SEC. 1601. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the ``Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008´´.
SEC. 1602. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) In June 2004, the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (referred to as the `Coordinator') was established in the Department of State with the mandate to lead, coordinate, and institutionalize United States Government civilian capacity to prevent or prepare for post-conflict situations and help reconstruct and stabilize a country or region that is at risk of, in, or is in transition from, conflict or civil strife.
(2) In December 2005, the Coordinator's mandate was reaffirmed by the National Security Presidential Directive 44, which instructed the Secretary of State, and at the Secretary's direction, the Coordinator, to coordinate and lead integrated United States Government efforts, involving all United States departments and agencies with relevant capabilities, to prepare, plan for, and conduct reconstruction and stabilization operations.
(3) National Security Presidential Directive 44 assigns to the Secretary, with the Coordinator's assistance, the lead role to develop reconstruction and stabilization strategies, ensure civilian interagency program and policy coordination, coordinate interagency processes to identify countries at risk of instability, provide decision-makers with detailed options for an integrated United States Government response in connection with reconstruction and stabilization operations, and carry out a wide range of other actions, including the development of a civilian surge capacity to meet reconstruction and stabilization emergencies. The Secretary and the Coordinator are also charged with coordinating with the Department of Defense on reconstruction and stabilization responses, and integrating planning and implementing procedures.
(4) The Department of Defense issued Directive 3000.05, which establishes that stability operations are a core United States military mission that the Department of Defense must be prepared to conduct and support, provides guidance on stability operations that will evolve over time, and assigns responsibilities within the Department of Defense for planning, training, and preparing to conduct and support stability operations.
(5) The President's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request to Congress includes $248.6 million for a Civilian Stabilization Initiative that would vastly improve civilian partnership with United States Armed Forces in post-conflict stabilization situations, including by establishing a Active Response Corps of 250 persons, a Standby Response Corps of 2,000 persons, and a Civilian Response Corps of 2,000 persons.
SEC. 1603. DEFINITIONS. In this title: (1) ADMINISTRATOR.— The term `Administrator' means the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.
(2) AGENCY.—
The term `agency' means any entity included in chapter 1 of title 5, United States Code.
(3) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—
The term `appropriate congressional committees' means the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
(4) DEPARTMENT.—
Except as otherwise provided in this title, the term `Department' means the Department of State.
(5) PERSONNEL.—
The term `personnel' means individuals serving in any service described in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code, other than in the legislative or judicial branch.
(6) SECRETARY.—
The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of State.
SEC. 1604. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILIZATION CRISES. Chapter 1 of part III of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2351 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 617 the following new section: