§ 4801. Findings and purposes

(a) Findings The Congress finds and declares that—

(1) the United States has a crucial stake in the presence of United States Government personnel representing United States interests abroad;

(2) conditions confronting United States Government personnel and missions abroad are fraught with security concerns which will continue for the foreseeable future; and

(3) the resources now available to counter acts of terrorism and protect and secure United States Government personnel and missions abroad, as well as foreign officials and missions in the United States, are inadequate to meet the mounting threat to such personnel and facilities.

(b) Purposes The purposes of this chapter are—

(1) to set forth the responsibility of the Secretary of State with respect to the security of diplomatic operations in the United States and abroad;

(2) to maximize coordination by the Department of State with Federal, State, and local agencies and agencies of foreign governments in order to enhance security programs;

(3) to promote strengthened security measures and to provide for the accountability of United States Government personnel with security-related responsibilities;

(4) to set forth the responsibility of the Secretary of State with respect to the safe and efficient evacuation of United States Government personnel, their dependents, and private United States citizens when their lives are endangered by war, civil unrest, or natural disaster; and

(5) to provide authorization of appropriations for the Department of State to carry out its responsibilities in the area of security and counterterrorism, and in particular to finance the acquisition and improvements of United States Government missions abroad, including real property, buildings, facilities, and communications, information, and security systems.

(Pub. L. 99–399, title I, § 102, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 855; Pub. L. 101–246, title I, § 115(a), Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 22; Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 162(g)(1), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 406.)

References In Text

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “titles I through IV”, meaning titles I through IV of Pub. L. 99–399, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 855, known as the Diplomatic Security Act, which are classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of titles I through IV of Pub. L. 99–399 to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.

Amendments

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b)(2) to (6). Pub. L. 103–236 struck out par. (2) and redesignated pars. (3) to (6) as (2) to (5), respectively. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “to provide for an Assistant Secretary of State to head the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the Department of State, and to set forth certain provisions relating to the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State;”.

1990—Subsec. (b)(5), (6). Pub. L. 101–246 added par. (5) and redesignated former par. (5) as (6).

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–236 applicable with respect to officials, offices, and bureaus of Department of State when executive orders, regulations, or departmental directives implementing the amendments by sections 161 and 162 of Pub. L. 103–236 become effective, or 90 days after Apr. 30, 1994, whichever comes earlier, see section 161(b) of Pub. L. 103–236, as amended, set out as a note under section 2651a of this title.

Short Title Of Amendment

Short Title of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(7) [div. A, title VI, § 601], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–451, provided that: “This title [enacting section 4865 of this title, amending section 4831 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 4865 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999’.”

Short Title

Short Title

Pub. L. 99–399, § 1, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 853, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and sections 2656e, 2711, 2712, 2780, 3244, and 4901 to 4904 of this title, sections 5569 and 5570 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, sections 1051, 1095, and 2181 to 2185 of Title 10, Armed Forces, section 2331 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, section 1226 of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters, sections 559 and 1013 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, sections 2160b, 2160c, and 2169 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and sections 1801 to 1809 of Title 46, Appendix, Shipping, amending sections 300, 2151a, 2349aa–2, 2349aa–4, 2349aa–7, 2502, 2652, 2708, 3929, and 3929a of this title, section 208 of Title 3, The President, sections 5315 and 6325 of Title 5, sections 2 and 11 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95–452, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, sections 793, 794, and 3671 of Title 18, and section 2405 of Title 50, Appendix, War and National Defense, enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2708 and 4901 of this title, section 5569 of Title 5, sections 133, 1051, 1095, and 2181 of Title 10, section 559 of Title 37, section 2169 of Title 42, and section 1801 of Title 46, Appendix, and amending a provision set out as a note under section 2651 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986’.”

Pub. L. 99–399, title I, § 101, Aug. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 855, provided that: “Titles I through IV of this Act [enacting this chapter and amending sections 300, 2349aa–4, 2652, 3929, and 3929a of this title, section 208 of Title 3, The President, section 5315 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and sections 2 and 11 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95–452, set out in the Appendix to Title 5] may be cited as the ‘Diplomatic Security Act’.”