Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act.

Sec. 2. Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

Sec. 3. Director of Foreign Assistance at the Department of State

Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(p) Director of Foreign Assistance

(1) Definitions

In this subsection:

(A) Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means—

(i)

the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

(ii)

the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(iii)

the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

(iv)

the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

(B) Personnel decision

The term personnel decision means any decision relating to promotions, transfers, demotions, or dismissals.

(2) Establishment

There is established in the Department of State, a Director of Foreign Assistance (referred to in this subsection as the Director), who—

(A)

shall report directly to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources; and

(B)

should not hold another position in the United States Government while holding the position of Director.

(3) Duties

The Director shall—

(A)

optimize the impact of foreign assistance by—

(i)

strategically aligning foreign assistance resources to the Secretary of State’s overarching foreign policy goals;

(ii)

measuring effectiveness; and

(iii)

promoting evidence-based policies, including budget formulation, justification, and execution mechanisms;

(B)

serve as a resource for the Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary of State, the Under Secretaries of State, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of other Federal departments and agencies that implement United States foreign assistance programs to support the development of policies, plans, and programs to achieve national security, foreign policy, and development goals;

(C)

perform results-oriented functions related to United States foreign assistance, including—

(i)

leading an integrated budget, strategic planning, and performance process as part of integrated interagency program planning to amplify foreign assistance;

(ii)

promoting monitoring and evaluation;

(iii)

increasing transparency;

(iv)

facilitating data analysis, information management, and reporting; and

(v)

developing foreign assistance policies through research and partnerships;

(D)

support interagency collaboration on foreign assistance programs and policies of other Federal agencies and entities, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the Department of the Treasury, the United States Trade and Development Agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and the Peace Corps;

(E)

create and direct, as part of integrated interagency program planning to amplify foreign assistance, consolidated policy, strategic, and program plans, the operational budget, program evaluation and results reporting from bureaus and offices within the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development.

(4) Appointment; confirmation

(A) Appointment

The Director shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

(B) Acting director

No individual may serve as Director in an acting capacity or otherwise assume the responsibilities of the Director for more than 90 days without being confirmed to such position by the Senate.

(5) Personnel decisions

Any adverse personnel decision made by the Director, or affecting the Director or any staff member reporting to the Director, including demotions, suspensions, furloughs and reductions in force, shall require the approval of the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.

Sec. 4. Timely obligation of appropriated funds

All funds appropriated by Congress to the Department of State or to the United States Agency for International Development, or that are otherwise under the direction of the Director of Foreign Assistance, shall be made available to be obligated not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the related appropriations Act.