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

Bill: 110-hr-6456
Sponsor: Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28]
Introduced: 2008-07-10 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Afghanistan
Alien labor
American Samoa
Civil service retirement
Department of State
Federal employees
Foreign service
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government travel
Guam
Immigration
International broadcasting
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Leave of absence
Middle East and North Africa
Northern Mariana Islands
Protection of officials
Puerto Rico
Radio broadcasting
Salaries
Science, Technology, Communications
South Asia
Virgin Islands
Visas

Summary:
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: 
Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to extend for one year the Secretary of State's authority to waive Foreign Service annuitant salary and full-time employment pension restrictions respecting assignment to: (1) consular posts with a substantial visa application backlog; and (2) Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to specify that the Secretary may pay the subsistence expenses of Department of State special agents on authorized protective missions at or away from their duty stations.
 
Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to extend grant authority for Radio Free Asia for one year.
 
Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to extend for one year the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program under which U.S. citizens or aliens are hired as personal services contractors, without regard to Civil Service and classification laws.

action_date: 2008-07-30
text: 
(Sec. 1) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to extend for one year the Secretary of State's authority to waive Foreign Service annuitant salary and full-time employment pension restrictions respecting assignment to: (1) consular posts with a substantial visa application backlog; and (2) Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
(Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel for Foreign Service members and family members to U.S. territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
 
Specifies that required leave based upon continuous service abroad may be taken in the United States or its territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Current law refers to the United States, its territories and possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.)
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to specify that the Secretary may pay the subsistence expenses of Department of State special agents on authorized protective missions at or away from their duty stations.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to extend grant authority for Radio Free Asia for one year.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to extend for one year the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program under which U.S. citizens or aliens are hired as personal services contractors, without regard to Civil Service and classification laws.

action_date: 2008-09-08
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 30, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
(Sec. 1) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to extend for one year the Secretary of State's authority to waive Foreign Service annuitant salary and full-time employment pension restrictions respecting assignment to: (1) consular posts with a substantial visa application backlog; and (2) Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
(Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel for Foreign Service members and family members to U.S. territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
 
Specifies that required leave based upon continuous service abroad may be taken in the United States or its territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Current law refers to the United States, its territories and possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.)
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to specify that the Secretary may pay the subsistence expenses of Department of State special agents on authorized protective missions at or away from their duty stations.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to extend grant authority for Radio Free Asia for one year.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to extend for one year the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program under which U.S. citizens or aliens are hired as personal services contractors, without regard to Civil Service and classification laws.

action_date: 2008-09-19
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 30, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
(Sec. 1) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to extend for one year the Secretary of State's authority to waive Foreign Service annuitant salary and full-time employment pension restrictions respecting assignment to: (1) consular posts with a substantial visa application backlog; and (2) Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
(Sec. 2) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel for Foreign Service members and family members to U.S. territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
 
Specifies that required leave based upon continuous service abroad may be taken in the United States or its territories, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Current law refers to the United States, its territories and possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.)
 
(Sec. 3) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to specify that the Secretary may pay the subsistence expenses of Department of State special agents on authorized protective missions at or away from their duty stations.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to extend grant authority for Radio Free Asia for one year.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 to extend for one year the International Broadcasting Bureau personal services contracting pilot program under which U.S. citizens or aliens are hired as personal services contractors, without regard to Civil Service and classification laws.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-19
text: Became Public Law No: 110-321.
action_date: 2008-09-19
text: Became Public Law No: 110-321.
action_date: 2008-09-19
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-09-19
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2008-09-11
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2008-09-09
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Cleared for White House.
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8141)
action_date: 2008-09-08
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S8141)
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7336)
action_date: 2008-07-30
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 H7336)
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6456.
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7336)
action_date: 2008-07-30
text: Mr. Berman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-07-10
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 110-321