No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2728
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-01T20:42:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act S. 2728 – 119th Congress
Purpose
The legislation aims to prevent U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic posts from being used to raise funds for foreign political parties or candidates. It reinforces the principle that diplomatic resources should remain neutral in foreign elections and not provide financial advantages to any political group.
Key Provisions
- Policy Statement: Establishes U.S. policy to maintain strict political neutrality in foreign electoral processes and avoid using diplomatic facilities for fundraising.
- Prohibition: Bars the use of federal funds or personal funds of U.S. officials to host fundraising events for foreign political parties or candidates at U.S. diplomatic posts.
- Definition: Clarifies that a "fundraising event" includes any activity intended to raise money for a party or candidate, such as facilitating donor contacts.
- Amendments to Existing Laws:
- Modifies the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to restrict official receptions and related expenses for such events.
- Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to exclude fundraising functions from allowable expenditures at diplomatic posts.
- Regulatory Updates: Requires the Secretary of State to revise the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) and Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) to implement these restrictions and submit a certification to congressional committees within 90 days.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new explicit prohibitions on using diplomatic venues and funds for foreign political fundraising. It builds on prior restrictions in the Foreign Service Act and State Department authorities by adding targeted exclusions for political events, aiming to close potential gaps in how representation and entertainment allowances are applied.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Primarily affects the Department of State by limiting how ambassadors and officials can use embassy resources, requiring updates to internal regulations and procedures.
- Citizens: No direct effects on U.S. citizens, though it could indirectly influence public perception of U.S. diplomatic impartiality.
- International Relations: Promotes a consistent stance of non-interference in foreign elections, potentially strengthening U.S. credibility in promoting democratic norms while avoiding perceptions of favoritism.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Department of State and its diplomatic personnel, including ambassadors.
- Foreign political parties and candidates seeking U.S. diplomatic engagement.
- Congressional committees on foreign affairs, which receive certification reports.
- Broader foreign governments and electoral processes in countries hosting U.S. posts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill emphasizes separation between official diplomatic functions and partisan activities, aligning with longstanding U.S. practices of encouraging rule of law abroad without endorsing specific parties. It does not alter constitutional authorities but reinforces statutory limits on executive branch use of resources in foreign affairs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-04: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2025-09-04: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act — issued 2025-09-04 — PDF (5 pages)