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Bill
Notes

H.R. 5273 — what changed

Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act of 2018

From Introduced in House to Engrossed in House. 8 sections amended between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.

Sec. 2 Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)
changed According to the United Nations, an unprecedented 66 68.5 million people around the world world, the highest level ever recorded, are currently forcibly displaced from their homes. This is the highest level of global displacement ever recorded.homes.
(2)
changed According to the World Bank, violence and violent conflict, rather than natural disasters, conflict are now the leading causes of displacement and food insecurity worldwide, driving 80 percent of humanitarian needs. The Bank also notes that needs, with the same conflicts have accounted accounting for the majority of forcibly displaced persons every year since 1991.
(3)
changed According to the World Health Organization, preventable forms of violence kill at least 1.4 million people each year and cause debilitating physical year. According to the Institute for Economics and mental harm Peace, violence containment costs the global economy $14.76 trillion a year, or 12.4 percent of the world’s GDP. If violence were to many others.decrease uniformly across the world by just 10 percent, the global economy would gain $1.48 trillion each year.
(4)
removed According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, violence containment costs the global economy $14.3 trillion a year, or 13.4 percent of the world’s GDP. If violence were to decrease uniformly across the world by just 10 percent, the global economy would gain $1.43 trillion each year.
(4)
renumbered was (7) Violence and violent conflict underpin many of the United States Government’s key national security challenges. Notably, violent conflicts allow for environments in which terrorist organizations recruit and thrive, while the combination of violence, corruption, poverty, poor governance, and underdevelopment often enables transnational gangs and criminal networks to wreak havoc and commit atrocities worldwide.
(5)
renumbered was (8) According to new research by the University of Maryland and University of Pittsburgh, exposure to violence increases support for violence and violent extremism. Research increasingly finds exposure to violence as a predictor of future participation in violence, including violent extremism.
(6)
added United States foreign policy and assistance efforts in highly violent and fragile states remain governed by an outdated patchwork of authorities that prioritize responding to immediate needs rather than solving the problems that cause them.
(7)
changed Since 2002, a body of research has emerged on failed or fragile states. The World Bank defines a fragile state as a low-income country characterized Lessons learned over the past 20 years, documented by weak state capacity, weak state legitimacy, or both, leaving citizens vulnerable the 2013 Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Lessons Learned Study, the 2016 Fragility Study Group report, and the 2018 Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Lessons Learned Study on Stabilization, show that effective, sustained United States efforts to a range of shocks.reduce violence and stabilize fragile and violence-affected states require clearly defined goals and strategies, adequate long-term funding, rigorous and iterative conflict analysis, coordination across the United States Government, including strong civil-military coordination, and integration with national and sub-national partners, including local civil society organizations, local justice systems, and local governance structures.
(8)
changed United States foreign policy and assistance efforts The “Stabilization Assistance Review” released in highly violent and fragile states remain governed 2018 by an outdated patchwork the Departments of authorities that prioritize responding to immediate needs rather than solving State and Defense and the problems that cause them. United States Ambassadors, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Directors, and commanders of combatant commands do not have the policy framework or tools they need to align states, “The United States policy or assistance with has strong national security and economic interests in reducing levels of violence and promoting stability in areas affected by armed conflict.” The Review further states, “Stabilization is an overarching, long-term strategy inherently political endeavor that requires aligning U.S. Government efforts – diplomatic engagement, foreign assistance, and defense – toward supporting locally legitimate authorities and systems to reduce peaceably manage conflict and prevent global fragility and violence.violence.”.
(9)
removed Lessons learned over the past 20 years, documented by the 2013 Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Lessons Learned Study and the 2016 Fragility Study Group report, show that effective, sustained United States efforts to reduce violence and stabilize fragile and violence-affected states require clearly defined goals and strategies, adequate long-term funding, rigorous and iterative conflict analysis, coordination across the United States Government, including strong civil-military coordination, and integration with national and sub-national partners, including local civil society organizations, local justice systems, and local governance structures.
(10)
removed United States National Security Strategies over the past 15 years have regularly affirmed that the United States has a national security interest in improving its capacity to prevent, manage, and mitigate violence and violent conflicts in order to mitigate the consequences of armed conflict, including humanitarian disasters, terrorism, organized crime, increased risk of mass atrocities, and reversed development.
(11)
removed According to the Small Arms Survey, the extent to which the international community will be able to bring down global levels of violence will depend largely on the actions taken by states to implement more tangible multilateral commitments to improve governance, promote inclusive development, and protect human rights, among other things.

Sec. 3 Statement of policy

It is the policy of the United States to—

(1)
changed ensure that all relevant United States Government Federal departments and agencies coordinate to achieve coherent, long-term goals for programs designed to reduce prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in fragile violence and violence-affected countries, fragility, including when implementing the Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Initiative described in section 4;5(a);
(2)
changed seek to improve the global, regional, and local coordination of relevant international and multilateral development and donor organizations regarding efforts to reduce prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence, violent conflict, violence and fragility in fragile and violence-affected countries, and, where possible, practicable and appropriate, align such efforts with multilateral goals and indicators;
(3)
changed expand and enhance the effectiveness of United States foreign assistance programs and activities that reduce to prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in fragile violence and violence-affected countries, fragility, including programs intended to improve the indicators described in section 4(g);5(d)(1);
(4)
changed support the research and development of effective approaches to reduce prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in fragile violence and violence-affected countries; fragility; and
(5)
changed improve the monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptation tools and authorities for relevant United States Government Federal departments and agencies working to reduce prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in fragile violence and violence-affected countries.fragility.

Sec. 4 Sense of Congress regarding assistance for the Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Initiative

added It is the sense of Congress that the President, the Secretary of State, the Administrator of USAID, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, should work with Congress to provide sufficient types and levels of funding to—

(a)
removed Initiative— The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and departments, shall establish an interagency initiative to be referred to as the “Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence” relating to reducing and addressing the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility, with a focus on ten pilot countries.
(1)
changed Implementation strategy— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of USAID, in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, allow for more adaptive program planning and implementation under the heads of other relevant Federal agencies initiative and departments, shall develop priority country or regional plans required under section 5, including through exemptions from specific and submit minimum funding levels when such exemptions would make programs better able to the appropriate congressional committees an initial interagency strategy for implementing the Global Initiative respond to Reduce Fragility monitoring and Violence required under subsection (a), including the following:evaluation or changed circumstances in relevant countries;
(1)
removed Descriptions of the organizational steps each relevant Federal agency or department will take to improve strategic planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and coordination among and within such agencies and departments under such initiative.
(2)
removed Descriptions of the initial goals, objectives, and role of each relevant Federal agency or department under such initiative.
(3)
removed Descriptions of the steps each relevant Federal agency or department will take to improve coordination and collaboration with international development organizations, international donors, multilateral organizations, and the private sector under such initiative.
(4)
removed Descriptions of potential areas of improved public and private sector research and development, including from academic, philanthropic, and civil society organizations, on more effective approaches to reducing and preventing the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in fragile and violence-affected countries.
(5)
removed Plans for regularly evaluating and updating on an iterative basis the information described in this subsection.
(2)
changed Individual pilot country plans— The strategy required under subsection (b) shall contain an annex identifying the ten pilot countries designated pursuant to subsection (d), and for each such pilot country contain a mission-led, 10-year pilot country plan establishing initial goals, objectives, and plans of action for United States Government activities, including development, security, better integrate conflict and other assistance violence reduction activities that are relevant to reducing and addressing the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility, including the following:into other program areas where appropriate; and
(1)
removed Interagency plans for coordination and implementation that define the appropriate role of each relevant Federal agency or department and processes for coordinating among and within such agencies and departments when carrying out each such pilot country plan.
(2)
removed Interagency plans to ensure appropriate local actors, including governance and civil society entities, and organizations led by women, youth, and under-represented communities have roles in developing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and updating relevant aspects of each such pilot country plan.
(3)
removed Clear, transparent, and measurable initial political, diplomatic, security, and developmental benchmarks, timetables, and performance metrics for each such pilot country, with a focus on outcome metrics, including such metrics that capture grievances and patterns that cause violence and, where applicable, align with best practice indicators determined by Sustainable Development Goal #16 and the OECD Development Assistance Committee’s Fragility Framework.
(4)
removed Interagency plans for monitoring and evaluation, adaptive management, and iterative learning that provide for regular and iterative policy and program adaptations based on monitoring and evaluation findings and other evidence generated in each such pilot country and across such pilot countries.
(5)
removed Descriptions of the available policy tools to reduce and address the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in each such pilot country.
(6)
removed Descriptions of the resources and authorities that would be required for each relevant Federal agency or department to best implement each such pilot country plan, as well as evidence-based iterative updates to such plans.
(7)
removed Descriptions of potential areas of improved partnership between the United States Government and international development organizations, relevant international donors, multilateral organizations, and the private sector regarding efforts to reduce and address the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in each such pilot country.
(8)
removed Plans for regularly evaluating and updating on an iterative basis the plans described in this subsection.
(3)
changed Pilot country designation— The Administrator of USAID, in coordination with contribute to the Secretary creation of State transparent and accountable multilateral funds, initiatives, and strategies to enhance and better coordinate both private and public efforts to prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the Secretary long-term causes of Defense, shall carry out the following actions:violence and fragility.
(1)
removed Develop the list of candidate countries under consideration for the initiative required under this section on the basis of the following:
(A)
removed Current levels of violence, violent conflict, and fragility, as determined by empirical data, such as the following, to the extent such data are available:
(i)
removed Total levels of deaths due to violence and violence-related deaths per 100,000 population in the candidate country under consideration.
(ii)
removed Total levels of violent injuries and violence exposure levels in such country.
(iii)
removed Violent injuries and violence exposure levels per 100,000 population in such country.
(iv)
removed Levels of persons forcibly displaced, whether internally or internationally, due to violence or violent conflict in such country.
(v)
removed Total levels of gender-based violence and violence against children and youth in such country.
(vi)
removed Prevalence of physical or sexual violence in the last 12 months in such country.
(vii)
removed Levels of mortality due to armed group violence in such country.
(viii)
removed Levels of citizen support for armed groups in such country.
(ix)
removed Such country’s ranking on select global fragility lists and select good governance indexes.
(x)
removed Such country’s ranking on select United States Government conflict and atrocity early warning watch lists.
(xi)
removed Such country’s vulnerability to current or future transnational threats.
(B)
removed An assessment of the potential for United States Government activities to reduce and address the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in each candidate country under consideration, including the capacity and commitment of relevant entities within each such country to participate in the Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence under this section.
(2)
removed Organize such candidate countries under consideration into the categories of “Core Country” and “Prevention Country” such that—
(A)
removed a candidate country shall be a Core Country for purposes of pilot country selection where current levels of violence, violent conflict, and fragility are highest in the world, as determined by the data specified in paragraph (1); and
(B)
removed a candidate country shall be a Prevention Country for purposes of pilot country selection where current levels of violence, violent conflict, and fragility are lower than such levels in a Core Country, as determined by the data specified in paragraph (1), but warning signs for future violence, violent conflict, and fragility are significant and strategic prevention efforts are likely to make a meaningful difference in mitigating or preventing future violence, violent conflict, and fragility.
(3)
removed Designate, on the basis of the criteria specified in paragraph (1), 10 pilot countries, organized with not fewer than three countries in each of the Core and Prevention categories described in paragraph (2) and not more than four countries in each geographic region, as determined by the Department of State.
(4)
removed Consider when making designations pursuant to paragraph (3) designating multiple countries in the same region if the drivers of violence, violent conflict, and fragility are transnational in such region.
(e)
removed Stakeholder consultation— In addition to the individuals specified in subsection (a), the initiative required under this section shall be developed in coordination with—
(1)
removed the United States Ambassador, USAID Mission Director, geographic Combatant Commands, and relevant inter-agency country teams in each applicable country; and
(2)
removed representatives of local civil society and national and local governance entities, as well as relevant international development organizations, multilateral organizations, donors, and relevant private, academic, and philanthropic entities, as appropriate.
(f)
removed Congressional consultation— The Administrator of USAID, in coordination with the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense (or their respective designees), shall provide briefings to the appropriate congressional committees not later than—
(1)
removed 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act regarding the countries selected as pilot countries for the initiative required under this section;
(2)
removed 90 days after such date of enactment regarding progress on the individual pilot country plans under subsection (c); and
(3)
removed 30 days after submission of such initiative regarding plans for implementing such initiative and such individual pilot country plans.
(g)
removed Measuring violence, violent conflict, and fragility— For the purposes of implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of the individual pilot country plans required under subsection (c), progress towards reducing and addressing the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility shall be measured by indicators established for each such pilot country by relevant inter-agency country teams in each such pilot country, informed by consultations with the stakeholders specified in subsection (e)(2). Such indicators shall be based on the data described in subsection (d)(1)(A), as appropriate, and updated regularly to account for any improvements in the available indicators and to include indicators for additional priority areas, such as:
(1)
removed Improving inclusive, transparent, and accountable power structures, including effective, legitimate, and resilient national and sub-national institutions.
(2)
removed Improving effective and respected conflict prevention, mitigation, management, and resolution mechanisms.
(3)
removed Reducing levels of citizen support for violence, violent extremism, and adversarial armed groups.
(4)
removed Ensuring strong foundations for plurality, non-discrimination, human rights, rule of law, and equal access to justice.
(5)
removed Addressing political, social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities, grievances, and conflicts.
(6)
removed Ensuring inclusive economic development and enabling business environments.
(7)
removed Improving resilience to transnational stresses and shocks, including from organized crime and violent extremist organizations.

Sec. 5 Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence

(a)
added Initiative— The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall establish an interagency initiative, to be referred to as the “Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence”, to prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence and fragility.

removed The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and departments, relevant United States Ambassadors, USAID Mission Directors, and other relevant individuals with responsibility over activities in each pilot country designated pursuant to section 4 shall ensure that—

(b)
changed Implementation plan— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of USAID, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees an interagency implementation plan for the Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence and each individual pilot country plan required under such section are implemented and updated on a regular and iterative basis;established pursuant to subsection (a) that includes the following:
(1)
added Descriptions of the overall goals, objectives, criteria, and metrics guiding the implementation, including with respect to prioritizing countries and measuring progress.
(2)
added A list of the priority countries and regions selected pursuant to subsection (d)(2).
(3)
added Identification of the roles and responsibilities of each participating Federal department or agency, while ensuring that with respect to activities relating to stabilization—
(A)
added the Department of State shall be the overall lead for establishing United States foreign policy and advancing diplomatic and political efforts;
(B)
added USAID shall be the lead implementing agency for development, humanitarian, and related non-security programs;
(C)
added the Department of Defense shall support the activities of the Department of State and USAID as appropriate, including by providing requisite security and reinforcing civilian efforts, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and Administrator of USAID; and
(D)
added other Federal departments and agencies shall support the activities of the Department of State and USAID as appropriate, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State and Administrator of USAID.
(4)
added Identification of the authorities, staffing, and other resource requirements needed to effectively implement the initiative.
(5)
added Descriptions of the organizational steps the Department of State, USAID, the Department of Defense, and each other relevant Federal department or agency will take to improve planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, adaptive management, and iterative learning with respect to the programs under such initiative.
(6)
added Descriptions of the steps each relevant Federal department or agency will take to improve coordination and collaboration under such initiative with international development organizations, international donors, multilateral organizations, and the private sector.
(7)
added Descriptions of potential areas of improved public and private sector research and development, including with academic, philanthropic, and civil society organizations, on more effective approaches to preventing violence, stabilizing conflict-affected areas, and addressing the long-term causes of violence and fragility.
(8)
added Plans for regularly evaluating and updating, on an iterative basis—
(A)
added the Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence;
(B)
added the interagency implementation plan described in this subsection; and
(C)
added the priority country and regional plans described in subsection (c).
(c)
changed Priority country and regional plans— such initiative Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of USAID, the Secretary of Defense, and individual pilot country the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees 10-year plans are used to guide United States Government policy at a senior level align and are incorporated into relevant strategies integrate the diplomatic, development, security, and plans across other relevant activities of the United States Government and in with the initiative required under subsection (a) for each such pilot country;of the priority countries and regions designated pursuant to subsection (d). Such priority country and regional plans shall include:
(1)
added Specific interagency plans for coordination and implementation under the country or regional plan.
(2)
added Descriptions of how and when the relevant goals, objectives, and plans for each priority country or region will be incorporated into relevant United States country plans and strategies, including Department of State Integrated Country Strategies, USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategies, and Department of Defense Campaign Plans, Operational Plans, and Regional Strategies, as well as any equivalent or successor plans or strategies.
(3)
added Interagency plans to ensure that appropriate local actors, including government and civil society entities and organizations led by women, youth, or under-represented communities, have roles in developing, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and updating relevant aspects of each such country or regional plan.
(4)
added Clear, transparent, and measurable diplomatic, development, and security benchmarks, timetables, and performance metrics for each such country and region that align with best practices where applicable.
(5)
added Interagency plans for monitoring and evaluation, adaptive management, and iterative learning that provide for regular and iterative policy and program adaptations based on outcomes, lessons learned, and other evidence gathered from each such country or region and across such countries and regions.
(6)
added Descriptions of the available policy tools to prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence and fragility in each such country or region.
(7)
added Descriptions of the resources and authorities that would be required for each relevant Federal department or agency to best implement each such country or regional plan, as well as evidence-based iterative updates to such plans.
(8)
added Descriptions of potential areas of improved partnership with respect to such country or region, regarding efforts to prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence and fragility, between the United States Government and—
(A)
added international development organizations;
(B)
added relevant international donors;
(C)
added multilateral organizations; and
(D)
added the private sector.
(d)
added Designation of priority countries and regions—
(1)
added Identification of candidate countries and regions— The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of USAID and the Secretary of Defense and in consultation with the appropriate congressional committees, shall develop a list of candidate countries and regions to be considered for inclusion under the initiative on the basis of—
(A)
added clearly defined indicators of high levels of violence and fragility in such country or region, such as—
(i)
added violence committed by armed groups, gender-based violence, and violence against children and youth;
(ii)
added prevalence of, and citizen support for, adversarial armed groups;
(iii)
added internal and external population displacement;
(iv)
added patterns of human rights violations, including early warning indicators of the commission of genocide or other atrocities;
(v)
added poor governance, pervasive corruption, and political instability; and
(vi)
added vulnerability to current or future transnational threats; and
(B)
added the capacity and opportunity to work across Federal departments and agencies and with local partners and other donors to prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence and fragility with respect to such country or region, including by measurably—
(i)
added improving inclusive, transparent, and accountable power structures, including effective, legitimate, and resilient national and sub-national institutions;
(ii)
added improving effective and respected conflict prevention, mitigation, management, and resolution mechanisms;
(iii)
added reducing levels of support among the residents of such country or region for violence, violent extremism, and adversarial armed groups;
(iv)
added ensuring strong foundations for plurality, non-discrimination, human rights, rule of law, and equal access to justice;
(v)
added addressing political, social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities, grievances, and conflicts;
(vi)
added ensuring inclusive economic development and enabling business environments; and
(vii)
added improving resilience to transnational stresses and shocks, including from organized crime, violent extremist organizations, and economic and food markets crises.
(2)
added Selection of priority countries and regions— From among the candidate countries and regions identified pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of USAID and the Secretary of Defense, shall select certain countries as “priority countries” and certain regions as “priority regions” in a manner that ensures that—
(A)
added countries and regions are selected in a sufficient number and of sufficient diversity to provide indicators of the various drivers and early warnings of violence, conflict, and fragility, as well as best practices for United States efforts to prevent violence, stabilize conflict-affected areas, and address the long-term causes of violence and fragility;
(B)
added not fewer than three countries or regions are designated as “Stabilization Countries” or “Stabilization Regions”, in which the current levels of violence, violent conflict, or fragility are among the highest in the world;
(C)
added not fewer than three countries or regions are designated as “Prevention Countries” or “Prevention Regions”, in which current levels of violence, violent conflict, or fragility are lower than such levels in Stabilization Countries or Stabilization Regions but warning signs for future violence, conflict, or fragility are significant;
(D)
added regions, rather than individual countries, are selected where the threat or spillover of violence, conflict, or fragility threatens the stability of multiple countries within a single geographic region; and
(E)
added the countries and regions selected are in the areas of responsibility of at least three geographic bureaus of the Department of State.
(3)
removed detailed and iterative goals, objectives, and plans of action are developed, implemented, updated, and coordinated among and within each relevant Federal agency or department for the duration of each such individual pilot country plan;
(e)
changed Stakeholder consultation— resources for all relevant activities The initiative required under subsection (a) shall be developed in each such pilot country are requested and utilized consistent coordination with such initiative representatives of local civil society and individual pilot country plans; andnational and local governance entities, as well as relevant international development organizations, multilateral organizations, donors, and relevant private, academic, and philanthropic entities, as appropriate.
(f)
changed Congressional consultation— The Secretary of State, the results Administrator of program monitoring and evaluation under such initiative and individual pilot country plans are regularly reviewed USAID, and utilized to determine continuation, modification, or termination the Secretary of future year programming and that Defense shall provide regular and iterative policy and program adaptations are made briefings on the implementation of this Act to each any appropriate congressional committee upon the request of such plan.committee.
(g)
added Measuring violence, violent conflict, and fragility— For the purposes of implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of the priority country and regional plans required under subsection (c), progress towards preventing violence, stabilizing conflict-affected areas, and addressing the long-term causes of violence and fragility shall be measured by indicators established for each such country by relevant inter-agency country teams for each such country, informed by consultations with the stakeholders specified in subsection (e).

Sec. 6 Implementation and updates of priority country and regional plans

added The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of USAID, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, and in consultation with the relevant United States Ambassadors, USAID Mission Directors, geographic Combatant Commanders, and other relevant individuals with responsibility over activities in each priority country or region designated pursuant to section 5, shall ensure that—

(a)
removed Biennial reports— Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act and every two years thereafter until full implementation of the 10-year individual pilot country plans required under section 4, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and departments, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on progress made and lessons learned with respect to the Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence and each individual pilot country plan required under section 4, including—
(1)
removed descriptions of steps taken to incorporate such initiative and such individual pilot country plans into relevant strategies and plans that affect such pilot countries;
(2)
removed accountings of all funding received and obligated to implement each such individual pilot country plan during the past two years, as well as funding requested, planned, and projected for the following two years;
(3)
removed descriptions of progress made towards the goals and objectives established for each such individual pilot country, including progress made towards achieving the specific targets, metrics, and indicators described in section 4; and
(4)
removed descriptions of updates made during the past two years to the goals, objectives, plans of action, and other elements described in section 4(c) for each such individual pilot country plan, as well as any changes made to programs based on the results of monitoring and evaluation in accordance with sections 4 and 5.
(1)
changed Congressional consultation— The Administrator of USAID, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and departments shall jointly consult with the appropriate congressional committees not less often than annually regarding progress made on the initiative Violence and individual pilot country plans required under section 4. The consultation requirement under this subsection shall terminate upon full implementation of the 10-year individual pilot priority country and regional plans required under such section.section are implemented, updated, and coordinated on a regular and iterative basis;
(2)
added such initiative and country and regional plans are used to guide United States Government policy at a senior level and incorporated into relevant strategies and plans across the United States Government and in each such country;
(3)
added resources for all relevant activities and requirements of such initiative and country and regional plans are prioritized, requested, and used consistent with such initiative and country and regional plans; and
(4)
added the results of program monitoring and evaluation under such initiative and country and regional plans are regularly reviewed and used to determine continuation, modification, or termination of future year programming.

Sec. 7 Biennial reports and congressional consultation

(a)
added Biennial reports— Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act and every two years thereafter until the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, the Administrator of USAID, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on progress made and lessons learned with respect to the Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence and each priority country or regional plan required under section 5, including—
(1)
added descriptions of steps taken to incorporate such initiative and such country or regional plans into relevant strategies and plans that affect such countries or regions;
(2)
added accountings of all funding received and obligated to implement each such country or regional plan during the past two years, as well as funding requested, planned, and projected for the following two years;
(3)
added descriptions of progress made towards the goals and objectives established for each such priority country or region, including progress made towards achieving the specific targets, metrics, and indicators described in section 5(b); and
(4)
added descriptions of updates made during the past two years to the goals, objectives, plans of action, and other elements described in section 5 for each such country or regional plan, as well as any changes made to programs based on the results of monitoring and evaluation.

removed It is the sense of Congress that the President, together with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies and departments, should—

(b)
changed Congressional consultation— support In addition to the creation reports required under subsection (a), the Secretary of a “Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Fund” to help support USAID and Department State, the Administrator of State activities under USAID, the Global Fragility Secretary of Defense, and Violence Reduction Initiative the heads of other relevant Federal departments and individual pilot agencies shall jointly consult with the appropriate congressional committees at least once a year regarding progress made on the initiative and priority country and regional plans required under section 4;5.
(2)
removed work with Congress to provide funding that allows for more adaptive program planning and implementation under such initiative and individual pilot country plans, including through exemptions from specific and minimum funding levels when such exemptions would make programs better able to respond to monitoring and evaluation or changed circumstances in relevant countries;
(3)
removed work with Congress to provide funding that better integrates conflict and violence reduction activities into other program areas where appropriate; and
(4)
removed support the creation of a multilateral fund and other international initiatives to improve global public and private support for coordinating and funding efforts to reduce and address the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility.

Sec. 8 GAO review

(a)
changed In general— Not later than five two years after the date of the enactment of this Act and every two years thereafter until the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an consult with the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives regarding opportunities for independent review of all United States Government the activities in each pilot country designated pursuant under the Global Initiative to Reduce Fragility and Violence and the priority country and regional plans required by section 4.5, including—
(1)
added opportunities to—
(A)
added assess the extent to which United States Government activities in each priority country designated pursuant to section 5 are being implemented in accordance with the initiative and the relevant country or regional plan required under such section;
(B)
added assess the processes and procedures for coordinating among and within each relevant Federal department or agency when implementing such initiative and each such country or regional plan;
(C)
added assess the monitoring and evaluation efforts under such initiative and each such country or regional plan, including assessments of the progress made and lessons learned with respect to each such plan, as well as any changes made to activities based on the results of such monitoring and evaluation; and
(D)
added recommend changes necessary to better implement United States Government activities in accordance with such initiative and country and regional plans, as well as recommendations for any changes to such initiative or plans; and
(2)
added such other matters the Comptroller General determines to be appropriate.
(b)
changed Matters To be included—Availability of information— The review required under subsection (a) All relevant Federal departments and agencies shall include make all relevant data, documents, and other information available to the following:Comptroller General for purposes of conducting independent reviews pursuant to this section.
(1)
removed An assessment of the extent to which United States Government activities in each pilot country designated pursuant to section 4 are being implemented in accordance with the relevant individual pilot country plan required under such section.
(2)
removed Descriptions of all activities that are being implemented in accordance with each such individual pilot country plan, including, with respect to each such activity, the role of each relevant Federal agency or department, the entities responsible for implementation, and the funding level.
(3)
removed Assessments of the processes and procedures for coordinating among and within each relevant Federal agency or department when implementing each such individual pilot country plan.
(4)
removed Assessments of the monitoring and evaluation efforts under each such individual pilot country plan, including assessments of the progress made and lessons learned with respect to each such plan, as well as any changes made to activities based on the results of such monitoring and evaluation.
(5)
removed Recommendations for changes necessary to better implement United States Government activities in accordance with such individual pilot country plans, as well as recommendations for any changes to such plans.

Sec. 9 Definitions

changed The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—In this Act—

(1)
added Appropriate congressional committees— The term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
(A)
renumbered was (3) the Committees on Foreign Relations, Armed Services, and Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B)
renumbered was (4) the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2)
added Relevant Federal department or agency— The term “relevant Federal department or agency” means the Department of the Treasury and any other Federal department or agency the President determines is relevant to carry out the purposes of this Act.