22 U.S.C. § 4081b — Presence of chiefs of mission at diplomatic posts
submitted 2 years ago by Pub. L. 118-159 to r/title-22-FOREIGN-RELATIONS-AND-INTERCOURSE · 325 words · no verdicts yet
This section generally requires a chief of mission to arrive at the assigned diplomatic post within 60 days after Senate confirmation to receive initial-arrival travel expenses. It lists exceptions, a waiver process, and reporting duties.
(a) Arrival within 60 days. (1) To qualify for payment of initial-arrival travel expenses, a chief of mission must arrive at the assigned post no later than 60 days after Senate confirmation. (2) The limit does not apply when delay results from a flight delay beyond the chief’s or Department’s control; a natural disaster, global health emergency, or other natural event preventing entry; the host government’s delay or refusal to accept diplomatic accreditation; a family or medical emergency; or other circumstances beyond the chief’s control. (3) The Secretary may waive the requirement after finding that extraordinary circumstances justify the waiver and sending the appropriate congressional committees a brief description. (4) Within 90 days after December 23, 2024, and whenever a chief arrives more than 60 days after confirmation, the Secretary must report to those committees each such chief and the justification.
(b) Departure notifications. Beginning April 1, 2025, for 5 years, the Secretary must notify the appropriate congressional committees of any chief of mission who permanently leaves the assigned post within 90 days after leaving.
The Secretary shall require that to be eligible for payment of travel expenses for initial arrival at the assigned post, a chief of mission must arrive at the post not later than 60 days after the date on which the chief of mission was confirmed by the Senate.
The restriction under paragraph (1) shall not apply to a chief of mission who arrives later than 60 days after confirmation by the Senate if the delay was caused by one or more of the following:
A flight delay that was outside of the control of the chief of mission or the Department.
A natural disaster, global health emergency, or other naturally occurring event that prevented the chief of mission from entering the country of the assigned post.
Delay or refusal by the government of the host country to accept diplomatic accreditation.
Family or medical emergency.
Extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the chief of mission.
The Secretary may waive the requirement under paragraph (1) upon a determination that extenuating circumstances warrant such a waiver and upon submission of a brief description of the determination to the appropriate congressional committees.
Not later than 90 days after December 23, 2024, and in each case that a chief of mission arrives at an assigned post more than 60 days after confirmation, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report identifying any chief of mission who arrived at the assigned post more than 60 days after confirmation by the Senate, and includes a description of the justification.
Beginning on April 1, 2025, for 5 years, the Secretary shall notify the appropriate congressional committees of any chief of mission who has permanently departed from the assigned post within 90 days of the departure.
Source credit: (Pub. L. 118–159, div. G, title LXXII, § 7202, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2528.)
- 2024Enacted · Pub. L. 118-159 · 138 Stat. 2528
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 118-159 on 2024-12-23.
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