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1 1 (March 20, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govxyz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Cogesoa Reeac Servic Updated March 20, 2019 Foreign Relations Reauthorization: Background and Issues Introduction and Current Legisation Historically, the activities of the Department of State, related agencies, and foreign assistance have been authorized by two separate pieces of legislation. One, covering the day-to-day operations of the Department of State, diplomacy, and international broadcasting, is referred to as foreign relations authorization or State Department authorization. The second is referred to as foreign assistance authorization and provides for the spending of monies on promoting U.S. foreign policy objectives around the world through economic development programs, security assistance, refugee and disaster assistance, and multilateral aid. House and Senate foreign affairs authorizing committees are expected to introduce State Department or foreign relations authorization legislation in the 116th Congress as they did in the 115th (H.R. 5592 and S. 1631, respectively). In addition to authorizing appropriations, both may be expected to address issues such as Administration efforts to reform the State Department and USAID, diversity hiring, and diplomatic security. Although comprehensive foreign relations reauthorization legislation has not been enacted since the 107th Congress in 2003, the 114th Congress passed what it named the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (P.L. 114-323). Unlike past comprehensive foreign relations authorizations, this law did not include authorizations of appropriations. When a foreign relations reauthorization does not specifically authorize appropriations, waivers of this requirement are included in the annual appropriations bills. When authorization requirements are not enacted, foreign policy provisions often are inserted in the general provisions title. Typically, these provisions would be effective only for the duration of the appropriations law and would face renegotiation the following year. In addition, foreign policy-related legislation is often inserted into other legislative vehicles, or in stand-alone legislation. Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 As noted, this law did not include an authorization of appropriations and, thus, was referred to as an authorities act rather than as an authorization act. Some of the measures that were included, however, are significant with respect to how the Department of State is to operate in future years. For example, the law addressed some of the Benghazi Accountability Review Board recommendations regarding high-risk, high-threat posts, diplomatic security, and training. It also addressed U.N. peacekeeping issues, cost-of-living adjustments for civilian personnel stationed abroad, and public diplomacy and international broadcasting policy, among other issues. Background In earlier years, Congress enacted several laws that require foreign affairs appropriations to be authorized prior to expenditure. These include Section 15 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (P.L. 84-885), Section 10 of P.L. 91-672, Section 313 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, FY1994 and FY1995 (P.L. 103-236), and Section 504(a)(1) of the National Security Act of 1947 (P.L. 80-253). One motivation behind these requirements was to assert the role of the foreign affairs authorizing committees in budgetary decisionmaking. The foreign relations authorization laws for the State Department and related agencies are intended to coincide with the annual appropriations process and authorize specific levels for subsequent foreign affairs appropriations, usually for the next year or two. These laws can also become vehicles for Congress to address a range of foreign affairs policies, make changes to agencies or functions, and mandate reporting requirements. (Stand-alone foreign assistance reauthorization has not been enacted since 1985, but aid provisions have been included in some past foreign relations authorizations.) Relevance of Foreign Relations Reauthorization While the Constitution does not definitively answer which branch of government maintains primacy in all aspects of foreign affairs, it gives Congress the power to consider legislation to provide funding, specific policies, and oversight of the implementation of foreign policy. In recent years, some have expressed concerns that the President is conducting foreign policy without sufficient recognition of Congress's constitutional and statutory prerogatives. Among the areas where some believe Congress could assert its authorities is the regular passage of comprehensive foreign relations reauthorization laws, which has not occurred since the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (P.L. 107-228) was enacted. Some assert that reestablishing a tradition of regularly enacting foreign relations authorization legislation also has several potential implications, including that it might * fulfill a key responsibility of the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees; * provide Members of Congress and their staffs more opportunity to consult with State Department and USAID officials, international broadcasting board members, and other foreign affairs experts to coordinate on foreign policy; * create a legislative vehicle for Members of Congress to participate in establishing foreign policy priorities; httfps:I/crsreports.conc -- -q

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