LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AND EVALUATION OF FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE OFFICERS.

SEC. 1556. LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AND EVALUATION OF FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE OFFICERS. (a) Assessment of Foreign Language Competence.— The Foreign Agricultural Service shall revise its evaluation reports for its Foreign Service officers so as to require in a separate entry an assessment of the officer’s effectiveness in using, in his or her work, a foreign language or foreign languages tested at the General Professional Speaking Proficiency level or above, in cases where the supervisor is capable of making such an assessment. (b) Precedence in Promotion.— The Director of Personnel of the Foreign Agricultural Service shall instruct promotion panels to take account of language ability and, all criteria for promotion otherwise being equal, to give precedence in promotions to officers who have achieved at least the General Professional Speaking Proficiency level in 1 or more foreign languages over officers who lack that level of proficiency. (c) Report to Congress.— Within 6 months after the effective date of this title, the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, which— (1) details the extent to which, in the 3 years before the effective date of this title, Foreign Service officers of the Foreign Agricultural Service achieved General Professional Speaking Proficiency level in a primary foreign language of the host countries in which they served before arriving in such countries or within 1 year after such arrival; and (2) makes specific, new proposals to the Congress on how to ensure that at least 75 percent of Foreign Service officers of the Foreign Agricultural Service have achieved General Professional Speaking Proficiency level in a primary foreign language104 STAT. 3699 of the host countries in which they serve before arriving in such countries or within 1 year after such arrival.