HR-5248 — To ensure the alignment of economic and foreign policies, to position the Department of State to reflect that economic security is national security, and for other purposes.

YourVoice.Now Summary

Corporate BenefitsTransparency & Accountability

Rearranges the State Department's economic offices — a new bureau would help U.S. firms win deals abroad.

Corporate Benefits

State Department backing for U.S. projects abroad — even without made-in-America content

The State Department would promote overseas commercial projects it judges important to national security. It could do that even when a project falls short of made-in-America content rules.

Government help winning foreign contracts — new U.S. business bureau

A new Bureau of Commercial Diplomacy would help U.S. firms compete for and win contracts in foreign markets. It would also work to draw foreign investment into the United States.

Transparency & Accountability

Senate confirmation for four senior State Department jobs — future appointments only

Future picks for the under secretary and three assistant secretary posts would need a Senate vote. The bill sets no such requirement for the other new positions it creates.

Report to Congress on U.S. economic strategy — stops after five years

A new chief economist would send Congress a report on U.S. international economic strategy one year after passage. Two more would follow, and then the requirement ends.

Yearly report to Congress on energy strategy — stops after four years

The new energy security assistant secretary would report yearly on U.S. international energy strategy. Four reports are required in all, and then the duty ends.

Senate vote before current officials take the renamed jobs — none needed

The officials already in these jobs would step into the renamed ones automatically. That includes the sanctions coordinator, who would reach assistant secretary rank without a Senate vote.

More about this bill

You would not notice this bill in daily life. It shifts offices and job titles inside the State Department. No tax, benefit, or public service changes. The clearest effect falls on companies that sell overseas. A new Bureau of Commercial Diplomacy would help U.S. firms find foreign buyers and win contracts abroad. It would also push overseas projects tied to national security. Those projects could get that help even without made-in-America content. The top economic job at the department would be renamed. The Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment would become the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs. That job would cover trade, energy, critical minerals, sanctions, oceans, conservation, and commercial space. Four bureaus would report to it: commercial diplomacy; water, environment, and space; energy security; and sanctions. The department's oceans and environment bureau would be renamed and take on space work. Two offices would join the four bureaus. One is led by a new chief economist. The other works with states, counties, and cities. Local officials could get federal help drawing foreign investment or bidding to host big international events. People now in these jobs would move into the renamed ones without a new Senate vote. Later appointments to four of the posts would need Senate confirmation. The sanctions coordinator would become an assistant secretary running a full bureau. Congress would get a report on U.S. economic strategy one year after passage. Two more would follow over the next four years. A separate energy report would come yearly for four years. Both duties then end. The bill names no dollar figure of its own. It draws on State Department money for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The new under secretary would also run the department's CHIPS Act technology fund. That 2022 fund holds about $500 million for secure chip and telecom supply chains.

Congressional Summary

This bill restructures the Department of State's Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, dividing the office into four bureaus and two offices. (The current structure is here.) The bill also specifies the functions of these organizations and the responsibilities of the organizations' leaders. Under the bill, the following organizations fall under the Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs: the Bureau of Commercial Diplomacy covers trade and investment promotion and policy, international finance and development, and transportation affairs; the Bureau of Water, Environment, and Space Affairs covers space, oceans, environmental quality, fisheries, wildlife, wildlife trafficking, and conservation affairs; the Bureau of Energy Security and Diplomacy formulates and implements international energy, energy technology, critical minerals, and relevant supply chain policies; the Bureau of Sanctions Policy develops policies governing the imposition of sanctions and sanctions strategies; the Office of the Chief Economist provides expert economic advice and analysis; and the Office of Subnational Diplomacy enables the department’s work with state and local governments within the United States to improve the ability of those governments to attract foreign investment, counter foreign malign influence within the United States, and contribute to U.S. foreign policy priorities. An assistant secretary with specified responsibilities leads each of the four bureaus. The heads of the two offices also have specified responsibilities. The Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs shall administer and oversee the International Technology Security and Innovation Fund, which provides for technology security and semiconductor supply chain activities.

Legislative Subjects

Advanced technology and technological innovationsCompetitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficitsCongressional oversightDepartment of StateDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadEconomic developmentEnergy efficiency and conservationEnergy researchExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsSanctionsSpace flight and exploration

Details

Congress: 119th
Chamber: House
Status: summarized
Action: Introduced in House
Action Date: 2025-09-10
Date Added: 2026-06-08
Source: Congress.gov →

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