US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

22 U.S.C. § 4171

Model foreign language competence posts

(a)

Designation of posts; time of designation and implementation; determination of competency standards

section 4022 of this titleIn order to carry out the purposes of 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 , and shall be implemented so that no later than , 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 . The Secretary of State shall submit no later than , 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.

Pub. L. 96–465, title II, § 220794 Stat. 2163Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 139(7)108 Stat. 398Pub. L. 107–132, § 1(b)115 Stat. 2412(, , ; , (25), , , 399; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 107–1322002—Subsec. (a). substituted “George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center” for “Foreign Service Institute”.

Pub. L. 103–236, § 139(7)1994—Subsec. (c). , (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.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Expansion of Model Foreign Language Competence Posts

Pub. L. 101–246, title I, § 161104 Stat. 46Pub. L. 101–302, title III, § 320(b)(3)104 Stat. 247Pub. L. 105–277, div. G112 Stat. 2681–817Pub. L. 107–132, § 1(b)115 Stat. 2412

“(a)

Designation of Posts .—

22 U.S.C. 402222 U.S.C. 4171In order to carry out the purposes of section 702 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [], and in light of the positive report issued on , by the Department of State, as required by section 2207 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 [], the Secretary of State shall designate as model foreign language competence posts a minimum of six Foreign Service posts, representing the Department of State’s five geographic bureaus, in countries where English is not the common language. Such designation shall be made not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act [], and shall be implemented so that not later than , in the case of non-hard language posts, and , in the case of hard language posts, 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)

‘Hard Language Country’ Post To Be Designated .—

At least one of the posts designated under subsection (a) shall be in a ‘hard language’ country, as identified in the report to the Under Secretary of State for Management of , entitled ‘Hard Language Proficiency in the Foreign Service’. Such post shall be in one of the countries where the official or principal language is Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Russian.
“(c)

Termination Date .—

The posts designated under subsection (a) shall continue as model foreign language posts at least until , in the case of non-hard language posts, and , in the case of hard language posts.
“(d)

Exemption Authority .—

The Secretary of State may authorize exceptions to the requirements of this section if—
“(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)

Excluded Posts .—

The posts designated under subsection (a) may not include Dakar, Senegal, or Montevideo, Uruguay. The report required under subsection (c) shall include progress made in these posts in maintaining the high foreign language standards achieved under the initial pilot program.
“(f)

Authorization of Appropriations .—

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.”
, , , as amended by , , ; , subdiv. A, title XXII, § 2219(a)(1), , ; , , , provided that: