22 U.S.C. § 2735 — Foreign relations exchange programs

Page 1174 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 2735 relevant cultural and linguistic skills at diplo- matic posts abroad if not applied judiciously; and (2) the Department should continuously evaluate all processes relating to assignment restrictions, assignment reviews, and preclusions at the Department. (b) Notification of status Beginning not later than 90 days after Decem- ber 22, 2023, the Secretary shall— (1) provide a status update for all Depart- ment personnel who, prior to December 22, 2023, were subject to a prior assignment re- striction, assignment review, or preclusion for whom a review or decision related to assign- ment is pending; and (2) on an ongoing basis, provide a status up- date for any Department personnel who has been the subject of a pending assignment re- striction or pending assignment review for more than 30 days. (c) Notification content The notification required under subsection (b) shall inform relevant personnel, as of the date of the notification— (1) whether any prior assignment restriction has been lifted; (2) if their assignment status is subject to ongoing review, and an estimated date for completion; and (3) if they are subject to any other restric- tions on their ability to serve at posts abroad. (d) Adjudication of ongoing assignment reviews (1) Time limit The Department shall establish a reasonable time limit for the Department to complete an assignment review and establish a deadline by which it must inform personnel of a decision related to such a review. (2) Appeals For any personnel the Department deter- mines are ineligible to serve in an assignment due to an assignment restriction or assign- ment review, a Security Appeal Panel shall convene not later than 120 days of an appeal being filed. (3) Entry-level bidding process The Department shall include a description of the assignment review process and critical human intelligence threat posts in a briefing to new officers as part of their entry-level bid- ding process. (4) Points of contact The Department shall designate points of contact in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Bureau of Global Talent Management to answer employee and Career Development Of- ficer questions about assignment restrictions, assignment reviews, and preclusions. (e) Security appeal panel Not later than 90 days after December 22, 2023, the Security Appeal Panel shall be comprised of— (1) the head of an office responsible for human resources or discrimination who re- ports directly to the Secretary; (2) the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Global Talent Management; (3) the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Intelligence and Research; (4) an Assistant Secretary or Deputy, or equivalent, from a third bureau as designated by the Under Secretary for Management; (5) a representative from the geographic bu- reau to which the restriction applies; and (6) a representative from the Office of the Legal Adviser and a representative from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, who shall serve as non-voting advisors. (f) Omitted (g) FAM update Not later than 120 days after December 22, 2023, the Secretary shall amend all relevant pro- visions of the Foreign Affairs Manual, and any associated or related policies of the Department, to comply with this section. (Pub. L. 118–31, div. F, title LXI, § 6115, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 969.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section is comprised of section 6115 of Pub. L. 118–31. Subsec. (f) of section 6115 of Pub. L. 118–31 amended sec- tion 2734c of this title. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries DEFINITIONS For definitions of ‘‘Department’’ and ‘‘Secretary’’ as used in this section, see section 6002 of Pub. L. 118–31, set out as a note under section 2651 of this title. § 2735. Foreign relations exchange programs (a) Authority The Secretary may establish exchange pro- grams under which officers or employees of the Department of State, including individuals ap- pointed under title 5 and members of the For- eign Service (as defined in section 3903 of this title), may be assigned, for not more than 1 year, to a position with any foreign government or international entity that permits an em- ployee to be assigned to a position with the De- partment of State. (b) Salary and benefits (1) Members of Foreign Service During a period in which a member of the Foreign Service is participating in an ex- change program authorized pursuant to sub- section (a), such member shall be entitled to the salary and benefits to which such member would receive but for the assignment under this section. (2) Non-Foreign Service employees of Depart- ment An employee of the Department of State other than a member of the Foreign Service participating in an exchange program author- ized pursuant to subsection (a) shall be treated in all respects as if detailed to an inter- national organization pursuant to section 3343(c) of title 5. Page 1175 TITLE 22—FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE § 2735a 1 So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted. (3) Foreign participants The salary and benefits of an employee of a foreign government or international entity participating in an exchange program author- ized pursuant to subsection (a) shall be paid by such government or entity during the period in which such employee is participating in such program, and shall not be reimbursed by the Department of State. (c) Non-reciprocal assignment The Secretary may authorize a non-reciprocal assignment of personnel pursuant to this sec- tion, with or without reimbursement from the foreign government or international entity for all or part of the salary and other expenses pay- able during such assignment, if such is in the in- terests of the United States. (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize the appointment as an officer or em- ployee of the United States of— (1) an individual whose allegiance is to any country, government, or foreign or inter- national entity other than to the United States; or (2) an individual who has not met the re- quirements of sections 3331, 3332, 3333, and 7311 of title 5 or any other provision of law con- cerning eligibility for appointment as, and continuation of employment as, an officer or employee of the United States. (Aug. 1, 1956, ch. 841, title I, § 63, as added Pub. L. 114–323, title VII, § 701(a), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1939.) § 2735a. Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Ac- cords, Negev Forum, and Related Integration and Normalization Fora and Agreements (a) Office There is established within the Department of State the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Related Integration and Normalization Fora and Agreements (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Regional Integration Office’’). (b) Leadership (1)1 Special Envoy The Regional Integration Office shall be headed by the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, Negev Forum, and Re- lated Normalization Agreements, who shall— (A) be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and (B) report directly to the Secretary of State. (c) Rank and status of ambassador The Special Envoy shall have the rank and status of ambassador. (d) Duties The Special Envoy shall— (1) lead diplomatic engagement— (A) to strengthen and expand the Negev Forum, the Abraham Accords, and related normalization agreements with Israel, in- cluding promoting initiatives that benefit the people of key partners in regional inte- gration or other regional actors in order to encourage such expansion; and (B) to support the work of regional inte- gration; (2) implement the policy of the United States to expand normalization and support greater regional integration— (A) within the Middle East and North Afri- ca; and (B) between the Middle East and North Af- rica and other key regions, including sub-Sa- haran Africa, the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond; (3) work to deliver tangible economic and se- curity benefits for the citizens of Abraham Ac- cords countries, Negev Forum countries, and countries that are members of other related normalization agreements; (4) serve as the ministerial liaison for the United States to the Negev Forum and other emerging normalization and integration fora, as necessary, and provide senior representa- tion at events, steering committee meetings, and other relevant diplomatic engagements re- lating to the Negev Forum or other regional integration bodies; (5) coordinate all cross-agency engagements and strategies in support of normalization ef- forts with other relevant officials and agen- cies; (6) ensure that the appropriate congressional committees are regularly informed about the work of the Regional Integration Office; (7) initiate and advance negotiations on a framework for an economic and security part- nership with the Negev Forum countries, other key partners in regional integration, and other regional actors; (8) oppose efforts to delegitimize Israel and legal barriers to normalization with Israel; (9) initiate negotiations with Abraham Ac- cords countries and Negev Forum countries, observers, and key partners in regional inte- gration on an economic framework that in- cludes— (A) improving supply chain security and resiliency; (B) aligning common regulatory and finan- cial standards; (C) attracting foreign investment; (D) diversification of energy resources, in- cluding renewable sources of energy, and the development and deployment of emerging and advanced technologies that promote en- ergy security; and (E) digital economy, cybersecurity, and cross-border data flow; (10) lead interagency efforts to reach an international agreement on the comprehensive economic framework described in paragraph (9); (11) endeavor to embed already established standards on countering money laundering and terrorist financing into the regional eco- nomic framework described in paragraph (9); and (12) promote regional integration and broad- er interconnectivity among the Abraham Ac-