Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act

Bill: 115-s-371
Sponsor: Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN]
Introduced: 2017-02-14 in the Senate
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Building construction
Caribbean area
China
Colombia
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Drug trafficking and controlled substances
Employee performance
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign and international banking
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government studies and investigations
House Committee on Appropriations
Human rights
Human trafficking
International exchange and broadcasting
Latin America
Military operations and strategy
Military personnel and dependents
Religion
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Sex offenses
Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Terrorism
Tibet
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
United Nations
Western Hemisphere

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-14
text: 

Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act

 
This bill makes technical changes to the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 and other related Acts.
 
The bill provides the House and Senate Appropriations Committees with oversight authority regarding congressional reports on: (1) high-risk diplomatic and consular posts, (2) embassy construction costs, (3) combating sexual exploitation in United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping operations, (4) Department of State overseas staffing levels, and (5) reducing illicit drug supply and abuse in the Western Hemisphere. 
 
The bill provides such committees with oversight authority regarding the granting of consular immunity.
 
The Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 is amended regarding: (1) replacement of a specified reference to anti-Semitism with a reference to intolerance; (2) the definition of &quot;change to the federal status&quot; with respect to the Cuba Service and the Television Marti Service; (3) the report on the costs, strengths, and limitations of U.S. and U.N. peacekeeping operations; (4) U.N. peacekeeper training to reduce sexual exploitation; (5) the U.N. Secretary General; (6) Foreign Service entry; (7) completion of the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission report; and (8) ransoms to foreign terrorist organizations.
 
The United States should use its influence to prohibit U.N. Human Rights Council membership to a country: (1) designated as a Tier 3 human trafficking country, or (2) identified as having failed to prevent or address gross violations of human rights. 
 
 The President shall report to Congress regarding steps taken to encourage China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet. 

action_date: 2017-12-18
text: 

Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act
 
This bill provides the House and Senate Appropriations Committees with oversight authority regarding congressional reports on: (1) high-risk diplomatic and consular posts, (2) embassy construction costs, (3) combating sexual exploitation in United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping operations, (4) Department of State overseas staffing levels, and (5) reducing illicit drug supply and abuse in the Western Hemisphere. 
The bill provides such committees with oversight authority regarding the granting of consular immunity. 
The Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 is amended regarding: (1) replacement of a specified reference to anti-Semitism with a reference to intolerance; (2) the definition of &quot;change to the federal status&quot; with respect to the Cuba Service and the Television Marti Service; (3) the report on the costs, strengths, and limitations of U.S. and U.N. peacekeeping operations; (4) U.N. peacekeeper training to reduce sexual exploitation; (5) the U.N. Secretary General; (6) Foreign Service entry; (7) completion of the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission report; and (8) ransoms to foreign terrorist organizations. 
The United States is urged to use its influence to prohibit U.N. Human Rights Council membership to a country: (1) designated as a Tier 3 human trafficking country, or (2) identified as having failed to prevent or address gross violations of human rights. 
The President shall report to Congress regarding steps taken to encourage China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, his representatives, or successor leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet. 
The bill requires inclusion of the foreign affairs committees as recipients of the report made by the State Department before implementation of any reorganization of the department or the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-12-18
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-12-18
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-12-06
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2017-12-06
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2017-12-05
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-12-04
text: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2017-12-04
text: Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment to the Senate bill by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2017-07-31
text: Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H6558-6559)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H6558-6559)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H6558-6560)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged. (consideration: CR H6558)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.(consideration: CR H6558)
action_date: 2017-07-28
text: Mr. Royce (CA) asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-05-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2017-05-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2653-2654)
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S2653-2654)
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2653-2654)
action_date: 2017-05-01
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2653-2654)
action_date: 2017-02-14
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2017-02-14
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 115-94