An amendment numbered 3A and made in order pursuant to section 2 of H. Res. 365 (as passed by the House) to add a new section 217 to the bill providing for establishment of the Active Response Corps.

1. Adds SEC. 217. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACTIVE RESPONSE CORPS at the end of title II

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 217. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACTIVE RESPONSE CORPS.

   Inserted: (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, is authorized to establish an Active Response Corps (referred to in this section as the "Corps") to provide assistance in support of stabilization and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are in, are in transition from, or are likely to enter into, conflict or civil strife.

   Inserted: (b) Composition.--If the Corps is established in accordance with subsection (a), the Secretary and Administrator shall coordinate in the identification and training, and if necessary, in the recruitment and hiring, of necessary personnel. Such personnel shall be composed of employees of United States civilian agencies or non-Federal employees.

   Inserted: (c) Use of Active Response Corps.--The members of the Active Response Corps shall be available--

   Inserted: (1) if the President determines that it is in the national security interests of the United States to engage in stabilization and reconstruction activities in a country or region that is in, is in transition from, or is likely to enter into, conflict or civil strife; and

   Inserted: (2) if not engaged in such stabilization and reconstruction activities, for assignment in the United States, at diplomatic missions of the United States, and at missions of the United States Agency for International Development.

   Inserted: (d) Training and Education Programs.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Coordinator for Stabilization and Reconstruction is authorized to conduct and arrange for training and education of the Active Response Corps.

   Inserted: (2) Emphasis.--Training and education shall emphasize acquisition of general skills needed to operate in a post-conflict environment and training specific to the job skill set for which the member has been identified to participate in the Active Response Corps.

   Inserted: (3) Contents.--Training and education may consist of--

   Inserted: (A) conducting inter-agency training, including training related to inter-agency decisionmaking, operational planning, and execution simulations, for mid-level government officials and managers to prepare such officials and managers to address stabilization and reconstruction operations;

   Inserted: (B) conducting advanced training related to stabilization and reconstruction operations for members of the Active Response Corps;

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   Inserted: (C) conducting pre-deployment training related to stabilization and reconstruction operations for civilians and military-civil affairs personnel;

   Inserted: (D) conducting exercises related to stabilization and reconstruction operations for United States and international experts;

   Inserted: (E) developing a uniform set of operating procedures for stabilization and reconstruction operations; and

   Inserted: (F) conducting ongoing evaluations and after-action reviews of stabilization and reconstruction operations.

   Inserted: (e) Facilities.--Training and education programs should be coordinated with and utilize to the extent possible existing programs and facilities such as the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center (commonly referred to as the "Foreign Service Institute"), the National Defense University, the Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School, and the United States Institute for Peace.

   Inserted: (f) Additional Authorities.--

   Inserted: (1) Establishment and purpose of reserve component of active response corps.--The Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other relevant Executive agencies, is authorized to establish and maintain a roster of personnel who are trained and available as needed to perform services necessary to carry out the purpose of the Corps under subsection (c). The personnel listed on the roster shall constitute a reserve component of the Active Response Corps.

   Inserted: (2) Federal employees.--The reserve component may include employees of the Department of State, including Foreign Service Nationals, employees of the United States Agency for International Development, employees of any other Executive agency (as such term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code), and employees from the legislative and judicial branches who--

   Inserted: (A) have the training and skills necessary to enable them to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction activities under this section; and

   Inserted: (B) have volunteered for deployment to carry out such stabilization and reconstruction activities.

   Inserted: (g) Use of Reserve Component.--The Secretary may deploy members of the reserve component in support of stabilization and reconstruction activities in a foreign country or region if the President makes a determination regarding a stabilization and reconstruction crisis. The Secretary is authorized to employ contractor personnel, nongovernmental organization personnel, and State and local government employees, who--

   Inserted: (1) have the training and skills necessary to enable them to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction activities under this section; and

   Inserted: (2) have volunteered to carry out such stabilization and reconstruction activities.

   Inserted: (h) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the status of efforts to establish the Active Response Corps. The report shall include recommendations--

   Inserted: (1) for any legislation necessary to implement subsection (a); and

   Inserted: (2) concerning the regulation and structure of the Active Response Corps, including recommendations related to pay and employment security for, and benefit and retirement matters related to, members of the Corps.

   Original wording

   At the end of title II, add the following new section:

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As printed