In addition to officials of the Department of State who are otherwise authorized to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and to be compensated at level IV of the Executive Schedule of 1

There is in the Department of State the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which shall be headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.

There is in the Department of State the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which shall be headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration.

There is established in the Department of State the position of Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs.

The Assistant Secretary shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

In order to carry out this section, the Secretary of State shall reprogram the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs.

The Secretary of State shall designate one of the Assistant Secretaries of State authorized by section 2651a(c)(1) of this title as the Assistant Secretary of State for Verification and Compliance. The Assistant Secretary shall report to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

To carry out the purposes of subsection (a), the Secretary is authorized to establish the position of Counselor for Nonproliferation and Political Military Affairs in United States diplomatic missions overseas, to be filled by individuals who are career Civil Service officers or Foreign Service officers committed to follow-on assignments in the Nonproliferation Bureau or the Political Military Affairs Bureau of the Department.

After being selected to serve as Counselor, any person so selected shall spend not less than 10 months in language training courses at the Foreign Service Institute,1

Except as otherwise provided by law, nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the public disclosure of sensitive information relating to intelligence sources or methods or to persons engaged in monitoring scientific or technological developments for intelligence purposes.

The Secretary shall, to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into long-term contracts, including contracts for the services of consult­ants, and shall make grants and take other appropriate measures in order to obtain studies, analyses, and recommendations from knowledgeable persons and organizations with respect to the application of science or technology to problems of foreign policy.

In obtaining assistance pursuant to subsection (c) in training personnel who are officers or employees of the Department of State, the Secretary may provide for detached service for graduate study at accredited colleges and universities.

Beginning 90 days after October 28, 1991, and every 365 days thereafter, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Attorney General and appropriate investigative agencies, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives a report describing the nature and extent of assets held in the United States by terrorist countries and any organization engaged in international terrorism. Each such report shall provide a detailed list and description of specific assets.

Beginning 180 days after the submission of the report in subsection (a) and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit a report to the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives showing actual repayments by country and by program to the United States Government for the previous 5 years and the scheduled repayments to the United States Government for the next 5 years.

The Secretary of State shall develop the strategy in coordination with the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and in consultation with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the heads of any other relevant Federal departments or agencies.

The strategy shall be developed in consultation with representatives of United States and international civil society and academic entities with experience researching or implementing programs to counter white identity terrorism.

The strategy shall be submitted in unclassified form that can be made available to the public, but may include a classified annex if the Secretary of State determines such is appropriate.

Not later than three months after the submission of the strategy, the Secretary of State shall begin implementing the strategy.

Not later than 90 days after January 1, 2021, and not less often than annually thereafter, the Secretary of State shall consult with the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate regarding the development and implementation of the strategy.

The Secretary of State shall incorporate all credible information about white identity terrorism, including regarding relevant attacks, the identification of perpetrators and victims of such attacks, the size and identification of organizations and networks, and the identification of notable ideologues, in the annual country reports on terrorism submitted pursuant to section 2656f of this title.

It is the sense of Congress that individuals representing the United States at international athletic competitions in foreign countries should have the opportunity to be informed about human rights and security concerns in such countries and how best to safeguard their personal security and privacy.

The Foreign Affairs Manual and the Foreign Affairs Handbook apply with equal force and effect and without exception to all Department of State personnel, including the Secretary of State, Department employees, and political appointees, regardless of an individual’s status as a Foreign Service officer, Civil Service employee, or political appointee hired under any legal authority.

Not later than 30 days after December 27, 2021, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a certification in unclassified form that the applicability described in subsection (a) has been communicated to all Department personnel, including the personnel referred to in such subsection.

The Secretary of State shall take all appropriate steps to assure that the burden of cuts in the budget for the Department is not imposed disproportionately or inequitably upon its Civil Service employees.

There is established in the Office of the Secretary of State the position of Ombudsman for Civil Service Employees. The position of Ombudsman for Civil Service Employees shall be a career reserved position within the Senior Executive Service. The Ombudsman for Civil Service Employees shall report directly to the Secretary of State and shall have the right to participate in all Management Council meetings to assure that the ability of the Civil Service employees to contribute to the achievement of the Department’s mandated responsibilities and the career interests of those employees are adequately represented. The position of Ombudsman for Civil Service Employees shall be designated from one of the Senior Executive Service positions (as defined in section 3132(a)(2) of title 5) in existence on December 22, 1987.

For purposes of this section, the term “Civil Service employees” means employees of the Federal Government except for members of the Foreign Service (as defined in section 103 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22 U.S.C. 3903]).

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law the Secretary of State is authorized in his discretion to issue under the limitations and restrictions hereinafter established requisitions for advances of funds to disbursing officers of the Fiscal Service of the Treasury Department, under a “State account of advances” not to exceed the total amount of appropriations for the Department of State, the amounts so advanced to be used exclusively to pay upon proper vouchers obligations lawfully payable under the respective appropriations: Provided, That a separate “State account of advances” shall be established on the books of the Treasury Department relating to appropriations made to the Department of State for each fiscal year and that a “State account of advances” relating to the appropriations for one fiscal year shall not be used to pay vouchers pertaining to the appropriations of any other fiscal year. Expenditures from the amounts requisitioned under the “State account of advances” shall be charged to applicable appropriations on the books of the Treasury Department on the basis of transfer and counter warrants prepared in the State Department as of the close of each month and prior to audit, certification, or adjustment by the Government Accountability Office. The Government Accountability Office shall subsequently declare the sums finally due from the several appropriations upon audited vouchers according to law and shall certify the same to the Treasury Department which shall make the necessary adjustments between appropriations upon the basis of such audited settlements of the Government Accountability Office: Provided further, That such adjustments shall be reflected on the books of the Government in the month and fiscal year during which the audited settlements are certified to the Treasury.

Subsection (b) of this section does not affect the financial liability of a disbursing official or agent.

It is the policy of the United States to foster and support procurement of goods and services from private, commercial companies.

The Inspector General of the Department of State shall conduct a periodic audit of the Department of State’s emergency expenditures and prepare and transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate an annual report indicating whether such expenditures were made in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

In the event that funds are not made available for the continuation of such a contract into a subsequent fiscal year, the contract shall be cancelled and any cancellation costs incurred shall be paid from appropriations originally available for the performance of the contract, appropriations currently available for the acquisition of similar property or services and not otherwise obligated, or appropriations made for such cancellation payments.

The Secretary of State may waive the requirements of this section on a country-by-country basis for a period not to exceed one year upon certification to the Congress by the Secretary that such waiver is in the national interest and is necessary to carry on diplomatic functions of the United States. Each such certification shall include a detailed justification for the waiver with respect to each such country.

Not later than 30 days after December 27, 2021, the Secretary, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and other appropriate Federal agencies as determined jointly by the Secretary and the Director of National Intelligence, shall develop or maintain, as the case may be, and update as frequently as the Secretary determines appropriate, a list of covered contractors with respect to which the Department should seek to avoid entering into contracts. Not later than 30 days after the initial development of the list under this subsection, any update thereto, and annually thereafter for 5 years after such initial 30 day period, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a copy of such list.

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), 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.

The committees referred to in subsection (a) are the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.

The Department of State shall maintain procedures to ensure that the members and staff of the congressional committees of jurisdiction are granted easy access to the Department of State in the conduct of their duties.

The Department of State shall also make available adequate parking for members and staff of the congressional committees of jurisdiction in order to facilitate attendance of meetings at the Department of State.

To avoid duplicate or otherwise improper payments under this subsection, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of State, and, as appropriate, the head of any other Federal agency paying benefits under this section shall exchange information about the amounts paid for treatment of qualifying injuries.

For purposes of section 104 of title 26, amounts paid pursuant to this section shall be treated as amounts described in subsection (a)(5) of such section.

The head of any Federal agency may exercise the authorities of this section, including to designate an incident, whether the incident occurred in the United States or abroad, for purposes of subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B)(ii) of subsection (e)(4) when the incident affects United States Government employees of the agency or their dependents who are not under the security responsibility of the Secretary of State as set forth in section 4802 of this title or when operational control of overseas security responsibility for such employees or dependents has been delegated to the head of the agency.

There is hereby established a working capital fund for the Department of State, which shall be available without fiscal year limitation, for expenses (including those authorized by the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.]) and equipment, necessary for maintenance and operation in the city of Washington and elsewhere of (1) central reproduction, editorial, data processing, audiovisual, library and administrative support services; (2) central services for supplies and equipment (including repairs); (3) such other administrative services as the Secretary, with the approval of the Office of Management and Budget, determines may be performed more advantageously and more economically as central services; and (4) medical and health care services. Such fund shall also be available without fiscal year limitation to carry out the purposes of title II of this Act [22 U.S.C. 4301 et seq.] 1

The current value of supplies returned to the working capital fund by a post, activity, or agency may be charged to the fund. The proceeds thereof shall, if otherwise authorized, be credited to current applicable appropriations and shall remain available for expenditures for the same purposes for which those appropriations are available. Credits may not be made to appropriations under this subsection as the result of capitalization of inventories.

There is established within the Department of State a Capital Investment Fund to provide for the procurement and enhancement of information technology and other related capital investments for the Department of State and to ensure the efficient management, coordination, operation, and utilization of such resources.

Funds otherwise available for the purposes of subsection (a) may be deposited in such Fund.

Amounts deposited into the Fund shall remain available until expended.

Amounts deposited in the Fund shall be available for purposes of subsection (a).

Funds credited to the Capital Investment Fund shall not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures applicable to reprogramming notifications under section 2706 of this title.

For purposes of this section, the term “significant expenditure” means any cumulative expenditure in excess of $250,000 total in a single fiscal year for a new unclassified software or information technology capability.

The individual designated under subsection (a) may carry out the functions of subsection (a) in addition to other assigned responsibilities.

Whenever the head of any Federal agency performing any foreign affairs functions (including, but not limited to, the Department of State, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and the Agency for International Development) determines that administrative services performed in common by the Department of State and one or more other such agencies may be performed more advantageously and more economically on a consolidated basis, the Secretary of State and the heads of the other agencies concerned may, subject to the approval of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, conclude an agreement which provides for the transfer to and consolidation within the Department or within one of the other agencies concerned of so much of the functions, personnel, property, records, and funds of the Department and of the other agencies concerned as may be necessary to enable the performance of those administrative services on a consolidated basis for the benefit of all agencies concerned. Agreements for consolidation of administrative services under this section shall provide for reimbursement or advances of funds from the agency receiving the service to the agency performing the service in amounts which will approximate the expense of providing administrative services for the serviced agency.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State is authorized to require the payment of an appropriate fee, surcharge, or reimbursement for providing other Federal agencies with foreign language translation and interpretation services.

Funds collected under the authority of subsection (a) shall be deposited as an offsetting collection to any Department of State appropriation to recover the cost of providing translation or interpretation services in any foreign language. Such funds may remain available until expended.

There are authorized to be appropriated for the Department of State, in addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated for the Department, such sums as may be necessary for any fiscal year for increases in salary, pay, retirement, and other employee benefits authorized by law.

Amounts authorized to be appropriated for a fiscal year for the Department of State or to the Secretary of State are authorized to be made available until expended.

Amounts authorized to be appropriated for a fiscal year for the Department of State or to the Secretary of State are authorized to be obligated for twelve-month contracts which are to be performed in two fiscal years, if the total amount for such contracts is obligated in the earlier fiscal year.

The Secretary of State may accept on behalf of the United States gifts made unconditionally by will or otherwise for the benefit of the Department of State (including the Foreign Service) or for the carrying out of any of its functions. Conditional gifts may be so accepted at the discretion of the Secretary, and the principal of and income from any such conditional gift shall be held, invested, reinvested, and used in accordance with its conditions, except that no gift shall be accepted which is conditioned upon any expenditure which will not be met by the gift or the income from the gift unless such expenditure has been approved by Act of Congress.

Any unconditional gift of money accepted under subsection (a), the income from any gift property held under subsection (c) or (d) (except income made available for expenditure under subsection (d)(2)), the net proceeds from the liquidation of gift property under subsection (c) or (d), and the proceeds of insurance on any gift property which are not used for its restoration, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States. Such funds are hereby appropriated and shall be held in trust by the Secretary of the Treasury for the benefit of the Department of State (including the Foreign Service). The Secretary of the Treasury may invest and reinvest such funds in interest-bearing obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the United States. Such funds and the income from such investments shall be available for expenditure in the operation of the Department of State (including the Foreign Service) and the performance of its functions, subject to the same examination and audit as is provided for appropriations made for the Foreign Service by the Congress, but shall not be expended for representational purposes at United States missions except in accordance with the conditions that apply to appropriated funds.

The evidences of any unconditional gift of intangible personal property (other than money) accepted under subsection (a), shall be deposited with the Secretary of the Treasury who may hold or liquidate them, except that they shall be liquidated upon the request of the Secretary of State whenever necessary to meet payments required in the operation of the Department of State (including the Foreign Service) or the performance of its functions.

For the purpose of Federal income, estate, and gift taxes, any gift, devise, or bequest accepted under this section shall be deemed to be a gift, devise, or bequest to and for the use of the United States.

The authorities available to the Secretary of State under this section with respect to the Department of State shall be available to the Broadcasting Board of Governors and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development with respect to the Board and the Agency.

An individual employed by the Department at a location described in subsection (b) shall be eligible for a cost-of-living allowance for the education of the dependents of such employee in an amount that does not exceed the educational allowance authorized by the Secretary of Defense for such location.

The United States Government shall defend any civil action or proceeding brought in any court against any person referred to in subsection (a) of this section (or his or her estate) for any such damage or injury. Any such person against whom such civil action or proceeding is brought shall deliver, within such time after date of service or knowledge of service as may be determined by the Attorney General, all process served upon him or her or an attested true copy thereof to whomever was designated by the Secretary to receive such papers. Such person shall promptly furnish copies of the pleading and process therein to the United States attorney for the district embracing the place wherein the proceeding is brought, to the Attorney General, and to the Secretary.

Upon a certification by the Attorney General that the defendant was acting within the scope of his or her employment in or for the Department of State or any other Federal department, agency, or instrumentality at the time of the incident out of which the suit arose, any such civil action or proceeding commenced in a State court shall be removed without bond at any time before trial by the Attorney General to the district court of the United States of the district and division embracing the place wherein it is pending and the proceeding deemed a tort action brought against the United States under the provisions of title 28, and all references thereto. Should a United States district court determine on a hearing on a motion to remand held before a trial on the merits that the case so removed is one in which a remedy by suit within the meaning of subsection (a) of this section is not available against the United States, the case shall be remanded to the State court except that where such remedy is precluded because of the availability of a remedy through proceedings for compensation or other benefits from the United States as provided by any other law, the case shall be dismissed, but in that event, the running of any limitation of time for commencing, or filing an application or claim in, such proceedings for compensation or other benefits shall be deemed to have been suspended during the pendency of the civil action or proceeding under this section.

The Attorney General may compromise or settle any claim asserted in such civil action or proceeding in the manner provided in section 2677 of title 28, and with the same effect.

For purposes of this section, the provisions of section 2680(h) of title 28, shall not apply to any tort enumerated therein arising out of negligence in the furnishing of medical care or related services, including the conducting of clinical studies or investigations.

The Secretary may, to the extent he deems appropriate, hold harmless or provide liability insurance for any person to whom the immunity provisions of subsection (a) of this section apply, for damages for personal injury, including death, negligently caused by any such person while acting within the scope of his or her office or employment and as a result of the furnishing of medical care or related services, including the conducting of clinical studies or investigations, if such person is assigned to a foreign area or detailed for service with other than a Federal agency or institution, or if the circumstances are such as are likely to preclude the remedies of third persons against the United States provided by sections 1346(b) and 2672 of title 28, for such damage or injury.

For purposes of this section, any medical care or related service covered by this section and performed abroad by a covered person at the direction or with the approval of the United States chief of mission or other principal representative of the United States in the area shall be deemed to be within the scope of employment of the individual performing the service.

The Secretary of State may authorize and assist in the establishment, maintenance, and operation by civilian officers and employees of the Government of non-Government-operated services and facilities at posts abroad, including the furnishing of space, utilities, and properties owned or leased by the Government for use by its diplomatic, consular, and other missions and posts abroad. The provisions of the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 (22 U.S.C. 292–300) and section 2684 of this title may be utilized by the Secretary in providing such assistance.

The Secretary may establish and maintain emergency commissary or mess services in places abroad where, in the judgment of the Secretary, such services are necessary temporarily to insure the effective and efficient performance of official duties and responsibilities. Reimbursements incident to the maintenance and operation of commissary or mess service under this subsection shall be at not less than cost as determined by the Secretary and shall be used as working funds, except that an amount equal to the amount expended for such services shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

Services and facilities established under this section shall be made available, insofar as practicable, to officers and employees of all agencies and their dependents who are stationed in the locality abroad, and, where determined by the Secretary to be appropriate due to exceptional circumstances, to United States citizens hired outside of the host country to serve as teaching staff for such dependents abroad. Such services and facilities shall not be established in localities where another agency operates similar services or facilities unless the Secretary determines that additional services or facilities are necessary. Other agencies shall to the extent practicable avoid duplicating the facilities and services provided or assisted by the Secretary under this section.

Charges at any post abroad for a service or facility provided, authorized or assisted under this section shall be at the same rate for all civilian personnel of the Government serviced thereby, and all charges for supplies furnished to such a service or facility abroad by any agency shall be at the same rate as that charged by the furnishing agency to its comparable civilian services and facilities.

The Secretary and the Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development are authorized to provide for unanticipated non-medical care, including dependent child and eldercare, and essential services directly related to caring for an acute injury or illness, for USAID and Department employees and their family members, including through the provision of such non-medical services, referrals to care providers, and reimbursement of reasonable expenses for such services.

Services provided pursuant to this section shall not exceed $2,000,000 per fiscal year.

Funds appropriated for the Department of State may not be available for obligation or expenditure through any reprogramming described in subsection (a) during the period which is the last 15 days in which such funds are available unless notice of such reprogramming is made before such period.

The Secretary of State may waive the notification requirement of subsection (a), if the Secretary determines that failure to do so would pose a substantial risk to human health or welfare. In the case of any waiver under this subsection, notification to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives shall be provided as soon as practicable, but not later than 3 days after taking the action to which the notification requirement was applicable, and shall contain an explanation of the emergency circumstances.

An officer or employee of any entity of Federal, State, or local government or of a foreign government who, while in the performance of his or her official duties, furnishes information described in subsection (b) shall not be eligible for a reward under this section.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in the sole discretion of the Secretary, the resources of the rewards program shall be available for the publication of rewards offered by foreign governments regarding acts of international terrorism which do not involve United States persons or property or a violation of the narcotics laws of the United States.

A determination made by the Secretary under this section shall be final and conclusive and shall not be subject to judicial review.

The Secretary shall prescribe the procedures for identifying and considering persons eligible for award of a Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service and for selecting the persons to be recommended for the award.

If a person selected for award of a Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service dies before being presented the award, the award may be made and the star presented to the person’s family or to the person’s representative, as designated by the President.

The Secretary shall prescribe the design of the Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service. The award may not include a stipend or any other cash payment.

Any expenses incurred in awarding a person a Thomas Jefferson Star for Foreign Service may be paid out of appropriations available at the time of the award for personnel of the department or agency of the United States Government in which the person was employed when the person incurred the wound, injury, or illness upon which the award is based.

Nothing in subsection (a)(3) shall be construed to preclude or limit in any way the authority of the United States Secret Service to provide protective services pursuant to section 3056 or 3056A of title 18 at a level commensurate with protective requirements as determined by the United States Secret Service. The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of the Treasury shall enter into an interagency agreement with respect to their law enforcement functions.

The Secretary of State may use funds available to the Secretary for the expenses of United States participation in arbitrations and other proceedings for the peaceful resolution of disputes under treaties or other international agreements.

The Secretary of State may use funds available to the Secretary for the expenses of United States participation in arbitrations arising under contracts authorized by law for the performance of services or acquisition of property, real or personal, abroad.

The Secretary of State may use competitive procedures or procedures other than competitive procedures to procure the services of experts for use in preparing or prosecuting a proceeding before an international tribunal or a claim by or against a foreign government or other foreign entity, whether or not the expert is expected to testify, or to procure personal and other support services for such proceedings or claims. The Secretary need not provide any written justification for the use of procedures other than competitive procedures when procuring such services under this subsection and need not furnish for publication in the Commerce Business Daily or otherwise any notice of solicitation or synopsis with respect to such procurement.

The Secretary of State may reimburse domestic and foreign persons, agencies, or governments for the protection of judges or other persons who provide assistance or information relating to terrorist incidents primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Before making a payment under this section in a matter over which there is Federal criminal jurisdiction, the Secretary shall advise and consult with the Attorney General.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State for “Administration of Foreign Affairs” $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1986 and $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1987 for use in reimbursing persons, agencies, or governments under this section.

Amounts made available under this section may be referred to as the “Counterterrorism Protection Fund”.

The Secretary of State may, by regulation, impose controls on the provision of the services described in subsection (b) if the Secretary determines that provision of such services would aid and abet international terrorism.

These services may be controlled under subsection (a) when they are provided within the United States by any individual or entity and when they are provided anywhere in the world by a United States person.

In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of State may require licenses, which may be revoked, suspended, or amended, without prior notice, whenever such action is deemed to be advisable.

The authority granted by this section is in addition to the authorities granted by any other provision of law.

The Secretary of State shall administer the historic and artistic articles of furniture, fixtures, and decorative objects of the reception areas of the Department of State by such means and measures as conform to the purposes of the reception areas, which include conserving those articles, fixtures, and objects and providing for their enjoyment in such manner and by such means as will leave them for the use of the American people. Nothing shall be done under this subsection which conflicts with the administration of the Department of State or with the use of the reception areas for official purposes of the United States Government.

For purposes of this section, the term “reception areas” means the areas of the Harry S Truman Federal Building, located at 2201 C Street, Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, known as the Diplomatic Reception Rooms (eighth floor), the Secretary of State’s offices (seventh floor), the Deputy Secretary of State’s offices (seventh floor), and the seventh floor reception area.

Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary of State may issue a passport, in emergency circumstances or for humanitarian reasons, to an individual with respect to whom that subsection applies.

If pursuant to subsection (c) or (e) of section 7345 of title 26 the Secretary of State receives from the Secretary of the Treasury a notice that an individual ceases to have a seriously delinquent tax debt, the Secretary of State shall remove from the individual’s record the certification with respect to such debt.

The provisions of, and amendments made by, this section shall take effect on December 4, 2015.

In the case of a major disaster or incident abroad which affects the health and safety of citizens of the United States residing or traveling abroad, the Secretary of State shall provide prompt and thorough notification of all appropriate information concerning such disaster or incident and its effect on United States citizens to the next-of-kin of such individuals. Notification shall be provided through the most expeditious means available, including telephone communications, and shall include timely written notice. The Secretary, through the appropriate offices of the Department of State, shall act as a clearinghouse for up-to-date information for the next-of-kin and shall provide other services and assistance. Assistance shall include liaison with foreign governments and persons and with United States air carriers concerning arrangements for the preparation and transport to the United States of the remains of citizens who die abroad, as well as disposition of personal estates pursuant to section 2715c of this title.

For purposes of this section and sections 2715b and 2715c of this title, the term “consular officer” includes any United States citizen employee of the Department of State who is designated by the Secretary of State to perform consular services pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.

The Secretary shall work with the heads of appropriate departments and agencies of the United States Government in order to ensure that information relevant to a crime covered by subsection (b) is promptly reviewed and, to the maximum extent practicable, without jeopardizing sensitive sources and methods or other vital national security interests, or without jeopardizing an on-going criminal investigation or proceeding, made available under that subsection unless such disclosure is specifically prohibited by law.

Whenever a United States citizen or national dies abroad, a consular officer shall endeavor to notify, or assist the Secretary of State in notifying, the next of kin or legal guardian as soon as possible, except that, in the case of death of any Peace Corps volunteer (within the meaning of section 2504(a) of this title), any member of the Armed Forces, any dependent of such a volunteer or member, or any Department of Defense employee, the consular officer shall assist the Peace Corps or the appropriate military authorities, as the case may be, in making such notifications.

The Secretary of State shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.

The Secretary of State may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.

The Secretary of State shall, to the extent otherwise allowed by law, disclose to those credit reporting agencies to which the Secretary reports loan activity information concerning any debt of more than $100 owed by a person, other than a foreign country, to the United States which arises out of activities of the Department of State and is delinquent by more than 31 days.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds received by the Department of State in connection with use of Blair House (including reimbursements and surcharges for services and goods provided and fees for use of Blair House facilities) may be credited to the appropriate appropriation account of the Department of State which is currently available. Such funds shall be available only for maintenance and other expenses of Blair House.

The authority of this section may be exercised only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in an appropriation Act.

The Secretary of State may make grants to postsecondary educational institutions or students for the purpose of increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of and interest in employment with the Foreign Service or the Civil Service, consistent with section 3905 of this title. To the extent possible, the Secretary shall give special emphasis to promoting such knowledge and awareness of, and interest in employment with, the Foreign Service or the Civil Service among minority students. Any grants awarded shall be made pursuant to regulations to be established by the Secretary of State, which shall provide for a limit on the size of any specific grant and, regarding any grants to individuals, shall ensure that no grant recipient receives an amount of grants from one or more Federal programs which in the aggregate would exceed the cost of his or her education, and shall require satisfactory educational progress by grantees as a condition of eligibility for continued receipt of grant funds.

It is the sense of Congress that recognition throughout the Department of the value and importance of training and professional development for Foreign Service and Civil Service personnel is vital to the development and maintenance by such personnel of the skills and expertise required for the Department to contribute fully and effectively to the conduct of the foreign affairs of the United States.

Not less than 45 days before the closing of any United States consular or diplomatic post abroad, the Secretary of State shall notify the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

Amounts made available to pay any expense related to the closing of a consular or diplomatic post abroad shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under section 2706 of this title and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the procedures applicable to such reprogramming.

As used in this section, the term “consular or diplomatic post” does not include a post to which only personnel of agencies other than the Department of State are assigned.

If the United States Government hosts an international meeting or conference in the United States, the Secretary of State is authorized to pay all reasonable expenses of such meeting or conference. Such expenses may include rental of quarters (by contract or otherwise) and personal services.

To the extent provided in an appropriation Act, transfers of funds or other reimbursements for payments under subsection (a) are authorized to be retained and credited to the appropriate appropriation account of the Department of State which is available.

Information contained in such report may be classified to the extent necessary and shall protect intelligence sources and methods.

For the purposes of this section the term “appropriate committees of the Congress” means the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

Funds collected under the authority of subsection (a) shall be deposited as an offsetting collection to any Department of State appropriation to recover the costs of providing commercial services. Funds deposited under this subsection shall remain available for obligation through September 30 of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the funds were deposited.

The Secretary should periodically notify each foreign mission of United States policies relating to criminal offenses committed by individuals with immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the United States under laws extending diplomatic privileges and immunities.

The Secretary shall establish and maintain a database containing the information collected under subsection (a).

Beginning three months after September 30, 2002, the Secretary, shall make available, on a country-by-country basis, on the Internet website of the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, the information from the database described in subsection (b) with respect to deaths occurring since September 30, 2002, or occurring during the preceding three calendar years, whichever period is shorter. The information shall be updated at least every six months.

None of the funds made available to the Department of State, or the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund established in section 2601(c) of this title, may be available to effect the involuntary return by the United States of any person to any country unless the Secretary first notifies the appropriate congressional committees, except that, in the case of an emergency involving a threat to human life, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate congressional committees as soon as practicable.

Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting activities of the Department of State that relate to removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.] or extradition.

The Special Envoy shall consult with domestic and international nongovernmental organizations and multilateral organizations and institutions, as the Special Envoy considers appropriate to fulfill the purposes of this section.

The Secretary of State shall make public diplomacy an integral component in the planning and execution of United States foreign policy.

The strategy developed pursuant to subsection (b) shall include public diplomacy efforts targeting developed and developing countries and select and general audiences, using appropriate media to properly explain the foreign policy of the United States to the governments and populations of such countries, with the objectives of increasing support for United States policies and providing news and information. The Secretary shall, through the most effective mechanisms, counter misinformation and propaganda concerning the United States. The Secretary shall continue to articulate the importance of freedom, democracy, and human rights as fundamental principles underlying United States foreign policy goals.

In cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other public and private assistance organizations and agencies, the Secretary should ensure that information relating to foreign assistance provided by the United States, nongovernmental organizations, and private entities of the United States is disseminated widely, and particularly, to the extent practicable, within countries and regions that receive such assistance. The Secretary should ensure that, to the extent practicable, projects funded by USAID not involving commodities, including projects implemented by private voluntary organizations, are identified as provided by the people of the United States.