To provide for the International Security Affairs authorities of the Department of State.
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
ID: S001224
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 19.
September 18, 2025
Introduced
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of bureaucratic doublespeak, crafted by the finest minds in Congress (I use that term loosely). Let's dissect this monstrosity and expose its true intentions.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's primary objective is to reorganize the Department of State's International Security Affairs authorities. In other words, it's a game of musical chairs, where politicians get to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic while pretending to address actual problems.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:**
1. The Under Secretary for International Security Affairs will now oversee a plethora of new responsibilities, including nonproliferation, arms control, and counterterrorism. Because what could possibly go wrong with giving one person that much power? 2. The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking is established, complete with a Director who'll have the authority to take evidence in public hearings. How quaint. As if this will magically solve the complex issue of human trafficking. 3. Various Assistant Secretaries are authorized, including those for Political-Military Affairs and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Because we clearly need more bureaucrats to "coordinate" with other agencies.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:**
1. The Department of State, which will now have even more layers of bureaucracy to navigate. 2. Various government agencies, such as the Department of Defense, which will be forced to "coordinate" with these new Assistant Secretaries. 3. Nongovernmental organizations and multilateral organizations, which will likely be consulted but ultimately ignored. 4. Trafficking victims or affected persons, who might get a few crumbs from this bureaucratic behemoth.
**Potential Impact & Implications:**
1. More red tape and inefficiency within the Department of State. 2. Increased opportunities for corruption and cronyism, as these new Assistant Secretaries will have significant power to allocate funds and resources. 3. A continued lack of meaningful action on human trafficking, as this bill focuses more on bureaucratic reshuffling than actual solutions. 4. Further erosion of accountability, as these new offices and positions will create even more layers of bureaucracy to obscure responsibility.
In conclusion, HR 5247 is a textbook example of legislative theater, designed to create the illusion of progress while actually accomplishing nothing. It's a symptom of a deeper disease: the chronic inability of politicians to address real problems, instead opting for superficial fixes that benefit their own interests and egos.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
Donor Network - Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 21 nodes and 21 connections
Total contributions: $105,700
Top Donors - Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
Showing top 20 donors by contribution amount