Bill Details
HR.1134 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-02-07 - Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Introduced Date
2025-02-07
Policy Area
International Affairs
Committees
View committees (1)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (1)
8
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would tell the Secretary of State to try to avoid renting, buying, or renewing contracts for U.S. embassies or consulates that were built by, or are owned by, companies tied to the Chinese government. It is meant to lower the risk that foreign governments could have too much influence over U.S. diplomatic buildings overseas. If the State Department goes ahead with an action that does not fit these limits, it must quickly notify Congress and explain why the move is in the national interest, what benefit it serves, and what steps will be taken to reduce security risks.
- The rules apply to buildings used for U.S. diplomatic or consular work outside the United States.
- The Secretary of State must avoid or limit deals involving buildings where a covered entity did construction work on or after January 1, 1949, or has an ownership stake.
- A covered entity is one that the Chinese government, or someone acting for it, owns, controls, or strongly influences.
- If the State Department knows about a deal that conflicts with these rules, it must notify the House and Senate foreign affairs committees within 7 days before or after the action, depending on when it learns about it.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1134 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1134
To direct the Secretary of State to avoid or minimize the acquisition
or lease of a consular or diplomatic post built or owned by an entity
owned or controlled by the Government of the People's Republic of
China, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 7, 2025
Mr. Mills introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of State to avoid or minimize the acquisition
or lease of a consular or diplomatic post built or owned by an entity
owned or controlled by the Government of the People's Republic of
China, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Embassy Construction Integrity Act
of 2025''.
SEC. 2. RESTRICTIONS ON CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC POSTS BUILT OR OWNED BY
CERTAIN ENTITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of State (in this section referred
to as the ``Secretary'') shall take such steps as may be necessary to
avoid or minimize--
(1) acquiring or leasing a covered building--
(A) with respect to which a covered entity
performed covered construction on or after January 1,
1949; or
(B) in which a covered entity has an ownership
interest; or
(2) entering into or renewing a contract or other agreement
with a covered entity to perform covered construction with
respect to a covered building.
(b) Notification of Inconsistent Action.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall notify the Committee
on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate--
(A) not later than 7 days before entering into an
acquisition, lease, or agreement after the date of
enactment of this Act that the Secretary is aware is
inconsistent with the restriction under subsection (a);
and
(B) not later than 7 days after becoming aware of
an acquisition, lease, or agreement occurring after the
date of enactment of this Act that is inconsistent with
the restriction under subsection (a).
(2) Determination of national security interest.--The
notification required under paragraph (1) shall also include,
to the extent applicable--
(A) a determination of whether the inconsistent
acquisition, lease, or agreement is in the national
security interest of the United States;
(B) an identification of the interest advanced by
such inconsistent action;
(C) a detailed explanation for such determination;
and
(D) any action the Secretary has taken or intends
to take to mitigate national security vulnerabilities
that may be posed by such inconsistent action.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered building.--The term ``covered building'' means
a building that is used or intended to be used by personnel, or
for a function, of a consular or diplomatic post located
outside of the United States.
(2) Covered construction.--The term ``covered
construction''--
(A) means any construction, development,
conversion, extension, alteration, repair, or
maintenance performed with respect to a building; and
(B) includes the installation or maintenance of
electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air
conditioning, communication, fire protection, and
energy management systems with respect to such
building.
(3) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means an
entity with respect to which the Government of the People's
Republic of China, or an agent or instrumentality of the
Government of the People's Republic of China, directly or
indirectly, including through any contract, arrangement,
understanding, or relationship--
(A) owns or controls a significant percent of the
ownership interest; or
(B) otherwise exercises substantial control.
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