[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2060 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2060
To provide oversight over talks between the United States and the
Taliban, limit the use of funds to reduce the total number of members
of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are deployed to
Afghanistan until certain conditions on the ground are fulfilled, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2019
Mr. Banks (for himself, Ms. Cheney, Ms. Stefanik, and Mr. Waltz)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
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A BILL
To provide oversight over talks between the United States and the
Taliban, limit the use of funds to reduce the total number of members
of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are deployed to
Afghanistan until certain conditions on the ground are fulfilled, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ensuring a Secure Afghanistan Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) A premature withdrawal of United States Armed Forces
from Afghanistan would result in increased instability,
violence, and the loss of human rights established through the
presence of the United States and its allies over the past 17
years.
(2) It is the objective of the United States Government to
ensure a secure and stable Afghanistan that has the ability to
secure its borders, maintain its own military forces, and
prevent the establishment of terrorist safe havens that could
be used to launch attacks against the United States.
(3) A hasty withdrawal without ensuring the stability of
the Government of Afghanistan and its ability to perform the
functions as outlined will impact the security of the United
States and its allies. Additionally, a hasty withdrawal will
jeopardize the tremendous gains made in development and human
rights for the citizens of Afghanistan.
(4) The current talks with the Taliban led by Special
Representative Zalmay Khalilzad have excluded the legitimate
Afghan government, despite the apparent completion of two
``draft'' agreements between the United States and the Taliban.
Other vital constituencies have been excluded as well.
(5) The foreign terrorist organization al Qaeda,
responsible for the attacks of September 11, 2001, continues to
operate in Afghanistan.
(6) The Taliban, which contests or controls approximately
half of Afghanistan, has a strong and intricate relationship
with al Qaeda, and al Qaeda still sees Afghanistan as a safe
haven for its leadership.
(7) The Taliban has not publicly disavowed al Qaeda, Osama
bin Laden, or al Qaeda's current leader, Ayman al Zawahiri. The
Taliban has also never apologized for harboring al Qaeda, the
9/11 hijackers, and others responsible for murdering thousands
of American citizens.
(8) The withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from
Afghanistan, a long-standing Taliban demand, is a key component
of the ongoing talks between the United States and the Taliban.
(9) The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as
ISIS, grew rapidly after the United States withdrawal of forces
from Iraq in 2011. Today, ISIS still controls thousands of
militants, including in Afghanistan.
(10) According to the administration's South Asia strategy,
announced by the President in August 2017, ``Conditions on the
ground--not arbitrary timetables--will guide our strategy from
now on.''.
SEC. 3. BRIEFING ON UNITED STATES-TALIBAN OR AFGHAN TALKS AND ANY
EFFECTS ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO
AFGHANISTAN.
(a) Briefing Required.--The Secretary of State or the Special
Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation shall, in coordination
with the Secretary of Defense, brief the appropriate congressional
committees regarding talks with the Afghan government or the Taliban if
any such talks are ongoing, as well as the effects these talks are
having or will have on the posture of United States Armed Forces in
Afghanistan. The briefing may be provided in unclassified or classified
form.
(b) Monthly Update.--A briefing described in paragraph (1) shall
occur--
(1) not later than 30 days after any initial diplomatic
engagement with the Taliban or the Afghan Government;
(2) not later than 30 days after the enactment of this Act,
if such engagement is ongoing on such date of enactment; and
(3) every 30 days thereafter until the close of talks.
(c) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate.
SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS TO REDUCE THE TOTAL NUMBER OF
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY WHO
ARE DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN.
(a) In General.--None of the funds made available to the Department
of Defense for fiscal year 2019 may be used to reduce the total number
of members of the United States Armed Forces serving on active duty who
are deployed to Afghanistan below 10,000 unless, not later than 180
days prior to such reduction, the Director of National Intelligence
certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the
Taliban--
(1) including chief and deputy Taliban leaders who may not
have been present at the talks between the United States and
the Taliban, has rejected al Qaeda by name;
(2) has committed not to--
(A) fight alongside al Qaeda;
(B) have financial ties with al Qaeda;
(C) communicate with al Qaeda; and
(D) have any other affiliation with al Qaeda;
(3) supports the legitimacy of the Afghan Constitution;
(4) commits to protecting the rights of women and girls to
access public healthcare, hold property, access education, and
have freedom of movement;
(5) commits to stop receiving funds and military support
from non-Afghan governments or organizations;
(6) will assist and be an active participant with the
Government of the United States and the Government of
Afghanistan in future counterterrorism operations;
(7) commits to ensuring that its full membership is subject
to the assurances described in this paragraph; and
(8) commits to turn over to the Government of Afghanistan
any members of the Taliban that violate any of the assurances
described in this paragraph.
(b) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on
Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on
Armed Services, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the
Senate.
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