S. 2937: Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2017

114th Congress · introduced 2016-05-17 · International Affairs · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 468.

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Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2016-05-17 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 468. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2017

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2017 This bill directs the Department of State to: (1) submit to Congress a U.S. strategy and implementing plan for combating sexual exploitation and abuse in U.N. peacekeeping operations, and (2) designate a country as a "peacekeeping abuse country of concern" if indications are that personnel from its U.N. peacekeeping contingent have engaged in acts of sexual exploitation. The State Department may withhold specified assistance from a foreign security unit that has engaged in such acts. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall conduct a study of the formula and methods by which the U.N. assesses member states for financial support to peacekeeping operations. Not more than 85% of the annual U.S. contributions to the U.N., its agencies, or the Organization of American States may be obligated until the State Department certifies that specified whistle blower protections have been implemented. U.S. funding may not be made available for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) until the State Department certifies that UNHRC participation is in the U.S. national interest. Foreign Service administrative provisions are set forth, including provisions regarding: (1) overseas housing, (2) locally employed staff, (3) a lateral entry pilot program, (4) annuitant reemployment, (5) disciplinary action for unsatisfactory leadership during a security incident, (6) a personal services contractor pilot program, (7) limited appointments, and (8) diversity. The State Department may establish employee exchange programs with foreign government or international entities that permit employees to be assigned to a State Department position. The bill modifies the passport and visa fee structures. The State Department shall: (1) conduct a review of all human rights dialogues, and (2) provide each Tier 2 Watch List country with a copy of the annual Trafficking in Persons Report and information pertinent to such country's designation. The bill expresses: (1) the sense of Congress with respect to foreign cyber security threats, and (2) the sense of the Senate with respect to the release of internationally adopted children from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The State Department may authorize its uniformed guards to protect buildings and areas within the United States for which it provides protective services.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

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A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate without amendment)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 2937, Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (2016-07-14)

Agencies named in this bill

Department of State: its federal spending and other bills that name it

Found automatically: the agency's full official name appears in the bill title. A bill can affect agencies it does not name, so this list may be incomplete.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (5)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Fiscal year: The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Obligation: A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114s2937.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/s>

Record fed-us-cong114-s2937 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114