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Week Ending December 16, 2005

 

H.R.4436 To provide certain authorities for the Department of State, and for other purposes.

 

                                                                                     

BRIEF

The bill offers something of a potpourri of actions to clear up gray areas within the State Department.

 

The bill authorizes the US to participate in the REDI center (Regional Emerging Disease Intervention Center) in Singapore. The REDI Center would be on the forefront of dealing with and predicting potential pandemic diseases such as SARS or the more recent Avian Bird Flu. The Secretary of State would be required to report on efforts at the Centers in regard to bioterrorism concerns. The US / Singapore plan to establish the Center was signed in November 2005.

 

Another provision assigns reimbursements for medical costs incurred by State department employees and family in foreign countries to an applicable appropriation account and shall be eligible to obligation during the fiscal year they are received.

 

The Secretary of State is not required to convene an Accountability Review Board if in Afghanistan or Iraq there is an incident that involves serious injury, loss of life or significant destruction of property at the US mission there or one that occurs during the period beginning October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2009. Rather the Secretary can notify a House committee, conduct and inquiry of the incident and report on recommendations and actions taken.

 

Danger pay for us civilians overseas is increased from 25% to 35% of the employee’s base pay. The increase is aimed at making ‘hard to fill’ positions more desirable. Funds to persons eligible to receive reimbursements may be provided the reimbursements in advance of the disbursement. Mission employees with children in the primary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands would receive payment for the schooling and transportation to and from school if public transportation is not accessible.

 

 

Sponsor: Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ-4th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote December 14, 2005

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

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