Democracy promotion at the Department of State

The Secretary of State shall establish and staff Democracy Liaison Officer positions. Democracy Liaison Officers shall serve under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary. Democracy Liaison Officers may be assigned to the following posts: Each Democracy Liaison Officer should— To the fullest extent practicable, taking into consideration amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection and personnel available for assignment to the positions described in paragraph (1), the Democracy Liaison Officer positions established under subsection (a) shall be new positions that are in addition to existing positions with responsibility for other human rights and democracy related issues and programs, including positions with responsibility for labor issues. Nothing in this subsection may be construed as altering any authority or responsibility of a chief of mission or other employee of a diplomatic mission of the United States provided under any other provision of law, including any authority or responsibility for the development or implementation of strategies to promote democracy. There shall be identified within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the Department at least one office that shall be responsible for working with democratic movements and facilitating the transition to full democracy of nondemocratic countries and democratic transition countries. The Assistant Secretary shall, including by acting through the office or offices identified pursuant to paragraph (1)— Within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, the Assistant Secretary shall identify officers or employees who have expertise in and shall be responsible for working with nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements that develop relations with, consult with, and provide assistance to nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements in foreign countries that are committed to the peaceful promotion of democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms. Each chief of mission in each nondemocratic country or democratic transition country should— develop, as part of annual program planning, a strategy to promote democratic principles, practices, and values in each such foreign country and to provide support, as appropriate, to nongovernmental organizations, individuals, and movements in each such country that are committed to democratic principles, practices, and values, such as by— The Secretary should seek to increase the proportion of members of the Foreign Service who serve in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.