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Prohibits U.S. embassies, consulates, diplomatic posts, and U.S. diplomatic personnel from being used to raise money for foreign political parties or candidates, and bars use of federal funds or personal funds of U.S. Ambassadors and officials for such fundraising. Requires the Department of State to update its rules and manuals to implement the prohibition and to certify those changes to Congress within a specified timeframe.
The Department of State’s mission is to protect and promote security, prosperity, and democratic values, and not to pursue the interests of any political party in the United States or abroad.
Meeting with and building relationships with a range of political parties in foreign countries is an appropriate and important function of any United States Ambassador or representative abroad.
It is longstanding, bipartisan U.S. practice to encourage rule of law and free speech abroad without regard to political party or affiliation.
Using United States embassy or consulate grounds, or the grounds of any other U.S. diplomatic post, to raise funds for any foreign political party or candidate in a foreign democratic electoral process is inappropriate and is distinct from Department of State efforts to oppose corruption and promote democratic institutions and values.
It is U.S. policy to maintain strict political neutrality in foreign countries' elections and to ensure diplomatic resources are not used to give financial or electoral advantage to any foreign political party or candidate.
Adds a prohibition at the end of 22 U.S.C. 4085 forbidding the Secretary from providing for official receptions or paying expenses for activities hosted by a United States embassy, consulate, or other diplomatic post that are intended to raise funds for or on behalf of a foreign political party or candidate.
States that 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 text after an unspecified location; the specific insertion text is not provided in this section.
Primary effect: Department of State personnel (including U.S. Ambassadors and diplomatic staff) must refrain from hosting or facilitating fundraising for foreign political parties or candidates on diplomatic premises or using federal or personal funds for that purpose. The Department must update internal rules, manuals, and guidance and certify completion to Congress, creating modest administrative work (policy revision, training, and reporting). Foreign political parties and candidates lose the ability to raise funds through U.S. diplomatic facilities or with apparent diplomatic endorsement. The law preserves diplomats' ability to meet and communicate with foreign political actors for normal diplomatic functions, but narrows activities that could be perceived as taking sides in foreign elections. There is little direct fiscal impact on states, localities, or private parties; the burden is internal to the State Department and diplomatic corps. If enforced, the change reduces risk of perceived U.S. interference in foreign electoral politics and clarifies conduct rules for diplomats.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced September 4, 2025 by Edward John Markey · Last progress September 4, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Introduced in Senate