Bill Summary
The "No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act" is legislation aimed at prohibiting the use of U.S. embassies and consulates for raising funds for foreign political parties or candidates. The bill emphasizes the importance of maintaining political neutrality in foreign electoral processes and asserts that U.S. diplomatic resources should not be used to provide financial or electoral advantages to any foreign political entity.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Prohibition on Fundraising**: It restricts the use of federal and personal funds by U.S. officials to host fundraising events for foreign political parties or candidates at U.S. diplomatic posts.
2. **Definition of Fundraising Events**: The legislation clarifies that fundraising events include any activities intended to raise money for foreign political entities, including facilitating contact between potential donors and foreign candidates.
3. **Amendments to Existing Laws**: The bill amends previous legislation to reinforce the prohibition on using U.S. embassies and consulates for fundraising purposes and restricts related entertainment and representation expenses.
4. **Regulatory Revisions**: The Secretary of State is required to revise relevant regulations to align with the new prohibitions and ensure that U.S. diplomatic missions do not engage in activities that could appear to favor one foreign political party or candidate over another.
Overall, the act seeks to uphold the U.S. commitment to democratic values and neutrality in foreign political matters.
Possible Impacts
The "No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act" could affect people in several ways:
1. **Protection of U.S. Diplomatic Integrity**: By prohibiting the use of U.S. embassies and consulates for fundraising activities for foreign political parties or candidates, this legislation helps maintain the integrity and neutrality of U.S. diplomatic missions. This could foster greater trust among foreign governments and populations in the impartiality of U.S. foreign policy, potentially benefiting American citizens traveling or residing abroad.
2. **Impact on Foreign Political Dynamics**: The law may limit the ability of certain foreign political parties or candidates to access funding and support from the U.S. This could affect the political landscape in those countries, as parties that might have benefited from U.S. fundraising efforts may find it more challenging to compete equitably in elections. Consequently, voters in those countries could face fewer choices, influencing domestic political stability and democratic processes.
3. **Restrictions on U.S. Diplomats**: U.S. diplomats, including ambassadors, will have fewer avenues to engage with foreign political figures and parties in the context of fundraising. This could restrict their ability to build relationships that could be beneficial in promoting U.S. interests abroad. For diplomats who aim to foster democratic values and rule of law, this limitation may hinder their efforts to support a diverse political environment in foreign nations.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2728 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2728
To prohibit the use of United States embassies or consulates in raising
funds for foreign political parties or candidates.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 4, 2025
Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
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 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.
(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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