S. 3341Senate112th Congress (2011-2013)Passed Senate

Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 2012

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9 earlier actions

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

September 25, 2012

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 26, 2012

SenateIntro Referral

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4638)

June 26, 2012

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Foreign Relations Committee

June 26, 2012

SenateCommittee

Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Foreign Relations Committee

September 19, 2012

SenateCommittee

Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Kerry without amendment. With written report No. 112-220.

Foreign Relations Committee

September 19, 2012

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 525.

September 19, 2012

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR 9/21/2012 S6673-6674; text as passed Senate: CR 9/21/2012 S6673-6674)

September 22, 2012

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

September 24, 2012

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

September 25, 2012 • 10:06 AM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Affairs Committee

September 25, 2012

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 3341 on the floor

2 Democrats

Sen. John F. KerryD-MA · Jun 26, 2012

Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleagues from Florida and Maryland, Senator Rubio and Senator Cardin, to introduce the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 2012. This…

Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleagues from Florida and Maryland, Senator Rubio and Senator Cardin, to introduce the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 2012.

This legislation demonstrates Congress's commitment to strengthening the accountability and effectiveness of our foreign aid programs. With the United States facing critical foreign policy and development priorities worldwide, it is vital that we update our foreign aid programs to reflect the new challenges of the 21st century.

The first-ever quadrennial review on diplomacy and development provided an important roadmap for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of our diplomatic and development agencies. I applaud Secretary Clinton for her leadership in bringing this valuable planning tool to the State Department.

The purpose of our bill is straightforward: In keeping with the practice of undertaking quadrennial reviews by various departments, including the Department of Defense, it creates the statutory basis for conducting periodically scheduled reviews to guide the mission of the State Department and USAID.

The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act will strengthen our diplomacy and development efforts in several key ways. Let me cite just a few specifically:

First, this bill clarifies the measures by which we assess and evaluate our diplomacy and development efforts. Developing clear metrics will further the effective and results-oriented diplomacy and development efforts that I view as essential for protecting and advancing our national security interests.

Second, this bill will focus our diplomacy and development efforts in the most effective ways possible, getting the biggest bang for our scarce foreign assistance dollars.

Third, it will help ensure that Congress and the Administration, working together, can set clear priorities for diplomacy and development. As we face multiple crises and major challenges, setting priorities will be absolutely critical to our shared success going forward. We must continue to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth and vibrant civil societies. We must also focus on areas where we have comparative strengths, including public health, humanitarian aid and food security.

Fourth, this bill will put our diplomacy and development efforts on a sustainable path. It streamlines the process for working with the Department of Defense and it will help us bring all the tools of the United States government to bear in meeting the complex challenges of this new century.

Finally, we all know that we need to strengthen our professional diplomatic expertise and capacity, target our investments and untie the hands of our aid workers. The QDDR process and our bill provides the Secretary and President with a comprehensive and analytically sound basis for doing just that.

Returning diplomacy and development to their rightful place cannot be achieved through words alone. This legislation translates words into deeds. And if that helps promote U.S. national security interests and keeps us safe, as I believe it will, then it's time and effort well spent.

Sen. John F. KerryD-MA · Jun 26, 2012

Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleagues from Florida and Maryland, Senator Rubio and Senator Cardin, to introduce the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 2012. This…

Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleagues from Florida and Maryland, Senator Rubio and Senator Cardin, to introduce the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 2012.

The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act will strengthen our diplomacy and development efforts in several key ways. Let me cite just a few specifically:

Second, this bill will focus our diplomacy and development efforts in the most effective ways possible, getting the biggest bang for our scarce foreign assistance dollars.

Sen. Mark L. PryorD-AR · Sep 21, 2012

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 525, S. 3341. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a…

Bill Text

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Referred in HouseIssued September 25, 2012

112th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3341

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 25, 2012

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

AN ACT

To require a quadrennial diplomacy and development review, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of 2012.

Quadrennial diplomacy and development review

(a)

Requirement

(1)

Quadrennial reviews required

Under the direction of the President, the Secretary of State shall every four years, during a year following a year evenly divisible by four, conduct a review of United States diplomacy and development (to be known as a quadrennial diplomacy and development review).

(2)

Scope of reviews

Each quadrennial diplomacy and development review shall be a comprehensive examination of the national diplomacy and development policy and strategic framework of the United States for the next four year period until a subsequent review is due under paragraph (1). The review shall include—

(A)

recommendations regarding the long-term diplomacy and development policy and strategic framework of the United States;

(B)

priorities of the United States for diplomacy and development; and

(C)

guidance on the related programs, assets, capabilities, budget, policies, and authorities of the Department of State and United States Agency for International Development.

(3)

Consultation

In conducting each quadrennial diplomacy and development review, after consultation with Department of State and United States Agency for International Development officials, the Secretary of State should consult with—

(A)

the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, including the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Director of National Intelligence;

(B)

any other Federal agency that provides foreign assistance, including at a minimum the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation;

(C)

the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and, as appropriate, other members of Congress; and

(D)

other relevant governmental and nongovernmental entities, including private sector representatives, academics, and other policy experts.

(b)

Contents of review

Each quadrennial diplomacy and development review shall—

(1)

delineate, as appropriate, the national diplomacy and development policy and strategic framework of the United States, consistent with appropriate national, Department of State, and United States Agency for International Development strategies, strategic plans, and relevant presidential directives, including the national security strategy prescribed pursuant to section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 404a);

(2)

outline and prioritize the full range of critical national diplomacy and development areas, capabilities, and resources, including those implemented across agencies, and address the full range of challenges confronting the United States in this regard;

(3)

describe the interagency cooperation, and preparedness of relevant Federal assets, and the infrastructure, budget plan, and other elements of the diplomacy and development policies and programs of the United States required to execute successfully the full range of mission priorities outlined under paragraph (2);

(4)

describe the roles of international organizations and multilateral institutions in advancing United States diplomatic and development objectives, including the mechanisms for coordinating and harmonizing development policies and programs with partner countries and among donors;

(5)

identify the budget plan required to provide sufficient resources to successfully execute the full range of mission priorities outlined under paragraph (2);

(6)

include an assessment of the organizational alignment of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development with the national diplomacy and development policy and strategic framework referred to in paragraph (1) and the diplomacy and development mission priorities outlined under paragraph (2);

(7)

review and assess the effectiveness of the management mechanisms of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development for executing the strategic priorities outlined in the quadrennial diplomacy and development review, including the extent to which such effectiveness has been enhanced since the previous report; and

(8)

the relationship between the requirements of the quadrennial diplomacy and development review and the acquisition strategy and expenditure plan within the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development.

(c)

Reporting

(1)

In general

Not later than the year following the year in which a quadrennial diplomacy and development review is conducted, but not later than the date on which the President submits the budget for the next fiscal year to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report regarding that quadrennial diplomacy and development review.

(2)

Contents of report

Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)

the results of the quadrennial diplomacy and development review conducted in accordance with, and based on a detailed assessment of, the provisions of and considerations set out in subsections (a)(2) and (b), addressing each of the key elements identified in such subsections;

(B)

a description of the threats to the assumed or defined national security interests of the United States that were examined for the purposes of that review;

(C)

an explanation of any underlying assumptions used in conducting the review; and

(D)

any other matters the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(3)

Public availability

The Secretary of State shall, consistent with the protection of national security and other sensitive matters, make each report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available on the Internet Web site of the Department of State.

(d)

Establishment

The Secretary of State may establish within the Department of State an Office of Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, which the Secretary of State may, using only existing resources, staff in a manner to assist in discharging the functions under this section.

(e)

Foreign affairs policy board review

The Secretary of State should apprise the Foreign Affairs Policy Board on an ongoing basis of the work undertaken in the conduct of the quadrennial diplomacy and development review and, upon completion of the review, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Policy Board should, on behalf of the Board, prepare and submit to the Secretary an assessment of the review for inclusion in the report submitted under subsection (c).

Passed the Senate September 22 (legislative day, September 21), 2012.

Nancy Erickson,

Secretary