THE PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS RELATES TO THREE ASPECTS OF IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AGAINST TERRORISM: (1) MURDER OR MANSLAUGHTER OF FOREIGN OFFICIALS, OFFICIAL GUESTS, OR INTERNATIONALLY-PROTECTED PERSONS; (2) PROTECTION OF FOREIGN OFFICIALS, OFFICIAL GUESTS, OR INTERNATIONALLY-PROTECTED PERSONS; AND (3) THREATS AND EXTORTION AGAINST FOREIGN OFFICIALS, OFFICIAL GUESTS, OR INTERNATIONALLY-PROTECTED PERSONS. THE UNITED STATES HAS SIGNED CONVENTIONS WITH THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES AND THE UNITED NATIONS IN AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO DEAL WITH TERRORIST ACTS DIRECTED AT DIPLOMATS. THE UNITED STATES BECOMES A PARTY TO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AFTER PROVIDING AN INSTRUMENT OF RATIFICATION TO THE APPROPRIATE INTERNATIONAL AGENCY. THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CONVENTION IS IN FORCE, AND THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION IS EXPECTED TO ENTER INTO FORCE. IF ENACTED, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL PERMIT THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION FOR BOTH TREATIES AND BECOME A PARTY TO THEM. CHANGES ENVISIONED IN THE U.S. CODE ARE DELINEATED ON A SECTION-BY-SECTION BASIS. PROVISIONS OF TITLE 18 OF THE U.S. CODE AS RELATED TO ASSAULT, EXTORTION AND THREATS, FOREIGN RELATIONS, HOMICIDE, AND KIDNAPPING ARE DETAILED. (DEP)