To enhance subnational diplomacy efforts within the Department of State, and for other purposes.
The bill would create a new Office of Subnational Diplomacy within the Department of State. This office would focus on helping state, county, city, and other local governments engage more effectively with foreign governments and entities. Its aim is to attract foreign investment, counter foreign malign influence in the United States, and advance U.S. foreign policy priorities at the subnational level. A Special Representative for Subnational Diplomacy would lead the office, reporting to the Under Secretary of Economic Affairs, and would coordinate a range of activities to support local governments in international engagement, risk assessment, and partnership development. Overall, the measure seeks to formalize and expand the role of subnational governments in diplomacy, linking local economic and policy activities with national foreign policy goals. If enacted, it could increase the involvement of city and state governments in international engagements, improve coordination with the State Department, and elevate local capabilities in areas like investment attraction, events hosting, and international cooperation.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the Office of Subnational Diplomacy within the Department of State to advance engagements with subnational units (e.g., states, counties, and municipalities) to attract foreign investment and support foreign policy priorities.
- 2Creation of a leadership role, the Special Representative for Subnational Diplomacy, who reports to the Under Secretary of Economic Affairs and serves as the principal official on subnational diplomacy matters.
- 3Comprehensive responsibilities for the Special Representative, including advising on subnational engagements, coordinating Department support for local-municipal engagements with foreign governments, advising on risks from countries of concern, and sharing best practices to build resilience against foreign interference.
- 4Support for subnational governments in economic and diplomatic activities, such as attracting or bidding to host international events, tracking and leveraging foreign direct investment (FDI) at the county and municipal level, and advancing economic cooperation with foreign entities.
- 5Capacity-building and program implementation tasks, including helping local staff engage with foreign governments, promoting sports diplomacy, managing shared-resource policy programs, and coordinating with associations of subnational elected leaders (e.g., U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Governors Association, National League of Cities).