Last progress July 31, 2025 (4 months ago)
Introduced on July 31, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
This bill stops the District of Columbia from forming or keeping “Sister City” partnerships with cities or regions in countries the United States considers foreign adversaries. If D.C. already has one of these partnerships, it must end it by the date set in the agreement or within 180 days after the law takes effect, whichever comes first. The bill also says D.C. can’t use federal money for its international outreach unless it certifies it is following these rules .
Here’s what that means in practice:
| Who is affected | What changes | When it happens |
|---|---|---|
| D.C. government and its international programs | No new Sister City deals with places in foreign adversary countries; end any current ones | On enactment; existing ties must end by the agreement’s date or within 180 days |
| D.C. residents and community groups involved in Sister City exchanges | Some exchanges or events with affected cities may stop | After the partnerships are ended |
| D.C. offices using federal funds for diplomatic/international outreach | Must certify they follow the new limits to use federal funds | After enactment, ongoing compliance required |