“To prohibit the use of United States embassies or consulates in raising funds for foreign political parties or candidates.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section states congressional findings concerning the Department of State's mission and appropriate diplomatic activities, including that (1) the Department's mission is to protect and promote security, prosperity, and democratic values—not to pursue interests of any U.S. or foreign political party; (2) meeting with and building relationships with a range of foreign political parties is an appropriate function of U.S. ambassadors and representatives abroad; (3) it is longstanding U.S. bipartisan practice to encourage rule of law and free speech abroad without regard to political affiliation; and (4) using U.S. embassy, consulate, or diplomatic post grounds to raise funds for foreign political parties or candidates is inappropriate and distinct from Department efforts against corruption and to advance democratic values.
This section establishes a U.S. policy of strict political neutrality in foreign elections and prohibits the obligation or expenditure of federal funds or personal funds of U.S. ambassadors or other officials to host fundraising events (i.e., events to raise funds for or on behalf of a foreign political party or candidate, including facilitating donor contacts) for foreign political parties or candidates at U.S. embassies, consulates, diplomatic posts, or official residences. It (1) amends sec. 905 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4085) to prohibit the Secretary of State from funding official receptions or related expenses for such activities hosted at U.S. diplomatic posts; (2) amends sec. 4(b)(2)(H) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2671(b)(2)(H)) to exclude such functions from official representational allowances; and (3) directs the Secretary of State to revise the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) and Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) to implement these prohibitions and discourage related activities, with certification of compliance to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and House Committee on Foreign Affairs within 90 days of enactment. (As background, 22 U.S.C. 2671 authorizes Department of State emergency expenditures for urgent diplomatic needs, including representational functions.)