I
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3571
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 27, 2019
Mr. Ted Lieu of California (for himself and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To establish an Office of Subnational Diplomacy within the Department of State, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the City and State Diplomacy Act
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Findings
Congress finds the following:
The supremacy clause of the United States Constitution (article VI, clause 2) establishes that the Federal Government has the primary role in conducting diplomacy on behalf of the United States; in turn, the Department of State, which was created pursuant to statute by Congress in 1789, has the lead role in formulating and implementing United States foreign policy.
The growth of subnational cooperation has enabled States and municipalities to play an increasingly significant role in foreign policy and complement the efforts of the Department of State by—
supporting exchanges and cooperation agreements between elected leaders and officials of State and municipal governments and those of international cities, regions, and countries;
promoting United States exports to foreign markets and foreign direct investment into the United States; and
sharing best practices and striking agreements with foreign counterparts on a wide range of topics, including facilitating trade and investment, protecting the health and safety of their respective citizens, cooperating on energy and the environment, and promoting people-to-people exchanges.
Global networks made up exclusively of local government officials are at the forefront of harnessing the power of cities to advance international cooperation, including C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI, United Cities and Local Governments, Global Parliament of Mayors, Urban20, Strong Cities Network, and Global Compact of Mayors.
In 2010, the Department of State appointed the first-ever special representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, who led efforts to build strategic peer-to-peer relationships between the Department of State, State and local officials, and their foreign counterparts.
Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
it is in the interest of the United States to promote subnational engagements, align such engagements with national foreign policy objectives, and leverage Federal resources to enhance the impact of such engagements; and
the creation in the Department of State of an Office of Subnational Diplomacy, headed by a senior Department official of appropriate rank to represent the United States at international fora would bolster United States interests through international agreements and Federal support to State and local entities.
Establishment of the Office of Subnational Diplomacy
Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
Office of Subnational Diplomacy
In general
There shall be established within the Department of State an Office of Subnational Diplomacy (in this subsection referred to as the Office
).
Head of Office
The head of the Office shall be a full-time position filled by a senior Department official. The head of the Office shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs.
Duties
Principal duty
The principal duty of the head of the Office shall be the overall supervision (including policy oversight of resources) of Federal support for subnational engagements by State and municipal governments with foreign governments. The head of the Office shall be the principal adviser to the Secretary of State on subnational engagements and the principal official on such matters within the senior management of the Department of State.
Additional duties
The additional duties of the head of the Office shall include the following:
Coordinating overall United States policy and programs in support of subnational engagements by State and municipal governments with foreign governments, including with respect to the following:
Coordinating resources across the Department of State and throughout the Federal Government in support of such engagements.
Identifying policy, program, and funding disputes among relevant Federal agencies regarding such coordination.
Identifying gaps in Federal support for such engagements and developing corresponding policy or programmatic changes to address such gaps.
Promoting United States foreign policy goals through support for subnational engagements and aligning subnational priorities with national foreign policy goals, as appropriate.
Maintaining a public database of subnational engagements.
Providing advisory support to subnational engagements, including by assisting State and municipal governments to—
develop, implement, and, as necessary, adjust global engagement and public diplomacy strategies; and
implement programs to cooperate with foreign governments on policy priorities or managing shared resources.
Facilitating linkages and networks between State and municipal governments and their foreign counterparts.
Overseeing the work of Department of State detailees assigned to State and municipal governments pursuant to this subsection.
Negotiating agreements and memoranda of understanding with foreign governments to support subnational engagements and priorities.
Promoting United States trade and foreign exports on behalf of United States businesses through exchanges between the United States and foreign state, municipal, and provincial governments, and by establishing a more enduring relationship overall between subnational governments.
Coordinating subnational engagements with the associations of subnational elected leaders, including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Governors Association, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, Council of State Governments, National Conference of State Legislators, and State International Development Offices.
Detailees
In general
The Secretary of State, with respect to employees of the Department of State, is authorized to detail a member of the civil service or Foreign Service to State and municipal governments on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis. Such details shall be for a period not to exceed two years, and shall be without interruption or loss of status or privilege.
Responsibilities
Detailees under subparagraph (A) shall carry out the following:
Supporting the mission and objectives of the Office.
Coordinating activities relating to State and municipal government subnational engagements with the Department of State, including the Office, Department leadership, and regional and functional bureaus of the Department, as appropriate.
Engaging the Department of State and other Federal agencies regarding security, public health, trade promotion, and other programs executed at the State or municipal government level.
Advising State and municipal government officials regarding questions of global affairs, foreign policy, cooperative agreements, and public diplomacy.
Any other duties requested by State and municipal governments and approved by the Office.
Report and briefing
Report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the head of the Office shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report that includes information relating to the following:
The staffing plan (including permanent and temporary staff) for the Office.
The funding level provided to the Office for the Office, together with a justification relating to such level.
The status of filling the position of head of the Office.
The rank and title granted to the head of the Office, together with a justification relating to such decision and an analysis of whether the rank and title of Ambassador-at-Large is required to fulfill the duties of the Office.
A strategic plan for the Office.
Any other matters as determined relevant by the head of the Office.
Briefings
Not later than 30 days after the submission of the report required under subparagraph (A) and annually thereafter, the head of the Office shall brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate on the work of the Office and any changes made to the organizational structure or funding of the Office.
Rule of construction
Nothing in this subsection may be construed as precluding—
the Office from being elevated to a bureau within the Department of State; or
the head of the Office from being elevated to an Assistant Secretary, if such an Assistant Secretary position does not increase the number of Assistant Secretary positions at the Department above the number authorized under subsection (c)(1).
Definitions
In this subsection:
Municipal
The term municipal
means, with respect to the government of a municipality in the United States, a municipality with a population of not fewer than 100,000 people.
State
The term State
means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of the United States.
Subnational engagement
The term subnational engagement
means formal meetings or events between elected officials of State or municipal governments and their foreign counterparts.
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