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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3676 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3676
To require a sports diplomacy strategy to strategically leverage the
major sporting events being hosted in the United States during the next
decade to enhance United States soft power, diplomatic relationships,
and global leadership, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 15, 2026
Ms. Rosen (for herself, Mr. Young, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Curtis)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require a sports diplomacy strategy to strategically leverage the
major sporting events being hosted in the United States during the next
decade to enhance United States soft power, diplomatic relationships,
and global leadership, 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 ``American Decade of Sports Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) American decade of sports; mega-decade of sports.--The
terms ``American decade of sports'' and ``mega-decade of
sports'' mean the major international sporting competitions
hosted in the United States between 2024 and 2034, including--
(A) the 2024 Copa America;
(B) the 2025 Club World Cup;
(C) the 2026 FIFA World Cup;
(D) the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics;
(E) the 2031 Men's and 2033 Women's Rugby World
Cup; and
(F) the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
SEC. 3. MEGA-DECADE SPORTS DIPLOMACY STRATEGY.
(a) Submission.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and not later than 5 years after such date, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional
committees a 5-year sports diplomacy strategy to strategically leverage
the major sporting events being hosted in the United States to enhance
United States soft power, diplomatic relationships, and global
leadership.
(b) Elements.--Both strategies required under subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a description of the Department of State's diplomatic
objectives and metrics of success related to the mega-decade of
sports;
(2) a plan to partner with local host cities, diaspora
communities, creatives, athletes, the sports industry, private
sector entities, human rights organizations, and civil society
stakeholders surrounding the competitions for the purpose of
showcasing United States national strengths and forging new
diplomatic connections;
(3) a plan to coordinate internally within the Department
of State to leverage sporting events to advance various
diplomatic lines of effort, including by--
(A) integrating sports diplomacy into regional
bureaus' bilateral engagements and efforts to pursue
new areas of cooperation with foreign partners;
(B) integrating sports into public diplomacy to
reach new foreign audiences that might not otherwise
engage with United States embassies abroad; and
(C) leveraging sports diplomacy to advance
commercial diplomacy;
(4) a plan to ensure an expeditious and secure visa process
for athletes and their families and support staff and eligible
international visitors planning to travel to the United States
to attend major international sporting events, including
reducing visa appointment wait times;
(5) a description of the financial and personnel support
needed to implement the 5-year sports diplomacy strategy; and
(6) any plans to deploy domestic public diplomacy
resources, such as the Cultural Unit and Foreign Press Center
established during the 1984 Olympic Games, to enable foreign
visitors to engage with American culture and values.
(c) Public Availability.--The strategies required under subsection
(a) shall be made publicly available on an internet website of the
Department of State not later than--
(1) 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
with respect to the first 5-year strategy; or
(2) 5 years after the date described in paragraph (1), with
respect to the second 5-year strategy.
(d) Consultation.--The Secretary of State shall--
(1) consult with the appropriate congressional committees
regarding the elements of the strategy required under
subsection (a) before submitting either strategy; and
(2) provide information regarding the implementation of the
most recently submitted strategy every 180 days during the
period beginning on the date of such submission and ending on
December 31, 2034.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT FOR THE OFFICE OF SPORTS DIPLOMACY TO CARRY OUT THE
MEGA-DECADE OF SPORTS DIPLOMACY STRATEGY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall rename the Sports
Diplomacy Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as
the Office of Sports Diplomacy (referred to in this section as the
``Office''). The Office shall be under the general supervision of the
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges in
the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
(b) Functions.--The Office shall manage sports diplomacy exchange
programs and implement each strategy required under section 3(a),
including by coordinating with internal Department of State and
interagency stakeholders--
(1) to coordinate the implementation of the strategy across
relevant bureaus, directorates, and offices of the Department
of State;
(2) to work with host cities and their social, political,
and economic partners to identify new avenues for engagement
with foreign entities;
(3) to engage local diaspora communities to deepen people-
to-people connections with foreign visitors and officials;
(4) to partner with the United States sports industry,
major sports leagues, and individual athletes to promote new
international sports partnerships and sports diplomacy
programs;
(5) to collaborate with host cities' international trade
and tourism offices to deepen economic and commercial ties with
foreign nations;
(6) to elevate American arts, film, and music creators to
promote cultural exchange and connection with foreign visitors;
and
(7) to coordinate with internal Department of State and
interagency stakeholders to ensure efficient and expeditious
processing of visas for eligible international visitors,
broadcasters, athletes, and support staff interested in
attending major international sporting events in the United
States.
(c) Full-Time Equivalent Employees.--During the period beginning
not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and
ending on December 31, 2034, the Secretary of State shall assign to the
Office not fewer than 3 additional full-time equivalent staff dedicated
exclusively to implementing each strategy required under section 3(a).
These staff shall be assigned to the Office by considering mechanisms,
including--
(1) the use of existing flexible hiring authorities,
including Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas; and
(2) the realignment of existing personnel.
SEC. 5. IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS.
Not later than 1 year after the submission of the first strategy
required under section 2(a), and annually thereafter until December 31,
2034, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate
congressional committees describing the progress made toward achieving
the objectives of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
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