Jon L. Christensen: “I rise in support of H.R. 3658, to amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel to…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 3658, to amend the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to permit rest and recuperation travel to United States territories for members of the Foreign Service, sponsored by my good friend and neighbor, Mr. Fortuno of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, the Foreign Service Act unfortunately is not consistent in the way it treats citizens from the mainland and those from the territories. While it allows for the State Department to pay for Foreign Service members to return home, to any of the 50 states or U.S. territories, after being posted abroad, it only permits residents of the 50 states who are at hardship posts, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, to be granted R & R for a period of time while posted. This bill, at its core, is about equal and fair treatment for residents of the U.S. territories. When most of us hear the word home, we have a clear picture in our head of where that is. But for these Foreign Service members, it is not that simple. Under current law, these diplomats must pay their own way if they want to visit their family and friends back home in the territories, while diplomats from the states have their travel costs covered. Although these members are from a U.S. territory, they are our fellow citizens and commit their lives to the diplomatic causes. They join for the love of their country and risk their safety in dangerous posts.”