---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17371"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17371"
heading: "Energy diplomacy and security within the Department of State"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17371"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter VIII — International Energy Programs"
  - "Part C — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §17371. Energy diplomacy and security within the Department of State

- (a) **State Department Coordinator for International Energy Affairs—**
  - (1) **In general—** The Secretary of State should ensure that energy security is integrated into the core mission of the Department of State.
  - (2) **Coordinator for International Energy Affairs—** There is established within the Office of the Secretary of State a Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, who shall be responsible for—
    - (A) representing the Secretary of State in interagency efforts to develop the international energy policy of the United States;
    - (B) ensuring that analyses of the national security implications of global energy and environmental developments are reflected in the decision making process within the Department of State;
    - (C) incorporating energy security priorities into the activities of the Department of State;
    - (D) coordinating energy activities of the Department of State with relevant Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1); and
    - (E) coordinating energy security and other relevant functions within the Department of State currently undertaken by offices within—
      - (i) the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs;
      - (ii) the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; and
      - (iii) other offices within the Department of State.
  - (3) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection.
- (b) **Energy experts in key embassies—** Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2007, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that includes—
  - (1) a description of the Department of State personnel who are dedicated to energy matters and are stationed at embassies and consulates in countries that are major energy producers or consumers;
  - (2) an analysis of the need for Federal energy specialist personnel in United States embassies and other United States diplomatic missions; and
  - (3) recommendations for increasing energy expertise within United States embassies among foreign service officers and options for assigning to such embassies energy attachés from the [National Laboratories](/usc/42/17211.md?p=4) or other [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) within the [Department](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1) of Energy.
- (c) **Energy advisors—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) of Energy may make appropriate arrangements with the Secretary of State to assign personnel from the [Department](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1) of Energy or the [National Laboratories](/usc/42/17211.md?p=4) of the [Department](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1) of Energy to serve as dedicated advisors on energy matters in embassies of the United States or other United States diplomatic missions.
- (d) **Report—** Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2007, and every 2 years thereafter for the following 20 years, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives that describes—
  - (1) the energy-related activities being conducted by the Department of State, including activities within—
    - (A) the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs;
    - (B) the Bureau of Oceans and Environmental and Scientific Affairs; and
    - (C) other offices within the Department of State;
  - (2) the amount of funds spent on each activity within each office described in [paragraph (1)](#d-1); and
  - (3) the number and qualification of personnel in each embassy (or relevant foreign posting) of the United States whose work is dedicated exclusively to energy matters.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title IX, § 931, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1739.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.