Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2018

Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2018

This bill directs the Department of State to report to Congress regarding State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reorganization plans. Any such plan shall preserve USAID's independence.

The State Department is urged to establish an Office of Global Women's Issues.

The bill: (1) establishes in the State Department a Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and the position of Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; and (2) calls for the establishment in the State Department of an Office of International Disability Rights.

The bill sets forth provisions regarding: (1) embassy construction and design; (2) personnel, staffing, and workplace diversity; (3) anti-corruption efforts; and (4) information security, including a prohibition on contracting with certain telecommunications providers.

The State Department may make grants or enter into cooperative agreements for science and technology fellowships.

The State Department shall: (1) appoint a Director of Research and Evaluation to evaluate public diplomacy programs, (2) develop a Bureau of Diplomatic Security training program for detecting classified information spillage, and (3) designate an anti-corruption point of contact at appropriate U.S. missions.

Each U.S. government agency that enters into any international agreement, other than a treaty, on behalf of the United States shall designate a Chief International Agreements Officer who shall transmit the agreement to the State Department.