H.R. 1096: Represent America Abroad Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-02-18 · International Affairs · Latest: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-02-18 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote. 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

Represent America Abroad Act of 2021

Plain summary

Represent America Abroad Act of 2021 This bill requires the Department of State to establish the Represent America Mid-Career Foreign Service Entry Program to increase diversity in the Foreign Service by recruiting mid-career professionals who are from minority groups. As part of the program, the State Department shall (1) establish and publish eligibility criteria for participation; (2) carry out recruitment efforts to attract highly qualified, mid-career professionals from minority groups; and (3) include appropriate mentorship and other career development opportunities for program participants. The State Department must submit an annual report on the status of the program.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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

Represent America Abroad Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37] · 71 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), André Carson (D-IN), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Dina Titus (D-NV), Mark Takano (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Ed Case (D-HI), Grace Meng (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Steve Cohen (D-TN) and 11 more.

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 (2)

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).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr1096.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr1096 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117