Holland Reporter

Last week, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a comprehensive reauthorization of the State Department. This marks the first thorough review and reauthorization of State Department programs in more than two decades. The legislative package includes eight bills, one of which is H.R. 5251, introduced by Congressman Huizenga to update and reauthorize the public diplomacy division of the department. H.R. 5251 passed unanimously with a 48-0 vote and was the only structural reform bill to receive full bipartisan support. The set of bills aims to improve accountability and organization at the State Department while prioritizing American interests. The package will now proceed to a vote before the full U.S. House of Representatives.

Congressman Huizenga serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, giving him oversight over the public diplomacy bureau within the State Department. His bill, H.R. 5251, consolidates all public diplomacy functions under a single command structure, aligning staff, budgets, and regional teams globally. It also requires annual reports to Congress with defined metrics and assessments regarding adversary responses. Additionally, it implements results-based management for educational and cultural exchanges in line with foreign policy objectives.

In his remarks about H.R. 5251, Congressman Huizenga stated:

"First, it empowers the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy with a clear mission: deliver facts, expose adversaries, and expand access to free information. The Under Secretary will align public diplomacy officers worldwide, chair interagency coordination, and produce a global strategy with measurable results. We are all on the same page as we are telling America’s story.

Second, it transforms our information posture. The Bureau of Global Public Affairs, currently headed up by Assistant Secretary Michele Exner, becomes the Bureau of Strategic Communications—with a proactive mandate to counter propaganda, dismantle censorship, expand access to the truth, and oversee U.S.-funded international media.

Third, it modernizes educational and cultural exchanges. E.C.A. becomes a more strategic platform for soft power, not controversial stuff, but about freedom, liberty, opportunity, and what our Constitution stands for—tied to regional priorities, streamlined in administration, and focused on advancing U.S. foreign policy goals.

The bottom line is simple: this bill, H.R. 5251, makes America stronger. It ensures that in the global fight for truth and freedom,

the United States is not reacting—we are leading."

The committee's review process involved over 26 hours of debate along with three hours spent voting on more than 100 provisions.

Among other priorities included in this reauthorization were measures such as establishing a Special Envoy for Burma; safeguarding free speech; requiring analysis on advanced AI strategies; authorizing continued support for Afghan allies through CARE; reforming missile technology controls; improving semiconductor supply chain security; launching an Arctic Watchers Program at embassies; creating new positions focused on food security; updating au pair regulations; conducting an Indian Ocean Region strategic review; and starting an initiative related to sensitive technologies.

Bill Huizenga has represented Michigan’s 4th district in Congress since 2011 after replacing Pete Hoekstra (https://huizenga.house.gov/biography/). Before serving in Congress he was part of Michigan’s House of Representatives from 2003 until 2009 (https://huizenga.house.gov/biography/). Born in Zeeland in 1969 (https://huizenga.house.gov/biography/), Huizenga graduated from Calvin College with a Bachelor’s degree in 1991.