,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #dia ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #f 7legislative day1 ,february #e71 #bjbe,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,welch1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,bennet1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 and ,mr4 ,schiff7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to establish the position of ,director of ,foreign ,assistance in the ,department of ,state1 and for other purposes #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,foreign ,assistance ,accountability and ,oversight ,act4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the strategic delivery of foreign assistance is critical to supporting the ,united ,states' interests around the world2 7#b7 foreign assistance furthers ,united ,states' national security priorities1 advances ,united ,states' values1 and ensures the ,united ,states is the partner of choice for areas such as defense procurement and economic investment in cutting edge scientific research2 7#c7 the administration of foreign assistance programming should be-- 7,a7 managed by a qualified1 competent ,department of ,state official2 and 7,b7 subject to strict congressional oversight pursuant to its constitutionally authorized power of the purse2 and 7#d7 section #adac of the ,foreign ,affairs ,reform and ,restructuring ,act of #aiih 7,division ,g of ,public ,law #aje-bgg2 #bb ,u4,s4,c4 #fefc7 codified into law the status of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development as an independent establishment outside of the ,department of ,state4 #c4 ,director of ,foreign ,assistance at 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 7p7 ,director of ,foreign ,assistance 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7i7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations of the ,senate2 7ii7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate2 7iii7 the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7iv7 the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 7,b7 ,personnel decision ,the term personnel decision means any decision relating to promotions1 transfers1 demotions1 or dismissals4 7#b7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,department of ,state1 a ,director of ,foreign ,assistance 7referred to in this subsection as the ,director71 who-- 7,a7 shall report directly to the ,deputy ,secretary of ,state for ,management and ,resources2 and 7,b7 should not hold another position in the ,united ,states ,government while holding the position of ,director4 7#c7 ,duties ,the ,director shall-- 7,a7 optimize the impact of foreign assistance by-- 7i7 strategically aligning foreign assistance resources to the ,secretary of ,state's overarching foreign policy goals2 7ii7 measuring effectiveness2 and 7iii7 promoting evidence-based policies1 including budget formulation1 justification1 and execution mechanisms2 7,b7 serve as a resource for the ,secretary of ,state1 the ,deputy ,secretary of ,state1 the ,under ,secretaries of ,state1 the ,administrator of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 and the heads of other ,federal departments and agencies that implement ,united ,states foreign assistance programs to support the development of policies1 plans1 and programs to achieve national security1 foreign policy1 and development goals2 7,c7 perform results-oriented functions related to ,united ,states foreign assistance1 including-- 7i7 leading an integrated budget1 strategic planning1 and performance process as part of integrated interagency program planning to amplify foreign assistance2 7ii7 promoting monitoring and evaluation2 7iii7 increasing transparency2 7iv7 facilitating data analysis1 information management1 and reporting2 and 7v7 developing foreign assistance policies through research and partnerships2 7,d7 support interagency collaboration on foreign assistance programs and policies of other ,federal agencies and entities1 including the ,millennium ,challenge ,corporation1 the ,united ,states ,international ,development ,finance ,corporation1 the ,department of the ,treasury1 the ,united ,states ,trade and ,development ,agency1 the ,export-,import ,bank of the ,united ,states1 and the ,peace ,corps2 7,e7 create and direct1 as part of integrated interagency program planning to amplify foreign assistance1 consolidated policy1 strategic1 and program plans1 the operational budget1 program evaluation and results reporting from bureaus and offices within the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development4 7#d7 ,appointment2 confirmation 7,a7 ,appointment ,the ,director shall be appointed by the ,president1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate4 7,b7 ,acting director ,no individual may serve as ,director in an acting capacity or otherwise assume the responsibilities of the ,director for more than #ij days without being confirmed to such position by the ,senate4 7#e7 ,personnel decisions ,any adverse personnel decision made by the ,director1 or affecting the ,director or any staff member reporting to the ,director1 including demotions1 suspensions1 furloughs and reductions in force1 shall require the approval of the ,deputy ,secretary of ,state for ,management and ,resources4 4 #d4 ,timely obligation of appropriated funds ,all funds appropriated by ,congress to the ,department of ,state or to the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development1 or that are otherwise under the direction of the ,director of ,foreign ,assistance1 shall be made available to be obligated not later than #ij days after the date of the enactment of the related appropriations ,act4