Expand eXpertise in China Education and Language Act or the EXCEL Act This bill requires the Department of State to use direct hire authority to appoint at least 31 candidates with China-related linguistic, cultural, or regional expertise to the competitive service. The bill requires the State Department to train employees on competition with China and establishes a China strategic advisory board. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to study the capacity of the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to support strategic competition with China.