American Decade of Sports Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5021

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Sports and Recreation

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-03: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 3.

Last Updated

2026-05-07T14:38:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "American Decade of Sports Act" (H.R. 5021) aims to create a structured approach for the U.S. Department of State to use major international sporting events hosted in the United States from 2024 to 2034—referred to as the "mega-decade of sports"—to strengthen U.S. influence abroad. This includes boosting "soft power" (non-military ways to promote U.S. values and culture), building diplomatic ties, and reinforcing global leadership through sports-related initiatives.

Key Provisions

• Development of a Sports Diplomacy Strategy (Section 2):
• The Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs in the Department of State must submit an initial 5-year strategy within 120 days of the bill's enactment, and a follow-up strategy 5 years later.
• The strategy must outline:
• Diplomatic goals and ways to measure success tied to the sporting events.
• Partnerships with local cities, immigrant communities (diaspora), artists, athletes, sports businesses, private companies, human rights groups, and community organizations to highlight U.S. strengths and create new international links.
• Internal coordination within the State Department to integrate sports into broader diplomacy, such as regional talks, public outreach to new audiences, and business promotion.
• Efforts to speed up and secure visa processes for athletes, their families, support staff, and international visitors, including shorter wait times for visa appointments.
• Required funding and staff needs for implementation.
• Plans to use U.S.-based public diplomacy tools (like cultural units from past events) to help foreign visitors experience American culture and values.
• Strategies must be posted publicly on the State Department's website within 180 days of enactment (and again 5 years later).
• The Assistant Secretary must consult with key congressional committees before submission and provide updates every 180 days until December 31, 2034.

• Establishment and Role of the Office of Sports Diplomacy (Section 3):
• Within 90 days of enactment, the State Department must rename its existing sports diplomacy division as the "Office of Sports Diplomacy," reporting to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges.
• The office will manage sports exchange programs and implement the strategies by:
• Coordinating across State Department units.
• Collaborating with host cities' leaders to find new ways to engage foreign groups.
• Involving local immigrant communities to build personal connections with visitors.
• Partnering with U.S. sports leagues and athletes to create international sports ties.
• Working with cities' trade and tourism offices to strengthen economic links abroad.
• Promoting U.S. arts, films, and music for cultural exchanges.
• Helping process visas quickly for visitors, media, athletes, and staff.
• By 180 days after enactment, the Secretary of State must assign at least 3 additional full-time staff to the office (not shared with other duties) until December 31, 2034, using flexible hiring options or staff reallocations.

• Reporting Requirements (Section 4):
• The Secretary of State must submit an annual report on progress toward the act's goals, starting 1 year after the initial strategy, until December 31, 2034, to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

• Definitions (Section 5):
• "Mega-decade of sports" or "American decade of sports" covers key events hosted in the U.S. from 2024 to 2034, including the 2024 Copa America, 2025 Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, 2031 Men's and 2033 Women's Rugby World Cups, and 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill introduces a formal, mandatory 5-year planning framework for sports diplomacy, which does not currently exist in such detail.
• It renames and elevates an existing sports diplomacy division into a dedicated "Office of Sports Diplomacy" with expanded responsibilities and guaranteed additional staffing.
• It mandates new reporting, consultation, and public disclosure requirements for the State Department, along with specific visa facilitation measures, which build on but formalize prior ad-hoc efforts (e.g., cultural units from the 1984 Olympics).

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The State Department will need to allocate resources for strategy development, staffing (at least 3 new full-time positions), and coordination, potentially increasing administrative workload but enhancing its diplomacy toolkit. Other agencies may be involved in interagency visa processing.
• On Citizens: U.S. host cities, athletes, artists, and immigrant communities could see more opportunities for cultural and economic engagement with international visitors, fostering local pride and tourism boosts. American sports industries may gain from new global partnerships.
• On International Relations: The strategy could improve U.S. ties with other countries by using sports to reach diverse audiences, promote shared values, and open doors for business and cooperation, potentially strengthening U.S. global image during high-profile events.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• U.S. Government: Primarily the Department of State (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and related offices), with oversight from congressional foreign affairs committees.
• Local and Private Entities: Host cities, sports leagues (e.g., FIFA, Olympics organizers), athletes, private businesses, arts creators, human rights and civil society groups, and diaspora communities.
• International Parties: Foreign governments, athletes, visitors, broadcasters, and support staff benefiting from streamlined visas and diplomacy programs.
• Broader Public: U.S. citizens involved in sports, culture, or tourism sectors, and global audiences engaging with U.S.-hosted events.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The bill relies on existing State Department authorities for diplomacy and visas, with no new enforcement powers; it emphasizes expeditious visa processing without altering immigration laws, which could face implementation challenges if backlogs persist.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to regulate foreign affairs and appropriate funds, promoting executive-branch diplomacy without infringing on separation of powers.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by a diverse group of representatives), highlighting sports as a non-partisan tool for U.S. influence. It could set a precedent for event-specific diplomacy strategies, potentially influencing future cultural or economic foreign policy initiatives through 2034.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

Cosponsors (31)

Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5], Del. Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS-At Large], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Kim, Young [R-CA-40], Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Del. King-Hinds, Kimberlyn [R-MP-At Large], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16], Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-03: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 46 - 3.
• 2025-12-03: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-08-22: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2025-08-22: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-22: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• American Decade of Sports Act — issued 2025-08-22 — PDF (7 pages)