Amo Celebrates the Advancement of Reforms to Strengthen America’s Diplomatic Corps

WASHINGTON, DC - House Foreign Affairs Committee Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) celebrated the House passage of the Foreign Service Modernization Act, which will strengthen America's diplomatic corps and give Foreign Service Officers the tools they need to meet today's national security challenges. Congressman Amo helped secure several key provisions in the legislation and spoke on the House floor in support of the bill. The measures Amo secured inclusion of strengthen training to combat antisemitism and support implementation of the Australia United Kingdom United States (AUKUS) security partnership.

"Our diplomats dedicate their lives to representing the United States abroad, often making tremendous personal sacrifices in service to our country," said Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo. "We owe them the training, protections, and support they need to do their jobs. I'm proud to have helped secure provisions that strengthen our diplomatic corps and support our key alliances. Our foreign policy is stronger when we invest in the people who carry it out."

WATCH HERE: Congressman Amo speaks on House floor in support of bipartisan legislation which includes key provisions he championed to strengthen diplomatic training and support AUKUS

Background

The Foreign Service Modernization Act marks the first comprehensive review of the Foreign Service Act, which codifies personnel matters for Foreign Service Officers, since it was signed into law in 1980.

The legislation would:

• Provide Ambassadors with increased authority and oversight in carrying out US foreign policy at their posts overseas,
• Create a pilot program for a Diplomatic Reserve Corps, modeling the reserve functions of the armed services, that would surge diplomats to the front lines in response to emergencies and crises abroad,
• Enhance expeditionary diplomacy in austere posts to advance American interests outside of the confines of embassy walls,
• Align State Department human resources technology and training to meet modern national security demands, and
• Increase pathways for military veterans to join the Foreign Service.

Amo championed several provisions included in the final legislation, including:

• Strengthening training for Foreign Service Officers to better identify and combat antisemitism.
• Helping ensure Foreign Service Officers have access to the trainings and briefings they need to implement the trilateral security partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom.

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