H.R. 6018 — what changed

Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2018

From Introduced in House to Engrossed in House. 1 section amended and 1 added between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.

Sec. 2 Sense of Congress

added It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

added the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, launched in 2005, is an interagency program to assist partner countries in the Sahel and Maghreb regions of Africa on their immediate and long-term capabilities to address terrorist threats and prevent the spread of violent extremism;

(2)

added armed groups and violent Islamist terrorist organizations, such as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Boko Haram, the Islamic State of West Africa, and other affiliated groups, have killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians, displaced populations, destabilized local and national governments, and caused mass human suffering in the affected communities;

(a)

removed Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership—

(1)

removed Establishment— The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall establish a partnership, to be known as the “Trans-Sahara Coun­ter­ter­ror­ism Partnership” (TSCTP), to coordinate all United States programs, projects, and activities in the Sahel, Maghreb, and adjacent regions of Africa that are conducted for any of the following purposes:

(A)

removed To build the capacity of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to conduct counterterrorism operations.

(B)

removed To improve the ability of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to cooperate on counterterrorism efforts.

(C)

removed To enhance the border security capacity of partner countries in such regions, including the ability to monitor, restrain, and interdict terrorist movements.

(D)

removed To strengthen the rule of law in such countries, including access to justice, and the ability of the law enforcement entities of such partner countries to detect, disrupt, respond to, investigate, and prosecute terrorist activity.

(E)

removed To monitor and counter the financing of terrorism.

(F)

removed To further reduce any opportunities among communities in such regions for recruitment or incitement for terrorist activities through public diplomacy efforts, such as supporting youth employment, promoting meaningful participation of women, strengthening local governance and civil society capacity, and improving access to education.

(2)

removed Consultation— In coordinating programs through the TSCTP, the Secretary of State may also consult, as appropriate, with the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies.

(3)

removed Congressional notification— Not later than 15 days before obligating amounts for an activity coordinated by the TSCTP pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretaries of State shall submit a notification, in accordance with the requirements of section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1), that includes the following:

(A)

removed The foreign country and entity, as applicable, whose capabilities are to be enhanced in accordance with the purposes specified in paragraph (1).

(B)

removed The amount, type, and purpose of support to be provided.

(C)

removed An assessment of the capacity of the foreign country or entity to absorb the training or equipment to be provided.

(D)

removed The estimated cost, implementation timeline, and delivery schedule for assistance.

(E)

removed A description of the arrangements to sustain any equipment provided by the activity beyond the completion date of such activity, if applicable, and the estimated cost and source of funds to support such sustainment.

(F)

removed The amount, type, statutory authorization, and purpose of any United States assistance provided to such foreign country during the three preceding fiscal years.

(b)

removed Comprehensive strategy for counterterrorism efforts—

(1)

removed Development— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive, interagency strategy that—

(A)

removed highlights the desired end states, strategic objectives, and sub-objectives for the United States counterterrorism effort in the Sahel, Maghreb, and adjacent regions of Africa with respect to the use of all forms of United States assistance to counter violent extremism; and

(B)

removed includes a plan by the Secretary of State for the manner in which programs shall be coordinated by the TSCTP pursuant to subsection (a)(1).

(2)

removed Supporting material in annual budget request— The Secretary of State shall include, in the budget materials submitted in support of the budget of the President (submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code) for each fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, a description of the requirements, activities, and planned allocation of amounts requested by the TSCTP.

(3)

removed Form— The report required by paragraph (1) and each description required under paragraph (2) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

(c)

removed Assessment, monitoring, and evaluation of programs and activities—

(1)

removed Monitoring and evaluation— The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall conduct rigorously assess, monitor, and evaluate programs coordinated by the TSCTP pursuant to subsection (a)(1) including by the following:

(A)

removed Initial assessments of partner capability requirements, potential programmatic risks, baseline information, and indicators of efficacy for purposes of planning, monitoring, and evaluation of the programs and activities coordinated by the TSCTP.

(B)

removed Evaluations of the efficiency and effectiveness of such programs and activities.

(C)

removed Monitoring implementation of such programs and activities with respect to the stated objectives outlined in the strategy required under subsection (b)(1).

(D)

removed Identification of lessons learned in carrying out such programs and activities to develop recommendations for improving such strategy and future security cooperation programs and activities of the TSCTP.

(2)

removed Best practices requirements— The ongoing assessment required under paragraph (1) shall be conducted in accordance with the best practices described in section 383(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code.

(3)

removed Reports—

(A)

removed Reports to Congress— For the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report on the findings of the ongoing assessment required by paragraph (1) during the previous fiscal year. Each report shall include, with respect to such previous year, the following:

(i)

removed A description of all activities coordinated by the TSCTP pursuant to subsection (a)(1).

(ii)

removed An evaluation of the lessons learned and best practices identified in accordance with paragraph (2).

(iii)

removed An analysis of major actions taken by the government of each foreign country receiving assistance coordinated by the TSCTP to combat corruption, improve transparency and accountability, and promote other forms of good governance such as those described in section 133 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2152c) (relating to programs to encourage good governance).

(B)

removed Public availability of efficiency evaluation— The Secretaries of State and Defense shall jointly make publicly available a summary of each evaluation conducted pursuant to paragraph (1), from which the Secretaries may redact or omit any information that the Secretaries determine should not be disclosed to the public in order to protect the interests of the United States or of any relevant foreign country.

(C)

removed Form— The report required by subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

(3)

changed Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, it is in the term appropriate congressional committees means—national security interest of the United States to combat the spread of radical Islamist extremism and build partner countries’ capacity to combat these threats in Africa;

(4)

added extremist movements exploit vulnerable and marginalized communities suffering from poverty, lack of economic opportunity (particularly among youth populations), and weak governance; and

(5)

added to address critical security, political, economic, and humanitarian challenges in these regions of Africa, a coordinated, interagency approach is needed to appropriately allocate resources, share responsibility, de-conflict programs, and maximize the effectiveness of United States defense, diplomatic, and development capabilities.

(1)

removed the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and

(2)

removed the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.

Sec. 3 Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership

added

(a)

added Trans-Sahara counter terrorism partnership—

(1)

added Establishment— The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall establish a partnership, to be known as the “Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership” (TSCTP), to coordinate all United States programs, projects, and activities in North and West Africa that are conducted for any of the following purposes:

(A)

added To build the capacity of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to conduct counterterrorism operations.

(B)

added To improve the ability of foreign military and law enforcement entities in such regions to cooperate with the United States and other partner countries on counterterrorism efforts.

(C)

added To enhance the border security capacity of partner countries in such regions, including the ability to monitor, restrain, and interdict terrorists.

(D)

added To strengthen the rule of law in such countries, including access to justice, and the ability of the law enforcement entities of such partner countries to detect, disrupt, respond to, investigate, and prosecute terrorist activity.

(E)

added To monitor and counter the financing of terrorism.

(F)

added To further reduce any vulnerabilities among affected populations in such regions to recruitment or incitement of terrorist activities through public diplomacy efforts, such as supporting youth employment, promoting meaningful participation of women, strengthening local governance and civil society capacity, and improving access to economic opportunities and education.

(G)

added To support independent, local-language media, particularly in rural areas, to counter media operations and recruitment propaganda by terrorist organizations.

(2)

added Consultation— In coordinating programs through the TSCTP, the Secretary of State shall also consult, as appropriate, with the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Agency for Global Media (formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors), and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies.

(3)

added Congressional notification— Not later than 15 days before obligating amounts for an activity coordinated by the TSCTP pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall submit a notification, in accordance with the requirements of section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2394–1), that includes the following:

(A)

added The foreign country and entity, as applicable, whose capabilities are to be enhanced in accordance with the purposes specified in paragraph (1).

(B)

added The amount, type, and purpose of support to be provided.

(C)

added An assessment of the capacity of the foreign country or entity to absorb the assistance to be provided.

(D)

added The estimated cost and anticipated implementation timeline for assistance.

(E)

added As applicable, a description of the arrangements to sustain any equipment provided by the activity beyond the completion date of such activity, if applicable, and the estimated cost and source of funds to support such sustainment.

(F)

added The amount, type, statutory authorization, and purpose of any United States security assistance provided to such foreign country during the three preceding fiscal years pursuant to authorities under title 10, United States Code, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.), or any other “train and equip” authorities of the Department of Defense.

(b)

added Comprehensive strategy for counterterrorism efforts—

(1)

added Development— Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive, interagency strategy that—

(A)

added states the objectives of the United States counterterrorism effort in North and West Africa with respect to the use of all forms of United States assistance to counter violent extremism;

(B)

added includes a plan by the Secretary of State for the manner in which programs shall be coordinated by the TSCTP pursuant to subsection (a)(1), including which agency or bureau of the Department of State, as applicable, will be responsible for leading and coordinating each such program; and

(C)

added outlines a plan to monitor and evaluate TSCTP programs and identifies the key indicators that will be used to measure performance and progress under the strategy.

(2)

added Supporting material in annual budget request— The Secretary of State shall include, in the budget materials submitted in support of the budget of the President (submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code) for each fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, a description of the requirements, activities, and planned allocation of amounts requested by the TSCTP.

(c)

added Monitoring and evaluation of programs and activities—

(1)

added Monitoring and evaluation— The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, shall monitor and evaluate the programs coordinated by the TSCTP pursuant to subsection (a)(1) in accordance with the plan outlined pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(C).

(2)

added Report— For the 5-year period beginning 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report on monitoring and evaluation efforts pursuant to paragraph (1) that describes—

(A)

added the progress made in meeting the objectives listed in the strategy required by subsection (b)(1), including any lessons learned in carrying out TSCTP programs and activities and any recommendations for improving such programs and activities;

(B)

added the efforts taken to coordinate, de-conflict and streamline TSCTP programs to maximize resource effectiveness;

(C)

added the extent to which each partner country has demonstrated the ability to absorb the equipment or training provided in the year previous under TSCTP programs, and where applicable, the ability to maintain and appropriately utilize such equipment provided;

(D)

added the extent to which each partner country is investing its own resources to advance the goals described in subsection (a)(1) or demonstrated a commitment and willingness to cooperate with the United States to advance such goals; and

(E)

added the actions taken by the government of each partner country receiving assistance through programs coordinated by the TSCTP to combat corruption, improve transparency and accountability, and promote other forms of good governance.

(d)

added Form— The strategy required by subsection (b)(1) and the report required by subsection (c)(2) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

(e)

added Appropriate congressional committees defined— In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—

(1)

added the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and

(2)

added the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.