Chairman Menendez Celebrates Passage of State Department Authorization Bill

Statement

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, today released the following statement after Congress passed a State Department Authorization bill for the first time in nearly two decades. Championed by Chairman Menendez, the legislation to provide authorities for State Department operations was included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022, which the Senate passed today. As it heads to President Biden's desk, this will be the first State Department authorization bill to be signed into law since 2002.

"Passage of the first State Authorization bill in nearly two decades marks a historic turning point in our effort to return diplomacy and values to the center of U.S. foreign policy and national security. This legislation represents the resounding bipartisan support for the State Department's critical diplomatic and development work, which was relentlessly undermined in the last administration.

"This bill provides the necessary authorities to help strengthen and rebuild the State Department so it can more effectively carry out America's foreign policy. It includes crucial provisions to strengthen authorities for Department bureaus; reaffirms the Senate's constitutional role in providing advice and consent for key positions; provides additional training and assignment opportunities for State personnel; improves embassy security and construction; enhances information security capacity; augments public diplomacy efforts; and bolsters Congressional oversight on critical issues like international child abductions and COVID-19 repatriation efforts.

"Critically, the bill also includes important language that I authored to ensure that diversity and inclusion issues are integrated into the agency's personnel practices so that the State Department can better draw on the unique strength that our nation's diversity provides. As there is more work to be done, I will also be introducing a more comprehensive State Department diversity bill this week to build on the provisions in this package.

"Particularly after the challenges in recent years, it is important that the hardworking career professionals of the State Department, who put their lives on the line to carry out the important work of protecting our nation and advocating for our values, know that there is bipartisan support in Congress for their work and sacrifices. To that end, I deeply appreciate the partnership of the Ranking Member, Senator Risch, in helping get this bill passed."

Earlier this year, Chairman Menendez convened a full Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the state of the State Department and State Department authorization with testimony from the Honorable Brian McKeon, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.

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