Timothy Kaine (D-VA)
State Department Integrity and Transparency Act
A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the State Department Integrity and Transparency Act. It focuses on the qualifications, vetting, and public disclosures required for individuals nominated to serve as chiefs of mission and assistant secretaries of state. The legislation sets a hiring requirement stating that at least 75 percent of assistant secretaries must have served in the Senior Foreign Service or Senior Executive Service. It requires detailed reports on a nominee's language knowledge, understanding of the target country, and any relevant business interests. Additionally, the bill mandates the disclosure of bundled contributions and requires the President to certify that political contributions did not play a role in a nomination. Finally, the bill places time limitations on certain special appointments and schedule B or C positions at United States diplomatic missions.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The legislation requires public disclosure of nominee competencies, language skills, business interests, and bundled contributions on a Department of State website, significantly boosting government transparency.
- Scored +6
Does this make elections run better?
The bill mandates the disclosure of bundled campaign contributions and presidential certifications regarding political contributions for nominees, directly targeting pay-to-play appointments.
- Scored +6
Does this limit or expose the money behind campaigns?
By requiring thorough disclosures of campaign contributions and bundled contributions for diplomatic nominees, it increases transparency in the intersection of campaign finance and political appointments.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 3(a): Requires that not fewer than 75 percent of the assistant secretaries in the Department of State shall have served in the Senior Foreign Service or the Senior Executive Service. This is positive because it ensures that high-ranking officials possess extensive government experience and proven qualifications to handle foreign policy and manage the federal workforce.
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Section 3(b) and Section 4: Mandates comprehensive reports on nominees regarding their language skills, understanding of local history, culture, economics, and politics, relevant business interests, and all bundled campaign contributions, with these reports published on a publicly available website. This is positive because it brings total transparency to the American people and holds officials accountable regarding potential conflicts of interest.
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Section 5: Requires the President to certify to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that a nominee meets required qualifications and that any contributions made by the individual or their family members played no role in the nomination. This is positive because it directly targets and works to eliminate pay-to-play politics in diplomatic appointments.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 6(b): Limits all special appointments and schedule B or C positions to a United States diplomatic mission to no more than 90 days, and prohibits an individual from being appointed to more than one such position during a single calendar year starting on January 1, 2029. While intended to enforce strict vetting, this hard cap could create administrative burdens or staffing shortages for diplomatic missions that rely on specialized temporary personnel for projects lasting longer than 90 days.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The legislation requires public disclosure of nominee competencies, language skills, business interests, and bundled contributions on a Department of State website, significantly boosting government transparency. Does this limit or expose the money behind campaigns? — By requiring thorough disclosures of campaign contributions and bundled contributions for diplomatic nominees, it increases transparency in the intersection of campaign finance and political appointments. Does this make elections run better? — The bill mandates the disclosure of bundled campaign contributions and presidential certifications regarding political contributions for nominees, directly targeting pay-to-play appointments.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — By requiring rigorous vetting, language proficiency disclosures, and experience requirements for chiefs of mission and assistant secretaries, the legislation improves the quality of diplomatic engagement. Does this strengthen ties with allied countries? — The bill enhances the professionalism and qualifications of diplomatic leadership, which strengthens U.S. foreign policy execution and international relations.
- 6/9/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland