§17371 Energy Diplomacy and Security Within the Department of State

Summary

The Secretary of State must make energy security a central part of the State Department’s work and set up a Coordinator for International Energy Affairs inside the Secretary’s office. The Coordinator must represent the Secretary when working with other federal agencies on U.S. international energy policy, make sure national security studies about global energy and the environment are used in State Department decisions, add energy security priorities to State activities, coordinate with other federal agencies, and bring together energy-related work now done in the Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and other State offices. Money may be provided as needed to carry out this work. Within 180 days after December 19, 2007, the Secretary must report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee about embassy staff who focus on energy in major producer or consumer countries, whether more energy specialists are needed at U.S. diplomatic posts, and options to add energy experts or attachés from the Department of Energy or its National Laboratories. The Secretary of Energy may arrange to place DOE or National Laboratory staff as energy advisors in U.S. embassies. Also, starting 180 days after December 19, 2007 and every 2 years for 20 years, the Secretary must report what energy activities the Department is doing (including the two bureaus and other offices), how much is spent on each activity, and how many and what qualified staff at each embassy work only on energy.