Regulations Regarding Foreign Language Competence Within Foreign Service

Pub. L. 103–236, title I, §191(a), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 418, as amended by Pub. L. 103–415, §1(u), Oct. 25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4302, provided that: "Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1994], the Secretary of State shall promulgate regulations—

"(1) establishing hiring preferences for Foreign Service Officer candidates competent in languages, with priority preference given to those languages in which the Department of State has a deficit;

"(2) establishing a standard that employees will not receive long-term training in more than 3 languages, and requiring that employees achieve full professional proficiency (S4/R4) in 1 language as a condition for training in a third, with exceptions for priority needs of the service at the discretion of the Director General;

"(3) requiring that employees receiving long-term training in a language, or hired with a hiring preference for a language, serve at least 2 tours in jobs requiring that language, with exceptions for certain limited-use languages and priority needs of the service at the discretion of the Director General;

"(4) requiring that significant consideration be given to foreign language competence and use in the evaluation, assignment, and promotion of all Foreign Service Officers of the Department of State, the Agency for International Development, and the United States Information Agency;

"(5) requiring the identification of appropriate Washington, D.C. metropolitan area positions as language-designated; and

"(6) requiring remedial training and suspension of language differential payments for employees receiving such payments who have failed to maintain required levels of proficiency."

[For abolition of United States Information Agency (other than Broadcasting Board of Governors and International Broadcasting Bureau), transfer of functions, and treatment of references thereto, see sections 6531, 6532, and 6551 of this title.]