Definitions

In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees The term appropriate congressional committees means— (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. (2) Commercial diplomacy The term commercial diplomacy includes the following activities: (A) Promoting United States exports of goods and services, particularly by businesses in strategic industries, and the protection of United States business interests abroad. (B) Supporting United States businesses with advice and information on establishing export businesses. (C) Providing United States exporters with information on economic conditions, market opportunities, the status of the intellectual property systems, and the legal and regulatory environments within foreign countries. (D) Providing United States exporters with information and advice on the necessary adaptation of market strategy to meet the differing cultural and technical requirements of foreign countries. (E) Providing United States exporters with promising leads and helpful introductions to contacts within foreign countries. (F) Assisting United States exporters in locating reliable sources of business services in foreign countries. (G) Assisting United States exporters in their dealings with foreign governments and enterprises owned by foreign governments. (H) Assisting in the coordination of the efforts of State and local agencies and private organizations seeking to promote United States business interests abroad so as to maximize their effectiveness and minimize duplication of efforts. (I) Utilizing foreign offices as one-stop shops for United States exporters by providing exporters with information on all export promotion and export finance activities of the Federal Government, assisting exporters in identifying which Federal programs may be of greatest assistance, and assisting exporters in making contact with Federal programs identified. (J) Providing United States exporters and export finance institutions with information on all financing and insurance programs of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the United States Trade and Development Agency, and the Small Business Administration, including providing assistance in completing applications for such programs and working with exporters and export finance institutions to address any deficiencies in such applications that have been submitted. (3) Commercial Diplomatic Service The term Commercial Diplomatic Service — (A) means the Commercial Diplomatic Service established under section 303 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended by section 5; and (B) includes the members of the Foreign Service who— (i) are trained specialists in commercial diplomacy; and (ii) are members of the Commercial Diplomatic Service. (4) Department The term Department means the Department of State. (5) Foreign Service The term Foreign Service means the Foreign Service of the United States as constituted under section 103 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3903). (6) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of State. (7) Senior foreign service The term Senior Foreign Service has the meaning provided under section 103(3) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 3903).