Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 11/18/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, introduced the Gulf Diplomacy Act. This bill would extend diplomatic privileges to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), allowing the organization to establish a foreign mission to the U.S. to be located in Washington, D.C. 

This standalone bill, offered by Chairman Lawler as Amendment #119 during the Foreign Affairs Committee’s markup of H.R. 5300, was adopted by the Committee on September 17th as a part of the bipartisan en bloc package.

“Establishing a GCC mission in Washington would provide a centralized diplomatic channel, facilitating multilateral dialogue between the U.S. and the Gulf region. It would complement our bilateral relationships with individual GCC member states, while providing a forum for regional coordination and engagement on matters of shared interest. It is a step toward institutionalizing a partnership that has grown more complex, more interdependent, and more vital to global stability,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

GCC member states include Gulf partners Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The Trump administration has consistently prioritized deeper engagement with America’s Gulf partners, including today’s visit with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House on Tuesday. 

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

###