The Sister City Transparency Act directs the Government Accountability Office to study sister city partnerships between U.S. communities and foreign cities, with a focus on partnerships involving countries with significant corruption problems (those scoring 45 or lower on Transparency International's 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index). The study will examine how foreign communities select U.S. partners, what activities these partnerships conduct, their economic and educational outcomes, and what information is made public about them. The bill also requires the study to assess potential national security and economic risks, including whether these partnerships could be exploited for espionage, economic coercion, or to advance foreign strategic interests contrary to U.S. security. The Comptroller General must submit findings and recommendations to Congress within nine months of starting the study, with the option to include classified information if needed. The bill does not authorize new spending but requires completion of this oversight review within a specific timeframe.
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