[DOCID: f:sr050.110] From the Senate Reports Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] Calendar No. 112 110th Congress Report SENATE 1st Session 110-50 ====================================================================== RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILIZATION CIVILIAN MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2007 _______ April 10, 2007.--Ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Biden, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany S. 613] The Committee on Foreign Relations, having had under consideration a bill to enhance the overseas stabilization and reconstruction capabilities of the United States Government, and for other purposes, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass. CONTENTS Page I. Purpose..........................................................1 II. Background.......................................................2 III. Committee Action.................................................4 IV. Section-By-Section Analysis......................................4 V. Cost Estimate....................................................8 VI. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact.................................12 VII. Changes in Existing Law.........................................12 I. Purpose The Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2007 is designed to strengthen the U.S. government's civilian capacity to respond quickly and effectively to complex emergencies overseas. It authorizes the creation of a Response Readiness Corps to address post-conflict situations and other emergencies overseas where civilians may be needed to work alongside the U.S. military to provide expertise on such issues as the reconstitution of political and judicial structures, rule of law and law enforcement, and economic and agricultural development. It gives statutory standing to the U.S. State Department Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization and makes the appointment of the Coordinator subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. It authorizes the establishment of a federal response capability with active duty and standby components, as well as a civilian reserve that draws upon the talent and willingness of private citizens to deploy overseas. It also provides for education and training for all three components of the Corps. It authorizes appropriations for the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization to establish, support and maintain the Response Readiness Reserve, and for the creation of an emergency response fund to be made available following a Presidential determination that it is in the national interest to assist a country that is in, or transitioning from, conflict or civil strife. II. Background Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has undertaken several post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction operations that have been important to the national security interests of the United States. Current operations in Iraq are the sixth major post-conflict effort that the U.S. has mounted in 12 years. In the Balkans, Africa, the Caribbean, Afghanistan, and Iraq, the U.S. government has cobbled together plans, people and resources in an ad hoc fashion, usually with the Defense Department in the lead. Subsequent to U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and cognizant of the difficulties of the ongoing transitions in those two nations, the committee recognized the need for structural change, accomplished through legislation, within the U.S. government to better plan and carry out the civilian component of stabilization and reconstruction missions. The committee first reported legislation on this issue in the 108th Congress. The committee unanimously adopted S. 2127 on March 18, 2004 and continued to work with the executive branch to pursue the objectives of the legislation. In the 109th Congress, the full Senate on May 26, 2006 adopted unanimously S. 3322, a committee-reported bill that reflected ongoing legislative-executive branch discussions on the issue. S. 3322 was sent to the House and referred to the House International Relations Committee, where it was never considered. This bill, S. 613, is an updated version of S. 3322 and reflects continued discussions between the two branches on the most effective way to realize the intent of the legislation. The original legislation was developed in close consultation with experts from inside and outside government. At the invitation of the Chairman and Ranking Member, a Policy Advisory Group convened, first in December 2003, to provide advice on how best to improve the U.S. response to such emergencies. The advisory group held a series of discussions in which committee members, group participants, and invited experts spoke frankly about their ideas to improve U.S. readiness and responsiveness to emergencies overseas. The group focused specifically on the response of civilian agencies and their coordination with Department of Defense and other agency efforts. The committee has been further informed by hearings and briefings that considered testimony and the insights of administration officials, policy experts, and representatives of non-governmental and international organizations. The unique challenges the United States is facing in Afghanistan and Iraq have provided a continuous backdrop and given a sense of increasing urgency to the committee's work. Many committee members have traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq, reinforcing committee views and providing timely, first-hand knowledge of the complexity and difficulties of stabilizing a country in the immediate aftermath of war. Based on these extensive inquiries, the committee has concluded that the U.S. foreign affairs agencies (the Department of State and USAID) and other civilian agencies, including the Departments of the Treasury, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Justice, and Commerce, have been able to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction operations in conflict and post-conflict environments. However, they have lacked the necessary resources, contingency planning and the organizational structure to undertake the full range of required activities in a timely fashion. This bill is designed to improve the operation of the foreign affairs agencies so that they are better organized to plan, coordinate and execute overseas crisis response in cooperation with other relevant civilian agencies of the government, and with the military, if required. The committee envisions the Secretary of State leading the organizational effort, in full consultation with the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, an agency whose technical skills, operational experience, and knowledgeable personnel are invaluable both in Washington and in the field. The committee intends that the bill will enable the U.S. government to identify and have at the ready contingency plans to fill gaps that are often present in various types of reconstruction and stabilization emergencies. Restoring and maintaining public order during and in the aftermath of conflict is one such example. While military police and civil affairs units can serve in emergency situations, there is a need for a standing civilian capability to promptly undertake the restoration of rule of law and judicial functions, including the reconstruction of frail or weak constabulary, police, courts and corrections systems. Whether drawing on international capacity or relying on U.S. capacity alone, plans should be in place to meet this and other recurring needs that experience tells us will be necessary. This bill recognizes that the international community can play a vital role in this effort. One important function of the State Department Office of the Coordinator created by the bill is to develop a clear vision of the comparative advantages, the objectives and strategies, and the corresponding capabilities of all possible international contributors to stabilization and reconstruction missions. The committee recognizes the specific skills and essential expertise that the United Nations and its specialized agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations, and other individual nations can bring to conflict and post-conflict situations, including humanitarian response, support for rule of law efforts, reconstitution of government, and reconstruction of infrastructure and delivery of public services. The committee recommends that the United States make every effort to improve international capabilities, and particularly urges NATO and its member states to develop increased capacity. This investment should pay off in enhanced interoperability, increased burden-sharing, and a more rapid reaction time. III. Committee Action At a business meeting on March 28, 2007, the committee considered S. 613. No amendments were offered. The committee ordered the bill favorably reported by voice vote. IV. Section-By-Section Analysis Section 1. Short Title. This section designates the short title of the bill. Section 2. Findings, Purpose. This section lists findings that explain the need for legislation and the purpose of such legislation. Section 3. Definitions. This section provides definitions of certain terms in the bill. Section 4. Sense of Congress. This section states the sense of Congress that there are multiple ways to improve stabilization and reconstruction capacity; specifically: 1. Strengthening the civilian elements with which the U.S. Government responds to stabilization and reconstruction crises overseas; 2. Establishing a new system of planning, organization, personnel policies, education and training, and provision of adequate resources; 3. Encouraging the international community, non- governmental organizations, the United Nations and its specialized agencies to participate; 4. Continuing to support ongoing executive branch efforts to pursue the objectives outlined in the legislation; 5. Establishing a personnel exchange program between the Departments of State and Defense, and other agencies, to enhance the stabilization and reconstruction skills of military and civilian personnel and their ability to undertake joint operations. Personnel exchanges should include exchanges to regional and specialized commands, as well as joint and service schools to ensure a broader base of interaction between agencies; 6. Urging other civilian agencies to establish similar exchange programs. Section 5. Authority to Provide Assistance for Stabilization and Reconstruction Crises. This section provides the President with the authority, after consultations with Congress, to determine that it is in the national interest to provide assistance to a country that is in, or transitioning from, conflict or civil strife, and to provide such assistance from the $75 million emergency fund authorized in this section, as well as from commodities and services from the inventory of federal agencies. This section is similar to current authorities that are used to respond to refugee and migration crises, but has been made subject to certain conditions required by Section 614 of the Foreign Assistance Act, an extraordinary authority that is used sparingly and only after extensive consultations with Congress. The committee intends that this authority be exercised in the same manner as Section 614. The provision authorizes the annual replenishment of the emergency fund without fiscal year limitations. This section allows $25 million of the funds available under the section to be used immediately to jump start the development, training, and operations of the Response Readiness Corps. U.S. funding mechanisms for post-conflict operations can lack flexibility and effective mechanisms for emergency contracting and procurement. The funds in this section are intended to provide a quick start on such time-sensitive activities as the restoration of public order, political and civic reorganization, humanitarian aid, infrastructure repair and the re-establishment of basic services, among other emergency needs. Section 6. Office of International Stabilization and Reconstruction. This section gives statutory standing to the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization at the State Department and requires that the Coordinator be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Coordinator will report directly to the Secretary and have the rank of ``Ambassador-at-Large.'' It also states that the President may designate either the Coordinator or another individual to take the lead in particular crises. This section outlines the functions of the Office of the Coordinator in both non-emergency and emergency situations. The committee expects the Office to work in coordination with relevant bureaus within the State Department, USAID and other relevant organizations. Specifically, the committee encourages the naming of a USAID official as the Deputy Coordinator. In monitoring for potential crises, the Office should draw on current intelligence, data collection and monitoring efforts already underway in executive branch agencies. In its planning, the Office should also draw on expertise developed at USAID as part of its disaster assistance response function. The Office also should have the capacity to send assessment teams on very short notice into crisis situations and should be able to send civilians as part of joint civilian/military teams to help manage the early stages of such crises. The committee intends for the Coordinator to plan for and, when chosen by the President, be able to oversee the implementation of activities in a crisis. This legislation is not intended to limit the prerogatives of the President by pre- determining either the agency to lead the effort, or the individual to be placed in charge. Section 7. Response Readiness Corps. This section authorizes the Secretary of State, in coordination with the USAID Administrator and heads of other appropriate departments and agencies, to establish a Response Readiness Corps. The legislation authorizes the establishment of both federal and non-federal components of the Corps. The federal component has both active duty and stand-by units and the non-federal component is a civilian reserve that draws upon the talent and willingness of private citizens to deploy overseas: <bullet> The provision authorizes an active duty unit of not more than 250 personnel who are recruited, trained and employed specifically to contribute to reconstruction and stabilization missions. The unit would be made up of a mix of State Department and USAID full-time employees, trained to work with the U.S. military if necessary, and on call to deploy wherever and whenever they might be needed. Their areas of expertise would include, but not be limited to, public information and communications, rule of law, governance and civil administration, security and public order, health and education, and construction and engineering. They would also have a range of regional expertise and language skills. When not deployed on stabilization and reconstruction missions, members of the active duty unit would be available to work in Department headquarters in Washington DC, or in embassies and USAID missions to meet requirements as requested by ambassadors or USAID mission directors. <bullet> The provision also authorizes a 2,000-person standby unit drawn from both State and USAID, including from the some 10,000 locally hired nationals who work in embassies overseas, as well as from other federal agencies that have employees with necessary skill sets and are willing to volunteer for overseas service. <bullet> The provision requires that the civilian reserve, drawn from volunteers in the private sector, must have at least 500 highly skilled persons recruited within a year of passage of the legislation. Non-federal employees could be drawn from the ranks of retired Foreign Service officers, former Peace Corps volunteers, and retired military, as well as state and local governments. Such examples are intended to be illustrative rather than exclusionary, as skills and willingness to serve are spread widely among the American people. The committee envisions the establishment of the Corps as a joint endeavor by the State Department and USAID and intends that the current Policy Council, co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary and the USAID Administrator, would provide the collaborative venue within which the required coordination and integration can take place in a way in which both agencies can be strengthened to carry out stabilization and reconstruction missions. The committee would like to see within the Washington, D.C. headquarters some of the same operational collaboration and mutual sense of purpose and priorities that Members have witnessed between the two agencies in the field. The section also creates employment authorities and establishes a reporting requirement regarding the establishment of the Corps. The committee encourages the Secretary to develop proposals to provide pay and benefit incentives to members of the Corps, as well as recommend any legislation that may be necessary to provide job protections to such members when they are called to service under the authority of this Act. Section 8. Stabilization and Reconstruction Training and Education. This section gives the Secretary of State, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army, the authority to develop and establish new training curricula in stabilization and reconstruction for use in programs administered by the Foreign Service Institute, the National Defense University, and the Stabilization and Peacekeeping Institute at the Army War College. The committee also recognizes the excellent training programs at the Naval Post Graduate School and the U.S. Institute for Peace and encourages that they be included in the development of a comprehensive training program. Training of civilian government personnel to assist in post-conflict operations has been uneven. Some training opportunities already exist, but it is still the case that the U.S. government is routinely deploying civilians to stabilization and reconstruction operations with little or no specialized training for the post-conflict environment. Even when U.S. personnel receive solid training in their particular skill area, they rarely have had an opportunity to train with their counterparts in other U.S. agencies. This is an important gap to fill. Therefore, the objective of the training curricula required by this section is to prepare participants from the different civilian agencies for the tasks at every phase--from contingency planning, to working with the military if necessary, to the full spectrum of stabilization and reconstruction tasks. Effective war-gaming and scenario training should be part of the course curricula and should prepare participants to work on inter-agency teams in crisis environments. Joint training of civilian and military teams is supported by the committee and the foreign affairs civilian agencies are strongly encouraged to participate in training offered by the Department of Defense or the regional commands. This section also cites illustrative contents of a training curriculum. One particular committee interest is in the area of ``lessons learned.'' The Department of Defense has a ``lessons learned'' or ``After Action Review'' process that could serve as a guide to establishing the same capacity within the State Department and USAID and could also be a key component of preparation for future actions. Training in conflict resolution is also needed. Post-conflict situations are dynamic and difficult in the best of circumstances and personnel should be trained with essential conflict and dispute resolution techniques. Training should be available for all members of the Response Readiness Corps, including the active duty and standby units of the federal component and the civilian reserve made up of private citizens. Section 9. Service Related to Stabilization and Reconstruction. This section is designed to encourage service in stabilization and reconstruction activities overseas, which may fall outside the normal career path of Foreign Service officers and USAID employees. It designates that service or assignment in these areas should be considered among the favorable factors for promotion of employees of Executive agencies. In terms of training and promotion, this section describes steps that the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator should take to ensure employees are properly trained and identified for deployment in support of the Corps. This training should also be provided to Ambassadors and Deputy Chiefs of Mission. The U.S. Government should place a high premium on developing competency in the skills necessary to anticipate and address crises. Critical to the establishment of an effective cadre of people with special skills, experience, interest, and commitment needed for such challenging missions is the appropriate recognition of such service as professionally rewarding. The environment in which civil servants, Foreign Service officers, and others perform and advance must be flexible enough to allow for success for personnel who follow less traditional career paths and who may not reach executive management positions because of the unpredictable nature of their deployments. Incentives within all agencies must recognize the value of personnel committed to these challenging tasks. This section authorizes the creation of appropriate incentives and benefits to recognize and reward participants. Section 10. Authorities Related to Personnel. This section provides contracting authority and reimbursement procedures for personnel, outlines procedures for hiring experts and consultants, and grants certain authorities to accept and assign details from other executive agencies, members of the uniformed services and employees of State and local governments. The section also provides certain waiver authorities for dual compensation prohibitions for federal retirees. The Secretary may extend benefits to any individual deployed under this Act as provided in the Foreign Service Act just as they are applicable to members of the Foreign Service. This section also authorizes compensatory time off for individuals assigned, detailed or deployed to carry out stabilization and reconstruction activities under this Act, subject to the consent of the employee. This section also increases the premium pay cap for certain individuals. The section authorizes the acceptance of volunteer services for advisors, experts, consultants and persons performing services in any other capacity determined appropriate by the Secretary and directs the Secretary to supervise and make assurances regarding volunteers. Finally, it provides that volunteers under this section are not to be considered federal employees, except with regard to certain provisions of federal law, including conflict of interest requirements. Section 11. Authorization of Appropriations. This section authorizes appropriations of $80 million for the recruitment of new personnel, education and training, and equipment and travel necessary for carrying out the Act. V. Cost Estimate Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 11(a) of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following cost estimate has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE April 2, 2007. S. 613 Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2007 As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on March 28, 2007. SUMMARY S. 613 would authorize the President to provide assistance to stabilize and rebuild a country or region that is in, or emerging from, conflict or civil strife. The bill would establish an Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization within the Department of State to provide civilian management of stabilization and reconstruction efforts and would authorize the appropriation of $80 million a year for personnel, education and training, equipment, and travel costs. The bill also would authorize the creation of a new emergency fund to be used to respond to international crises and would authorize an initial appropriation of $75 million in 2008 and such sums as may be necessary each year to replenish the fund. CBO estimates that S. 613 would increase spending subject to appropriation by $85 million in 2008 and $629 million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming appropriation of the specified and estimated amounts. The bill also would allow the Secretary of State to waive certain rules regarding reemployment of federal annuitants; CBO estimates this provision would have no significant effect on direct spending or receipts. S. 613 contains an intergovernmental mandate as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), but CBO estimates that the resulting costs, if any, would be minimal and well below the threshold established in that act ($66 million in 2007, adjusted annually for inflation). This bill contains no new private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA. ESTIMATED COST TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT The estimated budgetary impact of S. 613 is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 150 (international affairs). Changes in Spending Subject to Appropriation ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars ------------------------------------------------------ 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization Authorization Level.................................... 80 80 80 80 80 Estimated Outlays...................................... 68 77 78 78 78 Emergency Fund Estimated Authorization Level.......................... 75 75 75 75 75 Estimated Outlays...................................... 17 43 55 65 70 Total Changes Estimated Authorization Level.......................... 155 155 155 155 155 Estimated Outlays...................................... 85 120 133 143 148 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- a. Enacting S. 613 also could reduce direct spending, but CBO estimates that any such effects would be less than $500,000 a year. BASIS OF ESTIMATE CBO estimates that implementing S. 613 would cost $85 million in 2008 and $629 million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming appropriation of the estimated and specified amounts. The bill also could affect both the pay and the retirement annuities of rehired federal annuitants, but CBO estimates that the bill would have no significant effect on direct spending or receipts. For this estimate, CBO assumes that this legislation will be enacted near the start of fiscal year 2008, that the specified and estimated authorization amounts will be appropriated near the start of each fiscal year, and that outlays will follow historical spending patterns for similar programs. Spending Subject to Appropriation S. 613 would authorize the President to provide assistance to stabilize and rebuild a country or region that is in, or emerging from, conflict or civil strife, through the Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization within the Department of State and a new emergency fund. Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization. The Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization was created in the State Department in August 2004. Section 6 would codify the establishment of that office and specify its responsibility to monitor and assess international crises, to prepare contingency plans for various types of crises, to identify and train personnel with the necessary skills for stabilization and reconstruction operations, and should the President decide it is in the national interest, to coordinate the U.S. assistance in stabilizing and reconstructing the affected country or region. Section 7 would authorize the establishment of a Response Readiness Corps with an active component of up to 250 members for deployment on short notice, plus a standby component of up to 2,000 personnel. In addition, the bill would authorize a civilian reserve of at least 500 nonfederal personnel to support operations if needed. The corps and reserve personnel would receive training on stabilization and reconstruction from the Foreign Service Institute, the National Defense University, and the United States Army War College. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $80 million a year for personnel, education and training, equipment, and travel costs. CBO estimates that implementing those provisions would cost about $70 million in 2008 and $380 million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts. Emergency Fund. Section 5 would authorize the appropriation of $75 million for an emergency stabilization and reconstruction fund, of which up to $25 million could be used for the costs of developing, training, and deploying the Response Readiness Corps. For subsequent years, it would provide permanent, indefinite authorization of such sums as may be necessary to replenish funds expended. Considering the number of regions in the world in conflict or recovering from conflict and the magnitude of the appropriations for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan (more than $30 billion over the 2003-2006 period), reconstruction efforts could require much larger funding levels than the amount authorized. Accordingly, CBO expects that the emergency fund would be used for an initial response to an international crisis and not for major reconstruction efforts. For this estimate, CBO assumes that the fund would be replenished-through discretionary appropriations-on an annual basis at the $75 million level and that it would be used for a mix of activities with an aggregate spending pattern similar to that of the Economic Support Fund. Thus, CBO estimates that implementing section 5 would cost $17 million in 2008 and $250 million over the 2008-2012 period, assuming appropriation of the specified and estimated amounts. Direct Spending Section 10 would authorize the Secretary to waive provisions of law that would otherwise reduce the pay for some reemployed annuitants, while allowing them to accrue larger retirement benefits. The Department of State believes that existing authorities to waive those provisions are broad enough to include employment for stabilization and reconstruction activities. To the extent that current law waiver authority is not sufficient for those purposes, the detailed authority in section 10 could result in a small change in the total amount of salaries paid to reemployed annuitants, as well as a small reduction in the future annuities of such annuitants. CBO estimates that this provision would affect a very few individuals and that it would have an insignificant effect on direct spending. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE-SECTOR IMPACT S. 613 contains an intergovernmental mandate as defined in UMRA because it would preempt certain state laws that regulate the liability of volunteers. CBO estimates that the costs, if any, would be minimal and well below the threshold established in that act ($66 million in 2007, adjusted annually for inflation). This bill contains no new private- sector mandates as defined in UMRA. Estimate Prepared By: Federal Costs: Office of Reconstruction and Stabilization: Sunita D'Monte (226-2840) Emergency Fund: Sam Papenfuss (226-2840) Income Security: Craig Meklir (226-2820) Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Melissa Merrell (225-3220) Impact on the Private Sector: Amy Petz (226-2940) Estimate Approved By: Robert A. Sunshine, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. VI. 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. VII. Changes in Existing Law Pursuant to paragraph 12 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman). Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 * * * * * * * Part III CHAPTER 1 * * * * * * * SEC. 618. ASSISTANCE FOR A RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILIZATION CRISIS. (a) Assistance.-- (1) In General.--If the President determines that it is important to the national interests of the United States for United States civilian agencies or non- Federal employees to assist in stabilizing and reconstructing a country or region that is at risk of, in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife, the President may, in accordance with the provisions set forth in section 614(a)(3), notwithstanding any other provision of law, and on such terms and conditions as the President may determine, furnish assistance to respond to the crisis using funds referred to in paragraph (2). (2) Funds.--The funds referred to in this paragraph are funds as follows: (A) Funds made available under this section, including funds authorized to be appropriated by subsection (d). (B) Funds made available under other provisions of this Act and transferred or reprogrammed for purposes of this section. (b) Special Authorities.--In furtherance of a determination made under subsection (a), the President may exercise the authorities contained in sections 552(c)(2) and 610 without regard to the percentage and aggregate dollar limitations contained in such sections. (c) Availability of Funds for Response Readiness Corps.--Of the funds made available for this section in any fiscal year, including funds authorized to be appropriated by subsection (d) and funds made available under other provisions of this Act and transferred or reprogrammed for purposes of this section, $25,000,000 may be made available for expenses related to the development, training, and operations of the Response Readiness Corps established under section 61(c) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956. (d) Authorization of Appropriations.-- (1) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated $75,000,000 to provide assistance authorized in subsection (a) and, to the extent authorized in subsection (c), for the purpose described in subsection (c). Such amount is in addition to amounts otherwise made available for purposes of this section, including funds made available under other provisions of this Act and transferred or reprogrammed for purposes of this section. (2) Replenishment.--There is authorized to be appropriated each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to replenish funds expended under this section. (3) Availability.--Funds authorized to be appropriated under this subsection shall be available without fiscal year limitation. State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 TITLE I--BASIC AUTHORITIES GENERALLY * * * * * * * SEC. 61. RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILIZATION. (a) Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization.-- (1) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of State the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization. (2) Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization.--The head of the Office shall be the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Coordinator shall report directly to the Secretary and shall have the rank and status of Ambassador at Large. (3) Functions.--The functions of the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization include the following: (A) Monitoring, in coordination with relevant bureaus within the Department of State, political and economic instability worldwide to anticipate the need for mobilizing United States and international assistance for the stabilization and reconstruction of countries or regions that are at risk of, in, or are in transition from, conflict or civil strife. (B) Assessing the various types of stabilization and reconstruction crises that could occur and cataloging and monitoring the non-military resources and capabilities of Executive agencies that are available to address such crises. (C) Planning to address requirements, such as demobilization, policing, human rights monitoring, and public information, that commonly arise in stabilization and reconstruction crises. (D) Coordinating with relevant Executive agencies (as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code) to develop interagency contingency plans to mobilize and deploy civilian personnel to address the various types of such crises. (E) Entering into appropriate arrangements with other Executive agencies to carry out activities under this section and the Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2007. (F) Identifying personnel in State and local governments and in the private sector who are available to participate in the Response Readiness Corps established under subsection (c) or to otherwise participate in or contribute to stabilization and reconstruction activities. (G) Taking steps to ensure that training of civilian personnel to perform such stabilization and reconstruction activities is adequate and, as appropriate, includes security training that involves exercises and simulations with the Armed Forces, including the regional commands. (H) Sharing information and coordinating plans for stabilization and reconstruction activities, as appropriate, with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, nongovernmental organizations, and other foreign national and international organizations. (I) Coordinating plans and procedures for joint civilian-military operations with respect to stabilization and reconstruction activities. (J) Maintaining the capacity to field on short notice an evaluation team to undertake on-site needs assessment. (b) Response to Stabilization and Reconstruction Crisis.--If the President makes a determination regarding a stabilization and reconstruction crisis under section 618 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the President may designate the Coordinator, or such other individual as the President may determine appropriate, as the Coordinator of the United States response. The individual so designated, or, in the event the President does not make such a designation, the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, shall-- (1) assess the immediate and long-term need for resources and civilian personnel; (2) identify and mobilize non-military resources to respond to the crisis; and (3) coordinate the activities of the other individuals or management team, if any, designated by the President to manage the United States response. (c) Response Readiness Corps.-- (1) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies of the United States Government, is authorized to establish and maintain a Response Readiness Corps (hereafter referred to in this subsection as the ``Corps'') to provide assistance in support of stabilization and reconstruction activities in foreign countries or regions that are at risk of, in, or are in transition from, conflict or civil strife. (2) Federal Components.-- (A) Active and Standby Components.--The Corps shall have active and standby components consisting of United States Government personnel as follows: (i) An active component, consisting of not more than 250 personnel who are recruited, employed, and trained in accordance with this paragraph. (ii) A standby component, consisting of not more than 2000 personnel who are recruited and trained in accordance with this paragraph. (B) Authorized Members of Standby Component.--Personnel in the standby component of the Corps may include employees of the Department of State (including Foreign Service Nationals), employees of the United States Agency for International Development, employees of any other executive agency (as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code), and employees of the legislative branch and judicial branch of Government-- (i) who are assigned to the standby component by the Secretary following nomination for such assignment by the head of the department or agency of the United States Government concerned or by an appropriate official of the legislative or judicial branch of Government, as applicable; and (ii) who-- (I) have the training and skills necessary to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction activities; and (II) have volunteered for deployment to carry out stabilization and reconstruction activities. (C) Recruitment and Employment.--The recruitment and employment of personnel to the Corps shall be carried out by the Secretary, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of the other departments and agencies of the United States Government participating in the establishment and maintenance of the Corps. (D) Training.--The Secretary is authorized to train the members of the Corps under this paragraph to perform services necessary to carry out the purpose of the Corps under paragraph (1). (E) Compensation.--Members of the active component of the Corps under subparagraph (A)(i) shall be compensated in accordance with the appropriate salary class for the Foreign Service, as set forth in sections 402 and 403 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3962, 3963), or in accordance with the relevant authority under sections 3101 and 3392 of title 5, United States Code. (3) Civilian Reserve.-- (A) Civilian Reserve.--The Corps shall have a reserve (hereafter referred to in this subsection as the ``Civilian Reserve'') of non- United States Government personnel who are trained and available as needed to perform services necessary to carry out the purpose of the Corps under paragraph (1). The Civilian Reserve shall be established by the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator of the Unites States Agency for International Development and the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies of the United States Government. (B) Composition.--Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2007, the Civilian Reserve shall include at least 500 personnel, who may include retired employees of the United States Government, contractor personnel, nongovernmental organization personnel, State and local government employees, and individuals from the private sector, who-- (i) have the training and skills necessary to enable them to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction activities; (ii) have volunteered to carry out stabilization and reconstruction activities; and (iii) are available for training and deployment to carry out the purpose of the Corps under paragraph (1). (4) Use of Response Readiness Corps.-- (A) Federal Active Component.--Members of the active component of the Corps under paragraph (2)(A)(i) are authorized to be available-- (i) for activities in direct support of stabilization and reconstruction activities; and (ii) if not engaged in activities described in clause (i), for assignment in the United States, United States diplomatic missions, and United States Agency for International Development missions. (B) Federal Standby Component and Civilian Reserve.--The Secretary may deploy members of the Federal standby component of the Corps under paragraph (2)(A)(ii), and members of the Civilian Reserve under paragraph (3), in support of stabilization and reconstruction activities in a foreign country or region if the President makes a determination regarding a stabilization and reconstruction crisis under section 618 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Foreign Service Act of 1980 Chapter 7--Career Development, Training, and Orientation Sec. 701. Institution for Training.--(a) Institution or Center for Training.--* * * * * * * * * * (f)(1) The Secretary is authorized to provide, on a reimbursable basis, training programs to Members of Congress or the Judiciary. (2) Employees of the legislative branch and employees of the judicial branch may participate, on a reimbursable basis, in training programs offered by the institution. (3) Reimbursements collected under this subsection shall be credited to the currently available applicable appropriation account. (4) Training under this subsection is authorized only to the extent that it will not interfere with the institution's primary mission of training employees of the Department and of other agencies in the field of foreign relations. (g) Stabilization and Reconstruction Curriculum.-- (1) Establishment and Mission.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Army, is authorized to establish a stabilization and reconstruction curriculum for use in programs of the Foreign Service Institute, the National Defense University, and the United States Army War College. (2) Curriculum Content.--The curriculum should include the following: (A) An overview of the global security environment, including an assessment of transnational threats and an analysis of United States policy options to address such threats. (B) A review of lessons learned from previous United States and international experiences in stabilization and reconstruction activities. (C) An overview of the relevant responsibilities, capabilities, and limitations of various Executive agencies (as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code) and the interactions among them. (D) A discussion of the international resources available to address stabilization and reconstruction requirements, including resources of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private and voluntary organizations, and foreign governments, together with an examination of the successes and failures experienced by the United States in working with such entities. (E) A study of the United States interagency system. (F) Foreign language training. (G) Training and simulation exercises for joint civilian-military emergency response operations. [(g)] (h) The authorities of section 704 shall apply to training and instruction provided under this section.