[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5246 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5246
To provide for the political affairs authorities of the Department of
State, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 10, 2025
Ms. Salazar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the political affairs authorities of the Department of
State, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE III--POLITICAL AFFAIRS
SEC. 301. UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
(a) Establishment.--There shall be in the Department an Under
Secretary of State for Political Affairs who shall be responsible to
the Secretary of State for matters pertaining to regional and bilateral
diplomacy, and such other related duties as the Secretary may from time
to time designate.
(b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities
described under subsection (a), the Under Secretary for Political
Affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all
matters pertaining to the implementation of the foreign policy of the
United States, including, as appropriate, supporting the other Under
Secretaries of State in implementing foreign policy.
SEC. 302. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS.
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
State under section 141, the Under Secretary for Political Affairs
shall receive the funds necessary to fulfill the Under Secretary's
responsibilities for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
SEC. 303. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION REGARDING CHANGES TO REGIONAL
BUREAU JURISDICTION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 15 days before the Under Secretary
for Political Affairs alters the geographic or functional jurisdiction
of any regional bureau, including by adding or removing countries under
the purview of such bureau, the Under Secretary shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees a notification of such change,
including--
(1) a justification for such change; and
(2) a description of the expected operational,
programmatic, or policy implications for any bureau affected by
such change.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate.
SEC. 304. AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR THE ARCTIC.
(a) Establishment.--There shall be in the Department an Ambassador-
at-Large for the Arctic who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary
for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to the Arctic region, and
such other related duties as such Under Secretary may from time to time
designate.
(b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities
described under subsection (a), the Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic
shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters
pertaining to the Arctic region in the conduct of foreign policy,
including--
(1) energy exploration and development;
(2) environmental conservation;
(3) trade and economic development; and
(4) infrastructure development and maintenance.
SEC. 305. AMBASSADOR-AT-LARGE FOR THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION.
(a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be in the Department an
Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean Region who shall be
responsible to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters
pertaining to the Indian Ocean region, and such other related duties as
the Secretary may from time to time designate.
(b) Appointment.--Not later than April 1, 2026, the President shall
nominate an individual, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, to serve as the Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean
Region, who shall report directly to the Under Secretary for Political
Affairs.
(c) Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--The primary responsibilities of the
Ambassador shall be to--
(A) ensure harmonization and continuity of United
States diplomatic efforts and assistance programs
across Indian Ocean region countries;
(B) identify the diplomatic, military, economic,
and development lines of effort that are of greatest
United States strategic interest in Indian Ocean region
countries and reinforce United States diplomatic and
interagency engagement with respect to such lines of
effort; and
(C) perform such other duties as the Under
Secretary for Political Affairs may from time to time
designate.
(2) Diplomatic representation.--Subject to the direction of
the President and the Secretary, the Ambassador is authorized
to represent the United States in matters and cases relevant to
advancing United States strategic interests and foreign policy
objectives across Indian Ocean region countries in--
(A) contacts with regional governments,
intergovernmental organizations, specialized agencies
of the United Nations, the Indian Ocean Rim
Association, and other international organizations
concerning Indian Ocean region countries of which the
United States is a member or which the Secretary of
State may designate;
(B) multilateral conferences and meetings relevant
to Indian Ocean region countries; and
(C) contacts with nongovernmental organizations
that influence United States interests in Indian Ocean
region countries.
(3) Coordination of responsibilities.--In order to advance
United States interests across Indian Ocean region countries,
the Ambassador--
(A) shall coordinate efforts to advance United
States strategic interests in Indian Ocean region
countries within the Department of State, including
between the Assistant Secretary for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs, the Assistant Secretary for South and
Central Asian Affairs, the Assistant Secretary for Near
Eastern Affairs, and the Assistant Secretary for
African Affairs; and
(B) should participate in any interagency process
described in paragraph (1)(B).
SEC. 306. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS.
There is authorized to be in the Department an Assistant Secretary
for East Asian and Pacific Affairs who shall be responsible to the
Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to East
Asia and the Pacific, and such other related duties as the Secretary
may from time to time designate.
SEC. 307. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC
AFFAIRS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the funds authorized to be
appropriated to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs under section
302, the Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs shall
receive the funds necessary to fulfill Bureau functions and the
Assistant Secretary's responsibilities for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
(b) Administration of Accounts.--The Assistant Secretary for East
Asian and Pacific Affairs shall direct, oversee, and otherwise exercise
responsibility of funds made available for the Countering People's
Republic of China Influence Fund.
SEC. 308. BUREAU OF EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of State shall establish a Bureau
of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, which shall perform such functions
related to implementation of United States foreign policy and
assistance to East Asia and the Pacific as the Under Secretary for
Political Affairs may prescribe.
(b) Head of Bureau.--The Assistant Secretary for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs shall be the head of the Bureau of East Asian and
Pacific Affairs.
(c) East Asia and the Pacific Defined.--In this Act, ``East Asia
and the Pacific'' means any country which the Under Secretary
designates as within the responsibility of the Assistant Secretary for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
SEC. 309. COUNTERING PRC INFLUENCE FUND UNIT.
(a) Countering PRC Influence Fund Unit.--The Secretary of State may
establish and maintain a Countering the PRC Influence Fund Unit
(hereinafter referred to as the ``CPIF Unit''), within the Bureau of
East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
(b) Personnel.--
(1) Composition.--The CPIF Unit may be comprised of a
Director, Deputy Director, and additional staff as appropriate,
including a Budget Analyst, a Grant Officer, a Program
Assistant, and a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Specialist.
(2) Staffing.--The CPIF Unit shall be comprised of
personnel with expertise or experience in performing the
following functions:
(A) Grants Officer.
(B) Program Assistant.
(C) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Specialist.
(3) Director.--The Director of the CPIF Unit shall fulfill
the following responsibilities:
(A) Identify specific strategic priorities for CPIF
consistent with United States national security
priorities.
(B) Coordinate, select, and approve all CPIF
programming, based on criteria that the program
directly counters malign activities by China or
provides United States alternatives to such activities.
(C) Ensure that all CPIF programming advances
United States foreign policy and interests.
(D) Conduct oversight, monitoring, and evaluation
of the effectiveness of all CPIF programming to ensure
that it advances United States interests and degrades
the ability of China or entities acting on the behalf
of China to conduct malign influence operations.
(E) Ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that
all CPIF programming is carried out in coordination
with other Federal activities to counter PRC malign
influence.
(4) Deputy director.--The Deputy Director of the CPIF Unit
may have responsibility for policy and programming to assist
the Director, particularly with respect to CPIF Unit activities
handled by other United States agencies.
(c) Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Activities.--The Director
may--
(1) direct monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities
to maximize government efficiency and reduce the risks of fraud
and waste;
(2) conduct regular research and evaluation of CPIF
programs and activities to improve ongoing and future
activities; and
(3) make available to Congress the findings of any research
or evaluation conducted under paragraph (2).
(d) PRC Malign Influence Defined.--In this section, the term ``PRC
malign influence'' means influence by China or an entity acting on the
behalf of China that--
(1) undermines a free and open international order;
(2) utilizes coercion and dependency to advance the
strategic objectives of the People's Republic of China;
(3) undermines the national security, territorial
integrity, or sovereignty of the United States or other
country; or
(4) undermines the political and economic security of the
United States or other country, including by promoting
corruption or elite capture, distorting markets, and advancing
coercive economic practices, including theft of intellectual
property.
(e) Termination.--A CPIF Unit established under this section shall
terminate 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 310. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AFRICAN AFFAIRS.
(a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be in the Department an
Assistant Secretary for African Affairs who shall be responsible to the
Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to Africa,
and such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time
designate.
(b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities
described under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary for African
Affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all
matters pertaining to implementation of United States foreign policy in
Africa.
SEC. 311. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS.
(a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be in the Department an
Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs who shall be responsible
to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to
the Middle East and North Africa, and such other related duties as the
Secretary may from time to time designate.
(b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities
described under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary for Near
Eastern Affairs shall maintain continuous observation and coordination
of all matters pertaining to implementation of American foreign policy
in the Middle East and North Africa.
SEC. 312. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS.
There is authorized to be in the Department an Assistant Secretary
for South and Central Asian Affairs who shall be responsible to the
Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to South
and Central Asia, and such other related duties as the Secretary may
from time to time designate.
SEC. 313. UNITED STATES CODE CLASSIFICATION.
The Office of Law Revision Counsel shall--
(1) utilize sections 67 through 97 of title 22, United
States Code, to classify the sections of this title; and
(2) maintain the legislative history, under editorial
notes, of repealed law which previously occupied the
corresponding sections of the United States Code.
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