Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Examine Overseas Diplomatic Footprint Act of 2018”.
Examine Overseas Diplomatic Footprint Act of 2018
A BILL
To consolidate certain small diplomatic and consular posts, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Consolidation of small diplomatic and consular posts
New embassies and consulates— Prior to initiating site selection for a diplomatic or consular post that is expected to employ ten or fewer direct hire United States Government employees on average for at least three years after opening, the Secretary of State shall conduct an analysis of options, including consolidating such proposed post with other nearby diplomatic or consular posts.
Notification— Not later than 30 days after conducting an analysis of options pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall notify the appropriate congressional committees of the results of such analysis.
Existing small diplomatic and consular posts— The Secretary of State shall complete a cost-benefit analysis for maintaining each diplomatic and consular post that has employed ten or fewer direct hire United States Government employees on average over the three years prior to the date of the enactment of this Act. Each such analysis shall include, at minimum, the following:
The full cost of maintaining each such post.
Any policy value or other value that United States Government tenants derive from each such post.
Whether regular consular services, including United States citizen services, are provided at each such post.
The nearest alternative location at which regular consular services, including United States citizen services, are available with respect to each such post.
Input from each such post regarding any unique operational or policy value such post provides.
Report— Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the results of the analyses under subsections (a) and (c).
Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
in the House of Representatives—
the Committee on Foreign Affairs; and
the Committee on Appropriations; and
in the Senate—
the Committee on Foreign Relations; and
the Committee on Appropriations.