US HB6595 | 2019-2020 | 116th Congress
Status
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: Introduced on April 22 2020 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-04-22 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Pending: House Foreign Affairs Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]
Status: Introduced on April 22 2020 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-04-22 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Pending: House Foreign Affairs Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]
Summary
Establishes requirements for the Department of State to expand American Citizen Services at U.S. embassies, consulates, and missions worldwide during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. American Citizen Services are the range of services provided by the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, such as emergency passports, consular reports of birth abroad, emergency financial assistance, and repatriation. The State Department must petition the government of any country that closes borders and airspace or establishes travel restrictions due to COVID-19 to make provisions with the appropriate U.S. consular service in that country to ensure U.S. citizens, nationals, lawful permanent residents, or the immediate family members of such persons can travel to U.S. government evacuation points or access commercial travel. The State Department must also waive or reimburse certain repatriation travel expenses incurred due to COVID-19. Further, the State Department must provide U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions with explicit guidance to protect American lives abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic, increase certain consular affairs staffing, develop a comprehensive plan for COVID-19 infection risk mitigation procedures for all persons under chief of mission authority at overseas posts, regularly report on the Bureau of Consular Affairs' response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and prioritize regular and continued hiring of Foreign Service officers and specialists.
Title
Expanding Vital American Citizen Services Overseas (EVACS) Act of 2020
Sponsors
Rep. Joaquin Castro [D-TX] |
History
Date | Chamber | Action |
---|---|---|
2020-04-22 | House | Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. |
2020-04-22 | House | Introduced in House |
Same As/Similar To
SB4026 (Same As) 2020-06-22 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Subjects
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International affairs
Transportation costs
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports
Worker safety and health
World health
Congressional oversight
Department of State
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Emergency planning and evacuation
Employee hiring
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Health technology, devices, supplies
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International affairs
Transportation costs
Travel and tourism
Visas and passports
Worker safety and health
World health
US Congress State Sources
Type | Source |
---|---|
Summary | https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6595/all-info |
Text | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr6595/BILLS-116hr6595ih.pdf |