Congress: 98 · Status: active · Israel/Palestine classification: neutral
Data (JSON) — machine-readable record of this bill (identifiers, sponsor, classification, actions, and the member-by-member vote breakdown).
Sponsor: Sen. Percy, Charles H. [R-IL] (R-IL)
Title I: Department of State - Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State for FY 1984 and 1985 for: (1) administration of foreign affairs; (2) international organizations and conferences; (3) international commissions; (4) migration and refugee assistance; and (5) Bilateral Science and Technology Agreements. Removes the limitation on the percentage of the expenses of the International Bureau of Intellectual Property which the United States shall pay. Repeals certain obsolete reporting requirements and annual reporting requirements dealing with: (1) reports by the President to the Congress on the operations of the Institute for Scientific and Technological Cooperation; (2) reports by the Secretary of State to the President and Congress on the professional development program for Foreign Service Officers; and (3) reports by the President to Congress on personnel requirements for Federal agencies dealing with foreign affairs and on bilateral and multilateral activities involving science and technology. Amends the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 to repeal the requirement that Secretary of State provide the appropriate Regional Fishery Management Council, upon request, with a copy of a fishing permit application by a foreign nation. Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of State for FY 1984 and 1985 for providing protective services for consulates in locations where funds are not otherwise available for protective services. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. representatives to United Nations-related agencies and to other international organizations should oppose the adoption of international marketing and distribution regulations which impede U.S. exports. Earmarks specified amounts of the funds authorized for the administration of foreign affairs for: (1) the Coordinating Committee on Export Controls; (2) funding new positions overseas for political and economic reporting; (3) expenses related to an alternative communications center for the State Department; (4) the United States National Commission to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization; (5) U.S. contribution to the World Heritage Trust Fund; and (6) grants to nongovernmental organizations in South Africa promoting efforts to foster a just society and to help victims of apartheid. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to limit the activities for which the Secretary of State is authorized to make emergency expenditures. Directs the Inspector General to conduct an annual confidential audit of the State Department's emergency expenditures and to report to Congress on whether such expenditures were made according to the intent of the basic authority. Lists requirements for the repatriation loan program. Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize a member of the Foreign Service residing outside the United States to vote in the State in which the member was last domiciled immediately before entering the Service if specified conditions are met. Directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior, within 12 months of enactment of this Act, to divide the world into ten geographic regions, the International Wildlife Resources Conservation Regions. Directs the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, to assign abroad Regional Wildlife Resources Attaches. Sets forth methods of determining whether the Attaches have the appropriate training. Directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with other concerned agencies, to review and make recommendations concerning the effectiveness of existing U.S. international activities relating to the conservation of international wildlife resources. Requires the Secretaries to report to Congress: (1) on all Federal programs concerned with international wildlife resources conservation programs; and (2) recommendations for an integrated U.S. plan of action to assist foreign governments and international organizations in conserving wildlife. Requires the report to focus on the role and functions of the Wildlife Resources Attache. Sets forth the activities such role and functions shall include. Directs the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Director of the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), to insure that Foreign Service officers of the USIA are able to compete for chief of mission positions and have opportunities for assignments outside their area of specialization on the same basis as other Foreign Service officers. Requires the Secretary of State to report to Congress on the policies and procedures adopted to ensure such opportunities. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should: (1) respond constructively to the Canadian offer to reduce air pollution emissions if the United States reduces its emissions by a similar amount; (2) negotiate as expeditiously as possible a bilateral agreement with Canada providing for significant reductions in transboundary air pollution; (3) consider a joint Government-supported program to develop new cost-effective technologies that will facilitate reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions and other copollutants; and (4) instruct the Secretary of State to report to Congress by December 1, 1983, on the progress toward achieving a new transboundary air pollution agreement. Expresses the concern of the Congress about the delays in the publication of the State Department's series of historical volumes, "The Foreign Relations of the United States." Directs the Historian of the Department of State to report to Congress on the reasons for the delays and on the steps that would be required to reach the goal of publishing within 25 years of the events. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should promote lower prices and fair market conditions for imported natural gas; and (2) 30 days after enactment of this Act the Secretary of State should report to Congress on the progress made in achieving such lower prices and fair market conditions. Prohibits using any of the funds made available for international organizations and programs for FY 1984 and 1985 for any programs for the Palestine Liberation Organization, the South West Africa Peoples Organization, Cuba, or Iran. Title II: United States Information Agency - United States Information Agency Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 - Authorizes appropriations for the USIA for FY 1984 and 1985. Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to authorize the Director of the USIA to grant a supplemental living allowance for up to five USIA personnel stationed in New York City. Authorizes the Director to lease radio facilities for 25 years (currently 10 years). Earmarks specified amounts of the funds authorized for the USIA for: (1) the National Endowment for Democracy; (2) the Fulbright Academic Exchange Programs; (3) International Visitor Program; (4) Humphrey Fellowship Program; and (5) for other exchange of persons programs. Amends the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to establish in the USIA or other appropriate agency a Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to coodinate and oversee programs established pursuant to such Act and administered by the USIA. Requires that all programs under the authority of the Bureau: (1) maintain their nonpolitical character; (2) be representative of the diversity of American political, social, and cultural life; and (3) maintain their scholarly integrity. Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to prohibit specified types of reprograming of USIA funds unless the House Foreign Affairs and the Senate Foreign Relations Committees are notified 15 days before the proposed reprograming. Authorizes the USIA to award program grants for FY 1984 and 1985 only if those committees are notified 15 days in advance of the proposed grant. Amends the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to authorize the President to provide for visits between the United States and other countries of environmental science and environmental management experts. Authorizes funds for such exchanges. Title III: Board for International Broadcasting - Board for International Broadcasting Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1983, 1984, and 1985 - Amends the Board for International Broadcasting Act of 1973 to authorize appropriations for FY 1983, 1984, and 1985. Requires that appropriations which because of foreign currency fluctuations exceed the amount needed for the budgeted level of operation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Incorporated, (RFE/RL) shall be deposited in a separate account to enhance the benefits for RFE/RL retirees and their surviving spouses Title IV: National Endowment for Democracy - National Endowment for Democracy Act - Authorizes the establishment of a nonprofit corporation to be known as the National Endowment for Democracy. Sets forth the purposes of the Endowment. Authorizes the Endowment to provide funding only for programs of private sector groups with the purposes of the Endowment. Provides for the incorporation of the Endowment. Requires the Endowment to report annually to the President on its activities. Authorizes the Director of the USIA to make grants to the Endowment. Allocates funds from the Endowment for each of FY 1984 and 1985 for: (1) the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs; (2) the National Republican Institute for International Affairs; (3) the Free Trade Union Institute; (4) the private enterprise development programs of the National Chamber Foundation. Title V: Foreign Missions Amendments Act of 1983 - Foreign Missions Amendments Act of 1983 - Amends the Diplomatic Relations Act to authorize the Director of the Office of Foreign Missions to establish and enforce the liability insurance requirements for persons connected with foreign missions in the United States. Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to require the head of a foreign mission to notify the Director of the lapse or termination of any liability insurance coverage held by certain persons connected with the foreign mission. Requires the head of each foreign mission to transmit to the Director a report listing the motor vehicles, vessels, and aircraft registered in the United States by such persons. Sets forth the information to be included in such list. Requires the Director to impose a surcharge or fee on a foreign mission whenever the Director finds that a member of a foreign mission, a member of the family of such member, or an individual described in section 19 of the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations: (1) is at fault for personal injury, death, or property damage arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle, vessel, or aircraft in the United States, is not covered by liability insurance; and (2) has not satisfied a court-rendered judgement or the person is not legally liable. Requires that the fee shall be available only for compensation to the victim or the victim's estate. Title VI: The Asia Foundation - Asia Foundation Act - Authorizes appropriations for the Secretary of State to make grants to The Asia Foundation in each of FY 1984 and 1985.