Congress: 105 · Status: active · Israel/Palestine classification: pro-Israel
Sponsor: Rep. Gilman, Benjamin A. [R-NY-20] (R-NY)
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Division A: International Affairs Agency Consolidation, United Nations Reform, Foreign Assistance Reform, and Foreign Assistance Authorizations Title I: General Provisions Title II: Consolidation of Certain International Affairs Agencies Chapter 1: General Provisions Chapter 2: United States International Development Cooperation Agency Title III: Foreign Assistance Reform Title IV: Defense and Security Assistance Chapter 1: Narcotics Control Assistance Chapter 2: Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs Chapter 3: Foreign Military Financing Program Chapter 4: International Military Education and Training Chapter 5: Transfer of Naval Vessels to Certain Foreign Countries Chapter 6: Indonesia Military Assistance Accountability Act Chapter 7: Other Provisions Title V: Economic Assistance Chapter 1: Economic Support Assistance Chapter 2: Development Assistance Chapter 3: Urban and Environmental Credit Program Chapter 4: The Peace Corps Chapter 5: International Disaster Assistance Chapter 6: Debt Relief Chapter 7: Other Assistance Provisions Title VI: Trade and Development Agency Title VII: Special Authorities and Other Provisions Chapter 1: Special Authorities Chapter 2: Repeals Division B: Foreign Relations Authorizations Act Title X (sic): General Provisions Title XI: Authorization of Appropriations for Department of State and Certain International Affairs Functions and Activities Title XII: Department of State Authorities and Activities Chapter 1: Authorities and Activities Chapter 2: Consular Authorities of the Department of State Chapter 3: Refugees and Migration Title XIII: Organization of the Department of State; Department of State Personnel; the Foreign Service Chapter 1: Organization of the Department of State Chapter 2: Personnel of the Department of State; the Foreign Service Title XIV: United States Public Diplomacy: Authorities and Activities for United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs Title XV: International Organizations; United Nations and Related Agencies Chapter 1: General Provisions Chapter 2: United Nations and Related Agencies Title XVI: Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Title XVII: Foreign Policy Provisions Division C: Funding Levels Foreign Policy Reform Act - Division A: International Affairs Agency Consolidation, Foreign Assistance Reform, and Foreign Assistance Authorizations - Title I: General Provisions - Foreign Assistance Reform Act of 1997 - Declares that: (1) U.S. leadership overseas must be maintained to support America's vital national security, economic, and humanitarian overseas interests; and (2) with the end of the Cold War, foreign assistance programs must be reformed to take advantage of the opportunities for the United States in the 21st century. Title II: Consolidation of Certain International Affairs Agencies - Chapter 1: General Provisions - International Affairs Agency Consolidation Act of 1997 - Chapter 2: United States International Development Cooperation Agency - Abolishes the United States International Development Cooperation Agency, and transfers all functions of the Director of such agency to the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). (Sec. 221) Provides for: (1) the continuation of USAID as a Federal agency; and (2) the Administrator of USAID to be under the direction of the Secretary of State. Title III: Foreign Assistance Reform - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise requirements for the annual report to the Congress on foreign assistance programs. Replaces responsibility for such report from the Chairman of the Development Coordination Committee to the President. (Sec. 301) Directs the President, as part of the annual requests for foreign assistance program authorizations and appropriations, to submit to the Congress annual congressional presentation documents that provide, among other things, the amount, the rationale, and the direct U.S. national interest for the allocation of assistance provided under this Act and the Arms Export Control Act to each foreign country or international organization. Requires the President, as part of such documents, to estimate the year in which each country will no longer receive bilateral development assistance. (Sec. 302) Urges the President for FY 1998 and 1999 to allocate foreign assistance funds to private and voluntary organizations and cooperatives in a manner that reflects the increase in the funding of such entities since FY 1995. (Sec. 303) Replaces the Private Sector Revolving Fund with a program of assistance (including loans, guarantees, and training) to increase the availability of credit to micro- and small enterprises. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the Administrator of USAID to provide grant assistance for programs of credit and other assistance for microenterprises in developing countries. Directs the Administrator to establish a monitoring system establishing performance goals for such assistance. (Sec. 305) Authorizes the President to provide funds and support to private sector Enterprise Funds for countries eligible to receive development assistance on the same basis as such funds and support are provided to Enterprise Funds for Poland and Hungary under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989. (Sec. 306) Authorizes the President to use certain Development Credit Authority to promote: (1) micro- and small enterprise development; and (2) certain urban and environmental activities. Authorizes appropriations. Requires, to the maximum extent practicable, the use of U.S. technology, firms, and equipment with respect to such activities. (Sec. 307) Withholds from obligation an amount equivalent to 110 percent of the total unpaid fully adjudicated parking fines owed to the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, New York, and New York City by the government of a foreign country in a fiscal year until the Secretary of State certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that such fines are fully paid. (Sec. 308) Withholds U.S. assistance to any foreign country providing economic, development, or security assistance for, or engaging in nonmarket based trade with, the Government of Cuba. Waives such requirements if the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the provision of such assistance is important to the national security of the United States. Title IV: Defense and Security Assistance - Chapter 1: Narcotics Control Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for U.S. antinarcotics assistance to foreign countries. (Sec. 403) Directs the President for each major illicit drug producing, major drug-transit, or major money laundering country to do one or more of the following: (1) withhold U.S. bilateral assistance; or (2) instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each multilateral development bank to vote against any loan or other assistance to or for such country. Chapter 2: Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining, and Related Programs - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the President to establish the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund to promote bilateral and multilateral nonproliferation and disarmament activities with specified goals. Prohibits the use of the Fund to implement U.S. obligations under bilateral or multilateral arms control treaties or nonproliferation accords. (Sec. 411) Earmarks specified amounts of U.S. military assistance funds for: (1) nonproliferation and disarmament activities; (2) demining activities; (3) voluntary contributions to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO); and (4) antiterrorism. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999. Chapter 3: Foreign Military Financing Program - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for grant assistance and direct loans for the procurement of defense articles and services by countries and international organizations friendly to the United States. (Sec. 422) Earmarks specified amounts of military assistance for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) Israel and Egypt; (2) assistance for the transition of countries to NATO membership; (3) direct loans for Greece and Turkey; and (4) administrative expenses. Chapter 4: International Military Education and Training - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for military education and training for civilian personnel in foreign countries. (Sec. 432) Makes Panama and Haiti eligible for assistance under the international military education and training (IMET) program. Chapter 5: Transfer of Naval Vessels to Certain Foreign Countries - Authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to transfer certain naval class vessels to: (1) Brazil; (2) Chile; (3) Egypt; (4) Israel; (5) Malaysia; (6) Mexico; (7) Taiwan; and (8) Thailand. (Sec. 444) Directs the Secretary to encourage recipient countries to have such vessels repaired or refurbished at U.S. shipyards. Chapter 6: Indonesia Military Assistance Accountability Act - Indonesia Military Assistance Accountability Act - Prohibits U.S. military assistance and arms transfers to the Government of Indonesia unless the President certifies to the Congress that it: (1) provides for the domestic monitoring of national elections; (2) protects certain nongovernmental organizations from the Indonesian police and military; (3) has accounted for the attack on the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Indonesia (PDI) on July 27, 1996; (4) has resolved the conflict in East Timor; and (5) has taken steps to improve labor rights. Provides a waiver for such requirements. Chapter 7: Other Provisions - Amends Federal law to authorize for FY 1998 and 1999 the transfer of excess defense articles to countries eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace program and eligible for assistance under the SEED Act of 1989. (Sec. 462) Authorizes the President, in return for specified concessions, to transfer to the Republic of Korea certain obsolete or surplus defense articles in the war reserve allies stockpile. (Sec. 463) Limits to no more than $60 million for FY 1998 the value of additions to the stockpiles of defense articles in foreign countries. Sets forth limits on stockpiles in the Republic of Korea and Thailand. (Sec. 466) Directs the President to convene, and report to specified congressional committees on, negotiations with all Wassenaar Arrangement countries for the purpose of establishing a multinational arms sales code of conduct. Title V: Economic Assistance - Chapter 1: Economic Support Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for economic support funds (ESF) assistance. (Sec. 502) Earmarks amounts for Israel, Egypt, the International Fund for Ireland, programs under the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) and the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, and assistance and training for civilian personnel of the Ministry of Defense of the Government of Nicaragua. Declares that future U.S. assistance to Egypt will depend on whether it fulfills its obligations to develop peace with Israel and other U.S. interests both in Egypt and the wider Arab world. Chapter 2: Development Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for specified development assistance, including: (1) the Development Fund for Africa; (2) assistance for the independent states of the former Soviet Union (independent states); (3) assistance for Eastern Europe; (4) debt relief for Bosnia and Herzegovina; (5) the Inter-American Foundation; and (6) the African Development Foundation. (Sec. 512) Earmarks certain foreign assistance funds for specified child survival, health, basic education for children, and disease prevention programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999. (Sec. 513) Limits the amount of foreign assistance funds available to the Russian Federation unless the President determines and reports to the Congress that the Government of the Russian Federation has terminated assistance to the ballistic missile or nuclear programs of Iran and Cuba. Prohibits the availability of such funds to the Russian Federation if it transfers an SS-N-22 missile system to China. Waives such requirement if the President determines it is important to the national security of the United States. (Sec. 514) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should seek cooperation from the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ensure that humanitarian assistance is made available to their needy citizens, including those individuals in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. (Sec. 515) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) U.S. investment in international agricultural development and research advances food security, reduces poverty, increases political stability, and promotes U.S. exports; and (2) the USAID should increase emphasis on agricultural development and research and expand its role in poverty relief, child survival, and environmental programs. (Sec. 516) Urges certain development assistance for activities and programs in Latin America and the Caribbean region and the Asia and the Pacific region be in at least the same proportion to the total amount of such assistance made available as the amount identified in certain congressional presentation documents for development assistance for FY 1998 and 1999 for each such region is to the total amount requested for development assistance for each such fiscal year. (Sec. 517) Urges the President to allocate for FY 1998 and 1999 an aggregate level of agricultural development assistance in amounts equal to the level provided in FY 1997. Urges the President to increase level amounts for agricultural, rural development, and nutrition programs if appropriation levels for development assistance programs increase in FY 1998 and 1999 above levels for FY 1997. (Sec. 521) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for operating expenses of USAID and its Office of the Inspector General. Chapter 3: Urban and Environmental Credit Program - Revises the authority for the urban and environmental credit program to repeal: (1) minimum annual program levels; (2) authority for agricultural and productive credit and self-help community development programs; and (3) certain requirements for guaranties for housing projects (including face amounts for Egypt and Israel). Chapter 4: The Peace Corps - Amends the Peace Corps Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for the Peace Corps. (Sec. 542) Earmarks certain foreign assistance funds for Peace Corps activities in the independent states of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia. Prohibits the use of funds to pay for abortions. Chapter 5: International Disaster Assistance - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to revise congressional policy to affirm U.S. willingness to provide international disaster assistance for the reconstruction of foreign countries. (Sec. 522) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for international disaster assistance. Chapter 6: Debt Relief - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to replace the Central America Democracy, Peace, and Development Initiative with a program of special debt relief for poor countries. Authorizes the President to reduce amounts owed to the U.S. Government as a result of loans or guarantees issued under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or credits or guarantees extended under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 561) Makes eligible for such debt reduction countries with a heavy debt burden that: (1) are eligible to borrow from the International Development Association but not from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), and (2) meet other specified conditions concerning military expenditures, terrorism, narcotics control, and human rights. Limits such authority only to implement multilateral official debt relief ad referendum agreements (the Paris Club Agreed Minutes), and only to the extent that appropriations for the modifications are made in advance. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999. (Sec. 562) Authorizes the President, subject to certain conditions, to sell to an eligible purchaser concessional loans made before January 1, 1995, to the government of an eligible country or reduce or cancel such loans on receipt of payment from an eligible purchaser for purposes of facilitating debt-for-equity, debt-for-development, or debt-for-nature swaps or debt buybacks by eligible countries to support specified activities. Chapter 7: Other Assistance Provisions - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to declare that restrictions on assistance for a country shall not be construed to restrict support of programs of nongovernmental organizations. (Sec. 571) Repeals authority to waive the requirement that U.S. private and voluntary organizations to which assistance is made available obtain at least 20 percent of their total annual financial support for international activities from sources other than the U.S. Government. (Sec. 573) Prohibits the availability of foreign assistance funds to private and voluntary organizations which: (1) fail to provide documents to meet auditing requirements of the USAID; or (2) are not registered with such agency. (Sec. 575) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the utilization of U.S. cooperatives and credit unions in developing countries. (Sec. 576) Prohibits the availability of foreign assistance funds for food assistance to North Korea unless the President certifies to the Congress that certain conditions are met. (Sec. 577) Directs the President to withhold funds made available under this Act equal to the aggregate value of nuclear fuel and related assistance and credits provided by a foreign country, or an entity in that country, to Cuba during the preceding fiscal year, with specified exceptions. Title VI: Trade and Development Agency - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1998 and 1999 for the Trade and Development Agency. Title VII: Special Authorities and Other Provisions - Chapter 1: Special Authorities - Increases from ten to 20 percent the amount authorized to be transferred between specified accounts under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 702) Increases the amount of emergency assistance the President is authorized to use in any fiscal year for unanticipated contingencies. (Sec. 703) Authorizes the President to provide assistance, sales, or other action under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Arms Export Control Act, or any annual (or periodic) foreign assistance authorization or appropriations legislation, notwithstanding laws restricting such assistance, if the Speaker of the House and a specified congressional committee are notified that to do so is vital to national interests. Increases annual ceilings with respect to such assistance. (Sec. 704) Authorizes the President, to make an equitable settlement of termination claims under extraordinary contractual relief standards, to adopt as a contract or other U.S. obligation and assume any liabilities under it, any contract with a U.S. or third-country contractor to carry out any program of foreign assistance that was subsequently terminated. (Sec. 705) Amends the LIBERTAD Act of 1996 to authorize the use of foreign assistance provided to independent nongovernmental human rights organizations and individuals in Cuba for local costs in delivering such assistance. Chapter 2: Repeals - Repeals specified foreign assistance laws. Division B: Foreign Relations Authorizations Act - Title X (sic): General Provisions - Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999 - Sets forth general provisions and definitions. Title XI: Authorization of Appropriations for Department of State and Certain International Affairs Functions and Activities - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State for FY 1998 and 1999 for: (1) the administration of foreign affairs; (2) contributions to international organizations and international peacekeeping activities; (3) international conferences and contingencies; (4) offset of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (5) international commissions; (6) migration and refugee assistance; (7) the Asia Foundation; (8) international information activities and educational and cultural exchange programs; and (9) purposes of carrying out the Arms Control and Disarmament Act. Earmarks funds for specified organizations and activities. (Sec. 1102) Withholds certain amounts of funds from the United Nations Development Program unless the President certifies to appropriate congressional committees that the Program's activities in Burma: (1) are focused on eliminating human suffering and addressing the needs of the poor; (2) are undertaken only through international or private voluntary organizations that are independent of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC); (3) provide no financial, political, or military support to SLORC; and (4) are carried out only after consultation with the leadership of the National League for Democracy and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. Title XII: Department of State Authorities and Activities - Chapter 1: Authorities and Activities - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to provide for rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of aiders or abettors of acts of international terrorism against U.S. persons or property or in certain narcotics-related offenses. Makes the resources of the rewards program available, at the Secretary's discretion, for the publication of rewards offered by foreign governments about acts of terrorism not involving the United States. Directs the President, in carrying out the rewards program, to take possession and exercise full control of up to two percent of earnings accruing on all assets of foreign governments blocked under the International Emergency Powers Act. (Sec. 1202) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit amounts contained in the Foreign Service national separation liability trust fund in interest-bearing accounts. (Sec. 1203) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 to make one of the purposes of the Capital Investment Fund the enhancement of information technology and other related capital investments for the Department of State. (Sec. 1204) Amends the International Center Act to authorize the deposit of amounts contained in the International Center Reserve Fund in interest-bearing accounts. Authorizes the Secretary to retain, and expend without further appropriation, the interest earned on such deposits. (Sec. 1205) Amends the Foreign Service Buildings Act, 1926 to authorize the deposit of proceeds from the sale of foreign properties into interest-bearing accounts. Authorizes the Secretary to retain, and expend without further appropriation, the interest earned on such deposits. (Sec. 1208) Amends the International Claims Settlement Act to grant jurisdiction to the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to adjudicate claims included in a category of claims against a foreign government which is referred to it by the Secretary. (Sec. 1210) Establishes a special fee account for use in paying certain expenses of the Department of State and the Foreign Service. Earmarks funds for the provision, without charge, of passport information services to U.S. citizens. (Sec. 1211) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 to require deposit in a special fund of the Treasury of a certain amount of fees collected from processing machine readable visas. Makes funds available for certain costs of the Department's border security program. Repeals the prohibition against the charging of fees to citizens of countries that are signatories to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). (Sec. 1212) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to change from $700,000 to all the amount of registration fees collected by the Office of Defense Trade Controls of the Department of State which shall be credited for each fiscal year to a Department of State account, without limitation. Adds to the permissible expenses payable from such account the enhancement of defense trade export compliance and enforcement activities to include compliance audits of U.S. and foreign parties, the conduct of administrative proceedings, end-use monitoring of direct commercial arms sales and transfers, and cooperation in criminal proceedings related to defense trade export controls. (Sec. 1213) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Secretary to provide training through the Foreign Service Institute to U.S. company employees engaged in business abroad, and their families. Authorizes the Secretary to provide such training on a reimbursable basis to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the judiciary, and their employees. Authorizes the Secretary to charge a fee for use of the National Foreign Affairs Training Center Facility of the Department. (Sec. 1214) Declares that the United States, in cases where a covered beneficiary is provided health care by the Department and is enrolled in a covered health benefits plan of a third-party payer, shall have the right to collect from such third-party payer a reasonable charge for the care to the extent that the payment would be made under such plan for such care if a claim were submitted by or on behalf of the covered beneficiary. (Sec. 1215) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary to charge a fee for use of the Department's diplomatic reception rooms. (Sec. 1218) Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 to extend through FY 1999 the authorization for admission into the United States of a specified number of refugees from the independent states of the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania based on religious persecution owing to participation in the Ukrainian Catholic or Orthodox churches. Makes September 30, 1999, the latest allowable entry date for specified aliens from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia for purposes of qualifying for adjustment of status. (Sec. 1219) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize a Federal agency to make grants to the Department, or otherwise reimburse or credit it with advance payment, for funds used in providing assistance to overseas educational facilities attended by children of agency employees. (Sec. 1220) Amends the International Child Abduction Remedies Act to authorize the U.S. Central Authority to make grants to, or enter into contracts or agreements with, any individual, corporation, or other Federal, State, or local agency, or U.S. private organization for the purpose of helping it remedy international child abductions (returning wrongfully removed children, as well as securing the exercise of visitation rights). Chapter 2: Consular Authorities of the Department of State - Makes 30 percent of the fees collected in FY 1998 and 1999 for expedited passport processing available only for enhancing passport services, investigating passport fraud, and deterring entry into the United States by terrorists and other criminals. Chapter 3: Refugees and Migration - Directs the Secretary to include in the monthly report to the Congress entitled "Update on Monitoring of Cuban Migrant Returnees" information on: (1) the methods employed by the Cuban Government to enforce the United States-Cuba Immigration Agreement of September 1994 to restrict the emigration of Cuban people to the United States; and (2) their treatment of persons who have returned to Cuba pursuant to the United States-Cuba Agreement of May 1995. (Sec. 1262) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary to waive certain congressional notification requirements with respect to the reprogramming of Department funds if failure to do so would pose a substantial risk to human health or welfare. Requires such notification to specified congressional committees, with an explanation of the emergency circumstances, not later than three days after taking the action to which notification is required. Title XIII: Organization of the Department of State; Department of State Personnel; the Foreign Service - Chapter 1: Organization of the Department of State - Establishes a Coordinator for Counterterrorism within the Office of the Secretary. (Sec. 1302) Repeals the statutory establishment of: (1) an Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs; (2) a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Burdensharing; and (3) a Bureau and Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. (Sec. 1303) Establishes within the Department of State: (1) an Assistant Secretary for Human Resources; (2) an Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security; and (3) a U.S. Special Envoy for Tibet. (Sec. 1306) Declares that the Bureau of Migration and Refugee Assistance: (1) shall be the State Department bureau charged with principal responsibility for carrying out the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962; and (2) shall not be charged with responsibility for assisting the Secretary in matters relating to family planning or population policy. Chapter 2: Personnel of the Department of State; the Foreign Service - Establishes limits on the number of Foreign Service personnel in the Department of State, the United States Information Agency (USIA), and the Agency for International Development (AID) during FY 1998 and 1999. Allows a waiver of such limitations as necessary to carry out foreign affairs functions. (Sec. 1323) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Secretary to separate from the Foreign Service without a hearing a member of the Service convicted of a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment of more than one year may be imposed. (Currently, a Foreign Service member can be separated without a hearing only if convicted of a crime related to the cause of separation.) (Sec. 1325) Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress on minorities and the Foreign Service officer corps. (Sec. 1326) Provides for certain retirement benefits under the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System and the Foreign Service Pension System for employees who are involuntarily separated from the Foreign Service. (Sec. 1327) Makes qualified criminal investigators within the Diplomatic Security Service eligible for availability pay. (Sec. 1329) Sets forth guidelines governing criminal investigations of Foreign Service employees by the Office of the Inspector General. Title XIV: United States Public Diplomacy: Authorities and Activities for United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs - Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to decrease the fiscal year authorization of appropriations for the Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between North and South. (Sec. 1405) Revises the Muskie Fellowship Program for graduate students from the independent states of the former Soviet Union, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia to require selection of participants on the basis of academic and leadership potential in the additional fields of journalism and communications, education administration, public policy, and library and information science. (Sec. 1406) Establishes within USIA, in order to improve the coordination and effectiveness of U.S. Government sponsored international exchanges and training, a senior-level interagency Working Group on United States Government Sponsored International Exchanges and Training. (Sec. 1407) Requires the USIA Director to establish programs of educational and cultural exchange between the United States and the people of Tibet, including scholarships to Tibetan and Burmese students and professionals who are outside their countries. (Sec. 1408) Amends the Japan-United States Friendship Act to authorize the investment of amounts from the United States-Japan Trust Fund, as redesignated, in interest-bearing obligations of Japan, or in obligations guaranteed by Japan. Renames: (1) the Japan-United States Friendship Commission as the United States-Japan Commission; and (2) the Japan-United States Friendship Trust Fund as the United States-Japan Trust Fund. (Sec. 1409) Urges the USIA and the Board of Broadcasting Governors to study and report to the appropriate congressional committees on the appropriateness, feasibility, and projected costs of: (1) providing surrogate broadcasting service to Africa; and (2) a Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty broadcasting service to Iran. (Sec. 1410) Authorizes the Director of USIA to administer summer travel-work programs without regard to preplacement requirements. (Sec. 1411) Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to make permanent certain administrative authorities regarding appropriations for the USIA. (Sec. 1412) Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to revise the authorities of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Sets forth the responsibilities of the Director of the Board. Amends the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba and the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Acts to replace the Voice of America with the International Broadcasting Bureau. Title XV: International Organizations; United Nations and Related Agencies - Chapter 1: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions governing employment benefits due to Federal employees who are reemployed after having served in an international organization. (Sec. 1502) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should make every effort to pay the U.S. assessed funding levels for the Organization of American States. Chapter 2: United Nations and Related Agencies - Authorizes the President to withhold 20 percent of the funds appropriated for the U.S. assessed contribution to the United Nations if the United Nations has failed to implement consensus-based decisionmaking procedures on budgetary matters which assure that sufficient attention is paid to the views of the United States and other member states who are major financial contributors. (Sec. 1522) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States must help promote an end to the persistent inequity experienced by Israel in the United Nations whereby it is denied acceptance into any of the United Nations's regional blocs. Requires the Secretary to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees. (Sec. 1523) Limits the U.S. contribution to the United Nations Population Fund for FY 1998 and 1999. Prohibits the use of such contributions for any country program in China. Sets forth certain conditions on the availability of amounts from the fund. Requires the Secretary to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees. (Sec. 1524) Amends the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend privileges, exemptions, and immunities under such Act to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Title XVI: Arms Control and Disarmament Agency - Amends the Arms Control and Disarmament Act to repeal the mandate for the Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency to report annually to the Congress a comprehensive compilation of studies relating to arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament issues concluded during the previous calendar year. Title XVII: Foreign Policy Provisions - Bars the use of funds for the involuntary return by the United States of a person to a country in which the person has a well founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, except on grounds recognized as precluding protection as a refugee under the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of refugees of July 28, 1951, and the Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees of January 31, 1967. (Sec. 1701) Bars the use of migration and refugee assistance funds for the involuntary return of a person to any country unless the Secretary first notifies the appropriate congressional committees. (Sec. 1702) Prohibits the United States from expelling, extraditing, or otherwise effecting the involuntary return of a person to a country in which there are reasonable grounds for believing the person would be in danger of subjection to torture. (Sec. 1703) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on specific actions taken by the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce in resolving certain commercial disputes between U.S. firms and the Saudi Arabia Government. (Sec. 1705) Amends the LIBERTAD Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees a report on certain determinations made by the Secretary pursuant to such Act. (Sec. 1706) Directs the Secretary of State to report annually to the Congress on: (1) the number of persons and aliens residing in the United States entitled to diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution, including each case involving such an alien whom appropriate law enforcement authorities reasonably believe to have committed a serious crime within the United States; and (2) the number of U.S. citizens residing in a receiving state who are entitled to diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution there, including each case in which the United States has been requested by the government of the state to waive immunity. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should explore, in appropriate fora, whether states should enter into agreements and adopt legislation to provide: (1) jurisdiction in the sending state to prosecute crimes committed in the receiving state by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity; and (2) that where there is probable cause to believe that an individual with such immunity committed a serious crime, the sending state will waive immunity or will prosecute the individual. (Sec. 1707) Declares the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should submit to the Congress a plan to consolidate some or all of the functions currently performed by the Department of State, the Agency for International Development, and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, in order to increase efficiency and accountability in the conduct of the foreign policy of the United States. (Sec. 1708) Expresses the sense of the Congress that Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty should continue surrogate broadcasting beyond the year 2000 to countries (including Serbia, Belarus, Slovakia, and other countries) whose people do not yet fully enjoy freedom of expression. (Sec. 1709) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to withhold the U.S. share of assistance for IAEA projects in Cuba, except those for the discontinuation, dismantling, or safety inspection of nuclear facilities or related materials. Declares that such exception shall not apply to the Juragua Nuclear Power Plant near Cienfuegos, or the Pedro Pi Nuclear Research Center, unless Cuba: (1) ratifies the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (commonly known as the Treaty of Tlatelolco); and (2) incorporates internationally accepted nuclear safety standards. Directs the Secretary to instruct the U.S. representative to the IAEA to use the U.S. vote to oppose IAEA projects at: (1) the Juragua Nuclear Power Plant, Cuba; and (2) any other IAEA project there that is, or could become, a threat to the security of the United States. (Sec. 1710) Earmarks specified funds for construction of a U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel. Bars use of funds for the publication of any official government document which lists countries and their capitals unless it identifies Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. (Sec. 1711) Directs the Secretary to report semi-annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the compliance of its signatories with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. (Sec. 1712) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by the Government of Turkey. (Sec. 1713) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the return of Hong Kong to China. (Sec. 1714) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the international community should continue to press the Government of Serbia to ensure free, fair, and honest presidential and parliamentary elections in 1997; (2) the United States, the OSCE, the international community, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector should continue to promote the building of democratic institutions there; and (3) the normalization of relations between Yugoslavia and the United States requires, among other things, that President Milosevic and the leadership of Serbia ensure and promote such goals. (Sec. 1715) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the extent to which: (1) Vietnam cooperates with the United States with respect to an accounting of all POW-MIA cases; (2) it has made progress toward the release of all political and religious prisoners; (3) it cooperates with U.S. requests to obtain access to persons of humanitarian interest to the United States for interviews under the Orderly Departure and Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Refugees programs, and provide exit visas for such persons; (4) it has taken action to end extortion, bribery, and other corrupt practices in connection with such visas; and (5) the United States has taken efforts to resettle former reeducation camp victims and their families. (Sec. 1716) Urges post-Communist countries to return to or compensate owners for wrongly confiscated properties. Division C: Funding Levels - Authorizes appropriations.