Amends the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 to repeal the provision making persons doing business with Libya ineligible for contracts awarded under such Act. 
 
(Sec. 9) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 with respect to the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program to: (1) extend the program through December 31, 2007; and (2) include broadcasting specialists in the program.
 
(Sec. 10) Amends the Foreign Service Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance to friendly foreign countries for (nuclear, chemical, biological, and conventional) proliferation detection and interdiction activities and for developing complementary capabilities. Directs the President to report to the House Committee on International Relations and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Committees) respecting proliferation and interdiction assistance. 
 
Authorizes the President to conclude agreements, including reciprocal maritime agreements, with other countries to prevent the transportation of proliferation-related items to non-state actors and states of proliferation concern. 
 
Directs the Secretary to notify the Committees within 30 days after making a determination that any friendly country is eligible for priority assistance.
 
(Sec. 11) Authorizes the Secretary to secure, remove, or eliminate stocks of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), small arms and light weapons, stockpiled munitions, abandoned ordnance, and other conventional weapons (including tactical missile systems and related equipment and facilities) located outside the United States that pose a proliferation threat.
 
States that nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authorities of the Secretary of Defense. 
 
(Sec. 12) Declares that it should be U.S. policy to hold foreign governments accountable for knowingly transferring MANPADS to state-sponsors of terrorism or terrorist organizations.
 
States that if the President determines that a foreign government knowingly transfers MANPADS to a foreign government that has repeatedly supported terrorism or to a terrorist organization the President shall: (1) report to the Committees; and (2) impose foreign assistance (other than humanitarian assistance), munitions list export, and defense article and military financing sanctions on the transferring foreign government. Authorizes sanctions waiver for national security purposes.
 
(Sec. 13) Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 to extend authority to transfer to Israel certain war reserves that are stockpiled in Israel for an additional two years (effective on August 5, 2006).
 
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase through FY2008 the fiscal year value of additional defense articles that may be stockpiled in foreign countries, including Israel.
 
Amends the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 to extend loan guarantee authority for Israel through September 30, 2011.

action_date: 2007-01-11
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 9, 2006. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 
 
Department of State Authorities Act of 2006 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit the use of H-1, H-2, and L-visa fraud prevention fees for other visa fraud prevention in addition to being used primarily for H-1, H-2, and L-visa fraud prevention.
 
(Sec. 3) Amends civil service law to grant an allowance for an employee's dependents for travel expenses to and from a secondary or post-secondary educational institution, except for the 12 months following the dependent's arrival at the educational institution. Authorizes as part of such allowance a limited payment or reimbursement for the dependent's baggage storage costs incurred during one trip per year between the school and the employee's duty station.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends federal criminal law to provide that any person who knowingly and willfully obstructs, resists, or interferes with a federal law enforcement agent engaged, within the United States or the special maritime territorial jurisdiction of the United States, in the performance of specified protective functions shall be fined and/or imprisoned for up to one year.
 
(Sec. 5) Permits passport fee waiver for an individual returning from abroad for humanitarian or law enforcement purposes.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes, as of FY2007, the Secretary of State to administratively amend consular service surcharges related to border security that are in addition to passport and immigrant visa fees in effect as of January 1, 2004. Sets forth surcharge requirements.
 
(Sec. 7) Amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to authorize the President to extend privileges and immunities to the African Union Mission to the United States of America and to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York.
 
(Sec. 8) Amends the Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 to repeal the provision making persons doing business with Libya ineligible for contracts awarded under such Act. 
 
(Sec. 9) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 with respect to the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program to: (1) extend the program through December 31, 2007; and (2) include broadcasting specialists in the program.
 
(Sec. 10) Amends the Foreign Service Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide assistance to friendly foreign countries for (nuclear, chemical, biological, and conventional) proliferation detection and interdiction activities and for developing complementary capabilities. Directs the President to report to the House Committee on International Relations and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Committees) respecting proliferation and interdiction assistance. 
 
Authorizes the President to conclude agreements, including reciprocal maritime agreements, with other countries to prevent the transportation of proliferation-related items to non-state actors and states of proliferation concern. 
 
Directs the Secretary to notify the Committees within 30 days after making a determination that any friendly country is eligible for priority assistance.
 
(Sec. 11) Authorizes the Secretary to secure, remove, or eliminate stocks of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), small arms and light weapons, stockpiled munitions, abandoned ordnance, and other conventional weapons (including tactical missile systems and related equipment and facilities) located outside the United States that pose a proliferation threat.
 
States that nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authorities of the Secretary of Defense. 
 
(Sec. 12) Declares that it should be U.S. policy to hold foreign governments accountable for knowingly transferring MANPADS to state-sponsors of terrorism or terrorist organizations.
 
States that if the President determines that a foreign government knowingly transfers MANPADS to a foreign government that has repeatedly supported terrorism or to a terrorist organization the President shall: (1) report to the Committees; and (2) impose foreign assistance (other than humanitarian assistance), munitions list export, and defense article and military financing sanctions on the transferring foreign government. Authorizes sanctions waiver for national security purposes.
 
(Sec. 13) Amends the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2005 to extend authority to transfer to Israel certain war reserves that are stockpiled in Israel for an additional two years (effective on August 5, 2006).
 
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to increase through FY2008 the fiscal year value of additional defense articles that may be stockpiled in foreign countries, including Israel.
 
Amends the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 to extend loan guarantee authority for Israel through September 30, 2011.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-01-11
text: Became Public Law No: 109-472.
action_date: 2007-01-11
text: Became Public Law No: 109-472.
action_date: 2007-01-11
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2007-01-11
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2007-01-03
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2007-01-03
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2006-12-11
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2006-12-09
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR 12/8/2006 S11830)
action_date: 2006-12-09
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR 12/8/2006 S11830)
action_date: 2006-12-09
text: Received in the Senate, read twice.
action_date: 2006-12-08
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2006-12-08
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9188-9190)
action_date: 2006-12-08
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 H9188-9190)
action_date: 2006-12-08
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6060.
action_date: 2006-12-08
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9188-9191)
action_date: 2006-12-08
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2006-09-29
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 425.
action_date: 2006-09-29
text: Reported by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 109-706.
action_date: 2006-09-29
text: Reported by the Committee on International Relations. H. Rept. 109-706.
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-09-13
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 109-472