REP. LIEU Applauds House Passage of HIS Subnational Diplomacy Provision

June 9, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed a provision he authored to enhance subnational diplomacy. The House-passed provision establishes an Office of Subnational Diplomacy, which will be responsible for working with subnational governments — state, county, city, and municipal — within the United States to improve the ability of those governments to attract foreign investment, counter foreign malign influence within the United States, and contribute to the foreign policy priorities of the United States. The Office will be led by a Coordinator to carry out a set of defined roles and responsibilities. The Office will be co-located with the Office of Foreign Missions – Los Angeles. “I’m pleased that the House has passed my provision to formally establish the Office of Subnational Diplomacy under the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. Diplomatic relationships between local officials and international partners are a fundamental engine for economic and cultural exchange in our country. We must make sure the federal government can support cities and states as they navigate these relationships. I look forward to continuing to advocate for strong subnational diplomacy.” Congressman Lieu is a champion of subnational diplomacy and has authored bills to empower the State Department to support these efforts. In 2022, Congressman Lieu authored an article on the importance of subnational diplomacy for the Harvard Law School Journal on Legislation. Read Subnational Diplomacy: The Key to Strengthening U.S. International Relations. ### Issues : Committee Work National Security and Foreign Affairs