Public Law 109-472۰January 11, 2007
Department of State Authorities Act of 2006
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Prime Sponsor: Mr. Christopher H. Smith of New Jersey
H.R. 6060, Signed by the President January 11, 2007 |
Key Provisions:
- Grants the State Department the authority to withdraw any economic and military assistance to a country that knowingly transfers man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to terrorist organizations or a foreign government that sponsors terrorism.
- Reauthorizes and extends important new U.S. support programs to key U.S. allies the African Union (AU), the Holy See and Israel. The African Union’s newly established diplomatic mission to the U.S. and the Holy See’s Observer Mission to the UN will be granted diplomatic rights and privileges as a result of this new law. A program to offer Israel close to $5 billion in loan guarantees as been extended through this law, and a program to transfer obsolete or surplus stocks in the War Reserve Stockpile located in Israel to the Israeli Government has been reauthorized.
- Grants the State Department flexibility in the spending of fraud prevention and detection monies toward investigating a broad array of fraud, including fraud in connection with terrorist activities. Before this bill became law, the State Department faced legal constraints in tracking this type of visa fraud.
- Strengthen the State Department’s ability to assist Americans caught in humanitarian crisis overseas by waiving passport fees for Americans unable to pay for emergency passports to return to the United States.
- Enhance the education allowance for overseas employee dependents to allow for travel to the U.S. for children when K-12 schools at posts are not adequate, for educational travel to a school outside the U.S. for children at the secondary and college level and for the option of storing a child’s personal effects near the school during his or her trip to post, rather than transporting the effects back and forth.
- Establish a criminal provision that provides for penalties when an individual interferes with a Secret Service agent protecting a foreign dignitary.
Text of the State Department Authorities Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-472) [.pdf]
