22 U.S.C. § 8211 — Democracy promotion at the Department of State

(a) Democracy Liaison Officers. (1) The Secretary of State must create and staff Democracy Liaison Officer positions, supervised by the Assistant Secretary. These officers may be posted to (A) U.S. missions to regional and multilateral organizations, such as the EU, African Union, Organization of American States, the OSCE, the U.N. and its agencies, and NATO; (B) State Department regional public diplomacy centers; (C) U.S. combatant commands; or (D) other posts the Secretary picks. (2) Each officer should (A) give expertise on ways to promote and build democracy, (B) help create and carry out strategies for democratic transitions, and (C) do other work the Secretary or Assistant Secretary assigns. (3) As much as practical, given funding and available staff, these should be new positions added on top of existing human rights and democracy jobs, including labor-related ones. (4) Nothing here changes the authority or responsibilities that a chief of mission or other U.S. diplomat already has under other laws, including for developing or carrying out democracy strategies. (b) Office related to democratic movements and transitions. (1) The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor must identify at least one office responsible for working with democratic movements and helping nondemocratic or transitioning countries move toward full democracy. (2) Through that office, the Assistant Secretary must (A) support the Democracy Liaison Officers, (B) build relationships with, consult, and help nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements committed to peacefully promoting democracy and rights — including connecting them with the U.S. and other democratic governments, and (C) help regional bureau staff develop strategies and programs for peaceful change in nondemocratic or transitioning countries. (3) Within that Bureau, the Assistant Secretary must identify staff with expertise in working with these foreign organizations, individuals, and movements. (c) Actions by chiefs of mission. Each chief of mission in a nondemocratic or transitioning country should (1) build a yearly strategy to promote democratic values in that country and support local reformers, such as by (A) consulting with and supporting local organizations, individuals, and movements, (B) publicly condemning human rights violations — including religious freedom violations — and visiting sites tied to nonviolent protest for democracy, and (C) meeting periodically with those groups to discuss democracy and freedoms; (2) hold ongoing talks with that country's leaders about progress toward democracy and respect for freedoms, including religious freedom; and (3) meet with civil society, media that reach ordinary citizens, and students and young people to discuss progress toward democracy. (d) Recruitment. The Secretary should try to increase the share of Foreign Service members who work in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. (e) Authorization of appropriations. Congress may spend whatever money is needed to carry out this section.