A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill seeks to amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to establish a Diplomatic Reserve Corps within the Department of State. The Corps is designed to provide a trained reserve of personnel to assist the Secretary of State and the Foreign Service through four specific elements. The legislation outlines rules for recruitment, eligibility, appointments, and compensation for these members. It also establishes protocols for calling members to active service, including during national emergencies or to augment diplomatic efforts. Furthermore, the bill establishes a Diplomatic Reserve Corps Account to fund salaries, training, and operations.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +6
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill explicitly includes veterans and disabled veterans as an affirmative factor for appointment to the new Corps.
- Scored +5
Is this likely to create jobs?
The bill establishes a new personnel system for the Diplomatic Reserve Corps, creating various service roles.
- Scored +4
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill provides specific service and retirement benefits for members who become disabled or incapacitated in the line of duty.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill establishes new accounts and funding mechanisms for the Diplomatic Reserve Corps.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Career Opportunities and Specialized Service: The bill creates a new personnel system that allows citizens at least 21 years of age to serve the Department of State (Section 1412).
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Benefits for Veterans: The appointment of veterans or disabled veterans is considered an affirmative factor when making appointments to the Corps (Section 1412).
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Financial Support for Families: In the event of a death during active service abroad, the Secretary of State may provide a death gratuity to surviving dependents (Section 1431).
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Educational Assistance: Beneficiaries of members who die while on active service abroad due to an act of terrorism may receive educational assistance to cover costs such as tuition and books (Section 1433).
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Health Care Coverage: Members of the Corps and their families may be eligible for health care under the Foreign Service Health Program (Section 1430).
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Protection of Retirement Income: For those already receiving retirement annuities from other federal systems, an appointment to the Corps will not terminate or reduce those existing payments (Section 1429).
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Employment and Reemployment Rights: Members of the Corps are granted rights and responsibilities similar to those in the uniformed services under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (Sec. 12).
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Civil Relief Protections: The bill extends the protections of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to members of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps during active service (Sec. 13).
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Funding for Operations: The establishment of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps Account ensures that money is available for salaries, training, orientation, human resources management, and operations (Sec. 14).
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Contingency Funding: The bill provides a mechanism to ensure costs and expenses are covered for members serving during a diplomatic contingency until the funds are expended (Sec. 15).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Involuntary Service: The Secretary of State has the authority to call members to active service without their consent during a national emergency declared by the President (Section 1461), or to augment diplomatic efforts during specific circumstances (Section 1462), or for preplanned missions (Section 1463).
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Mandatory Retirement: Members are required to retire from the Corps at the end of the month in which they reach 65 years of age (Section 1472).
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Potential Loss of Appointment: A member's appointment can be terminated if they are found to have failed to meet performance standards (Section 1475), if they are subject to a reduction in force (Section s 1494), or if they lack necessary medical or dental readiness (Section 1493).
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Service Obligations: Members are required to perform specific amounts of annual active service for training and active service (Section 1451).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill explicitly includes veterans and disabled veterans as an affirmative factor for appointment to the new Corps. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill provides specific service and retirement benefits for members who become disabled or incapacitated in the line of duty. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions for retired career members to serve in the Senior Diplomatic Retiree Reserve and provides immediate annuity options for members aged 60 and older. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides educational assistance for beneficiaries of members killed in terrorist attacks. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill establishes retirement benefits and annuities for members of the Corps. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill outlines specific annuity structures for long-serving members reaching retirement age.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill establishes a new personnel system for the Diplomatic Reserve Corps, creating various service roles. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill establishes specific retirement and separation benefits for members of the Diplomatic Reserve Corps. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill establishes new accounts and funding mechanisms for the Diplomatic Reserve Corps.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill uses veteran status as an affirmative factor for appointments and provides involuntary separation benefits and annuities for members.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill mandates regular medical and dental readiness assessments for Corps members. Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill provides health care eligibility for members of the Corps and their families through the Foreign Service Health Program.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the maintenance of detailed personnel records including physical condition and qualifications.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill clarifies that service in the Corps is treated as employment for the purposes of the Social Security Act and provides for immediate and deferred annuities.
- 8/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/30/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Michael BaumgartnerRepublican · Washington
Joe WilsonRepublican · South Carolina
Debbie Wasserman SchultzDemocrat · Florida