American Decade of Sports Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3676 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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.
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