CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

DemocratAmendment · S.Amdt. 2949· Senate(119-SAMDT-2949)

S.Amdt. 2949

Rep. Schatz
Age: 54 years
Hawaii
Introduced
7/17/2025
Sponsored by
Brian Schatz
Cosponsors
None
Changes bill
119-S-2296 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

SA 2949, submitted by Mr. Schatz, aims to add a new section to bill S. 2296. The purpose is to require the Secretary of State and the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources to report on and brief Congress regarding staffing needs at United States embassies in Pacific Island countries.

Purpose and Changes

The amendment adds a requirement for a report and a briefing to specific Senate and House committees. This effort aims to address the following:

  • Staffing Incentives: The report must detail steps to provide incentives for Foreign Service officers to serve in Pacific Island countries. These include:

    • Hardship and danger pay.
    • Student loan repayments.
    • Priority for onward assignments and repeated tours in the same region.
    • Incentive pay for extending tours.
    • One-grade stretches and early assignment bidding.
    • Additional recreation entitlements.
    • Eligibility for Special Incentive Post (SIP) designation.

  • Support for Families: It requires an update on the virtual schooling pilot program and other efforts to support spouses and dependents of diplomats.

  • Administrative Burden: The amendment seeks proposals to lower administrative and reporting requirements for small embassies.

  • Critical Locations: It focuses on measures to encourage officers to serve at hardship posts where countering malign foreign government influence is critical, specifically mentioning embassies in the Republic of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and the Kingdom of Tonga.