HR5114-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Foreign Fundraising at United States Embassies Act.

2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: 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. 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. It is the longstanding and bipartisan practice of the United States to encourage the rule of law and free speech abroad, without regard for political party or affiliation. 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.

3. Prohibition on hosting of foreign party political events at United States embassies 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. 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, or at the residence of such Ambassador or other official. 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. 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.. 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. 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. 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. 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.