22 U.S. Code § 4022 - Foreign language requirements

(a) In general

The Secretary shall establish foreign language proficiency requirements for members of the Service who are to be assigned abroad in order that Foreign Service posts abroad will be staffed by individuals having a useful knowledge of the language or dialect common to the country in which the post is located.

(b) Training

The Secretary of State shall arrange for appropriate language training of members of the Service by the institution or otherwise in order to assist in meeting the requirements established under subsection (a).

(Pub. L. 96–465, title I, § 702, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2099; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 126(3), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 394; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title II, § 208(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–422; Pub. L. 107–228, div. A, title III, § 327, Sept. 30, 2002, 116 Stat. 1387; Pub. L. 117–81, div. E, title LI, § 5114(b)(3), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2352.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–81 struck out subsec. (c) which read as follows: “Not later than January 31 of each year, the Director General of the Foreign Service shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives summarizing the number of positions in each overseas mission requiring foreign language competence that—

“(1) became vacant during the previous fiscal year; and

“(2) were filled by individuals having the required foreign language competence.”

2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–228 substituted “January 31” for “March 31” in introductory provisions and “fiscal year” for “calendar year” in par. (1).

1999—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–113 added subsec. (c).

1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–236 substituted “institution” for “Institute”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on International Relations of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.