S-2043 : Still Just a Bill

The "Department of State Authorization Act of 2023" (S. 2043) addresses various aspects of the Department of State's operations. Key provisions include:

• Diplomatic Security and Consular Affairs: Extends passport fee expenditure authority, allows special hiring for passport services, requires reports on passport wait times, and mandates passport travel advisories.
• Personnel Matters: Adjusts promotion precepts, establishes hiring authorities, expands internship opportunities, creates a mid-career mentoring program, and addresses retirement annuity protection for re-employed annuitants.
• Information Security and Cyber Diplomacy: Promotes data-informed diplomacy, expands the Bureau Chief Data Officer Program, establishes a task force to counter AI-enabled influence operations, and creates the position of Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
• Organization and Operations: Addresses personal services contractors, hard-to-fill posts, oversight of the Office of Civil Rights, and crisis response operations.
• Economic Diplomacy: Defines duties for officers performing economic functions, mandates revisions to performance metrics, and directs embassy deal teams.
• Public Diplomacy: Modifies funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, promotes public diplomacy outreach, extends the Global Engagement Center, and establishes the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program.
• Other Matters: Expands the use of DDTC licensing fees, prohibits entry of foreign officials involved in corruption or human rights violations, protects cultural heritage during crises, and addresses extraterritorial offenses committed by US nationals serving with international organizations.