Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 371
115th Congress(2017-2018)
Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act
Active
Amendments
Active
Passed House on Jul 28, 2017
Overview
Text
Sponsor
Introduced
Feb 14, 2017
Latest Action
Dec 18, 2017
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
371
Congress
115
Policy Area
International Affairs
International Affairs
Primary focus of measure is matters affecting foreign aid, human rights, international law and organizations; national governance; arms control; diplomacy and foreign officials; alliances and collective security. Measures concerning trade agreements, tariffs, foreign investments, and foreign loans may fall under Foreign Trade and International Finance policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Tennessee
Senate Votes (1)
House Votes (0)
checkPassed on May 1, 2017
Status
Passed
Type
Unanimous Consent
Unanimous Consent
A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator objects, the request is rejected. Unanimous consent requests with only immediate effects are routinely granted, but ones affecting the floor schedule, the conditions of considering a bill or other business, or the rights of other senators, are normally not offered, or a floor leader will object to it, until all senators concerned have had an opportunity to inform the leaders that they find it acceptable.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S2653-2654)
Summary

Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act

This bill makes technical changes to the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 and other related Acts.

The bill provides the House and Senate Appropriations Committees with oversight authority regarding congressional reports on: (1) high-risk diplomatic and consular posts, (2) embassy construction costs, (3) combating sexual exploitation in United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping operations, (4) Department of State overseas staffing levels, and (5) reducing illicit drug supply and abuse in the Western Hemisphere.

The bill provides such committees with oversight authority regarding the granting of consular immunity.

The Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 is amended regarding: (1) replacement of a specified reference to anti-Semitism with a reference to intolerance; (2) the definition of "change to the federal status" with respect to the Cuba Service and the Television Marti Service; (3) the report on the costs, strengths, and limitations of U.S. and U.N. peacekeeping operations; (4) U.N. peacekeeper training to reduce sexual exploitation; (5) the U.N. Secretary General; (6) Foreign Service entry; (7) completion of the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission report; and (8) ransoms to foreign terrorist organizations.

The United States should use its influence to prohibit U.N. Human Rights Council membership to a country: (1) designated as a Tier 3 human trafficking country, or (2) identified as having failed to prevent or address gross violations of human rights.

The President shall report to Congress regarding steps taken to encourage China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet.

Amendments (2)
Jul 28, 2017
Agreed to in House
1
Sponsorship
House Amendment 272
An amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following new text entitled the "Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act".
Agreed To
May 01, 2017
Agreed to in Senate
1
Sponsorship
Senate Amendment 209
To require that the comparative report on peacekeeping operations include an assessment of the operational, structural, and doctrinal differences between the military and civilian infrastructures of the United States and United Nations and other assumptions that impact cost estimates.
Agreed To
Public Record
Record Updated
Sep 5, 2023 4:12:25 PM