Bill > HR5246

This bill establishes and defines several key diplomatic positions and organizational structures within the U.S. Department of State, focusing on political affairs and regional diplomacy. Specifically, the bill creates an Under Secretary for Political Affairs who will oversee regional and bilateral diplomacy and coordinate foreign policy implementation, and establishes several new Ambassador and Assistant Secretary positions, including an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic and an Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean Region. The bill also creates a Countering PRC (People's Republic of China) Influence Fund Unit within the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, which will develop and implement strategies to counter China's potential malign global influence. Additionally, the bill authorizes funding for these positions and bureaus for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and requires the State Department to notify Congress 15 days before making any changes to regional bureau jurisdictions. The CPIF Unit, in particular, is tasked with identifying strategic priorities, coordinating programming, and ensuring that activities directly counter China's strategic objectives, with a specific focus on maintaining a free and open international order and protecting national security interests.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5246/all-info