H.R. 5021

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5021 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5021

To require a sports diplomacy strategy to strategically leverage the 
major sporting events being hosted in the United States in the next 
decade to enhance United States soft power, diplomatic relationships, 
and global leadership, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 22, 2025

Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Mr. Huizenga, Mr. Meeks, Mr. McCaul, 
Mr. Moylan, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Lawler, Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick, Mr. 
Lieu, Ms. Titus, Mr. Amo, Ms. Castor of Florida, Ms. McBride, Mr. 
Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, 
Mr. Bacon, Mr. Baumgartner, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mrs. 
Kim, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Keating, and Mr. Stanton) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To require a sports diplomacy strategy to strategically leverage the 
major sporting events being hosted in the United States in the next 
decade to enhance United States soft power, diplomatic relationships, 
and global leadership, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``American Decade of Sports Act''.

SEC. 2. MEGA-DECADE SPORTS DIPLOMACY STRATEGY.

(a) Submission.--
(1) Initial strategy.--Not later than 120 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary for 
Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State 
shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate a 5-year sports diplomacy strategy to strategically 
leverage the major sporting events being hosted in the United 
States to enhance United States soft power, diplomatic 
relationships, and global leadership.
(2) Subsequent strategy.--Not later than 5 years after the 
date on which the initial strategy is submitted pursuant to 
paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary for Educational and 
Cultural Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs of the House of Representatives and Committee on 
Foreign Relations of the Senate a subsequent 5-year sports 
diplomacy strategy in accordance with the requirements of this 
section.
(b) Elements.--The elements of each strategy required by subsection 
(a) shall include the following:
(1) A description of the Department of State's diplomatic 
objectives and metrics of success related to the mega-decade of 
sports.
(2) A plan to partner with local host cities, diaspora 
communities, creatives, athletes, the sports industry, private 
sector entities, human rights organizations, and civil society 
stakeholders surrounding the competitions for the purpose of 
showcasing United States national strengths and forging new 
diplomatic connections.
(3) A plan to coordinate internally within the Department 
of State to leverage sporting events to advance various 
diplomatic lines of effort, including by--
(A) integrating sports diplomacy into regional 
bureaus' bilateral engagements and efforts to pursue 
new areas of cooperation with foreign partners;
(B) integrating sports into public diplomacy to 
reach new foreign audiences that might not otherwise 
engage with United States embassies abroad; and
(C) leveraging sports diplomacy to advance 
commercial diplomacy.
(4) A plan to ensure an expeditious and secure visa process 
for athletes and their families and support staff and eligible 
international visitors planning to travel to the United States 
to attend the games, including reducing visa appointment wait 
times.
(5) A description of the financial and personnel support 
needed to implement the 5-year sports diplomacy strategy.
(6) Any plans to deploy domestic public diplomacy 
resources, such as the Cultural Unit and Foreign Press Center 
established during the 1984 Olympic Games, to enable foreign 
visitors to engage with American culture and values.
(c) Public Availability.--Each strategy required by subsection (a) 
shall be made publicly available on an internet website of the 
Department of State not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and again 5 years later.
(d) Consultation.--Prior to the submission of each strategy 
required by subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary for Educational and 
Cultural Affairs shall consult with the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate on the elements of the strategy and every 180 days 
thereafter provide information on the implementation of each strategy 
until December 31, 2034.

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENT FOR THE OFFICE OF SPORTS DIPLOMACY TO CARRY OUT THE 
MEGA-DECADE OF SPORTS DIPLOMACY STRATEGY.

(a) In General.--No later than 90 days after the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of State shall rename the sports diplomacy division 
of the Department of State as the Office of Sports Diplomacy. The 
Office shall report directly to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Professional and Cultural Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and 
Cultural Affairs. The Office shall be responsible for managing sports 
diplomacy exchange programs and implementing each strategy required by 
section 2(a), including by carrying out the following:
(1) Coordinating implementation of the strategy across 
relevant bureaus, directorates, and offices of the Department 
of State.
(2) Working with host cities and their social, political, 
and economic partners to identify new avenues for engagement 
with foreign entities.
(3) Engaging local diaspora communities to deepen people-
to-people connections with foreign visitors and officials.
(4) Partnering with the United States sports industry, 
major sports leagues, and individual athletes to promote new 
international sports partnerships and sports diplomacy 
programs.
(5) Collaborating with host cities' international trade and 
tourism offices to deepen economic and commercial ties with 
foreign nations.
(6) Elevating American arts, film, and music creators to 
promote cultural exchange and connection with foreign visitors.
(7) Coordinating with internal Department and interagency 
stakeholders to ensure efficient and expeditious processing of 
visas for eligible international visitors, broadcasters, 
athletes, and support staff interested in attending the games.
(b) Full-Time Equivalent Employees.--The Secretary of State shall, 
not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and until December 31, 2034, assign to the Office of Sports Diplomacy 
established under subsection (a) not less than 3 additional full-time 
equivalent staff dedicated to implementing each strategy required by 
section 2(a). Such staff shall not be dual-hatted, and shall be 
assigned to the Office by considering mechanisms, including--
(1) the use of existing flexible hiring authorities, 
including Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETOs); and
(2) the realignment of existing personnel.

SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.

Not later than 1 year after the submission of the strategy required 
in section 2(a), and annually thereafter until December 31, 2034, the 
Secretary of State shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
the Senate a report on the progress toward achieving the objectives of 
this Act.

SEC. 5. DEFINITION.

In this Act, the terms ``mega-decade of sports'' and ``American 
decade of sports'' mean the major international sporting competitions 
hosted in the United States between 2024 and 2034, including the 2024 
Copa America, 2025 Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer 
Olympics and Paralympics, the 2031 Men's and 2033 Women's Rugby World 
Cup, and the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
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