To provide for the political affairs authorities of the Department of State, and for other purposes.

Bill Number: H.R. 5246
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: International Affairs
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-09-18: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 49 - 0.
Last Updated: 2025-12-15T21:44:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill (H.R. 5246) aims to strengthen the organizational structure of the U.S. Department of State by establishing and authorizing key leadership positions and bureaus focused on political affairs and regional diplomacy. It emphasizes coordination of U.S. foreign policy, including oversight of bilateral relations, regional strategies, and countering specific global influences, to improve efficiency and strategic focus.

Key Provisions

Under Secretary for Political Affairs (Sec. 301): Creates this position to oversee regional and bilateral diplomacy, coordinate foreign policy implementation, and support other under secretaries as needed.
Funding Authorization (Sec. 302): Allocates necessary funds from existing State Department appropriations for the Under Secretary's responsibilities in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
Congressional Notification for Bureau Changes (Sec. 303): Requires the Under Secretary to notify relevant congressional committees at least 15 days before altering the geographic or functional scope of regional bureaus (e.g., adding or removing countries), including a justification and description of impacts on operations, programs, or policies. "Appropriate congressional committees" include the House and Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs/Relations and Appropriations.
Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic (Sec. 304): Establishes this role under the Under Secretary to handle Arctic-related foreign policy matters, including energy exploration, environmental conservation, trade, economic development, and infrastructure.
Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean Region (Sec. 305): Authorizes this position, with presidential nomination by April 1, 2026, subject to Senate confirmation. Responsibilities include harmonizing U.S. diplomatic and assistance efforts across Indian Ocean countries, identifying key strategic interests (diplomatic, military, economic, development), and coordinating with other State Department offices and interagency processes. The ambassador can represent the U.S. in dealings with governments, international organizations (e.g., UN agencies, Indian Ocean Rim Association), conferences, and NGOs.
Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Sec. 306): Authorizes this role under the Under Secretary to manage East Asia and Pacific matters.
Funding for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Sec. 307): Provides funds for bureau functions in fiscal years 2026 and 2027; the Assistant Secretary will oversee the Countering People's Republic of China Influence Fund (CPIF).
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Sec. 308): Establishes this bureau to implement U.S. foreign policy and assistance in the region, headed by the Assistant Secretary. The region is defined flexibly by the Under Secretary.
Countering PRC Influence Fund Unit (CPIF Unit) (Sec. 309): Allows creation of a temporary unit (terminating 2 years after enactment) within the East Asian and Pacific Bureau to manage the CPIF. It includes a Director, Deputy Director, and staff (e.g., budget analyst, grants officer) with expertise in grants, program support, and evaluation. The Director identifies priorities to counter "PRC malign influence" (defined as actions by China or its proxies that undermine international order, use coercion, threaten security/sovereignty, or promote corruption/market distortion). Responsibilities include program coordination, oversight, evaluation, and interagency alignment to advance U.S. interests and reduce Chinese influence.
Assistant Secretaries for Other Regions (Secs. 310–312):
African Affairs: Authorized to oversee Africa-related foreign policy.
Near Eastern Affairs: Authorized for Middle East and North Africa matters.
South and Central Asian Affairs: Authorized for that region's diplomacy.
U.S. Code Classification (Sec. 313): Directs the Office of Law Revision Counsel to classify the bill's provisions into sections 67–97 of Title 22 of the U.S. Code, preserving history of any repealed prior laws.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Formalizes and expands the Under Secretary for Political Affairs role with explicit responsibilities for foreign policy coordination, potentially clarifying or enhancing authority over existing regional bureaus.
Introduces new positions not previously authorized by statute: Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic and for the Indian Ocean Region, plus a dedicated CPIF Unit to target Chinese influence.
Adds congressional oversight requirements for bureau jurisdiction changes, which may not have been mandatory before.
Authorizes specific assistant secretaries and a new East Asian and Pacific Bureau, building on but standardizing existing informal structures.
The CPIF Unit is a novel, time-limited mechanism for funding and evaluating anti-China programs, separate from broader State Department operations.

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Enhances the State Department's capacity for coordinated regional diplomacy, potentially streamlining operations and reducing silos between bureaus. It may increase interagency collaboration (e.g., with defense or economic agencies) on strategic issues like Arctic resources or Indian Ocean trade routes. The CPIF Unit could direct resources more efficiently against perceived threats but terminates after 2 years, limiting long-term effects.
Citizens: Indirect benefits through stronger U.S. foreign policy execution, which could improve national security, economic opportunities (e.g., trade in Asia-Pacific), and environmental protections (e.g., Arctic conservation). No direct impact on domestic rights or services.
International Relations: Strengthens U.S. engagement in emerging hotspots like the Arctic (resource competition) and Indian Ocean (maritime security, countering rivals). The focus on countering Chinese influence may heighten tensions with China but bolster alliances in Asia-Pacific and Africa. Improved bureau coordination could lead to more consistent U.S. assistance and diplomacy globally.

Main Stakeholders Affected

U.S. Department of State: Primary beneficiary, with new leadership roles, funding, and a dedicated bureau/unit reshaping internal organization.
Congress: Gains notification and oversight powers, influencing foreign policy decisions.
U.S. Executive Branch Agencies: Involved in interagency processes, especially for countering influence (e.g., Defense, Commerce Departments).
International Actors: Governments and organizations in the Arctic, Indian Ocean, East Asia-Pacific, Africa, Middle East, North Africa, South/Central Asia; particularly affected are U.S. allies/partners seeking assistance and China, targeted by the CPIF.
NGOs and Private Sector: May engage more with the new ambassadors on issues like trade, environment, and development.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Positions like the Indian Ocean Ambassador require Senate confirmation, upholding constitutional advice-and-consent processes. The bill integrates into U.S. Code without repealing much, but ensures smooth classification. The CPIF's definition of "malign influence" provides clear criteria for funding but could invite legal challenges if seen as overly broad or biased.
Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over foreign affairs appropriations and organization of executive departments (Article I, Section 8), while respecting presidential nomination powers.
Political: Signals U.S. strategic priorities—e.g., prioritizing the Arctic amid climate change and great-power competition, and the Indian Ocean for Indo-Pacific security. The anti-China focus (CPIF) reflects bipartisan concerns over influence operations but may polarize relations. Overall, it promotes bureaucratic efficiency without major controversies, though funding reliance on existing appropriations could face budget debates.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]

Recent Actions

2025-09-18: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 49 - 0.
2025-09-18: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-09-17: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-09-10: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
2025-09-10: Introduced in House
2025-09-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

To provide for the political affairs authorities of the Department of State, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (13 pages)