“A bill to establish the position of Director of Foreign Assistance in the Department of State, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section expresses the sense of Congress that (1) strategic delivery of foreign assistance supports U.S. interests worldwide; (2) foreign assistance furthers U.S. national security priorities, advances U.S. values, and positions the United States as the partner of choice for defense procurement and economic investment in scientific research; (3) foreign assistance administration should be managed by a qualified, competent Department of State official and subject to strict congressional oversight; and (4) 22 U.S.C. 6563 codified the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent establishment outside the Department of State.
This section establishes in the Department of State a Director of Foreign Assistance who reports directly to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and should not hold another U.S. government position. The Director must (1) optimize foreign assistance by aligning resources to the Secretary of State's foreign policy goals, measuring effectiveness, and promoting evidence-based budgeting and execution; (2) serve as a resource for the Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, Under Secretaries, USAID Administrator, and other agency heads on foreign assistance policies, plans, and programs; (3) lead results-oriented functions including integrated interagency budget and planning processes, monitoring and evaluation, transparency, data analysis, and policy development; (4) support interagency collaboration with entities such as the Millennium Challenge Corporation, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and Peace Corps; and (5) create and direct consolidated policy, strategic, program plans, budgets, evaluations, and reporting for State and USAID bureaus and offices. The Director is appointed by the President with Senate confirmation, with no individual serving in an acting capacity for more than 90 days without confirmation, and any adverse personnel decisions by or affecting the Director or reporting staff (i.e., promotions, transfers, demotions, dismissals, suspensions, furloughs, or reductions in force) require Deputy Secretary approval.
This section requires the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and programs under the direction of the Director of Foreign Assistance to make all appropriated funds available for obligation not later than 90 days after the enactment of the related appropriations act.