H.R. 5246 — To provide for the political affairs authorities of the Department of State, and for other purposes.

This section establishes in the Department of State an Under Secretary for Political Affairs responsible to the Secretary of State for regional and bilateral diplomacy and other related duties as designated by the Secretary. The section further requires the Under Secretary to maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to the implementation of U.S. foreign policy, including supporting other Under Secretaries of State as appropriate.

This section directs that, of funds authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State under section 141, the Under Secretary for Political Affairs receive the funds necessary to fulfill the Under Secretary’s responsibilities for FY2026 and FY2027.

This section requires the Under Secretary for Political Affairs to notify the appropriate congressional committees at least 15 days before altering the geographic or functional jurisdiction of any regional bureau of the Department of State—including by adding or removing countries under a bureau's purview—with the notification including (1) a justification for the change and (2) a description of expected operational, programmatic, or policy implications for affected bureaus. The appropriate congressional committees are the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

This section establishes in the Department of State an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic, responsible to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for Arctic region matters and related duties as designated. The Ambassador shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all Arctic matters in foreign policy, including (1) energy exploration and development, (2) environmental conservation, (3) trade and economic development, and (4) infrastructure development and maintenance.

This section establishes an Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean Region in the Department of State, to report to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs and handle matters pertaining to the region and related duties designated by the Secretary. The President must nominate an individual for Senate confirmation by April 1, 2026. The Ambassador's primary responsibilities include (1) ensuring harmonization and continuity of U.S. diplomatic efforts and assistance programs across Indian Ocean region countries; (2) identifying diplomatic, military, economic, and development priorities of greatest U.S. strategic interest and reinforcing interagency engagement; and (3) coordinating within the Department among the bureaus of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, South and Central Asian Affairs, Near Eastern Affairs, and African Affairs, as well as participating in relevant interagency processes. The Ambassador is authorized to represent the United States in contacts with foreign governments, international organizations (e.g., Indian Ocean Rim Association), multilateral meetings, and nongovernmental organizations relevant to advancing U.S. interests in the region.

This section authorizes an Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department, responsible to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to East Asia and the Pacific and such other related duties as the Secretary may designate.

This section authorizes appropriations to the Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, from funds appropriated to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs under section 302, as necessary to fulfill Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs functions for FY2026 and FY2027. The section further directs the Assistant Secretary to direct, oversee, and exercise responsibility for funds made available for the Countering People's Republic of China Influence Fund.

This section establishes in the Department of State a Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs—headed by the Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs—to perform functions related to U.S. foreign policy and assistance in East Asia and the Pacific, as prescribed by the Under Secretary for Political Affairs. It defines “East Asia and the Pacific” to include any country designated by the Under Secretary as within the Assistant Secretary’s responsibility.

This section establishes a Countering the PRC Influence Fund Unit (CPIF Unit) within the Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to terminate two years after enactment. The CPIF Unit is to be led by a Director—who identifies strategic priorities consistent with U.S. national security, coordinates and approves programming that directly counters PRC malign influence (defined as influence by China or its agents that undermines the free and open international order, utilizes coercion and dependency, or threatens U.S. or other countries' national, territorial, political, or economic security) or provides U.S. alternatives, ensures advancement of U.S. foreign policy interests, conducts oversight and evaluation, and coordinates with other federal activities—and a Deputy Director, with additional staff as needed including a Budget Analyst, Grant Officer, Program Assistant, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Specialist. The Director may direct monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities to improve efficiency, reduce fraud and waste risks, and enhance future programming, with findings made available to Congress.

This section establishes in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary for African Affairs responsible to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to Africa and other duties designated by the Secretary. The Assistant Secretary must also maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to the implementation of U.S. foreign policy in Africa.

This section establishes in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, responsible to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to the Middle East and North Africa and other duties designated by the Secretary. The Assistant Secretary must also maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to implementation of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa.

This section authorizes in the Department of State an Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs for matters pertaining to South and Central Asia and such other related duties as the Secretary may designate.

This section directs the Office of Law Revision Counsel to (1) classify the sections of this title into §§67 through 97 of title 22, United States Code; and (2) maintain, under editorial notes, the legislative history of repealed law previously occupying those sections.