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119-hr-5246119th Congress

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

Sponsored By: Representative Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]

In Committee

Summary

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs leads a reorganization that creates new senior diplomacy posts, dedicated regional bureaus, and targeted teams to coordinate U.S. foreign policy across strategic regions.

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  • Creates new senior roles and regional bureaus to centralize diplomatic planning. It establishes an Under Secretary for Political Affairs and multiple Assistant Secretaries, and it sets up a Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs to focus regional policy and program delivery.
  • Sends new envoys to prioritized areas. The bill creates an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic and an Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean Region to coordinate diplomacy, trade, energy, environment, and infrastructure engagement across those regions. The Indian Ocean Ambassador must be nominated by April 1, 2026.
  • Builds a China-focused operations unit and ties funding to the new structure. It creates a Countering the People's Republic of China Influence Fund (CPIF) Unit inside the East Asia and Pacific Bureau to run grants, program oversight, and evaluations. The CPIF Unit ends 2 years after enactment and funds for FY 2026 and FY 2027 are authorized to support these bureau functions.
  • Increases congressional oversight of bureau boundaries and roles. The Department must give 15 days advance notice to House and Senate foreign affairs and appropriations committees before changing a regional bureau’s geographic or functional jurisdiction.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

East Asia bureau and China influence unit

This bill would create a Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs led by an Assistant Secretary who reports to the new Under Secretary. It would also authorize Assistant Secretaries for Near Eastern, South and Central Asian, and African Affairs. The East Asia bureau would receive needed funds in FY 2026 and FY 2027, and its Assistant Secretary would oversee money for the Countering PRC Influence Fund, subject to appropriations. The Secretary could set up a time‑limited unit inside the bureau to plan, approve, and track programs that counter PRC malign influence or offer U.S. alternatives. That unit would have a director, deputy, grant and evaluation staff, and would end two years after enactment.

Ambassadors for Arctic and Indian Ocean

This bill would create Ambassadors‑at‑Large for the Arctic and for the Indian Ocean Region, both reporting to the Under Secretary. The Arctic Ambassador would focus on energy, the environment, trade, and infrastructure in Arctic diplomacy. The President would need to nominate the Indian Ocean Ambassador by April 1, 2026, with Senate consent. That Ambassador would coordinate U.S. efforts across the region and represent the United States to regional groups and organizations.

New diplomacy chief and oversight rules

This bill would create an Under Secretary for Political Affairs to coordinate U.S. regional diplomacy. It would fund this office in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from amounts authorized to the Secretary of State, if Congress later appropriates the money. It would also require at least 15 days’ notice to the House Foreign Affairs and Appropriations Committees and the Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees before changing a regional bureau’s countries or duties, with a written reason and expected impacts.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]

FL • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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