Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1979

(Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 95-1535)

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1979 - =Title I: Department of State= - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of State for fiscal year 1979 to conduct the foreign affairs of the United States for functions relating to: (1) the administration of foreign affairs; (2) international organizations and conferences; (3) international commissions; (4) migration and refugee assistance; and (5) increases in salary, pay, retirement, and employee benefits.

Authorizes appropriations to be set aside from the above authorization under this Act for the United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Development.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to acquire on behalf of the United States a memorial statue or bust of General George C. Marshall to be placed in an appropriate location within the Department of State. Establishes a Commission, whose members shall not be compensated, to select the sculptor for such statue or bust.

Requires the Secretary of State to demonstrate solar energy and other renewable energy technologies by using such energy sources in Foreign Service buildings located abroad. Directs the Secretary to consult with the Secretary of Energy concerning the most viable techniques adaptable to the local resources and environmental conditions of the host country. Requires the Secretary of State to insure that projects under this Act are demonstrated to, and are available for inspection by, officials and other citizens of the host country. Directs the Secretary to give priority to projects in developing countries.

Authorizes appropriations for: (1) assistance for refugees settling in Israel; and (2) assistance for refugees in Africa.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to provide emergency medical assistance and dietary supplements to destitute United States citizens abroad.

Authorizes the Secretary to use funds appropriated for the International Joint Commission, United States and Canada, for representation expenses, without limitation.

Authorizes the Secretary of State to consolidate administrative services with other Federal agencies if such consolidation would result in the better performance of such services.

Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1946 to authorize the Secretary to establish medical treatment and health care facilities at foreign posts where sufficient personnel are employed to warrant such facilities.

Changes the position of Deputy Under Secretary of State to Under Secretary of State for Management.

Establishes in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters and requires the Assistant Secretary to be responsible for the overall coordination of the role of the Department of State in the International aspects of narcotics problems.

Sets forth the responsibilities of a chief of mission. Extends the maximum period a State Department officer or employee can be detailed to another agency without reimbursement to the Department.

Declares that certain reasons continue to be grounds for denying admission to the United States.

Directs the Secretary to insure that publication of volumes in the series, "Foreign Relations of the United States," maintain the high standards of previous volumes.

Makes Congressional findings and requires reports to be filed concerning: (1) assistance to United States citizens making arrangements following the death of another United States citizen abroad; (2) information-sharing arrangements between the State Department and the Foreign Relations Committees of Congress; and (3) increased minority business participation in State Department procurement and in the export markets.

Directs the President not to designate as restricted for travel or for the use of the passport any country other than a country with which the United States is at war, where armed hostilities are in progress, or where there is imminent danger to United States travellers.

Declares the sense of Congress that diplomatic or official United States passports should be issued only to persons who hold a diplomatic or official position.

Declares it to be the general policy of the United States to impose restrictions on travel by a foreign citizen within the United States when the government of such foreign citizen imposes travel restrictions on United States citizens within such country. Requires the Secretary of State to: (1) convey this policy to foreign governments; and (2) seek to eliminate travel restrictions.

=Title II: International Communication Agency= - Authorizes appropriations for the International Communication Agency for fiscal year 1979 to carry out international communication, educational, and cultural, and exchange programs.

States that the mission of the Agency is to further the national interest by improving United States relations with other nations and peoples through the broadest possible sharing of ideas, information, and educational and cultural activities. Sets forth certain activities required by the Agency.

Authorizes the Secretary to delegate functions relating to the National Gallery of Art and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars to the Director of the Agency.

Requires the Director to make available to the Administrator of General Services a film on Roy Wilkins.

=Title III: Board for International Broadcasting= - Authorizes appropriations, through fiscal year 1979, for the Board for International Broadcasting.

Prohibits funding of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty (RFE/FL) if any Communist country is permitted to use its broadcasting facilities, unless that country permits RFE/RL to use that country's broadcasting facilities on a comparable basis.

Designates ex-officio, nonvoting members of the Board for International Broadcasting.

Requires full disclosure of contributions by any fund or foundation created to solicit or receive contributions on behalf of RFE/RL.

=Title IV: Foreign Service and Other Personnel= - Requires the Secretary of State: (1) to hire qualified Foreign Service family members at any Foreign Service post whenever possible; and (2) to establish compensation plans for alien employees of the Service and for Foreign Service family members employees. Sets forth provisions affecting Foreign Service employees concerning: (1) assignments to public or private nonprofit organizations; (2) career counseling; (3) orientation and language training for family members; (4) special computation of annuities for foreign service employees; (5) special allowances; (6) per diem and subsistence allowances; (7) compensatory time off at posts in foreign areas; (8) rest and recuperation travel; (9) reducing unnecessary family separations for Foreign Service employees; and (10) premium pay.

Directs the Secretary to conduct a thorough review of the personnel needs of the Foreign Service and of the suitability of the current compensation system. Requires the Secretary to report to Congress the results and recommendations.

=Title V: Science, Technology, and American Diplomacy= - Makes findings that: (1) the consequence of modern scientific and technological advances are of major significance in United States foreign policy; and (2) many opportunities for development in diplomacy lie in scientific and technological fields. Declares it to be the policy of the United States to maximize the benefits and to minimize the adverse consequences of science and technology in the conduct of foreign policy. Sets forth responsibilities of the President and the Secretary of State in order to achieve this policy goal, including: (1) an annual report submitted by the President to Congress; (2) requiring the Secretary, who is directed to have primary responsibility with respect to all science and technology agreements and activities between the United States and foreign governments, to make grants and other measures to achieve the policy goal.

=Title VI: Policy Provisions= - Makes Congressional findings and requires reports to be filed including the following: (1) international communications policy; (2) conservation of marine resources; (3) international journalistic freedom; (4) international food reserves and their use; (5) reviewing trade practices; (6) the maintenance of normal diplomatic relations with all nations; (7) nuclear-powered satellites; (8) a World Alternate Energy Conference; (9) atrocities in Cambodia and Uganda; (10) negotiations on air quality; (11) the equitable treatment of United States citizens living abroad; and (12) the presence of Cuban troops in Angola.

Declares it the sense of Congress that: (1) the President should report to Congress on procedures to coordinate U.S. policy on communications in the world; (2) the Secretary of State should convey to all countries interested in dolphins the concern of the U.S. Congress over conserving marine resources; (3) the President should advise foreign officials harassing news correspondents that such behavior could damage relations with the United States; (4) the President should sustain a major initiative directed towards an agreement establishing an international grain reserve; (5) the painting "Guernica" should, in the near future, be returned to Spain; (6) the United States should take the initiative immediately in seeking a multilateral agreement governing the use of nuclear-powered satellites in space; (7) the United States should enter into negotiations with Canada to develop an agreement governing air quality standards; (8) the United States should encourage the United Nations to convene in 1981 a World Alternate Energy Conference; (9) the President should prohibit the export of military and police equipment to Uganda and that the United Nations General Assembly should be presented with a resolution imposing an arms embargo on Uganda; and (10) the President should direct the United States Ambassador to the United Nations to use all means to obtain action by the General Assembly to terminate the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights.

=Title VII: Miscellaneous Provisions= - Changes the date for submission of the Gorgas Memorial Institute's annual report to Congress from January to April.

Increases the annual authorization of appropriations for the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Amends the Japan-United States Friendship Act to extend the penalty mail privilege to the United States-Japan Friendship Commission.

Authorizes $60,000,000 to be appropriated to the President to acquire tin metal to contribute to the buffer stock of the International Tin Council. Declares that none of the funds authorized shall be used for preparations, aid, or payments to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Directs the President to continue to obtain a final accounting of all Americans missing in action in Vietnam.

Authorizes employees of the Department of State and certain other Federal agencies to use foreign air carriers for transportation of personnel and accompanying baggage between two points outside of the United States.

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make it unlawful for any citizen of the United States or alien to depart from or enter the United States without a valid passport or travel document.

Requires the Secretary of State to transmit to the Congress the text of any international agreement, including the text of any oral agreement, which shall be reduced to writing. Directs that no international agreement shall be signed or concluded without prior approval of the Secretary of State or the President. Requires the Secretary of State to determine for and within the executive branch whether an agreement constitutes an international agreement.

Prohibits funds authorized to be appropriated in this Act to be used to effect implementation of the Panama Canal Treaties of 1978 without an Act of Congress.

Increases the annual authorization for expenses of United States participation in the Interparliamentary Union.

Authorizes annual appropriations of $1,500,000 for fiscal years 1979 and 1980 for a Commission on Global Hunger and Malnutrition. Directs such Commission to: (1) assess current Federal programs having an impact on hunger and malnutrition; (2) sponsor and oversee relevant activities; and (3) recommend policies to Congress and the President to increase the capacity of the United States to reduce hunger and malnutrition.

Amends the Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act to set forth the procedures for the disposal of foreign gifts and decorations received by Senators and Senate employees.