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22 U.S.C. § 4171

Model foreign language competence posts

United States · Title 22 — FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE · Status: effective

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22 U.S.C. § 4171, Model foreign language competence posts, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/457668
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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. 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. The Secretary of State may authorize exceptions to the requirements of this section if he determines that unanticipated exigencies so require.

Legislative history

The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone.

  • Enacted byPub. L. 96-465(H.R. 6790)1980-10-17
    Foreign Service Act of 1980
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 103-236(H.R. 2333)1994-04-30
    Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995
  • Amended byPub. L. 107-132(H.R. 3348)2002-01-16
    To designate the National Foreign Affairs Training Center as the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center.
    House: 407–0Senate: no recorded tally