Protecting Americans Abroad Act

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 14, 2013

Protecting Americans Abroad Act - Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to allow the Department of State to use a best-value contracting method in awarding local guard or protective service contracts in high risk areas abroad under the diplomatic security program.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Radel, Trey [R-FL-19] · R–FL

Committees

Foreign Affairs Committee

14 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 14, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Feb 14, 2013
Introduced in House
Feb 14, 2013
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Feb 14, 2013 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2848 · Department of State Operations and Embassy Security Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2014

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.731 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.731, 113th Congress: Protecting Americans Abroad Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/731

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-02-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr731/BILLS-113hr731ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:35:49Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.731 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.731 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.731, 113th Congress: Protecting Americans Abroad Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/731

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-02-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr731/BILLS-113hr731ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:35:49Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.731 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.731 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.731, 113th Congress: Protecting Americans Abroad Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/731

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-02-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr731/BILLS-113hr731ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:35:49Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.731 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.731 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.731, 113th Congress: Protecting Americans Abroad Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/731

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2013-02-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/hr731/BILLS-113hr731ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T18:35:49Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.731 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.