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Title II — Department of State authorities and activities

H.R. 2848 · 113th Congress · Sep 30, 2013 · Lineage

II Department of State authorities and activities

A Basic Authorities and Activities

Sec. 201 Foreign Service Act of 1980

Section 501 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3981) is amended by inserting “If a position designated under this section is unfilled for more than one single assignment cycle, such position shall be filled, as appropriate, on a temporary basis, in accordance with section 303 or 309.” after “Positions designated under this section are excepted from the competitive service.”.

Sec. 202 Center for strategic counterterrorism communications of the Department of State

(a)
Statement of policy— As articulated in Executive Order 13584, issued on September 9, 2011, it is the policy of the United States to actively counter the actions and ideologies of al-Qa’ida, its affiliates and adherents, other terrorist organizations, and violent extremists overseas that threaten the interests and national security of the United States.
(b)
Establishment of center for strategic counterterrorism communications— There is authorized to be established within the Department of State, under the direction of the Secretary of State, the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (in this section referred to as the “CSCC”).
(c)
Mission— The CSCC may coordinate, orient, and inform Government-wide public communications activities directed at audiences abroad and targeted against violent extremists and terrorist organizations, especially al-Qa’ida and its affiliates and adherents.
(d)
Coordinator of the center for strategic counterterrorism communications— The head of the CSCC should be the Coordinator. The Coordinator of the CSCC should—
(1)
report to the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs; and
(2)
collaborate with the Bureau of Counterterrorism of the Department of State, other Department bureaus, and other United States Government agencies.
(e)
Duties— The CSCC may—
(1)
monitor and evaluate extremist narratives and events abroad that are relevant to the development of a United States strategic counterterrorism narrative designed to counter violent extremism and terrorism that threaten the interests and national security of the United States;
(2)
develop and promulgate for use throughout the executive branch the United States strategic counterterrorism narrative developed in accordance with paragraph (1), and public communications strategies to counter the messaging of violent extremists and terrorist organizations, especially al-Qa’ida and its affiliates and adherents;
(3)
identify current and emerging trends in extremist communications and communications by al-Qa’ida and its affiliates and adherents in order to coordinate and provide guidance to the United States Government regarding how best to proactively promote the United States strategic counterterrorism narrative developed in accordance with paragraph (1) and related policies, and to respond to and rebut extremist messaging and narratives when communicating to audiences outside the United States;
(4)
facilitate the use of a wide range of communications technologies by sharing expertise and best practices among United States Government and non-Government sources;
(5)
identify and request relevant information from United States Government agencies, including intelligence reporting, data, and analysis;
(6)
identify shortfalls in United States capabilities in any areas relevant to the CSCC’s mission, and recommend necessary enhancements or changes; and
(7)
establish measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans to focus on learning, accountability, and policymaking.
(f)
Steering committee—
(1)
In general— The Secretary of State may establish a Steering Committee composed of senior representatives of United States Government agencies relevant to the CSCC’s mission to provide advice to the Secretary on the operations and strategic orientation of the CSCC and to ensure adequate support for the CSCC.
(2)
Meetings— The Steering Committee should meet not less often than once every six months.
(3)
Leadership— The Steering Committee should be chaired by the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. The Coordinator for Counterterrorism of the Department of State should serve as Vice Chair. The Coordinator of the CSCC should serve as Executive Secretary.
(4)
Composition—
(A)
In general— The Steering Committee may include one senior representative designated by the head of each of the following agencies:
(i)
The Department of Defense.
(ii)
The Department of Justice.
(iii)
The Department of Homeland Security.
(iv)
The Department of the Treasury.
(v)
The National Counterterrorism Center of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
(vi)
The Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(vii)
The Counterterrorism Center of the Central Intelligence Agency.
(viii)
The Broadcasting Board of Governors.
(ix)
The Agency for International Development.
(B)
Additional representation— Representatives from United States Government agencies not specified in subparagraph (A) may be invited to participate in the Steering Committee at the discretion of the Chair.

Sec. 203 Anti-piracy information sharing

The Secretary of State is authorized to provide for the participation by the United States in the Information Sharing Centre located in Singapore, as established by the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP).

B Consular Services and Related Matters

Sec. 211 Extension of authority to assess passport surcharge

Paragraph (2) of section 1(b) of the Act of June 4, 1920 (41 Stat. 750; chapter 223; 22 U.S.C. 214(b)), is amended by striking “2010” and inserting “2016”.

Sec. 212 Authority to restrict passports

(a)
In general— The Secretary of State is authorized to—
(1)
limit to one year or such period of time as the Secretary of State shall determine appropriate the period of validity of a passport issued to a sex offender; and
(2)
revoke the passport or passport card of an individual who has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction in a foreign country of a sex offense.
(b)
Limitation for return to United States— Notwithstanding subsection (a), in no case shall a United States citizen convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction in a foreign country of a sex offense be precluded from entering the United States due to a passport revocation under such subsection.
(c)
Reapplication— An individual whose passport or passport card was revoked pursuant to subsection (a)(2) may reapply for a passport or passport card at any time after such individual has returned to the United States.
(d)
Definitions— For purposes of this section:
(1)
Sex offender— The term sex offender means an individual who is listed on the National Sex Offender Registry established pursuant to section 119 of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16915).
(2)
Sex offense— The term sex offense means a sex offense as defined in section 111(5) of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16915).

C Reporting Requirements

Sec. 221 Reporting reform

(a)
In general— The following provisions of law are repealed:
(1)
Subsections (c)(4) and (c)(5) of section 601 of Public Law 96–465.
(2)
Section 585 of Public Law 104–208.
(3)
Subsections (b) and (c) of section 11 of Public Law 107–245.
(4)
Section 181 of Public Law 102–138.
(5)
Section 1012(c) of Public Law 103–337.
(6)
Section 527(f) of Public Law 103–236.
(7)
Section 304(f) of Public Law 107–173.
(8)
Subsections (a) and (b) of section 4 of Public Law 79–264.
(9)
Sections 3203 and 3204(f) of Public Law 106–246.
(b)
Conforming amendment— Section 11 of Public Law 107–245 is amended by striking “(a) In general.—”.
(c)
Report on United States contributions to the United Nations—
(1)
In general— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to Congress a report on all assessed and voluntary contributions, including in-kind, of the United States Government to the United Nations and its affiliated agencies and related bodies during the previous fiscal year.
(2)
Content— Each report required under subsection (a) shall include the following elements:
(A)
The total amount of all assessed and voluntary contributions, including in-kind, of the United States Government to the United Nations and its affiliated agencies and related bodies during the previous fiscal year.
(B)
The approximate percentage of United States Government contributions to each United Nations affiliated agency or related body in such fiscal year when compared with all contributions to each such agency or body from any source in such fiscal year.
(C)
For each such United States Government contribution—
(i)
the amount of the contribution;
(ii)
a description of the contribution (including whether assessed or voluntary);
(iii)
the department or agency of the United States Government responsible for the contribution;
(iv)
the purpose of the contribution; and
(v)
the United Nations or its affiliated agency or related body receiving the contribution.
(3)
Scope of initial report— The first report required under this subsection shall include the information required under this section for the previous three fiscal years.
(4)
Public availability of information— Not later than 14 days after submitting a report under this subsection, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall post a public version of such report on a text-based, searchable, and publicly available Internet Web site.