No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5114
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-03: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-01T20:42:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act," aims to ensure U.S. diplomatic neutrality by prohibiting the use of U.S. embassies, consulates, or other diplomatic posts for fundraising activities that support foreign political parties or candidates. It emphasizes that U.S. diplomatic efforts should promote democratic values without favoring any political group abroad.
Key Provisions
- Policy Statement: Declares U.S. policy to remain neutral in foreign elections and avoid using diplomatic resources to give financial or electoral advantages to any foreign political party or candidate.
- Funding Prohibition: Bans the use of federal funds or personal funds from U.S. ambassadors or officials to host or support fundraising events for foreign political parties or candidates at U.S. embassies, consulates, diplomatic posts, or official residences.
- Definition of Fundraising Event: Includes any event designed to collect money for a political party or candidate, or to connect potential donors with them for fundraising.
- Amendments to Existing Laws:
- Adds restrictions to the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085), prohibiting official receptions or expenses for activities at diplomatic posts that raise funds for foreign political parties or candidates.
- Modifies the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2671(b)(2)(H)) to exclude allowances for such fundraising functions at diplomatic facilities.
- Regulatory Revisions: Requires the Secretary of State to update the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) and Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) to ban these activities, discourage any events that could appear to favor one political group over others in foreign elections, and reflect the new prohibitions. The Secretary must certify these changes to Congress (Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee) within 90 days of enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces explicit bans on using diplomatic facilities for foreign political fundraising, which were not previously detailed in statutes like the Foreign Service Act or State Department Basic Authorities Act.
- Expands restrictions on entertainment, representation expenses, and allowances to specifically target fundraising, while preserving allowances for other neutral diplomatic functions.
- Mandates proactive updates to internal State Department guidelines (DSSR and FAM), shifting from general practices to codified prohibitions with congressional oversight via certification.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The State Department and diplomats will face stricter limits on event hosting and spending, potentially requiring more careful planning for interactions with foreign political groups to avoid any perception of bias. This could increase administrative burdens for revising regulations and monitoring compliance.
- On Citizens: U.S. taxpayers' funds will be protected from supporting foreign political causes, aligning diplomatic spending with neutrality goals.
- On International Relations: Reinforces U.S. commitment to non-interference in foreign elections, which may enhance credibility in promoting democracy abroad. However, it could limit informal relationship-building with foreign politicians if events are scrutinized, potentially affecting alliances or perceptions of U.S. impartiality in countries with active electoral processes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Department of State and Diplomats: Ambassadors, consular officials, and staff who organize events or manage facilities; they must adhere to new spending and hosting rules.
- Congress: Committees on Foreign Relations (Senate) and Foreign Affairs (House) gain oversight through certification requirements.
- Foreign Political Parties and Candidates: Directly impacted by the ban on U.S. diplomatic support for their fundraising, potentially reducing access to venues or networks via U.S. posts.
- U.S. Taxpayers and the Public: Indirectly benefit from ensured neutral use of public funds for diplomacy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens statutory controls on diplomatic expenditures without altering core diplomatic immunities or functions, focusing on government-conducted activities rather than private actions. The broad definition of "fundraising event" could lead to interpretive challenges in distinguishing neutral meetings from prohibited ones.
- Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment principles by regulating official government conduct (not individual speech), avoiding endorsement of foreign political views while upholding free speech abroad as a U.S. policy goal.
- Political: Promotes bipartisan neutrality in U.S. foreign policy, potentially reducing accusations of partisan interference (e.g., favoring certain parties). It may set a precedent for tighter controls on diplomatic engagement during foreign elections, influencing how the U.S. navigates global democratic processes amid rising concerns over election meddling.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-03: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2025-09-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act — issued 2025-09-03 — PDF (5 pages)