[Senate Report 112-220]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 525
112th Congress } { Report
2d Session } SENATE { 112-220
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QUADRENNIAL DIPLOMACY AND
DEVELOPMENT REVIEW ACT OF 2012
_______
September 19, 2012.--Ordered to be printed
Mr. Kerry, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 3341]
The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under
consideration the bill S. 3341, to require a quadrennial
diplomacy and development review, and for other purposes,
reports favorably thereon without amendment, and recommends
that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Purpose..........................................................1
II. Committee Action.................................................1
III. Discussion.......................................................2
IV. Cost Estimate....................................................3
V. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact..................................3
VI. Changes in Existing Law..........................................3
I. PURPOSE
The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of
2012 requires that the Secretary of State, under the direction
of the President, conduct periodically scheduled reviews to
guide the mission of the State Department and the U.S. Agency
for International Development in order to strengthen the
accountability and effectiveness of United States diplomatic
and foreign aid programs to reflect the new challenges of the
21st century and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of
our diplomatic and development agencies.
II. COMMITTEE ACTION
S. 3341 was introduced on June 26, 2012 by Senator Kerry.
On September 19, 2012 the committee considered S. 3341 and
ordered it reported without amendment by voice vote.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Summary of Legislation
Section 2(a)(1) of the Quadrennial Diplomacy and
Development Review (QDDR) establishes a requirement for a
review of United States diplomacy and development every four
years (during a year following a year evenly divisible by
four).
Section 2(a)(2) establishes that the scope of the effort
shall be a comprehensive examination of the national diplomacy
and development policy and strategic framework of the United
States, intended to set priorities and make recommendations
regarding U.S. diplomacy and development, including guidance on
programs, budgets, policies, and authorities of the Department
of State and the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID).
Section 2(a)(3) establishes a system for interagency
consultations in the conduct of the diplomacy and development
review, such that the Secretary of State, after consultations
with the Department of State and USAID, should consult with the
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, relevant
congressional committees, and other relevant governmental and
non-governmental entities.
Section 2(b) sets the contents of the QDDR to place
diplomacy and development efforts in the frame of national
security strategy; provide analysis of State and foreign
assistance bureaucracy organization and implementation metrics;
and make recommendations for more efficient and effective
allocation of resources.
Section 2(c) establishes reporting timelines and contents,
such that not later than the year following the year in which a
quadrennial diplomacy and development review is conducted (but
not later than the President submits the budget for the next
fiscal year to Congress) the Secretary of State shall submit to
Congress a report regarding that quadrennial diplomacy and
development review.
Section 2(d) provides authorities for the Secretary of
State to establish an Office of Quadrennial Diplomacy and
Development Review which the Secretary may, using only existing
resources, staff in a manner to assist in discharging the
functions of the quadrennial development and diplomacy review.
Section 2(e) provides for the State Foreign Affairs
Advisory Board to provide an independent assessment of the
Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review.
B. Committee Comments
The Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review Act of
2012 clarifies the measures by which the administration and
Congress assess and evaluate United States diplomacy and
development efforts, with the aim of furthering effective and
results-oriented diplomacy and development efforts essential
for protecting and advancing U.S. national security interests.
The committee recognizes that the QDDR, by necessity, must
be a whole of government effort, and reflect appropriate
participation and appropriate roles in a collaborative
diplomacy and development review process by all stakeholders.
The committee notes that the Administrator of USAID served as
co-chair of the first quadrennial diplomacy and development
review, completed in 2010, alongside the Secretary of State.
IV. COST ESTIMATE
Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing Rules of the
Senate requires that committee reports on bills or joint
resolutions contain a cost estimate for such legislation. To
date, the committee has not received the Congressional Budget
Office cost estimate for S. 3341.
V. EVALUATION OF REGULATORY IMPACT
Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(b) of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there is
no regulatory impact as a result of this legislation.
VI. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with Rule XXVI, paragraph 12 of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the committee has determined that there
are no changes in existing law made by this legislation.