I
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 909
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 2009
Ms. Watson (for herself, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Nadler of New York, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Slaughter, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. Hare, Mr. Michaud, Mr. Kucinich, Ms. Matsui, Ms. Edwards of Maryland, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Towns, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Rush, and Ms. Kaptur) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide for the establishment and maintenance of existing libraries and resource centers at United States diplomatic and consular missions to provide information about United States culture, society, and history, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Public Diplomacy Resource Centers Act of
2009
.
United States public diplomacy
Establishment and maintenance of libraries
Section 1(b)(3) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(b)(3)) is amended—
in subparagraph
(D), by striking and
at the end;
in subparagraph
(E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
;
and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
provide for the establishment of new and the maintenance of existing libraries and resource centers at or in connection with United States diplomatic and consular missions.
.
Operation of libraries
In general
The Secretary of State shall ensure that libraries and resource centers established and maintained in accordance with subparagraph (F) of section 1(b)(3) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (as added by section 2(a)(3) of this Act) are open to the general public to the greatest extent practicable, subject to policies and procedures established by the Secretary to ensure the safety and security of United States diplomatic and consular missions and of United States officers, employees, and personnel posted at such missions at which such libraries are located.
Showings of United States films
To the extent practicable, the Secretary of State shall ensure that such libraries and resource centers schedule public showings of United States films that showcase United States culture, society, values, and history.
Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (authorized under section 1334 of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6553)) shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a report containing an evaluation of the functions and effectiveness of the libraries and resource centers that are authorized under this Act.
Authorization of appropriations
In addition to amounts that are otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State to carry out purposes similar to those required under this Act, there are authorized to the Secretary of State such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.