Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – 8/19/25… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, introduced the Modernize Diplomatic Security Training Act, legislation to strengthen counterintelligence training for certain Diplomatic Security special agents serving in high-threat environments. 

“Hostile foreign intelligence services are constantly adapting, and our security professionals must be a step ahead. The Modernize Diplomatic Security Training Act updates decades-old requirements to ensure that agents assigned to high-threat posts receive advanced counterintelligence training,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

As Chairman of the MENA Subcommittee, which holds jurisdiction over both the State Department’s Bureau of Management and Bureau of Counterterrorism, Lawler is leveraging his role to advance reforms that support a more agile and effective foreign policy.

Each of these bills, including the Modernize Diplomatic Security Training Act, has been submitted for consideration in the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s State Department reauthorization. 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Full text of the bill can be found HERE.