What does Preamble of Sister City Transparency Act do?

This bill, formally titled '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,' directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study. The study will evaluate the activities of sister city partnerships operating within the United States.

What does SHORT TITLE. of Sister City Transparency Act do?

This bill is formally titled the Sister City Transparency Act.

What does DEFINITIONS. of Sister City Transparency Act do?

This section defines key terms used within the Act. “Appropriate congressional committees” are specifically defined as certain committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. A “foreign community” is defined as any subnational unit of government outside of the United States. A “sister city partnership” is a formal agreement between a U.S. community and a foreign community recognized by Sister Cities International and operating within the United States. “United States community” includes States, counties, cities, or other local government units within the U.S.

What does STUDY OF SISTER CITY PARTNERSHIPS OPERATING WITHIN THE UNITED of Sister City Transparency Act do?

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study of sister city partnerships involving foreign communities in countries with low scores on Transparency International's 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index (45 or less). The study must identify criteria used to select U.S. communities for partnerships, activities conducted, outcomes, publicly available information, safeguards for freedom of expression, and oversight practices to mitigate risks. The study will assess the extent to which U.S. communities ensure transparency, address vulnerabilities to malign market practices, protect freedom of expression, manage foreign access to institutions, and mitigate potential risks to U.S. economic and national security interests. The review portion of the study will examine the range of activities, differences between partnerships, and best practices for transparency. The Comptroller General must submit a report to congressional committees within nine months of initiating the study, which may include a classified annex.

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Sister City Transparency Act

Last updated: 4/8/2025 · Introduced: 4/8/2025

Author: Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill mandates a study by the Comptroller General to evaluate sister city partnerships between U.S. communities and foreign communities scoring low on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.
The study will assess transparency practices, safeguards for freedom of expression, and potential risks to U.S. economic and national security interests within these partnerships.
The Comptroller General must submit a report to Congress within nine months, potentially including a classified annex, detailing findings and best practices.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 8833(In Committee)Official page

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Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 2 more.

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