S.Amdt. 3779

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Risch and Mrs. Shaheen, aims to add a new section to bill S. 2296 titled the Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. Its purpose is to provide specific authorizations, mandates, and reporting requirements for the Department of State across several key areas.

The amendment seeks to add the following to the bill:

• Workforce Matters: Changes to how employees are vetted, trained, and evaluated. This includes language incentive pay for civil service employees, requirements for Uyghur language training, and the creation of job-sharing and part-time options.

• Organization and Operations: New rules for diplomatic tours (requiring a minimum of 2 years), increased numbers of Diplomats-in-Residence, and the establishment of a Regional China Officer program. It also requires the Secretary to report to Congress before closing diplomatic posts or significantly reducing personnel at posts where China or Russia also have a presence.

• Information Security and Cyber Diplomacy: Funding for data analytics, a new "Post Data Program," and a policy to oppose the misuse of foreign commercial spyware. It also mandates a security review of the science and technology agreement with the People's Republic of China.

• Public Diplomacy: A new strategy to fight foreign information manipulation and interference, specifically from Russia, China, and Iran. It also removes the ban on using Federal funds for World's Fair pavilions.

• Diplomatic Security and Consular Affairs: Reports on the feasibility of putting consular officers on Navy and Coast Guard missions to Pacific island countries, security conditions for reopening the mission in Damascus, Syria, and updates on visa backlogs.

• Miscellaneous Provisions: The establishment of an Inner Mongolia section in the Beijing embassy, a pilot program to audit commerce barriers in developing partner countries, and a diplomatic strategy to move supply chains away from China.