[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1632 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.1632
One Hundred Fourteenth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen
An Act
To require a regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko
Haram.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REGIONAL STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE THREAT POSED BY BOKO HARAM.
(a) Strategy Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of
Defense shall jointly develop and submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a five-year strategy to help enable the
Government of Nigeria, members of the Multinational Joint Task
Force to Combat Boko Haram (MNJTF) authorized by the African Union,
and relevant partners to counter the regional threat of Boko Haram
and assist the Government of Nigeria and its neighbors to accept
and address legitimate grievances of vulnerable populations in
areas affected by Boko Haram.
(2) Elements.--At a minimum, the strategy must address the
following elements:
(A) Enhance, pursuant to existing authorities and
restrictions, the institutional capacity, including military
capabilities, of the Government of Nigeria and partner nations
in the region, as appropriate, to counter the threat posed by
Boko Haram.
(B) Provide humanitarian support to civilian populations
impacted by Boko Haram's activity.
(C) Specific activities through which the United States
Government intends to improve and enhance the capacity of
Multinational Joint Task Force to Combat Boko Haram partner
nations to investigate and prosecute human rights abuses by
security forces and promote respect for the rule of law within
the military.
(D) A means for assisting Nigeria, and as appropriate,
Multinational Joint Task Force to Combat Boko Haram nations, to
counter violent extremism, including efforts to address
underlying societal factors shown to contribute to the ability
of Boko Haram to radicalize and recruit individuals.
(E) A plan to strengthen and promote the rule of law,
including by improving the capacity of the civilian police and
judicial system in Nigeria, enhancing public safety, and
responding to crime (including gender-based violence), while
respecting human rights and strengthening accountability
measures, including measures to prevent corruption.
(F) Strengthen the long-term capacity of the Government of
Nigeria to enhance security for schools such that children are
safer and girls seeking an education are better protected, and
to combat gender-based violence and gender inequality.
(G) Identify and develop mechanisms for coordinating the
implementation of the strategy across the inter-agency and with
the Government of Nigeria, regional partners, and other
relevant foreign partners.
(H) Identify the resources required to achieve the
strategy's objectives.
(b) Assessment.--The Director of National Intelligence shall
submit, to the appropriate committees of Congress, an assessment
regarding--
(1) the willingness and capability of the Government of Nigeria
and regional partners to implement the strategy developed under
subsection (a), including the capability gaps, if any, of the
Government and military forces of Nigeria that would need to be
addressed to enable the Government of Nigeria and the governments
of its partner countries in the region--
(A) to counter the threat of Boko Haram; and
(B) to address the legitimate grievances of vulnerable
populations in areas affected by Boko Haram; and
(2) significant United States intelligence gaps concerning Boko
Haram or on the willingness and capacity of the Government of
Nigeria and regional partners to implement the strategy developed
under subsection (a).
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that lack of
economic opportunity and access to education, justice, and other social
services contributes to the ability of Boko Haram to radicalize and
recruit individuals.
(d) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign
Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Select
Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
(2) 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.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.