# 114-hr-6271: Foreign Service Optimization Act of 2016

114-hr-6271, Foreign Service Optimization Act of 2016, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Nunes, Devin [R-CA-22] (R-CA); status Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-6271
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-6271
- Congress: 114
- Title: Foreign Service Optimization Act of 2016
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced: 2016-09-28
- Sponsor: Rep. Nunes, Devin [R-CA-22] (R-CA)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Policy area: International Affairs
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Foreign Service Optimization Act of 2016 This bill amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require Foreign Service employees overseas to serve at a post for between four and six consecutive years. The Department of State may reduce such assignment period in the case of a first tour of duty or a post deemed unhealthful due to extreme conditions or hardship including war, armed conflict, or civil strife. The State Department shall assure that Foreign Service members who have demonstrated a useful knowledge of the principal languages or dialects of the countries in which they are posted shall be are assigned to two consecutive tours of duty. The tour of duty or period of assignment shall be between four and six years for: (1) a member of the Armed Forces serving as a defense attache, or (2) a civilian employee of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assigned to a Defense Attache Office outside the United States. The Department of Defense (DOD) may reduce a tour of duty or a period of assignment if: (1) it is at an unhealthful post, (2) it is the first tour of duty or first period of assignment, or (3) DOD determines such reduced tour to be appropriate for exigent circumstances. The State Department may assign a member of the armed forces serving as a defense attache or a civilian DIA employee assigned to a Defense Attache Office outside the United States who demonstrates a useful knowledge of the principal language or dialect of the country to two consecutive Defense Attache Office tours of duty.

## Cosponsors (7)

- ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R-FL), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- FRANK LOBIONDO (R-NJ), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- PETER KING (R-NY), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pompeo, Mike [R-KS-4] (R-KS), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10] (R-OH), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2] (R-OH), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Westmoreland, Lynn A. [R-GA-3] (R-GA), 2016-09-28T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-3929: Office of Strategic Services Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 114-hr-2903: Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2015
- 114-hr-160: Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015
- 114-hr-5351: To prohibit the transfer of any individual detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- 114-hr-2992: Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 114-hr-2726: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-6271 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/6271)

## Related
- [114-hr-3929: Office of Strategic Services Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3929)
- [114-hr-2903: Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2903)
- [114-hr-160: Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-160)
- [114-hr-5351: To prohibit the transfer of any individual detained at United States Naval Stat…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5351)
- [114-hr-2992: Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2992)
- [114-hr-2726: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2726)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-6271 (as of 2025-11-18).