H.R. 5323 establishes a new Office of Subnational Diplomacy within the Department of State to strengthen coordination between U.S. state and local governments and foreign entities. The office will be headed by a Special Representative who reports to the Under Secretary of Economic Affairs and will work to help cities, counties, and states attract foreign investment, defend against foreign interference and malign influence, and advance U.S. foreign policy goals at the local level. The Special Representative will advise local officials on engaging with foreign governments, help municipalities bid for international events, track foreign investment patterns, build staff capacity for international engagement, and coordinate with major associations like the National Governors Association and U.S. Conference of Mayors. The bill does not specify funding amounts or implementation timelines in the provided text. This legislation aims to formalize what has been ad-hoc diplomatic work by creating a dedicated office to support and protect subnational governments in their international activities.
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