Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Success in Countering Al Qaeda Reporting Requirements Act of 2009

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)Al Qaeda and its related affiliates attacked the United States on September 11, 2001 in New York, New York, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, murdering almost 3000 innocent civilians. (2)Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri remain at large. (3)In testimony to the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate on February 12, 2009, Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair stated, al-Qa’ida and its affiliates and allies remain dangerous and adaptive enemies, and the threat they could inspire or orchestrate an attack on the United States or European countries. … Although al-Qa’ida’s core organization in the tribal areas of Pakistan is under greater pressure now than it was a year ago, we assess that it remains the most dangerous component of the larger al-Qa’ida network. Al-Qa’ida leaders still use the tribal areas as a base from which they can avoid capture, produce propaganda, communicate with operational cells abroad, and provide training and indoctrination to new terrorist operatives.. (4)The most recent authoritative National Intelligence Estimate issued on the threat posed by Al Qaeda, released in July 2007, states Al-Qa’ida is and will remain the most serious terrorist threat to the Homeland. (5)Efforts to combat violent extremism and radicalism must be undertaken using all elements of national power, including military tools, intelligence assets, law enforcement resources, diplomacy, paramilitary activities, financial measures, development assistance, strategic communications, and public diplomacy. (6)In the report entitled Suggested Areas for Oversight for the 110th Congress (GAO–08–235R, November 17, 2006), the Government Accountability Office urged greater congressional oversight in assessing the effectiveness and coordination of United States international programs focused on combating and preventing the growth of terrorism and its underlying causes. (7)Section 140(a) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 (22 U.S.C. 2656f(a)) requires that the Secretary of State submit annual reports to Congress that detail key developments on terrorism on a country-by-country basis. These Country Reports on Terrorism provide information on acts of terrorism in countries, major developments in bilateral and multilateral counterterrorism cooperation, and the extent of State support for terrorist groups responsible for the death, kidnapping, or injury of Americans, but do not assess the scope and efficacy of United States counterterrorism efforts against Al Qaeda and its related affiliates. (8)The Executive Branch submits regular reports to Congress that detail the status of United States combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a breakdown of budgetary allocations, key milestones achieved, and measures of political, economic, and military progress.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that— (1)8 years after the attacks on September 11, 2001, Al Qaeda and its related affiliates remain the most serious national security threat to the United States, with alarming signs that Al Qaeda and its related affiliates have reconstituted their strength and ability to generate new attacks throughout the world, including against the United States; (2)there remains insufficient information on current counterterrorism efforts undertaken by the Federal Government and the level of success achieved by specific initiatives; (3)Congress and the American people can benefit from more specific data and metrics that can provide the basis for objective external assessments of the progress being made in the overall war being waged against violent extremism; (4)the absence of a comparable timely assessment of the ongoing status and progress of United States counterterrorism efforts against Al Qaeda and its related affiliates hampers the ability of Congress and the American people to independently determine whether the United States is making significant progress in this defining struggle of our time; and (5)the Executive Branch should submit a comprehensive report to Congress, updated on an annual basis, which provides a more strategic perspective regarding— (A)the United States highest global counterterrorism priorities; (B)the United States efforts to combat and defeat Al Qaeda and its related affiliates; (C)the United States efforts to undercut long-term support for the violent extremism that sustains Al Qaeda and its related affiliates; (D)the progress made by the United States as a result of such efforts; (E)the efficacy and efficiency of the United States resource allocations; and (F)whether the existing activities and operations of the United States are actually diminishing the national security threat posed by Al Qaeda and its related affiliates.

Annual counterterrorism status reports

(a)

In general

Not later than July 31, 2010, and every July 31 thereafter, the President shall submit a report, to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, which contains, for the most recent 12-month period, a review of the counterterrorism strategy of the United States Government, including— (1)a detailed assessment of the scope, status, and progress of United States counterterrorism efforts in fighting Al Qaeda and its related affiliates and undermining long-term support for violent extremism; (2)a judgment on the geographical region in which Al Qaeda and its related affiliates pose the greatest threat to the national security of the United States; (3)an evaluation of the extent to which the counterterrorism efforts of the United States correspond to the plans developed by the National Counterterrorism Center and the goals established in overarching public statements of strategy issued by the executive branch; (4)a description of the efforts of the United States Government to combat Al Qaeda and its related affiliates and undermine violent extremist ideology, which shall include— (A)a specific list of the President’s highest global counterterrorism priorities; (B)the degree of success achieved by the United States, and remaining areas for progress, in meeting the priorities described in subparagraph (A); and (C)efforts in those countries in which the President determines that— (i)Al Qaeda and its related affiliates have a presence; or (ii)acts of international terrorism have been perpetrated by Al Qaeda and its related affiliates; (5)the specific status and achievements of United States counterterrorism efforts, through military, financial, political, intelligence, and paramilitary elements, relating to— (A)bilateral security and training programs; (B)law enforcement and border security; (C)the disruption of terrorist networks; and (D)the denial of terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries; (6)a description of United States Government activities to counterterrorist recruitment and radicalization, including— (A)strategic communications; (B)public diplomacy; (C)support for economic development and political reform; and (D)other efforts aimed at influencing public opinion; (7)United States Government initiatives to eliminate direct and indirect international financial support for the activities of terrorist groups; (8)a cross-cutting analysis of the budgets of all Federal Government agencies as they relate to counterterrorism funding to battle Al Qaeda and its related affiliates abroad, including— (A)the source of such funds; and (B)the allocation and use of such funds; (9)an analysis of the extent to which specific Federal appropriations— (A)have produced tangible, calculable results in efforts to combat and defeat Al Qaeda, its related affiliates, and its violent ideology; or (B)contribute to investments that have expected payoffs in the medium- to long-term; (10)statistical assessments, including those developed by the National Counterterrorism Center, on the number of individuals belonging to Al Qaeda and its related affiliates that have been killed, injured, or taken into custody as a result of United States counterterrorism efforts; and (11)a concise summary of the methods used by National Counterterrorism Center and other elements of the United States Government to assess and evaluate progress in its overall counterterrorism efforts, including the use of specific measures, metrics, and indices. (b)

Interagency cooperation

In preparing a report under this section, the President shall include relevant information maintained by— (1)the National Counterterrorism Center and the National Counterproliferation Center; (2)Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; (3)the Department of State; (4)the Department of Defense; (5)the Department of Homeland Security; (6)the Department of the Treasury; (7)the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; (8)the Central Intelligence Agency; (9)the Office of Management and Budget; (10)the United States Agency for International Development; and (11)any other Federal department that maintains relevant information. (c)

Report classification

Each report required under this section shall be— (1)submitted in an unclassified form, to the maximum extent practicable; and (2)accompanied by a classified appendix, as appropriate.