Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-1084
Sponsor: Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-17]
Introduced: 2007-02-15 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Advice and consent of the Senate
Armed Forces and National Security
Civil War
Civil service retirement
Civil-military relations
Congress
Congress and foreign policy
Congressional reporting requirements
Consultants
Curricula
Department of Defense
Department of State
Diplomats
Economic assistance
Education
Employee training
Executive reorganization
Exports
Federal employees
Federal officials
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign service
Fringe benefits
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Government service contracts
Higher education
Hours of labor
International agencies
International cooperation
International relief
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Language and languages
Law
Leave of absence
Legislation
Liability (Law)
Local employees
Military civic action
Military education
Military personnel
Military training
NATO countries
Nongovernmental organizations
President and foreign policy
Presidential appointments
Promotions
Salaries
Social Welfare
State employees
Transfer of employees
U.S. Agency for International Development
United Nations
Volunteer forces
Volunteer workers
War relief

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: 
Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2007 - States that the purpose of this Act is to provide for the development, as a core mission of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), of an expert civilian response capability to carry out stabilization and reconstruction activities in a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife.
 
Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to furnish assistance and permit the export of goods and services to assist in stabilizing and reconstructing a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife. 
 
Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish within the Department an Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization. 
 Authorizes: (1) the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of USAID, to establish a Response Readiness Corps to provide stabilization and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are at risk, in, or are in transition from, conflict or civil strife (up to 250 personnel to serve in the Corps, and such other personnel as the Secretary may designate from the Department and USAID); and (2) the Secretary to establish a Response Readiness Reserve of federal and non-federal personnel (at least 500 nonfederal personnel which may include federal retirees) to augment the Corps. 
Amends the Foreign Service Act to authorize the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretaries of the Navy and Army, to establish a stabilization and reconstruction curriculum for use in programs of the Foreign Service Institute, the National Defense University, and the United States Army War College.
 
Sets forth related personnel provisions.

action_date: 2008-03-04
text: 
Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President, if in the U.S. national interest, to furnish assistance to help in stabilizing and reconstructing a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife. Requires specified pre-notification by the President before making assistance available.
 
Limits: (1) program authority to FY2008-FY2010; and (2) annual fiscal year expenditures to $100 million.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish within the Department of State an Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization. 
 
Sets forth Office functions.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish: (1) a Response Readiness Corps (containing an active and standby component consisting of trained U.S. government personnel, including Department and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) employees) to provide stabilization and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are at risk, in, or are in transition from, conflict or civil strife; and (2) a volunteer Civilian Reserve Corps (authorizes such individuals' employment and training). Authorizes FY2007-FY2010 appropriations. 
 
Prohibits the establishment and deployment of any Civilian Reserve Corps from substantively impairing state and local capacity and readiness.
 
Directs the Secretary to ensure the use of existing Department and USAID training and education programs.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes: (1) the Secretary or the head of any U.S. agency, with respect to agency personnel, to extend to any individual assigned or deployed under this Act certain death gratuity, training, and travel benefits that are provided to Foreign Service members; and (2) the Secretary to accept detailees or assignments from other agencies and state or local employees on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to develop an interagency strategy to respond to reconstruction and stabilization operations. 
 
Sets forth strategy contents.
 
(Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to report annually (for six years) to the appropriate congressional committees respecting implementation of this Act.
 
Sets forth report requirements.

action_date: 2008-03-05
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 4, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008 - (Sec. 4) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President, if in the U.S. national interest, to furnish assistance to assist in stabilizing and reconstructing a country or region that is in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife. Requires specified pre-notification by the President before making assistance available.
 
Limits: (1) program authority to FY2008-FY2010; and (2) annual fiscal year expenditures to $100 million.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish within the Department of State an Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization. 
 
Sets forth Office functions.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish: (1) a Response Readiness Corps (containing an active and standby component consisting of trained U.S. government personnel, including Department and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) employees) to provide stabilization and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are at risk, in, or are in transition from, conflict or civil strife; and (2) a volunteer Civilian Reserve Corps (authorizes such individuals' employment and training). Authorizes FY2007-FY2010 appropriations. 
 
Prohibits the establishment and deployment of any Civilian Reserve Corps from substantively impairing state and local capacity and readiness.
 
Directs the Secretary to ensure the use of existing Department and USAID training and education programs.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes: (1) the Secretary or the head of any U.S. agency, with respect to agency personnel, to extend to any individual assigned or deployed under this Act certain death gratuity, training, and travel benefits that are provided to Foreign Service members; and (2) the Secretary to accept detailees or assignments from other agencies and state or local employees on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary to develop an interagency strategy to respond to reconstruction and stabilization operations. 
 
Sets forth strategy contents.
 
(Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to report annually (for six years) to the appropriate congressional committees respecting implementation of this Act.
 
Sets forth report requirements.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-03-07
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 609.
action_date: 2008-03-06
text: Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2008-03-05
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-03-05
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1227-1229)
action_date: 2008-03-05
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 H1227-1229)
action_date: 2008-03-05
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1084.
action_date: 2008-03-05
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1227-1231)
action_date: 2008-03-05
text: Mr. Berman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-03-04
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 329.
action_date: 2008-03-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 110-537.
action_date: 2008-03-04
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. H. Rept. 110-537.
action_date: 2008-02-27
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2008-02-27
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E365)
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-15
text: Introduced in House