H.R. 5246

[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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