§ 4171. — Model foreign language competence posts.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 22USC4171]
TITLE 22--FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE
CHAPTER 52--FOREIGN SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER XIII--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 4171. Model foreign language competence posts
(a) Designation of posts; time of designation and implementation;
determination of competency standards
In order to carry out the purposes of section 4022 of this title and
to help ascertain the relationship between foreign language competence
and the effectiveness of representation of the United States abroad, the
Secretary of State shall designate as model foreign language competence
posts at least two Foreign Service posts in countries where English is
not the common language. Such designation shall be made no later than
October 1, 1981, and shall be implemented so that no later than October
1, 1983, each Government employee permanently assigned to those posts
shall possess an appropriate level of competence in the language common
to the country where the post is located. The Secretary of State shall
determine appropriate levels of language competence for employees
assigned to those posts by reference to the nature of their functions
and the standards employed by the George P. Shultz National Foreign
Affairs Training Center.
(b) Continuation; report to Congress concerning operation of posts and
advantages of meeting competency requirements
The posts designated under subsection (a) of this section shall
continue as model foreign language competence posts at least until
September 30, 1985. The Secretary of State shall submit no later than
January 31, 1986, a report to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate
describing the operation of such posts and the costs, advantages and
disadvantages associated with meeting the foreign language competence
requirements of this section.
(c) Exceptions; report to Congress
The Secretary of State may authorize exceptions to the requirements
of this section if he determines that unanticipated exigencies so
require.
(Pub. L. 96-465, title II, Sec. 2207, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2163; Pub.
L. 103-236, title I, Sec. 139(7), (25), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 398,
399; Pub. L. 107-132, Sec. 1(b), Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2412.)
Amendments
2002--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107-132 substituted ``George P. Shultz
National Foreign Affairs Training Center'' for ``Foreign Service
Institute''.
1994--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103-236, Sec. 139(7), (25), amended
subsec. (c) identically, striking out at end ``Such exceptions shall be
annually reported to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.''
Expansion of Model Foreign Language Competence Posts
Pub. L. 101-246, title I, Sec. 161, Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 46, as
amended by Pub. L. 101-302, title III, Sec. 320(b)(3), May 25, 1990, 104
Stat. 247; Pub. L. 105-277, div. G, subdiv. A, title XXII,
Sec. 2219(a)(1), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-817; Pub. L. 107-132,
Sec. 1(b), Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2412, provided that:
``(a) Designation of Posts.--In order to carry out the purposes of
section 702 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [22 U.S.C. 4022], and in
light of the positive report issued on March 28, 1986, by the Department
of State, as required by section 2207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980
[22 U.S.C. 4171], the Secretary of State shall designate as model
foreign language competence posts a minimum of six Foreign Service
posts, representing the Department of State's five geographic bureaus,
in countries where English is not the common language. Such designation
shall be made not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of
this Act [Feb. 16, 1990], and shall be implemented so that not later
than October 1, 1991, in the case of non-hard language posts, and
October 1, 1992, in the case of hard language posts, each Government
employee permanently assigned to those posts shall possess an
appropriate level of competence in the language common to the country
where the post is located. The Secretary of State shall determine
appropriate levels of language competence for employees assigned to
those posts by reference to the nature of their functions and the
standards employed by the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs
Training Center.
``(b) `Hard Language Country' Post To Be Designated.--At least one
of the posts designated under subsection (a) shall be in a `hard
language' country, as identified in the report to the Under Secretary of
State for Management of May 12, 1986, entitled `Hard Language
Proficiency in the Foreign Service'. Such post shall be in one of the
countries where the official or principal language is Arabic, Chinese,
Japanese, or Russian.
``(c) Termination Date.--The posts designated under subsection (a)
shall continue as model foreign language posts at least until September
30, 1993, in the case of non-hard language posts, and September 30,
1994, in the case of hard language posts.
``(d) Exemption Authority.--The Secretary of State may authorize
exceptions to the requirements of this section if--
``(1) he determines that unanticipated exigencies so require;
and
``(2) he immediately reports such exceptions to the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs
[now Committee on International Relations] of the House of
Representatives.
``(e) Excluded Posts.--The posts designated under subsection (a) may
not include Dakar, Senegal, or Montevideo, Uruguay. The report required
under subsection (c) shall include progress made in these posts in
maintaining the high foreign language standards achieved under the
initial pilot program.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.''
