Diplomatic Reciprocity Act
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Diplomatic Reciprocity Act - Establishes the Diplomatic Services Corporation within the executive branch to: (1) assist in determining the privileges and immunities to which members of foreign missions are entitled; and (2) assist and provide necessary services and benefits to foreign missions. Requires foreign missions, if the Secretary of States deems if necessary, to apply to such Corporation: (1) for a certificate of compliance with this Act before obtaining any benefits or services; or (2) to obtain such benefits or services directly from such Corporation. Authorizes the Corporation to pay a surcharge or meet other conditions before issuing such certification. Makes it unlawful for any person to contract to supply such benefits or services to foreign missions, unless the mission has obtained certification of compliance with this Act. Sets forth the powers of such Corporation. Authorizes other Federal agencies to provide services to, and accept services from such Corporation. Requires the Board of Directors to report semiannually to the Secretary and to Congress on the Corporation's activities. Grants tax-exempt status to such Corporation. Directs the heads of foreign missions to report to the Secretary concerning holdings or planned acquisitions of real property. Requires any interest in such property which is denied to the United States by the respective sending country to be sold unless the sending country accords the United States a comparable right. Exempts buildings of foreign missions from District of Columbia zoning and building regulations. Makes such buildings subject to the National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on June 24, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on June 24, 1980: Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
FRANK CHURCH (D-ID) introduced it on June 24, 1980. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on June 24, 1980, 16879 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 16879 days ago, on June 24, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers