Bureau of Legislative Affairs
The Bureau of Legislative Affairs (H) coordinates legislative activity for the Department of State and advises the Secretary, the Deputy, as well as the Under Secretaries and Assistant Secretaries on legislative strategy. H facilitates effective communication between State Department officials and the Members of Congress and their staffs. H works closely with authorizing, appropriations, and oversight committees of the House and Senate, as well as with individual Members that have an interest in State Department or foreign policy issues. H manages Department testimony before House and Senate hearings, organizes Member and staff briefings, and facilitates Congressional travel to overseas posts for Members and staff throughout the year. H reviews proposed legislation and coordinates Statements of Admini stration Policy on legislation affecting the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. The H staff advises individual Bureaus of the Department on legislative and outreach strategies and coordinates those strategies with the Secretary's priorities.
The Secretary of State is the principal Congressional Relations Officer of the Department. H supports the Secretary by ensuring that the administration's foreign policy priorities are reflected throughout the legislative process. H coordinates the annual testimony provided by the Secretary to Congressional committees with jurisdiction over State programs to explain Department priorities and budget requirements. The bureau succeeds in its overall mission by seeking passage of relevant foreign policy legislation and appropriations, obtaining advice and consent to treaties, as well as confirmation of the President's Departmental and Ambassadorial nominees by the Senate.
The Assistant Secretary, advises the Secretary of State on legislative matters, directs the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, and acts as the Department's principal liaison with the Congress.
Contact Information:
Phone: (202) 647-4204
FAX: (202) 647-2762
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Legislative Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
Current Events
Trilateral Meeting with Afghanistan and Pakistan
Secretary Clinton with Afghan President Hamid Karzai (L) and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari (R) in Washington, D.C., May 6: "Before President Karzai and President Zardari meet with President Obama this morning, the two ministers, Minister Qureshi and Minister Spanta, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding committing their countries to achieving a trade transit agreement by the end of the year, which we believe will have great economic benefits for both peoples."
Full Text / View Video / Afghanistan Country Info
FY2010 International Affairs Budget
The FY 2010 International Affairs budget request reflects the President's commitment to strengthen the tools of diplomacy and foreign assistance to address current and future challenges that impact the security of the United States. The request significantly increases the core programming, policy, and management capabilities of the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and related agencies to fulfill their robust diplomatic and foreign assistance mission. Fact Sheet / Summary and Highlights / Budget in Brief
Secretary Clinton in remarks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, May 7, Washington, D.C.: "We both want to achieve stability and security in Georgia. We are both committed to the NATO-Russia Council to open up another important channel of dialogue. And we are very focused on making sure that the United States and Russia have a very vigorous ongoing dialogue among our two governments." Full Text / View Video / Russia Country Info
FY 2009 Budget in Brief
The annual Function 150 (International Affairs Budget Request) Summary and Highlights provides an overview of the total funding requested in four appropriations bills for the programs and activities of the International Affairs budget. PDF Version Fact Sheet
The Budget in Brief describes funding requested in one appropriations bill (that covering the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies) for the worldwide operations of the State Department and selected other international programs and activities.
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