A resolution designating May 1, 2020, as the "United States Foreign Service Day" in recognition of the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States, and honoring the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 556 Designating May 1, 2020, as ‘‘United States Foreign Service Day’’ in recogni- tion of the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States, and honoring the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 4, 2020 Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. COONS, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. KAINE, Ms. KLO- BUCHAR, Mrs. LOEFFLER, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MERKLEY, and Mrs. SHA- HEEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com- mittee on the Judiciary MAY 21, 2020 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating May 1, 2020, as ‘‘United States Foreign Service Day’’ in recognition of the men and women who have served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Service of the United States, and honoring the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the line of duty. Whereas the Foreign Service of the United States (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘Foreign Service’’) was estab- lished through the enactment of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act For the reorganization and improvement of the Foreign VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR556.ATS SR556 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 SRES 556 ATS Service of the United States, and for other purposes.’’, approved May 24, 1924 (43 Stat. 140, chapter 182) (commonly known as the ‘‘Rogers Act of 1924’’), and is now celebrating its 96th anniversary; Whereas the Rogers Act of 1924 established a career organi- zation based on competitive examination and merit pro- motion; Whereas, in 2020, more than 16,000 men and women of the Foreign Service are serving at home and abroad; Whereas Foreign Service personnel are supported by more than 75,000 locally engaged staff in nearly 300 embas- sies and consulates, who provide unique expertise and crucial links to host countries; Whereas Foreign Service personnel comprise employees from the Department of State, the United States Agency for International Development, the Department of Com- merce, the Department of Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the United States Agency for Global Media; Whereas the diplomatic, consular, communications, trade, de- velopment, security, public diplomacy, and numerous other functions that Foreign Service personnel perform constitute the first and most cost-effective instrument of the United States to protect and promote United States interests abroad; Whereas the men and women of the Foreign Service and their families are increasingly exposed to risks and dan- ger, even in times of peace, and many have died in the service of the United States; Whereas employees of the Foreign Service work daily— VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR556.ATS SR556 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 SRES 556 ATS (1) to ensure the national security of the United States; (2) to provide assistance to United States citizens overseas; (3) to preserve peace, freedom, and economic pros- perity around the world; (4) to promote the ideals and values of the United States, internationally recognized human rights, freedom, equal opportunities for women and girls, rule of law, and democracy; (5) to promote transparency, provide accurate infor- mation, and combat disinformation; (6) to cultivate new markets for United States prod- ucts and services and develop new investment opportuni- ties that create jobs in the United States and promote prosperity; (7) to promote economic development, reduce pov- erty, end hunger and malnutrition, fight disease, combat international crime and illegal drugs, and address envi- ronmental degradation; and (8) to provide emergency and humanitarian assist- ance to respond to crises around the world; Whereas, in response to the unprecedented global COVID–19 pandemic, all of the foreign affairs agencies of the United States have worked tirelessly to support the people of the United States, often placing their own safety and well- being at risk; Whereas Foreign Service personnel and locally engaged staff have assisted individuals in crisis by providing emergency consular services, repatriating United States citizens abroad, surging the agriculture quarantine and inspection program, providing technical assistance and emergency VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR556.ATS SR556 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 SRES 556 ATS and humanitarian relief to other countries and popu- lations, and pursuing other efforts that have saved lives; Whereas the foreign affairs agencies and the American For- eign Service Association have observed Foreign Service Day in May for many years; and Whereas it is both appropriate and just for the United States as a whole to recognize the dedication of the men and women of the Foreign Service and to honor the members of the Foreign Service who have given their lives in the loyal pursuit of their duties and responsibilities rep- resenting the interests of the United States and of its citizens: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) honors the men and women who have 2 served, or are presently serving, in the Foreign Serv- 3 ice of the United States for their dedicated and im- 4 portant service to the United States; 5 (2) calls on the people of the United States to 6 reflect on the service and sacrifice of past, present, 7 and future employees of the Foreign Service of the 8 United States, wherever they serve, with appropriate 9 ceremonies and activities; and 10 (3) designates May 1, 2020, as ‘‘United States 11 Foreign Service Day’’ to commemorate the 96th an- 12 niversary of the Foreign Service of the United 13 States. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR556.ATS SR556 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS