Bill Summary
The "No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act" is a legislative proposal aimed at preventing the use of U.S. embassies and consulates for fundraising activities on behalf of foreign political parties or candidates. The bill asserts that the primary mission of U.S. diplomatic missions is to promote security, prosperity, and democratic values, rather than to engage in partisan political activities abroad.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Prohibition of Fundraising**: The bill explicitly prohibits the use of federal or personal funds by U.S. diplomats to host events intended to raise money for foreign political entities at U.S. diplomatic posts.
2. **Protection of Political Neutrality**: It establishes a policy of strict political neutrality in foreign electoral processes, ensuring that U.S. diplomatic resources do not confer financial or electoral advantages to any foreign political party or candidate.
3. **Regulatory Amendments**: The legislation mandates amendments to existing regulations to enforce these prohibitions and to prevent any activities that might promote the interests of one foreign political party or candidate over others.
4. **Certification Requirement**: The Secretary of State is tasked with revising relevant regulations and must certify to Congress that these changes have been implemented within 90 days of the bill's enactment.
Overall, the act emphasizes the importance of maintaining diplomatic integrity and neutrality in the political affairs of other nations.
Possible Impacts
The proposed "No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act" could have several impacts on individuals and entities, including:
1. **Foreign Political Parties and Candidates**: This legislation would limit the ability of foreign political parties and candidates to engage with U.S. diplomatic missions for fundraising purposes. As a result, candidates or parties in foreign countries may find it more challenging to secure funding or support from U.S.-based donors, which could hinder their electoral efforts and influence the political landscape in those countries.
2. **U.S. Diplomats and Officials**: U.S. ambassadors and other officials would be restricted from using their official positions or embassy resources to facilitate fundraising for foreign political entities. This could limit their ability to build relationships or networks that could be beneficial for U.S. diplomatic interests, as they may have to navigate these restrictions carefully while engaging with foreign political figures.
3. **U.S. Citizens and Donors**: Individuals or organizations in the U.S. interested in supporting foreign political parties or candidates may find it more difficult to connect with those entities through diplomatic channels. This could lead to a reduction in political contributions from U.S. citizens to foreign candidates, impacting political dynamics in other nations and potentially reducing the influence of American political perspectives abroad.
Overall, the legislation aims to maintain U.S. neutrality in foreign electoral processes, but it could also create barriers to engagement for various stakeholders involved in international politics.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5114 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5114
To prohibit the use of United States embassies or consulates in raising
funds for foreign political parties or candidates.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 3, 2025
Ms. Johnson of Texas (for herself and Ms. McBride) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the use of United States embassies or consulates in raising
funds for foreign political parties or candidates.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``No Foreign Fundraising at United
States Embassies Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Department of State's mission is to protect and
promote security, prosperity, and democratic values, not to
pursue the interests of any political party in the United
States or abroad.
(2) Meeting with and building relationships with a range of
political parties in foreign countries are appropriate and
important functions consistent with the duties of any United
States Ambassador or representative of the United States
Government abroad.
(3) It is the longstanding and bipartisan practice of the
United States to encourage the rule of law and free speech
abroad, without regard for political party or affiliation.
(4) The use of United States embassy or consulate grounds,
or the grounds of any other United States diplomatic post, to
raise funds for any foreign political party or candidate in a
foreign democratic electoral process is inappropriate and
distinct from longstanding Department of State efforts to stand
against corruption and advance democratic institutions and
values around the world.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON HOSTING OF FOREIGN PARTY POLITICAL EVENTS AT
UNITED STATES EMBASSIES.
(a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to
maintain strict political neutrality in the internal electoral
processes of foreign countries, and to ensure that diplomatic
resources, including embassies, consulates, and other posts, are not
used to confer financial or electoral advantage to any foreign
political party or candidate.
(b) In General.--No Federal funds, and no personal funds of a
United States Ambassador or other United States official, may be
obligated or expended to host a fundraising event for, or on behalf of,
a foreign political party or candidate at a United States embassy or
consulate or any other United States diplomatic post, or at the
residence of such Ambassador or other official.
(c) Fundraising Event Defined.--In this section, the term
``fundraising event'' means an event intended to raise funds for, or on
behalf of, a political party or candidate, including by knowingly
facilitating contact between potential donors and political parties or
candidates for fundraising purposes.
(d) Restriction on Entertainment and Representation Expenses.--
Section 905 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085) is
amended by adding at the end the following: ``The Secretary may not
provide for official receptions or pay expenses related to activities
by the Department or the Service, hosted by a United States embassy or
consulate or other United States diplomatic post, intended to raise
funds for or on behalf of a foreign political party or candidate.''.
(e) Additional Restriction on Expenditures.--Section 4(b)(2)(H) of
the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C.
2671(b)(2)(H)) is amended by inserting ``, other than functions at a
United States embassy or consulate or any other United States
diplomatic post intended to raise funds for or on behalf of a foreign
political party or candidate'' after ``allowances''.
(f) Revision of DSSR and FAM.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of State shall revise the
Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) and the
Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) to prohibit the use of a United
States embassy or consulate or any other United States
diplomatic post in a manner intended to raise funds for or on
behalf of a foreign political party or candidate, reflect the
prohibitions on expenditures under this section, and discourage
any activity hosted by a United States embassy or consulate or
other United States diplomatic post that could be construed as
promoting the financial interest of any foreign political party
or candidate relative to others engaged in a democratic
electoral process.
(2) Certification.--Not less than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall certify to the
appropriate congressional committees that the revisions
required under paragraph (1) have been made.
(3) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
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