U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, has introduced the PROFIT Act of 2025 as part of the State Department’s reauthorization process. The legislation aims to revitalize America’s economic diplomacy and reinforce its global competitiveness after more than twenty years without comprehensive updates to the department’s economic functions. n nRep. Kim emphasized the strategic importance of aligning economic and national security. “For too long, fragmented priorities in Washington have dispersed critical diplomatic tools across various departments, weakening our economic influence and allowing adversaries like China to exploit gaps in our international engagement,” she stated. “I’ve consistently maintained that economic security is national security. It’s time our policies reflect that principle. This bill restores the State Department’s central role in economic leadership, equips diplomats to advocate for American businesses overseas, and ensures our nation remains competitive in trade, technology, and energy sectors.” n nThe PROFIT Act of 2025 expands on Rep. Kim’s broader initiative to modernize the State Department and strengthen U.S. alliances, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region and other strategic areas. n nKey provisions of the legislation include restructuring the Office of the Undersecretary for Economic Affairs to enhance the global competitiveness of U.S. firms, expand market access, and reinforce American leadership in innovation, trade, and energy policy. n nA new Commercial Diplomacy Bureau would be established to advocate for American enterprises abroad, protect economic interests, and strengthen oversight of foreign investments. This bureau would also support stronger trade frameworks to safeguard intellectual property and domestic employment. n nAdditionally, the bill proposes launching a Bureau for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs to advance bipartisan goals related to environmental sustainability, clean energy technologies, ocean governance, and commercial space development. n nAnother major component is the creation of the Energy Security and Diplomacy Bureau, a dedicated office focused on securing supply chains for critical minerals, advancing U.S. energy interests internationally, and reducing reliance on adversarial nations for essential resources. n
— news from Congresswoman Young Kim (.gov)
— News Original —
Today, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, introduced the PROFIT Act of 2025 as part of the State Department authorization process to strengthen America’s economic statecraft. The bill comprehensively restores and reinforces the Department’s leadership on commercial diplomacy, energy security, and international economic policy for the first time in over two decades. n n“For too long, misplaced priorities from Washington have scattered our most vital diplomatic tools across agencies, ceding economic influence and handing China the keys to exploit U.S. companies and global markets,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I have long said that economic security is national security. It’s time we start acting like it. This legislation restores America’s economic leadership at the State Department, empowers our diplomats to fight for American workers and businesses abroad, and ensures that our nation stays competitive in critical technologies, trade, and energy.” n nThe PROFIT Act of 2025 builds on Rep. Kim’s efforts to reauthorize the State Department and strengthen America’s partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. n nSpecifically, the bill streamlines and modernizes the State Department to meet 21st century threats by: n nRestructuring the Office of the Undersecretary for Economic Affairs to ensure American companies are globally competitive, have expanded access to international markets, and benefit from reinforced U.S. leadership in energy, trade, and innovation. n nEstablishing the Commercial Diplomacy Bureau to strategically advocate for U.S. businesses overseas, safeguard economic interests, and strengthen national security through robust oversight of foreign investments and stronger trade policies that protect American intellectual property and jobs. n nLaunching a Bureau for Water, Environment, and Space Affairs to advance bipartisan interests in environmental sustainability, clean technology, oceans policy, and commercial space. n nCreating the Energy Security and Diplomacy Bureau, a dedicated entity to secure critical minerals supply chains, advance U.S. energy interests abroad, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign adversaries.