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H.R. 9086 119th Congress House

Foreign Service Modernization Act

Official title: To amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to modify and improve that Act.

Introduced: June 2, 2026 Introduced by: Michael Lawler Republican · New York See on congress.gov
International Affairs Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesAsiaAustralia
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 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 17, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Sep 16, 2026 · 1:27 PM EDT
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 16, 2026 · 1:27 PM EDT
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5913-5922)
Sep 16, 2026 · 1:27 PM EDT
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Sep 16, 2026 · 1:11 PM EDT
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 9086.
Sep 16, 2026 · 1:11 PM EDT
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5913-5924)
Sep 16, 2026 · 1:11 PM EDT
Mr. Lawler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jun 2, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Jun 2, 2026
Introduced in House
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What's happening now September 17, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Foreign Service Modernization Act

This bill requires or authorizes certain actions related to U.S. Foreign Service (FS) management and operations, including an increased focus on expeditionary diplomacy (a concept that emphasizes diplomats conducting direct diplomacy in high-risk environments outside of the embassy), expanded hiring pathways, and additional training requirements.

For example, the bill requires the Department of State to establish

  • a team to develop a plan to improve the capability and willingness of FS members and leaders to engage in expeditionary diplomacy;
  • a program to recruit qualified veterans and separating military personnel into the FS, including by integrating FS recruitment into military transition programs; and
  • a Diplomatic Reserve Corps pilot program to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a trained reserve cadre providing a surge workforce to support foreign affairs contingencies.

Additionally, the State Department is authorized to establish a structured training framework that is integrated into normal career progression with protected training periods (similar to the Armed Forces' professional military education model). 

The bill specifies that FS members

  • must successfully complete specified leadership and management training prior to assuming leadership assignments;
  • who participate in approved external training, education, or details shall have certain employment protections (such as eligibility for promotions and pay increases on the same basis as those not on such assignments); and
  • who undergo full-time, department-funded language training for more than six months must serve at least three consecutive tours in positions requiring proficiency in that language, with assignments beginning immediately after such language training.
 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 9165 Diplomatic Reserve Corps Pilot Program Act of 2026
  • HR 9412 Stop Scamming Americans Act
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 2

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Bodies those filers lobbied

A filing lists the bills it worked on and the parts of government it contacted in separate sections, so these are the bodies those filers named anywhere in the filing, not a per-bill breakdown.

 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Republican 3
R
Goldman, Craig A.
Texas · Jun 30, 2026
 R
Mackenzie, Ryan
Pennsylvania · Jun 8, 2026
 R
Mast, Brian J.
Florida · Jun 2, 2026
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 9086: Foreign Service Modernization Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-9086/
MLA
"H.R. 9086: Foreign Service Modernization Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-9086/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 9086, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-9086/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 9086: Foreign Service Modernization Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-9086/)
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