119-hr5244

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5244 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 5244

 To provide for the authorities of the Secretary of State.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 September 10, 2025

 Mr. Mills introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To provide for the authorities of the Secretary of State.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act--

    (1) except as otherwise provided, the term ``appropriate 
 congressional committees'' means--
        (A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House 
 of Representatives; and
        (B) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
 Senate;

    (2) the term ``Department'' means the Department of State;

    (3) the term ``Deputy Secretary'' means the Deputy 
 Secretary of State; and

    (4) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of State.

 TITLE I--GENERAL ORGANIZATION

 Subtitle A--Office of the Secretary

SEC. 101. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY.

 The Secretary is authorized to establish in the Office of the 
Secretary of State of the Department positions to support the 
Secretary's situational awareness and decision-making in the management 
of the Department. Such positions may include the following:

    (1) Chief of Staff.

    (2) Counselor.

    (3) Executive Secretariat.

 Subtitle B--United Nations

SEC. 111. UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

    (a) Establishment.--

    (1) In general.--The President, by and with the advice and 
 consent of the Senate, shall appoint a representative of the 
 United States to the United Nations who shall have the rank and 
 status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and 
 shall hold office at the pleasure of the President. Such 
 representative shall represent the United States in the 
 Security Council of the United Nations and shall perform such 
 other functions in connection with the participation of the 
 United States in the United Nations as the President may, from 
 time to time, direct.

    (2) Reporting and collaboration.--The United States 
 Ambassador to the United Nations shall report to and 
 collaborate closely with the Secretary of State through 
 direction by the President to implement a coherent and unified 
 strategic policy of the United States in the United Nations 
 system.

    (b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities 
described in subsection

    (a) , the United States Ambassador to the United 
Nations shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all 
matters pertaining to United States participation in the United Nations 
system in the conduct of foreign policy, including--

    (1) to identify, report, and hold accountable Member States 
 that engage in malign influence operations and United Nations 
 employees who act inconsistently with the principals of 
 impartiality enshrined in the United Nations Charter;

    (2) to oppose the election as the head of any United 
 Nations entity of nationals from Member States that engage in 
 malign influence operations;

    (3) to support Taiwan's membership or meaningful 
 participation, as appropriate, in relevant United Nations 
 entities in which Taiwan has expressed an interest in 
 participating; and

    (4) to support Presidential actions in response to malign 
 influence operations.
            (c) === Definitions. ===
-In this section--

    (1) the term ``employee'' means a staff member who is 
 compensated in any form in the general services, professional 
 staff, or senior management of the United Nations system, 
 including a consultant, a contractor, or a subcontractor;

    (2) the term ``malign influence operations'' means a 
 coordinated, integrated, and synchronized application by a 
 Member State of national diplomatic, informational, military, 
 economic, or other capabilities, to foster attitudes, 
 behaviors, or decisions by a United Nations entity, or within 
 the United Nations system, that furthers the national interests 
 and objectives of a Member State, in a manner inconsistent with 
 the United Nations Charter;

    (3) the term ``Member State'' means a country that is a 
 Member State of the United Nations; and

    (4) the term ``United Nations entity'' means--
        (A) the United Nations General Assembly;
        (B) the United Nations Economic and Social Council;
            (C) the United Nations Security Council;
            (D) the United Nations Secretariat;
        (E) an organization related to any of the entities 
 referred to in subparagraphs
        (A) through
            (D) ;
        (F) a specialized agency; or
        (G) a subsidiary body.

SEC. 112. UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be a United States 
Mission to the United Nations which shall be constituted by the United 
States Ambassador to the United Nations, and representatives to the 
principal organs and agencies of the United Nations appointed or 
designated and included within the United States Mission to the United 
Nations as designated pursuant to subsection

    (b) , together with their 
deputies, staffs, and offices.

    (b) Representatives.--

    (1) In general.--The President, by and with the advice and 
 consent of the Senate, shall appoint additional persons with 
 appropriate titles, rank, and status to represent the United 
 States in the principal organs of the United Nations and in 
 such organs, commissions, or other bodies as may be created by 
 the United Nations with respect to nuclear energy or 
 disarmament (control and limitation of armament).

    (2) Terms and oversight.--Such persons--
        (A) shall serve at the pleasure of the President; 
 and
        (B) are subject to the direction of the 
 Representative of the United States to the United 
 Nations.
            (c) Coordination.--The United States Mission to the United Nations 
shall coordinate closely with the Bureau of International Organization 
Affairs of the Department and any bureau of the Department that 
provides funding for United Nations agencies, programs, or 
organizations at the Department and across the United States Government 
to implement a coherent and unified strategic policy of the United 
States in the United Nations system.
            (d) Action by Representatives Voting in Accordance With 
Presidential Instructions.--The representatives when representing the 
United States in the respective organs and agencies of the United 
Nations, shall, at all times, act in accordance with the instructions 
of the President transmitted by the Secretary of State unless other 
means of transmission is directed by the President, and such 
representatives shall, in accordance with such instructions, cast any 
and all votes under the Charter of the United Nations.

    (e) Chief of Mission.--

    (1) In general.--The United States Ambassador to the United 
 Nations shall be the Chief of Mission in charge of the United 
 States Mission to the United Nations.

    (2) Coordination.--The Chief of Mission shall coordinate at 
 the seat of the United Nations the activities of the Mission in 
 carrying out the instructions of the President transmitted 
 either by the Secretary or by other means of transmission as 
 directed by the President.

    (3) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities 
 described in paragraph

    (2) , the Chief of Mission--
        (A) shall be responsible for the administration of 
 the Mission, including personnel, budget, obligation 
 and expenditure of funds, and the central 
 administrative services; and
        (B) shall discharge responsibilities under this 
 subsection in accordance with such rules and 
 regulations as the Secretary may from time to time 
 prescribe.

 Subtitle C--Bureaus, Offices, and Other Entities

SEC. 121. OFFICES AND BUREAUS OF THE SECRETARY AND DEPUTY SECRETARY.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be within the Department 
the following bureaus and offices to support the Secretary's and Deputy 
Secretary's situational awareness and decision-making in the management 
of the Department:

    (1) A Bureau of Legislative Affairs, in accordance with 
 

section 122.

    (2) A Bureau of Intelligence and Research, in accordance 
 with 

section 123.

    (3) An Office of Policy Planning, in accordance with 
 

section 124.

    (4) An Office of the Legal Adviser, in accordance with 
 

section 125.

    (5) An Office of Protocol, in accordance with 

section 126.

    (6) An Office of the Spokesperson, in accordance with 
 

section 127.

    (b) Delegation.--The Secretary may delegate the responsibilities 
for the coordination of activities across the bureaus and offices 
listed in subsection

    (a) to the Deputy Secretary to ensure that the 
missions of such bureaus and offices are integrated into the 
Department's broader goals.

SEC. 122. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be in the Department an 
Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs who shall be responsible--

    (1) to the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary for matters 
 pertaining to Congress; and

    (2) for such other related duties as the Secretary may from 
 time to time designate.

    (b) Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary.--In addition to 
the responsibilities described in subsection

    (a) , the Assistant 
Secretary for Legislative Affairs shall maintain continuous observation 
and coordination of all matters pertaining to engagement with Congress, 
including, as appropriate--

    (1) the presentation of the Department's legislative 
 program, including developing, preparing, and submitting 
 legislation to Congress;

    (2) impartial coordination between the Department and 
 Congress on all legislative related matters;

    (3) providing guidance and information to other Department 
 bureaus and offices on legislative matters;

    (4) managing correspondence and reports to Congress, as 
 appropriate, except for--
        (A) treaties and executive agreements, which the 
 Office of the Legal Adviser transmits;
        (B) anti-deficiency notifications, which the Bureau 
 of Comptroller and Financial Services transmits;
            (C) reprogramming notifications for the State 
 Operations Budget account, which the Under Secretary 
 for Management transmits; and
            (D) other such communications as directed by law, 
 Executive order, or the Secretary; and

    (5) supporting Congress in its official foreign travel and 
 the expenditure of congressional travel funds.
            (c) Bureau of Legislative Affairs.--

    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Bureau 
 of Legislative Affairs, which shall perform such functions 
 related to the coordination of legislative activity, 
 congressional engagements, and the development of the 
 Department's positions on proposed legislation, as the 
 Secretary may prescribe.

    (2) Head.--The Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs 
 shall be the head of the Bureau of Legislative Affairs.

    (3) Deputy assistant secretary for house affairs.--The 
 Deputy Assistant Secretary for House Affairs shall be appointed 
 by the President of the United States.

    (4) Deputy assistant secretary for senate affairs.--The 
 Deputy Assistant Secretary for Senate Affairs shall be 
 appointed by the President of the United States.

SEC. 123. ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR INTELLIGENCE AND RESEARCH.

    (a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be in the Department an 
Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research who shall be 
responsible--

    (1) to the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary for matters 
 pertaining to the intelligence and research functions of the 
 Department; and

    (2) for such other related duties as the Secretary may from 
 time to time designate.

    (b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities 
described in subsection

    (a) , the Assistant Secretary for Intelligence 
and Research shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of 
all matters pertaining to analysis and dissemination of intelligence 
products in the conduct of foreign policy, including, as appropriate--

    (1) overseeing the Department's coordination with the 
 intelligence community (as such term is defined in 

section 3

    (4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003

    (4) ));

    (2) advocating for the Department's collection 
 requirements; and

    (3) ensuing effective collaboration and information sharing 
 in the Department.
            (c) Bureau of Intelligence and Research.--

    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Bureau 
 of Intelligence and Research, which shall perform such 
 functions related to overseeing the collection, analysis, and 
 dissemination of intelligence and research to inform and 
 implement United States foreign policy, as the Secretary may 
 prescribe.

    (2) Head.--The Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and 
 Research shall be the head of the Bureau of Intelligence and 
 Research.

SEC. 124. DIRECTOR FOR POLICY PLANNING.

    (a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be in the Department a 
Director of Policy Planning responsible to the Deputy Secretary and 
Secretary of State for matters pertaining to independent policy 
analysis, guidance, and counsel, and such other related duties as the 
Secretary may from time to time designate.

    (b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities 
described in subsection

    (a) , the Director of Policy Planning shall 
maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters 
pertaining to the policymaking process of the Department, including, as 
appropriate--

    (1) supporting the Secretary's priorities, aligning them 
 with engagements, policy, and planning across the Department 
 and the interagency;

    (2) leading and contributing to long-term planning 
 initiatives and functional policy reviews, agenda-setting, and 
 coordination across the Department, the interagency, and with 
 allies and partners through bilateral and multilateral policy 
 planning dialogues; and

    (3) promoting the Secretary's strategic narrative on 
 related policy and diplomatic priorities in the Department and 
 across the interagency.
            (c) Office of Policy Planning.--

    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an Office 
 of Policy Planning, which shall perform such functions related 
 to the shaping, developing, and articulating the Secretary's 
 strategic policy and diplomatic priorities across the 
 Department, as the Secretary may prescribe.

    (2) Head.--The Director of Policy Planning shall be the 
 head of the Office of Policy Planning.

SEC. 125. LEGAL ADVISER.

    (a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be in the Department a 
Legal Adviser who shall be responsible--

    (1) to the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary for providing 
 advice on all legal issues with respect to the mission of the 
 Department, including but not limited to formulating 
 international law; and

    (2) for such other related duties as the Secretary may from 
 time to time designate.

    (b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities 
described in subsection

    (a) , the Legal Adviser shall maintain 
continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to 
legal implications of the Department's intentions and activities in the 
conduct of foreign policy, including, as appropriate--

    (1) participating in international negotiations and 
 represent the United States in international conferences 
 related to legal issues, and serve as a member of delegation 
 and legal advisor to treaty implementation commissions;

    (2) assisting the Department regarding legal matters at 
 interagency meetings, congressional hearings, and meetings of 
 private organizations; and

    (3) provide consultation on behalf of the Department for 
 domestic litigation that involves the Department or its 
 interests, coordinating with other Departments when necessary, 
 and assisting the Department of Justice relating to relevant 
 litigation.
            (c) Office of Legal Adviser.--

    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish the 
 Office of the Legal Adviser, which shall perform such functions 
 related to representing and advising the Secretary and 
 Department-wide missions on all legal policy issues in 
 connection with United States foreign policy and the work of 
 the Department, as the Secretary may prescribe.

    (2) Head.--The Legal Adviser shall be the head of the 
 Office of the Legal Adviser.

SEC. 126. UNITED STATES CHIEF OF PROTOCOL.

    (a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be in the Department a 
United States Chief of Protocol who shall be responsible--

    (1) to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary for matters 
 pertaining to diplomatic etiquette; and

    (2) for providing guidance to the President, the Vice 
 President, the Secretary, and other high-ranking government 
 officials on matters of national and international protocol.

    (b) Office of Protocol.--

    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an Office 
 of Protocol, which shall perform functions related to ensuring 
 the Department's effective management of diplomatic and 
 consular protocols, including the planning and coordination of 
 official ceremonies, diplomatic visits, related diplomatic 
 engagements, and providing guidance on matters of diplomatic 
 etiquette, as the Secretary may prescribe.

    (2) Head.--The United States Chief of Protocol shall be the 
 head of the Office of Protocol.

SEC. 127. SPOKESPERSON.

    (a) Establishment.--There is authorized to be a Spokesperson of the 
Department of State who shall be responsible--

    (1) to the Secretary for matters pertaining to domestic 
 communications; and

    (2) for such other related duties as the Secretary may from 
 time to time designate.

    (b) Responsibilities.--In addition to the responsibilities 
described in subsection

    (a) , the Spokesperson shall maintain continuous 
observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to domestic 
communications in the conduct of foreign policy, including, as 
appropriate--

    (1) directing all Department communication intended for 
 domestic consumption;

    (2) communicating to the domestic press as the official 
 domestic audience spokesperson of the Department;

    (3) advising the Secretary on all aspects of the 
 Department's conduct of domestic press relations; and

    (4) supporting the Secretary in preparation for and during 
 domestic public media engagements.
            (c) Office of the Spokesperson.--

    (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an Office 
 of the Spokesperson which shall perform such functions related 
 to domestic communications as the Secretary may prescribe.

    (2) Head.--The Spokesperson of the Department of State 
 shall be the head of the Office of the Spokesperson.

SEC. 128. RED TEAM CAPABILITY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a Red Team 
Capability to inform the Department's crisis response and contingency 
planning.

    (b) Meetings.--The individuals involved in the Red Team Capability 
required by subsection

    (a) should be convened at the direction of--

    (1) for general meetings, the Department's Policy Planning 
 Staff and the Department's Crisis Management and Strategy Unit; 
 and

    (2) for specific reviews as needed, the Secretary or other 
 Department principals.
            (c) Reporting.--Not later than 21 days after the individuals 
involved in the Red Team Capability established pursuant to subsection

    (a) are convened in accordance with subsection

    (b) , such individuals 
shall submit to the Department's Policy Planning Staff a report that 
contains the findings relating to the exercise of such Red Team 
Capability.

 Subtitle D--Authorization of Appropriations

SEC. 131. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to receive all the 
funds appropriated to the Department and allocate such funds to fulfill 
missions and responsibilities for fiscal year 2026 and 2027.

    (b) Allocations.--Of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary under subsection

    (a) --

    (1) the United States Ambassador to the United Nations 
 shall receive the funds necessary to fulfill the United States 
 Mission to the United Nations missions and responsibilities 
 under subtitle A for fiscal years 2026 and 2027;

    (2) there is authorized to be made available to positions 
 described in subtitle B the funds necessary to fulfill position 
 missions and responsibilities for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; 
 and

    (3) there is authorized to be made available to the heads 
 of the bureaus, offices, and other entities described in 
 subtitle C the funds necessary to fulfill bureau, office, and 
 other entity missions and responsibilities for fiscal years 
 2026 and 2027.
            (c) Report on Unfunded Priorities of the Department.--

    (1) In general.--Not later than 10 days after the date on 
 which the budget for any fiscal year is submitted by the 
 President to Congress pursuant to 

section 1105 of title 31, 
 United States Code, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
 the appropriate committees of Congress a report on unfunded 
 priorities.

    (2) Elements.--
        (A) In general.--The report required by paragraph

    (1) shall include, with respect to each unfunded 
 priority covered by such report--
            (i) a summary description of such priority, 
 including the objectives to be achieved if such 
 priority is funded (whether in whole or in 
 part);
            (ii) the additional amount of funds 
 recommended to be made available to achieve the 
 objectives referred to in clause
            (i) ; and
            (iii) budget information with respect to 
 such priority, including--
            (I) the appropriation account;
            (II) the expenditure center; and
            (III) the project and, if 
 applicable, any subprojects.
        (B) Prioritization.--The report required by 
 paragraph

    (1) shall present the unfunded priorities 
 covered by such report in overall order of urgency of 
 priority among unfunded priorities.

    (3) === Definitions. ===
-In this subsection--
        (A) the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' 
 means--
            (i) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
 the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
 Representatives; and
            (ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and 
 the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; 
 and
        (B) the term ``unfunded priority'', with respect to 
 a fiscal year, means a program, activity, or mission 
 requirement of an element of the Department that--
            (i) is not funded in the budget for such 
 fiscal year submitted by the President to 
 Congress pursuant to 

section 1105 of title 31, 
 United States Code;
            (ii) is necessary to fulfill a foreign 
 policy or national security objective or to 
 satisfy an information requirement associated 
 with a goal or objective outlined in the Joint 
 Strategic Plan agreed upon by the Department; 
 and
            (iii) would have been recommended for 
 funding by the Secretary if--
            (I) additional resources had been 
 available for such budget to fund such 
 program, activity, or mission 
 requirement; or
            (II) the program, activity, or 
 mission requirement has emerged since 
 such budget was formulated.

 Subtitle E--United States Code Classification

SEC. 141. CLASSIFICATION IN UNITED STATES CODE.

 The Office of Law Revision Counsel is directed to--

    (1) utilize sections 6 through 35 of title 22, United 
 States Code, to classify the sections of this title; and

    (2) maintain the legislative history, under editorial 
 notes, of repealed law which previously occupied the 
 corresponding sections of United States Code.
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