2.6: Congressional Requests
Coordinate legislative activity for the Department of State and advise the Secretary, the Deputy, as well as the Under Secretaries
and Assistant Secretaries on legislative strategy.
Other Information:
The Bureau of Legislative Affairs (H) coordinates legislative activity for the Department of State and advises the Secretary,
the Deputy, as well as the Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries on legislative strategy. H facilitates effective communication
between State Department officials and the Members of Congress and their staffs. H works closely with authorizing, appropriations,
and oversight committees of the House and Senate, as well as with individual Members that have an interest in State Department
or foreign policy issues. H manages Department testimony before House and Senate hearings, organizes Member and staff briefings,
and facilitates Congressional travel to overseas posts for Members and staff throughout the year. H reviews proposed legislation
and coordinates Statements of Administration Policy on legislation affecting the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. The H staff
advises individual Bureaus of the Department on legislative and outreach strategies and coordinates those strategies with
the Secretary's priorities. The Secretary of State is the principal Congressional Relations Officer of the Department. H supports
the Secretary by ensuring that the administration's foreign policy priorities are reflected throughout the legislative process.
H coordinates the annual testimony provided by the Secretary to Congressional committees with jurisdiction over State programs
to explain Department priorities and budget requirements. The bureau succeeds in its overall mission by seeking passage of
relevant foreign policy legislation and appropriations, obtaining advice and consent to treaties, as well as confirmation
of the President's Departmental and Ambassadorial nominees by the Senate. The Assistant Secretary advises the Secretary of
State on legislative matters, directs the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, and acts as the Department's principal liaison with
the Congress. The Bureau of Legislative Affairs is headed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary, and three Deputy Assistant
Secretaries. The bureau's organization is designed to work closely with congressional oversight committees and leadership.
It consists of four offices: the Office of Senate Affairs; the Office of House Affairs; the Office of Regional, Global, and
Functional Affairs; and the Executive Office.
Stakeholder(s):
- Bureau of Legislative Affairs: You can find more information about the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, including a list of its senior officials, at http://www.state.gov/s/h/index.htm.
- Office of Senate Affairs: The Office of Senate Affairs is responsible for the Department's day-to-day interaction with the U.S. Senate and its principal
oversight committee -- Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as the several other Senate Committees with interest and
jurisdiction over the conduct of foreign affairs. This office tracks and works with Senate members and staff on foreign policy-related
legislation, keeping Department officials informed of committee positions, and advancing Administration foreign policy goals
on the Hill. The office also carries the responsibility for managing the Department's nominations and confirmation process
and the ratification of treaties.
- Office of House Affairs: The House Affairs Office is responsible for the Department's liaison with Members and Committees of the U.S. House of Representatives.
It facilitates hearings, briefings for Members and staff, outreach to oversight Committees, and communication between the
House of Representatives and the Department. H's "mission" on Capitol Hill is located in B-330 of the Rayburn House Office
Building. This liaison office provides a full range of State Department support services to Representatives, Senators, Congressional
Committees, and their staffs.
- Office of Regional, Global, and Functional Affairs: The Office of Regional, Global, and Functional Affairs tracks the Department's full range of policy issues of interest to
the Congress. The office's Legislative Management Officers are the principal substantive liaison officers between Department
bureaus and Congressional offices. It works in close cooperation with the Department bureaus in briefings on administration
policy and manages Congressional appearances of Department witnesses for foreign policy hearings.
- Executive Office: The Executive Office of the Bureau of Legislative Affairs (H/EX) is responsible for Legislative Operations with oversight
of Department of State support activities provided to Members of Congress and their staff. It facilitates official foreign
travel of Member and staff delegations; responds to written, telephonic and electronic communications by Members of Congress;
oversees the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance process for official testimony before Congress; maintains records
of all relevant hearings; and provides basic administrative support for the bureau. The Office annually handles approximately:
• 1,500 pieces of legislation; • 300 congressional hearings; • 8,000 pieces of congressional correspondence; • 500 congressional
reports and notifications; • 18,000 congressional inquires; and • 2,000 congressional overseas travelers.
- Legislative Reference Unit: The Legislative Reference Unit (LRU) oversees the coordination and clearance functions of the Bureau of Legislative Affairs
with respect to all Department programs and activities. This office monitors all significant legislation involving the Department
and serves as the liaison in the legislative clearance process, coordinating views between OMB, National Security Council,
and other executive agencies. Items maintained in this legislative clearance process include: Presidential executive orders,
proclamations, Statements of Administration Policy (SAP), enrolled bills, and reports (including testimony) on pending legislation.
The LRU coordinates the review, preparation, and submission of transcripts of Congressional hearings, insuring that appropriate
editorial changes are made in accordance with Committee guidelines. The LRU maintains a library of hearings, transcripts and
Questions for the Record (QFRs) involving the Secretary, Department principals, and other Department witnesses. In addition,
the LRU is responsible for coordinating and maintaining the system that identifies, tasks, and tracks reports to Congress,
required by law and by legislative history, which are prepared for signature and submission by the Secretary of State or the
President.
- Congressional Correspondence Unit: The Congressional Correspondence Unit (CCU) receives and tracks all written correspondence from Members of Congress, including
requests for testimony, briefings, documents, and speaking engagements. The CCU also responds to telephone inquiries from
congressional offices seeking information related to Department programs, policies and publications.
- Congressional Support Unit: The Congressional Support Unit (CSU) helps facilitate official foreign travel for Members of Congress and their Staff. The
CSU is responsible for all substantive aspects of Congressional travel including notification to Posts abroad, compilation
of itineraries and scheduling. On a policy level, the CSU is responsible for successful coordination of Congressional (CODEL)
and Staff (STAFFDEL) delegation travel to foreign posts in support of the President of the United States' foreign policy objectives.
- Congressional Travel Office: The Congressional Travel Unit (CTU) facilitates official foreign travel arrangements for Members of Congress and their Staff.
The trips are usually identified by one of three categories: • Congressional Delegation (CODEL): led by a Member of Congress
(Senator/Representative) • Staff Delegation (STAFFDEL): led by a Professional Staff Member • Non-Delegation (NODEL): led by
a Member of Congress (Senator/Representative) in a non-official capacity. (No Congressional funds are expended.)
Indicator(s):
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