I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4829 
To address transnational repression by foreign governments against private 
individuals, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 1, 2025 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. MCGOVERN) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 
and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To address transnational repression by foreign governments 
against private individuals, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Transnational Repression Policy Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Statement of policy. 
Sec. 3. Defined term. 
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Sec. 4. Interagency strategy. 
Sec. 5. Training. 
Sec. 6. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice efforts to 
combat transnational repression in the United States. 
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States— 
(1) to protect persons within the United States, 
and United States nationals who are outside of the 
United States, from actions by foreign governments, 
or individuals acting on behalf of foreign govern-
ments, that violate internationally recognized human 
rights; 
(2) to encourage cooperation with like-minded 
foreign partners to mitigate transnational repres-
sion; and 
(3) to pursue criminal prosecutions, as appro-
priate, and undertake other steps, such as facili-
tating mutual legal assistance, in accordance with 
United States law, to hold foreign governments and 
individuals acting on behalf of foreign governments, 
including unregistered foreign agents, accountable 
for engaging in transnational repression. 
SEC. 3. DEFINED TERM. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘transnational repression’’ re-
fers to a range of tactics deployed by a foreign govern-
ment, or agents or proxies of a foreign government, to 
reach beyond their borders to intimidate, silence, harass, 
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coerce, or harm individuals, such as political dissidents, 
activists, journalists, political opponents, religious and eth-
nic minority groups, international students, and members 
of diaspora and exile communities. 
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY STRATEGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, 
in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Fed-
eral departments and agencies, shall submit a report to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the 
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and 
the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Rep-
resentatives that contains a United States strategy— 
(1) to increase international awareness of 
transnational repression; 
(2) to raise the costs borne by governments en-
gaging in transnational repression by holding such 
governments accountable and protecting targeted in-
dividuals and groups; and 
(3) to increase collaboration and coordination 
concerning transnational repression with like-minded 
allies and partners and in multilateral venues and 
international organizations. 
(b) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.— 
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(1) DIPLOMACY.—The strategy required under 
subsection (a) shall include— 
(A) a strategy for advancing joint initia-
tives in multilateral and international organiza-
tions to expand awareness, accountability, and 
best practices to mitigate and build capacity to 
counter transnational repression; 
(B) a plan for establishing or strength-
ening regional and international coalitions to 
monitor and respond to cases of transnational 
repression, including reprisals faced by human 
rights defenders and other activists for engag-
ing at multilateral organizations, such as the 
United Nations; 
(C) an analysis of the advantages and dis-
advantages of the designation of a special 
rapporteur for transnational repression ap-
pointed by the Secretary-General of the United 
Nations; 
(D) a plan for engaging with foreign diplo-
matic or consular missions in the United States 
whose personnel abuse intimidate, threaten, at-
tack, or undermine the human rights and fun-
damental freedoms of exiles and members of 
diasporas in the United States; and 
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(E) a description of the public affairs and 
public diplomacy efforts, including at multilat-
eral institutions and international exchanges, to 
be used to draw critical attention to, and op-
pose acts of, transnational repression. 
(2) ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMING.—The strategy 
shall include sufficient funding for civil society and 
nongovernmental organizations that support victims 
of transnational repression and conduct research 
and analysis of global trends and incidents of 
transnational repression. 
(3) LAW
ENFORCEMENT
IN
THE
UNITED 
STATES.—The strategy shall— 
(A) consider updates to United States law 
to address tactics of transnational repression, 
including— 
(i) the criminalization of gathering in-
formation about private individuals in dias-
pora and exile communities on behalf of, or 
enabling the ability of, a foreign govern-
ment to harass, intimidate, or harm an in-
dividual due to membership in such a com-
munity; and 
(ii) the expansion of the definition of 
foreign agents under the Foreign Registra-
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