(a) Designation of posts; time of designation and implementation; determination of competency standards
In order to carry out the purposes of section 4022 of this title and to help ascertain the relationship between foreign language competence and the effectiveness of representation of the United States abroad, the Secretary of State shall designate as model foreign language competence posts at least two Foreign Service posts in countries where English is not the common language. Such designation shall be made no later than October 1, 1981, and shall be implemented so that no later than October 1, 1983, each Government employee permanently assigned to those posts shall possess an appropriate level of competence in the language common to the country where the post is located. The Secretary of State shall determine appropriate levels of language competence for employees assigned to those posts by reference to the nature of their functions and the standards employed by the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center.
(b) Continuation; report to Congress concerning operation of posts and advantages of meeting competency requirements
The posts designated under subsection (a) shall continue as model foreign language competence posts at least until September 30, 1985. The Secretary of State shall submit no later than January 31, 1986, a report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate describing the operation of such posts and the costs, advantages and disadvantages associated with meeting the foreign language competence requirements of this section.
(c) Exceptions; report to Congress
The Secretary of State may authorize exceptions to the requirements of this section if he determines that unanticipated exigencies so require.
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–132 substituted "George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center" for "Foreign Service Institute".
1994—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–236, §139(7), (25), amended subsec. (c) identically, striking out at end "Such exceptions shall be annually reported to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate."
Expansion of Model Foreign Language Competence Posts
Pub. L. 101–246, title I, §161, Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 46, as amended by Pub. L. 101–302, title III, §320(b)(3), May 25, 1990, 104 Stat. 247; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, subdiv. A, title XXII, §2219(a)(1), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–817; Pub. L. 107–132, §1(b), Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2412, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(1) he determines that unanticipated exigencies so require; and
"(2) he immediately reports such exceptions to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
"(e)
"(f)