S. 371: Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-02-14 · International Affairs · Latest: Signed by President.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-02-14 · 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: Signed by President. (final step reached)
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 Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act

Plain summary

Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act This bill provides the House and Senate Appropriations Committees with oversight authority regarding congressional reports on: (1) high-risk diplomatic and consular posts, (2) embassy construction costs, (3) combating sexual exploitation in United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping operations, (4) Department of State overseas staffing levels, and (5) reducing illicit drug supply and abuse in the Western Hemisphere. The bill provides such committees with oversight authority regarding the granting of consular immunity. The Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 is amended regarding: (1) replacement of a specified reference to anti-Semitism with a reference to intolerance; (2) the definition of "change to the federal status" with respect to the Cuba Service and the Television Marti Service; (3) the report on the costs, strengths, and limitations of U.S. and U.N. peacekeeping operations; (4) U.N. peacekeeper training to reduce sexual exploitation; (5) the U.N. Secretary General; (6) Foreign Service entry; (7) completion of the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission report; and (8) ransoms to foreign terrorist organizations. The United States is urged to use its influence to prohibit U.N. Human Rights Council membership to a country: (1) designated as a Tier 3 human trafficking country, or (2) identified as having failed to prevent or address gross violations of human rights. The President shall report to Congress regarding steps taken to encourage China to enter into a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, his representatives, or successor leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet. The bill requires inclusion of the foreign affairs committees as recipients of the report made by the State Department before implementation of any reorganization of the department or the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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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. 371, Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, Improvements Act (2017-06-13)

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 (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
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.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115s371.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/s>

Record fed-us-cong115-s371 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115