Washington, DC -- Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued a statement celebrating the passage of the Foreign Service Modernization Act (H.R. 9086).

“I’m proud of the collaborative work in drafting the Foreign Service Modernization Act to help equip our diplomats with the necessary knowledge and skills to continue advancing U.S. interests and values. By improving training opportunities for U.S. Foreign Service Officers in critical minerals, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies, we will better prepare them with tools to navigate some of the most consequential national security and economic matters of this century. I was also glad to see my provisions to ensure the Department’s commitment to the Pickering, Rangel, Payne and Veterans Innovation Partnership Fellowships included, so that these programs can continue to bring talented new diplomats into the State Department.

“Though this bill included several key provisions, it could have been a stronger package had Republicans not rejected several Democratic measures, including to give Congress important oversight into the Reduction in Force Orders from July 2025 and to create a clear pathway for former USAID Foreign Service Officers to continue their service in the Department.

“The House Foreign Affairs Committee has a duty to conduct oversight over the administration’s arbitrary cuts that have led to the greatest brain drain of diplomatic and development professionals in recent history. State cannot conduct its expanded mandate without proper staffing. So, while I am proud to have voted for what steps this legislation did take to modernize the State Department, Congress has much more work left to repair the damage that has been done.”

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