Sister City Transparency Act

Chip Roy

Republican · TX · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Barry Moore (R-AL-1)Original· 2026-05-14
• Scott Perry (R-PA-10)Original· 2026-05-14

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

2026-05-14

Source: Congress.gov

The federal government would hire an independent auditor to investigate how sister city partnerships work in the United States, looking at what activities they do and how effective they are. Sister cities are formal relationships between U.S. cities and cities in other countries that promote cultural exchange, business connections, and diplomatic ties at the local level. The study would help Congress understand whether these partnerships are achieving their goals and operating properly.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8833 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8833 To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study to evaluate the activities of sister city partnerships operating within the United States, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 14, 2026 Mr. Roy (for himself, Mr. Moore of Alabama, and Mr. Perry) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study to evaluate the activities of sister city partnerships operating within the United States, 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 ``Sister City Transparency Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means-- (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; (C) the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; (D) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; (E) the Committee on Education and Workforce of the House of Representatives; and (F) the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. (2) Foreign community.--The term ``foreign community'' means any subnational unit of government outside of the United States. (3) Sister city partnership.--The term ``sister city partnership'' means a formal agreement between a United States community and a foreign community that-- (A) is recognized by Sister Cities International; and (B) is operating within the United States. (4) United states community.--The term ``United States community'' means a State, county, city, or other unit of local government in the United States. SEC. 3. STUDY OF SISTER CITY PARTNERSHIPS OPERATING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES INVOLVING FOREIGN COMMUNITIES IN COUNTRIES WITH SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SECTOR CORRUPTION. (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the activities of sister city partnerships involving foreign communities in countries receiving a score of 45 or less on Transparency International's 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index. (b) Elements of the Study.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall-- (1) identify-- (A) the criteria by which foreign communities identify United States communities as candidates for sister city partnerships, including themes with respect to the prominent economic activities and demographics of such United States communities; (B) the activities conducted within sister city partnerships; (C) the economic and educational outcomes of such activities; (D) the types of information that sister city partnerships make publicly available, including information relating to contracts and activities; (E) the means by which United States communities safeguard freedom of expression within sister city partnerships; and (F) the oversight practices that United States communities implement to mitigate the risks of foreign espionage and economic coercion within sister city partnerships; (2) assess-- (A) the extent to which United States communities ensure transparency regarding sister city partnership contracts and activities; (B) the extent to which sister city partnerships involve economic arrangements that make United States communities vulnerable to malign market practices; (C) the extent to which sister city partnerships involve educational arrangements that diminish the freedom of expression; (D) the extent to which sister city partnerships allow foreign nationals to access local commercial, educational, and political institutions; (E) the extent to which foreign communities could use sister city partnerships to realize strategic objectives that do not conduce to the economic and national security interests of the United…

States; (F) the extent to which sister city partnerships could enable or otherwise contribute to foreign communities' malign activities globally, including activities relating to human rights abuses and academic and industrial espionage; and (G) the extent to which United States communities seek to mitigate foreign nationals' potentially inappropriate use of visa programs to participate in activities relating to sister city partnerships; and (3) review-- (A) the range of activities conducted within sister city partnerships, including activities relating to cultural exchange and economic development; (B) how such activities differ between sister city partnerships; and (C) best practices to ensure transparency regarding sister city partnerships' agreements, activities, and employees. (c) Report.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after initiating the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that contains the results of such study, including the findings, conclusions, and recommendations (if any) of the study. (2) Form.--The report required under paragraph (1) may include a classified annex, if necessary. <all>

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