HR 5248 United States House · 119th Congress

PROFIT Act of 2026

HR 5248 reorganizes the Department of State to better integrate economic policy with foreign policy by creating new leadership positions and bureaus focused on economic aspects of international relations. The bill establishes an Under Secretary for Economic Affairs to oversee economic growth, trade, energy, technology, and environmental policies, replacing the previous Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment. It also creates a Chief Economist, Assistant Secretaries for Commercial Diplomacy, Water/Environment/Space Affairs, Energy Security, and Sanctions Policy, along with corresponding bureaus to coordinate these economic policy areas. The bill includes funding provisions for these new roles and updates existing references in law to reflect the new titles and responsibilities. This restructuring aims to improve coordination of economic policy across the Department of State to advance U.S. economic interests internationally.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

House Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Sep 10, 2025 Last action Jun 9, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 8 edits · Jun 8, 2026

MODERATE

The engrossed version of HR 5248 (the PROFIT Act of 2026) restructures the bill from standalone sections into amendments to the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, renames several positions, and adds significant new provisions including an Assistant Secretary for Sanctions Policy with explicit redelegation authority from the Secretary, specific qualification requirements for the Chief Economist (doctorate in Economics, 5 years experience), staffing and contracting flexibility for the Office of the Chief Economist, and a specified location for the Subnational Diplomacy Office in Los Angeles.

Scope change

The bill's structural approach changed from creating new standalone sections to amending the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 directly. The top-level position was narrowed in name and stated scope from 'Economic Affairs' to 'Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.' A new sanctions-specific bureau with explicit delegation authority was added, expanding the bill's enforcement-related scope.

SCOPE

The Under Secretary position is renamed from 'Under Secretary for Economic Affairs' to 'Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment,' narrowing the stated scope from broad economic affairs to specifically economic growth, energy, and the environment.

The Assistant Secretary for Commercial Diplomacy is renamed to Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, and the corresponding Bureau of Commercial Diplomacy becomes the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

REQUIREMENT

A new Assistant Secretary for Sanctions Policy is established with a Bureau of Sanctions Policy. The Secretary may delegate or authorize successive redelegation of authority to this position to act and render decisions on all sanctions policies administered by the Department, with those acts having the same force and effect as if performed by the Secretary.

ELIGIBILITY

The Chief Economist is now required to be a member of the Senior Executive Service or equivalent, hold a doctorate in Economics, and have at least 5 years of experience working at the intersection of policy and international economics in the private or public sectors.

FISCAL

The Office of the Chief Economist is given specific staffing parameters (6-12 full-time Civil Service officers at GS-15 or below, one Foreign Service Officer at FS-01 or below, plus time-limited detailees) and maximum contracting flexibility including personal services contracting authority for domestic positions and other transaction authority to adopt innovative technology and data analytics.

Standalone authorization of appropriations sections (previously sections 503, 506, 511, 514, and 517) that allocated funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Under Secretary and various Assistant Secretaries are removed from the engrossed version.

TECHNICAL

The Office of Subnational Diplomacy is now required to be co-located with the Office of Foreign Missions-Los Angeles, authorized under section 203(4) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956.

A short title is added: 'Producing Returns and Opportunity for Investment and Trade Act of 2026' or 'PROFIT Act of 2026,' along with a table of contents listing all 13 sections.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 9, 2026

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

upper

Jun 8, 2026

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3970-3974)

lower

Jun 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3970-3974)

lower

Jun 8, 2026

Introduced

Mr. Mast moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Sep 18, 2025

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 22.

lower

Sep 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Sep 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Sep 10, 2025

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

lower

Sep 10, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors