---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 2680–1"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "2680–1"
heading: "Deadline for responses to questions from congressional committees"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/2680-1"
units:
  - "Chapter 38 — Department of State"
---

# §2680–1. Deadline for responses to questions from congressional committees

- (a) **In general—** An officer or employee of the Department of State to whom a written or oral question is addressed by any member of a committee specified in [subsection (b)](#b), acting within his official capacity, shall respond to such question within 21 days unless the Secretary of State submits a letter to such member explaining why a timely response cannot be made.
- (b) **Specified committees—** The committees referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) are the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 196, Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 684.)