where there is imminent danger because of the prevalence of disturbed conditions, and the return of such individuals, furniture, and effects to such post upon the cessation of such conditions, or to such other Foreign Service post as may in the meantime have become the post to which the member of the Service has been reassigned;

(8) trips by a member of the Service for purposes of family visitation in situations where the family of the member is prevented by official order from accompanying the member to, or has been ordered from, the assigned post of the member because of imminent danger due to the prevalence of disturbed conditions, except that—

(A) with respect to any such member whose family is located in the United States, the Secretary may pay the costs and expenses for not to exceed two round trips in a 12-month period; and

(B) with respect to any such member whose family is located abroad, the Secretary may pay such costs and expenses for trips in a 12-month period as do not exceed the cost of 2 round trips (at less than first class) to the District of Columbia;

(9) 237 round-trip travel to or from an employee's post of assignment for purposes of family visitation in emergency situations involving personal hardship, except that payment for travel by family members to an employee's post of assignment may be authorized under this paragraph only where the family of the member is prevented by official order from residing at such post;

(10) preparing and transporting to the designated home in the United States or to a place not more distant, the remains of a member of the Service, or of a family member of a member of the Service, who dies abroad or while in travel status or, if death occurs in the United States, transport of the remains to the designated home in the United States or to a place not more distant; 238

(11) transporting the furniture and household and personal effects of a member of the Service (and of his or her family) to successive posts of duty and, on separation of a member from the Service, to the place where the member will reside (or if the member has died, to the place where his or her family will reside);

(12) packing and unpacking, transporting to and from a place of storage, and storing the furniture and household and personal effects of a member of the Service (and of his or her family)—

(A) when the member is absent from his or her post of assignment under orders or is assigned to a Foreign Serv

237 Sec. 148 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 (Public Law 101-246; 104 Stat. 38), restated par. (9). It formerly read as follows:

"(9) round-trip travel from a location abroad for purposes of family visitation in emergency situations involving personal hardship;".

238 Sec. 146 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 (Public Law 102-138; 105 Stat. 669), inserted text to this point beginning with "or, if death occurs

...

ice post to which such furniture and household and personal effects cannot be taken or at which they cannot be used, or when it is in the public interest or more economical to authorize storage;

(B) in connection with an assignment of the member to a new post, except that costs and expenses may be paid under this subparagraph only for the period beginning on the date of departure from his or her last post or (in the case of a new member) on the date of departure from the place of residence of the member and ending on the earlier of the date which is 3 months after arrival of the member at the new post or the date on which the member establishes residence quarters, except that in extraordinary circumstances the Secretary may extend this period for not more than an additional 90 days; 239 and

(C) in connection with separation of the member from the Service, except that costs or expenses may not be paid under this subparagraph for storing furniture and household and personal effects for more than 3 months, except that in extraordinary circumstances the Secretary may extend this period for not more than an additional 90 days; 240

(13) transporting, for or on behalf of a member of the Service, a privately owned motor vehicle in any case in which the Secretary determines that water, rail, or air transportation of the motor vehicle is necessary or expedient for all or any part of the distance between points of origin and destination, but transportation may be provided under this paragraph for only one motor vehicle of a member during any 48-month period while the member is continuously serving abroad, except that another motor vehicle may be so transported as a replacement for such motor vehicle if such replacement

(A) is determined, in advance, by the Secretary to be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the members and in the interest of the Government, or

(B) is incident to a reassignment when the cost of transporting the replacement motor vehicle does not exceed the cost of transporting the motor vehicle that is replaced; (14) the travel and relocation of members of the Service, and members of their families, assigned to or within the United States (or any territory or possession of the United States or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), including assignments under subchapter VI of chapter 33 of title 5, United States

239 Sec. 145(1) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 (Public Law 102-138; 105 Stat. 668), inserted text to this point beginning with ", except that in extraordinary

Functions vested in the Secretary of State by this amendment were delegated to the Under Secretary for Management by Delegation of Authority No. 193, January 7, 1992 (Public Notice 1555; 57 F.R. 2298; January 21, 1992).

240 Sec. 145(2) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 (Public Law 102-138; 105 Stat. 668), inserted text to this point beginning with ", except that in extraordinary

Functions vested in the Secretary of State by this amendment were delegated to the Under Secretary for Management by Delegation of Authority No. 193, January 7, 1992 (Public Notice 1555; 57 F.R. 2298; January 21, 1992).

Code (notwithstanding section 3375(a) of such title, if an agreement similar to that required by section 3375(b) of such title is executed by the member of the Service); and

(15) 1 round-trip per year for each child below age 21 of a member of the Service assigned abroad—

(A) to visit the member abroad if the child does not regularly reside with the member and the member is not receiving an education allowance or educational travel allowance for the child under section 5924(4) of title 5, United States Code; or

(B) to visit the other parent of the child if the other parent resides in a country other than the country to which the member is assigned and the child regularly resides with the member and does not regularly attend school in the country in which the other parent resides, except that a payment under this paragraph may not exceed the cost of round-trip travel between the post to which the member is assigned and the port of entry in the contiguous 48 States which is nearest to that post.

SEC. 902.241 LOAN OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS.-The Secretary may, as a means of eliminating transportation costs, provide members of the Service with basic household furnishing and equipment for use on a loan basis in personally owned or leased residences.

SEC. 903.242 REQUIRED LEAVE IN THE UNITED STATES. (a) The Secretary may order a member of the Service who is a citizen of the United States to take a leave of absence under section 6305 of title 5, United States Code (without regard to the introductory clause of subsection (a) of that section), upon completion by that member of 18 months of continuous service abroad. The Secretary shall order on such a leave of absence a member of the Service who is a citizen of the United States as soon as possible after completion by that member of 3 years of continuous service abroad.

(b) Leave ordered under this section may be taken in the United States, its territories and possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(c) While on a leave of absence ordered under this section, the services of any member of the Service shall be available for such work or duties in the Department or elsewhere as the Secretary may prescribe, but the time of such work or duties shall not be counted as leave.

SEC. 904.243 HEALTH CARE. (a) The Secretary of State shall establish a health care program to promote and maintain the physi

241 22 U.S.C. 4082.

242 22 U.S.C. 4083.

243 22 U.S.C. 4084. Sec. 122 of Public Law 99-93 (99 Stat. 405) amended subsection (a), by striking out "may" and inserting in lieu thereof "shall"; and subsection (b), by inserting “, and other preventive and remedial care and services as necessary," after "inoculations or vaccinations"; and by amending subsection (d) which previously read as follows:

"(d) If an individual eligible for health care under this section incurs an illness, injury, or medical condition while abroad which requires hospitalization or similar treatment, the Secre tary may pay all or part of the cost of such treatment. Limitations on such payments established by regulation may be waived whenever the Secretary determines that the illness, injury. or medical condition clearly was caused or materially aggravated by the fact that the individual concerned is or has been located abroad."

cal and mental health of members of the Service, and (when incident to service abroad) other designated eligible Government employees, and members of the families of such members and employ

ees.

(b) Any such health care program may include (1) medical examinations for applicants for employment, (2) medical examinations and inoculations or vaccinations, and other preventive and remedial care and services as necessary, for members of the Service and employees of the Department who are citizens of the United States and for members of their families, and (3) examinations necessary in order to establish disability or incapacity of participants in the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System or Foreign Service Pension System 244 or to provide survivor benefits under chapter 8.

(c) The Secretary of State may establish health care facilities and provide for the services of physicians, nurses, or other health care personnel at Foreign Service posts abroad at which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, a sufficient number of Government employees are assigned to warrant such facilities or services.

(d) If an individual eligible for health care under this section incurs an illness, injury, or medical condition which requires treatment while assigned to a post abroad located overseas pursuant to Government authorization, the Secretary may pay the cost of such treatment.

(e) Health care may be provided under this section to a member of the Service or other designated eligible Government employee after the separation of such member or employee from Government service. Health care may be provided under this section to a member of the family of a member of the Service or of a designated eligible Government employee after the separation from Government service or the death of such member of the Service or employee or after dissolution of the marriage.

(f) The Secretary of State shall review on a continuing basis the health care program provided for in this section. Whenever the Secretary of State determines that all or any part of such program can be provided for as well and as cheaply in other ways, the Secretary may, for such individuals, locations, and conditions as the Secretary of State deems appropriate, contract for health care pursuant to such arrangements as the Secretary deems appropriate.

SEC. 905.245 REPRESENTATION EXPENSES.-Notwithstanding section 5536 of title 5, United States Code, the Secretary may provide for official receptions and may pay entertainment and representational expenses (including expenses of family members) to enable the Department and the Service to provide for the proper representation of the United States and its interests. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide for the use of United States products, including American wine.

244 Sec. 243 of Public Law 100-238 (101 Stat. 1776) inserted "Foreign Service Pension System" here.

245 22 U.S.C. 4085.

SEC. 906.246 ENTITLEMENT TO VOTE IN A STATE IN A FEDERAL ELECTION. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and in such manner as shall be otherwise authorized by a State or other jurisdiction within the territory of the United States, a member of the Service residing outside the United States shall, in addition to any entitlement to vote in a State in a Federal election under section 3 of the Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 1973dd-1), be entitled to vote in a Federal election in the State in which such member was last domiciled immediately before entering the Service if such member

(1) makes an election of that State;

(2) notifies that State of such election and notifies any other States in which he or she is entitled to vote of such election; and

(3) otherwise meets the requirements of such Act.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) shall apply only to an individual who becomes a member of the Service on or after the date of enactment of this section and shall not apply to an individual who registers to vote in a State in which he is entitled to vote under section 3 of Overseas Citizens Voting Rights Act.

CHAPTER 10-LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS

SEC. 1001.247 LABOR-MANAGEMENT POLICY.-The Congress finds that

(1) experience in both private and public employment indicates that the statutory protection of the right of workers to organize, bargain collectively, and participate through labor organizations of their own choosing in decisions which affect them

(A) safeguards the public interest,

(B) contributes to the effective conduct of public business, and

(C) facilitates and encourages the amicable settlement of disputes between workers and their employers involving conditions of employment;

(2) the public interest demands the highest standards of performance by members of the Service and the continuous development and implementation of modern and progressive work practices to facilitate improved performance and efficiency; and

(3) the unique conditions of Foreign Service employment require a distinct framework for the development and implementation of modern, constructive, and cooperative relationships between management officials and organizations representing members of the Service.

Therefore, labor organizations and collective bargaining in the Service are in the public interest and are consistent with the requirement of an effective and efficient Government. The provisions

246 22 U.S.C. 4086. Sec. 129(a) of the Department of State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (Public Law 98-164; 97 Stat. 1027) added sec. 906. 247 22 U.S.C. 4101.