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 You are in: Bureaus/Offices Reporting Directly to the Secretary 
Bureaus/Offices Reporting Directly to the Secretary
Bureau of Legislative Affairs
Congressional Testimony
Bureau Organization
  

Bureau of Legislative Affairs

The Bureau of Legislative Affairs (H) coordinates legislative activity for the Department of State and advises the Secretary, the Deputy, as well as the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries on Legislative strategy. H facilitates effective communication between State Department officials and the Members of Congress and their staffs. H works closely with authorizing, appropriations, and oversight committees of the House and Senate, as well as with individual Members that have an interest in State Department or foreign policy issues. H manages Department testimony before House and Senate hearings, organizes Member and staff briefings, and facilitates Congressional travel to overseas posts for Members and staff throughout the year. H reviews proposed legislation and coordinates Statements of Administration Policy on legislation affecting the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. The H staff advises individual Bureaus of the Department on legislative and outreach strategies and coordinates those strategies with the Secretary's priorities.

The Secretary of State is the principal Congressional Relations Officer of the Department. H supports the Secretary by ensuring that the administration's foreign policy priorities are reflected throughout the legislative process. H coordinates the annual testimony provided by the Secretary to Congressional committees with jurisdiction over State programs to explain Department priorities and budget requirements. The bureau succeeds in its overall mission by seeking passage of relevant foreign policy legislation and appropriations, obtaining advice and consent to treaties, as well as confirmation of the President's Departmental and Ambassadorial nominees by the Senate.

The Assistant Secretary, advises the Secretary of State on legislative matters, directs the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, and acts as the Department's principal liaison with the Congress.  Matthew Reynolds serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary.

Contact Information:
Phone: (202) 647-4204
FAX: (202) 647-2762

Address:
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Legislative Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

  
Highlights

FY 2009 Budget in Brief
The Budget in Brief describes funding requested in one appropriations bill (that covering the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies) for the worldwide operations of the State Department and selected other international programs and activities.

The annual Function 150 (International Affairs Budget Request) Summary and Highlights provides an overview of the total funding requested in four appropriations bills for the programs and activities of the International Affairs budget.

Merida Initiative.Fact Sheet - Merida Initiative
The Merida Initiative demonstrates the United States’ commitment to partner with governments in Mexico and Central America to confront criminal organizations whose actions plague the region and spill over into the United States. [more]

Building Partnership Capacity and Development of the Interagency ProcessSecretary Rice Testimony before the House Armed Services Committee.[AP Photo by:Susan Walsh]
Secretary Rice; Testimony before the House Armed Services Committee; Washington, DC; April 15, 2008 [Full Text]  [Video]

International Affairs Budget
Secretary RiceTestimony FY 2009 International Affairs Budget.President’s FY 2009 International Affairs Budget Request; Secretary Rice; Statement Before the Senate Appropriations Committee; Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs. [Full Text] [Video]

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