NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), applauded passage by the Senate of the 2016 U.S. State Department Authorization Bill – the first in 14 years. As Chairman of the SFRC in 2014, Menendez made development and passage of State Department authorization legislation a top priority in order to provide the Department the tools and authorities it needs to address the challenges facing the United States in an increasingly complex international security environment.

“I have always believed strongly that the legislative and executive branches of our government must speak and act in unison on the most pressing issues in foreign policy,” said Sen. Menendez. “That is why, as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2014, I made crafting of a modern legislative framework for State Department operations a top priority and I’m incredibly pleased that Chairman Corker and Ranking Member Cardin have brought it to fruition.

"This bill contains critical and much needed provisions to assure that the Department of State has the resources and authorities required to meet our Embassy Security needs, protect our diplomats, and enable the United States to continue to conduct forward-leaning diplomacy in a turbulent world. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our diplomats, who conduct invaluable work furthering our national security interests and promoting our values. The Department has waited too long for the Senate to act on this matter, in my view, but I am pleased that we have now taken this step."

Menendez authored a major provision included in the legislation, requiring the Department of State to implement quantifiable measures to address major shortfalls in increasing diversity among our diplomatic corps/personnel.

“I have focused for more than two decades in Congress on addressing the troubling lack of diversity among our State Department diplomatic corps and I’m pleased my amendment is part of this important legislation,” Menendez said. “Not only should our international personnel represent the unparalleled diversity of our citizenry, diversity in international affairs is of strategic interest to U.S. foreign policy goals in the 21st century. Simply put, it is our greatest foreign policy strength. This legislation will assure that the State department takes the steps necessary to recruit and to retain a foreign service that represents the best of all of our nation.”

Specifically, the Menendez Amendment:

  • Requires the Secretary of State to initiate a strategy review that analyzes diversity recruitment, promotion, leadership, and attrition trends to determine the root cause of diversity shortfalls over the past fifteen years.
  • Instructs the Director General to develop and implement an action plan that addresses traditionally underrepresented groups and veterans in foreign policy and assistance careers.
  • Strengthens oversight through additional reporting requirements on employment, promotion, and attrition rates, in addition to data on selection boards, mentorship, and retention programs. All, of which are important components of the selection and placement process that federal employees undergo. The Act also requires an external report of these mechanisms.
  • Includes proper oversight and appeals mechanisms for the Assignments Restrictions Program, administered by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, and the “Pass Through” Program, administered by the Bureau of Human Resources, to ensure fairness and, to determine whether there may be a disparate impact limiting career advancement, discouraging recruitment, and depriving the nation of some of its best linguists and regional experts.
  • Supports the addition of senior diversity career professionals to Human Resources and Civil Rights Offices at the State Department and USAID, similar to the work of chief diversity officers in the private sector.
  • Expands the State Department Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program, Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program and the USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship Program, all of which have been successful at providing a pipeline for highly qualified underrepresented groups into international affairs careers in the Departments of State and USAID. The Act also supports mid and senior career recruitment programs and initiatives such as the International Career Advancement Program, and Global Access Pipeline.
  • Supports strengthened recruitment efforts at minority serving institutions, including advancing stronger international affairs curricula.
  • Requires a report on diversity in procurement and grant making to address reports of unfair competition and access related to contracting, grants, and other business and employment opportunities at international affairs agencies.

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