; statement of policy (a) Declaration of national interest Congress declares that it is in the national interest of the United States to ensure that the members of the United States Foreign Service workforce be representative of the American people. (b) Statement of policy It shall be the policy of the Department of State and of the United States Agency for International Development— (1) to strengthen the Foreign Service workforce by bolstering the diversity of those who represent Americans abroad; (2) to treat the people of the Foreign Service as its primary asset, and as such, hold as a central tenet making strides in increasing representation at all levels of the Foreign Service workforce to secure the country’s national interests; and (3) in accordance with the Foreign Service Act of 1980, to attract highly qualified, mid-career professionals who belong to historically excluded groups, through a pathway program for entry into the Foreign Service. 4. Modification of lateral entry foreign service program (a) Modification of lateral entry foreign service program Section 404 of the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017 ( Public Law 114–323 ; 130 Stat. 1928) is amended to read as follows: 404. Lateral entry into the foreign service (a) Sense of congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the Foreign Service should permit mid-career entry into the Foreign Service for qualified individuals who are willing to bring their talents and experiences to the work of the Foreign Service