To provide for the foreign assistance authority of the Department of State, and for other purposes.

Bill: 119-hr-5250
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2025-09-10
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2025-09-18
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 23.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5250 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 10, 2025 Mr. Smith of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs A BILL To provide for the foreign assistance authority of the Department of State, and for other purposes.

VI FOREIGN ASSISTANCE 601. Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance (a) Establishment There shall be in the Department an Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance who shall be responsible to the Secretary of State for matters pertaining to the creation and maintenance of allies and partners to United States interests abroad, and such other related duties as the Secretary may from time to time designate. (b) Responsibilities In addition to the responsibilities described under subsection (a), the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance shall maintain continuous observation and coordination of all matters pertaining to assistance to foreign allies and partners in the conduct of foreign policy, including, as appropriate— (1) providing the strategic policy direction for, and policy and programmatic oversight of, funds and bureaus within the Under Secretary’s assigned jurisdiction; and (2) overseeing and reviewing all matters pertaining to human rights and humanitarian affairs, including matters relating to prisoners of war and members of the United States Armed Forces Missing in Action. 602. Director of Foreign Assistance Oversight (a) Establishment There is authorized to be established in the Department a Director of United States Foreign Assistance Oversight, who shall be responsible to the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance for matters pertaining to coordination and strategic oversight of all foreign assistance activities across the Department of State, 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 United States Foreign Assistance Oversight shall coordinate and oversee the strategic direction, planning, and budgeting of foreign assistance programs in the conduct of foreign policy, including, as appropriate— (1) developing and implementing comprehensive foreign assistance strategies; (2) coordinating interagency assistance planning; (3) providing senior-level leadership for the planning, operational management, and oversight of foreign aid programming across the United States Government; (4) improving strategic coordination of, and oversight over, all foreign assistance funding, focusing on efficacy and strategy; (5) integrating foreign assistance strategies with the broader objectives of United States foreign policy, including security, diplomacy, and development coherence; (6) supporting interagency collaboration on foreign assistance programs and policies of other agencies and entities, including the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the United States International Development Finance Corporation, United States Department of the Treasury, Trade and Development Agency, and Export-Import Bank; (7) generating data-driven performance assessments and policy diagnostics for dissemination to Congress and the Executive Office of the President; (8) leading coordination and oversight of vetting of foreign recipients of assistance, to ensure compliance, accountability, and alignment with United States foreign assistance policies; and (9) such other related duties as the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance may from time to time designate. 603. Office of Foreign Assistance Oversight (a) Establishment The Secretary of State shall establish an Office of Foreign Assistance Oversight, which shall perform such functions related to department-wide management of foreign assistance as the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance may prescribe. (b) Head of office The Director of Foreign Assistance Oversight shall be the head of the Office of Foreign Assistance Oversight. (c) Functions The Office of Foreign Assistance Oversight shall, as appropriate— (1) support the Director of Foreign Assistance Oversight in the development and implementation of comprehensive foreign assistance strategies; (2) coordinate interagency assistance planning and align bilateral cooperation frameworks; (3) coordinate and allocate United States foreign assistance funding across thematic and regional areas; (4) continually improve strategic coordination of and oversight over all foreign assistance funding, focusing on efficacy and strategy; (5) generate data-driven performance assessments and policy diagnostics for dissemination to Congress and the Executive Office of the President; (6) ensure monitoring, evaluation, and transparency of foreign assistance programs; and (7) perform such other duties as the Director may from time to time designate. 604. Authorization of appropriations for foreign assistance Of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State under section 141, the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance shall receive the funds necessary to fulfill the Under Secretary’s responsibilities for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. 605. Classification in United States Code The Office of Law Revision Counsel shall— (1) utilize sections 160–190 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.