FOREIGN SERVICE MODERNIZATION ACT

On 2026-09-16, Representative Michael Lawler (R-NY-17) delivered a floor speech titled "FOREIGN SERVICE MODERNIZATION ACT" in the House.

FOREIGN SERVICE MODERNIZATION ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 146 (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5913-H5924] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1310 FOREIGN SERVICE MODERNIZATION ACT Mr. LAWLER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9086) to amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to modify and improve that Act, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 9086 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Foreign Service Modernization Act''. (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Reference. Sec. 3. Effect of amendments on conforming changes to tables of contents. TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS Sec. 101. Definitions. Sec. 102. Returning policy execution to diplomatic efforts. Sec. 103. Recruiting from nontraditional institutions of higher education. TITLE II--MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE Sec. 201. Expeditionary diplomacy. Sec. 202. Additional authority. Sec. 203. Clarification of the role of Director General of the Foreign Service. Sec. 204. Board of Examiners for the Service. Sec. 205. Cybersecurity, technology governance, and operational coordination. TITLE III--APPOINTMENTS Sec. 301. Sense of Congress. Sec. 302. Foreign Service Pathway for Veterans Program. Sec. 303. Commitment in hiring process relating to participation in the Foreign Service fellowship program. TITLE IV--CLASSIFICATION OF POSITIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS Sec. 401. Protection of external training, education, and details. TITLE V--PROMOTION AND RETENTION Sec. 501. Joint duty requirement. Sec. 502. Timely publication and congressional notification of tenure and promotion lists. Sec. 503. Matters relating to recruitment process of public members of the Foreign Service selection boards. Sec. 504. Legislative branch experience. TITLE VI--CAREER DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND ORIENTATION Sec. 601. Access to Information Center. Sec. 602. List of critical foreign languages. Sec. 603. Use of world language skills. Sec. 604. Diplomatic security fellowship program. Sec. 605. Bureau of African Affairs staffing. Sec. 606. Contracting Officer's Representative and Agreement Officer's representative training. Sec. 607. Training for Foreign Service Officers. Sec. 608. Crisis management and strategy leadership training. Sec. 609. Structured training framework and protected training periods. Sec. 610. Leadership training. Sec. 611. Training relating to critical minerals. Sec. 612. Training at consular posts. Sec. 613. Strengthening diplomatic security training standards. Sec. 614. Mandatory crisis leadership and emergency management training program for senior personnel. Sec. 615. Cybersecurity, technology, and artificial intelligence training. Sec. 616. Veterans Innovation Partnership Fellowship Program; placement and conversion support. Sec. 617. Reviews of the Foreign Service career tracks. Sec. 618. Integration of Foreign Service recruitment into military transition programs. TITLE VII--OTHER MATTERS Sec. 701. Internships for part-time students. [[Page H5914]] Sec. 702. Diplomatic Reserve Corps Pilot Program. SEC. 2. REFERENCE. Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section, chapter, title, or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to a section, chapter, title, or other provision, respectively, of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.). SEC. 3. EFFECT OF AMENDMENTS ON CONFORMING CHANGES TO TABLES OF CONTENTS. When an amendment in this Act to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.) adds a section or larger organizational unit to the Act, repeals or transfers a section or larger organizational unit in the Act, or amends the designation or heading of a section or larger organizational unit in the Act, that amendment also shall have the effect of amending any table of contents or similar tabular entries in the Act to alter the table to conform to the changes made by the amendment. TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS. Section 102 (22 U.S.C. 3902) is amended-- (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (12) as paragraphs (4) through (13), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: ``(3) `appropriate congressional committees' means-- ``(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and ``(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.''. SEC. 102. RETURNING POLICY EXECUTION TO DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS. Section 104 (22 U.S.C. 3904) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end; (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (3) by adding at the end the following: ``(4) implement and execute the foreign policy of the United States through the conduct of diplomacy, the management of programs, and the advancement of United States interests consistent with policies established by the President and Secretary in accordance with this Act.''. SEC. 103. RECRUITING FROM NONTRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. Section 105 (22 U.S.C. 3905) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(f) Recruiting From Nontraditional Institutions of Higher Education.-- ``(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the Service should actively recruit candidates from nontraditional institutions of higher education, including community colleges, junior colleges, career and technical colleges, and other open-access or workforce-oriented institutions. ``(2) Outreach.--The Secretary should ensure that outreach, information sessions, and preparation resources related to the Foreign Service officer selection process and other entry programs are regularly conducted at nontraditional institutions of higher education. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may-- ``(A) partner, where appropriate, with institutional career centers, faculty, and student organizations to expand awareness of Service careers; ``(B) leverage digital and hybrid outreach methods to reach students and alumni who may not be geographically near current recruitment hubs; and ``(C) collaborate with other Federal departments and agencies engaged in workforce outreach at nontraditional institutions of higher education.''. TITLE II--MANAGEMENT OF SERVICE SEC. 201. EXPEDITIONARY DIPLOMACY. Section 207 (22 U.S.C. 3927) is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)-- (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' at the end; (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (C) by adding at the end the following: ``(3) shall exercise appropriate and effective risk management practices to encourage each relevant Government executive branch employee in such foreign country to regularly and meaningfully engage in expeditionary diplomacy with the population of such country.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(e) Tiger Team.-- ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish a team (to be known as the `Tiger Team') to provide to the Secretary a plan to achieve the following: ``(A) Improve the capability, and willingness, of chiefs of mission, Regional Security Officers, and Regional Medical Officers to approve expeditionary diplomacy. ``(B) Improve the capability, and willingness, of members of the Foreign Service to regularly practice expeditionary diplomacy. ``(2) Composition.--The Tiger Team shall consist of the following individuals from the Department, to be appointed by the Secretary: ``(A) A senior-level officer or employee who shall-- ``(i) serve as the `Tiger Team Leader'; ``(ii) be accountable for the activities of the Tiger Team under this subsection; and ``(iii) not serve concurrently in another assignment or position at the Department during their tenure as Tiger Team Leader. ``(B) Not less than one officer or employee from each of the following offices: ``(i) The Under Secretary for Political Affairs; ``(ii) The Bureau of Diplomatic Security; ``(iii) The Bureau of Administration; ``(iv) The Bureau of Diplomatic Technology; ``(v) The Bureau of Human Resources; ``(vi) The Bureau of Medical Services; and ``(vii) The Bureau of Overseas Building Operations. ``(C) Not less than one individual who has international development experience and expertise; ``(3) Congressional notification.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall notify Congress of the names and titles of the appointed to the Tiger Team under paragraph (2). ``(4) Plan for expeditionary diplomacy.-- ``(A) In general.--The plan required to be submitted by the Tiger Team shall include the following: ``(i) A description of the manner in which the Secretary, working through the Tiger Team, shall-- ``(I) assess the current state of the Department's ability and willingness to practice expeditionary diplomacy; ``(II) review previous and current Department efforts and historical recommendation reports, external and internal, on expeditionary diplomacy; ``(III) assess the current challenges experienced by the Department, chiefs of mission, and members of the Service in practicing expeditionary diplomacy; and ``(IV) produce policy, regulations, and legislative recommendations to address such challenges. ``(ii) A timeline for implementing, carrying out, and completing this plan by the date required under subparagraph (B). ``(iii) A description of the additional funding, personnel, or other resources of the Department required to carry out the plan, including any modification of applica

Referenced legislation: HR9086, HR9086