The bill comes on the heels of reports citing delays and over-budget spending on embassies. Image: Ground Picture/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffA newly offered House bill (HR-8779) would require the State Department to regularly report on any substantive delays in upgrades to embassy security and other overseas construction projects.
“Significant delays in U.S. embassy construction projects impair the effectiveness of our foreign missions, threaten the safety of diplomatic, consular, and other U.S. personnel stationed overseas, and often come at the expense of U.S. taxpayer dollars,” said sponsor Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., who chairs the Oversight and Reform subcommittee on national security.
Under the bill, the department also would have to provide Congress with explanations of how it will mitigate the operational and financial risks associated with such cost increases or delays, and whether it has issued a stop-work order or suspended work on a given project and submit an explanation for such action.
Introduction of the bill follows a series of IG and other reports and congressional hearings into delays and over-budget spending on embassies and other U.S. facilities in a number of foreign countries.
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