,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cffg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #g1 #bjbj,mr4 ,menendez introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to require the establishment of a repatriation task force during major infectious disease outbreaks1 to authorize additional paid leave for employees of certain independent agencies involved in the conduct of foreign affairs1 and to extend the application period and use of certain special immigrant visas4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,consular and ,administrative ,support ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,consular affairs and repatriation resources of the ,department of ,state ,section #a of the ,state ,department ,basic ,authorities ,act of #aief 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfea;a7 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7h7 ,responding to epidemics or pandemics 7#a7 ,statement of policy ,it shall be the policy of the ,united ,states1 during any public health emergency caused by an epidemic or pandemic-- 7,a7 to not leave any ,united ,states national involuntarily stranded in a foreign country2 and 7,b7 to provide all appropriate and available assistance to ,united ,states nationals to facilitate their return to the ,united ,states1 when requested1 for the duration of the public health emergency4 7#b7 ,definitions ,in this subsection-- 7,a7 the term tier two response means a single1 comprehensive approach to incident management for the ,national ,passport ,center and the ,national ,visa ,center during a national emergency caused by an epidemic or pandemic1 including-- 7i7 the promulgation of protocols for communication1 information and planning1 emergency assistance1 logistics management and support1 staffing1 and financial management2 and 7ii7 the identification of roles and responsibilities for response and staffing1 critical infrastructure1 and international and interagency coordination2 and 7,b7 the term ,united ,states national means an individual who is-- 7i7 a ,united ,states citizen2 or 7ii7 an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,establishment of repatriation task force ,in responding to an infectious disease outbreak that is sustained1 severe1 and spreading1 including a determination by the ,director-,general of the ,world ,health ,organization of a public health emergency of international concern under ,article #ab of the ,international ,health ,regulations1 done at ,geneva ,may #bc1 #bjje1 the ,secretary shall establish1 under the direction of the ,assistant ,secretary for ,consular ,affairs1 a ,repatriation ,task ,force1 which shall-- 7,a7 formulate and implement policies that protect and advance ,united ,states interests in protecting and safeguarding the needs of ,united ,states nationals1 including repatriation and other health and medical needs2 7,b7 manage1 in coordination with relevant diplomatic posts1 all communication and coordination with ,united ,states nationals regarding their needs1 including repatriation and health and medical matters2 7,c7 ensure that procedures implemented by ,american ,citizen ,services are integrated into1 and reflected in1 the decision-making process within the ,department of ,state2 7,d7 coordinate the functions of ,american ,citizen ,services1 including repatriation1 responding to health and medical needs1 and other relevant functions1 within the ,department of ,state2 7,e7 incorporate the functions of ,american ,citizen ,services1 including repatriation and other health and medical needs priorities1 into the activities of the ,department of ,state2 7,f7 coordinate efforts of the ,department of ,state with relevant ,federal departments and agencies to meet the needs of ,american ,citizen ,services1 including repatriation and other health and medical needs2 and 7,g7 support ,american ,citizen ,services with repatriation and other health and medical needs1 including coordinating and providing resources to meet all repatriation needs4 7#d7 ,personnel ,the ,secretary shall ensure that there are sufficient personnel serving in the ,office of ,american ,citizen ,services and ,crisis ,management and the ,bureau of ,consular ,affairs or other ,department of ,state personnel in the countries affected by the epidemic or pandemic1 to carry out the responsibilities set forth in paragraph 7#c71 including repatriation matters4 7#e7 ,national passport center and national visa center ,in responding to an infectious disease outbreak described in paragraph 7#c71 the ,secretary should activate a tier two response by the ,national ,passport ,information ,center and the ,national ,visa ,center4 7#f7 ,notification requirement ,not later than #ae days before the ,department of ,state intends to discontinue the repatriation services described in paragraph 7#c7 in any region1 country1 or part thereof during a public health emergency caused by an epidemic or pandemic affecting such region1 country1 or part1 the ,secretary shall notify1 by all appropriate means1 all ,united ,states nationals affected by this service interruption1 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives of the date after which the ,department of ,state will no longer provide such services to ,united ,states nationals seeking repatriation to the ,united ,states4 4 #c4 ,additional paid leave for employees of certain independent agencies involved in the conduct of foreign affairs ,section #bajjg of the ,,cares ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-acf7 is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting 1 the ,director of the ,peace ,corps1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,millennium ,challenge ,corporation1 the ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,international ,development ,finance ,corporation1 the ,president and ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,united ,states ,african ,development ,foundation1 the ,president and ,chief ,executive ,officer of the ,inter-,american ,foundation1 after the ,secretary of ,state2 and 7#b7 by striking the ,secretary and the ,administrator and inserting each of the agency heads authorized to provide additional paid leave under this section4 #d4 ,extension of application period and use of certain special immigrant visas 7a7 ,covered visa defined ,in this section1 the term covered visa means a special immigrant visa that-- 7#a7 is authorized under-- 7,a7 section #ajei of the ,national ,defense ,authorization ,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjjf 7,public ,law #aji-afc2 #h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja note72 7,b7 section #abdd of the ,refugee ,crisis in ,iraq ,act of #bjjg 7,public ,law #aaj-aha2 #h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeg note72 or 7,c7 section #fjb of the ,afghan ,allies ,protection ,act of #bjji 7,public ,law #aaa-h2 #h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja note72 7#b7 was issued during fiscal year #bjbj2 and 7#c7 was not used for travel to the ,united ,states4 7b7 ,extension of validity period 7#a7 ,in general ,given the current travel restrictions and health concerns related to international travel due to the coronavirus pandemic1 not later than #fj days after the date on which the ,international ,organization for ,migration resumes flights for refugee resettlement to the ,united ,states1 the ,secretary of ,state1 in cooperation with the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 shall extend the period of validity of a covered visa until a date that is not earlier than #f months after such extension date4 7#b7 ,no effect on numerical limitation ,any extension under paragraph 7#a7 may not be counted against any numerical limitation on the number of visas available under any law referred to in subsection 7a77#a74 7c7 ,extension of application period ,if the application period for any covered visa is scheduled to expire between ,february #a1 #bjbj1 and #fj days after the date on which the ,international ,organization for ,migration resumes flights for refugee resettlement to the ,united ,states1 the ,secretary of ,state shall extend such application period so that eligible applicants may apply for a covered visa until the date that is #f months after such flight resumption date4