117 HR 8293 IH: Balkans Security Cooperation Act U.S. House of Representatives 2022-07-05 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8293IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJuly 5, 2022Mr. Torres of New York (for himself and Mrs. McClain) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Oversight and Reform, the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, 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 concernedA BILLTo require a report on security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Balkans Security Cooperation Act.

2.

Report on security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries

(a)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on security cooperation with respect to Western Balkan countries. (b)

Matters To be included

The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1)An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation, including the following: (A)A list of Russian weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B)A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the Russian Federation since 2012. (C)A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the Russian Federation. (D)An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation. (E)An assessment of how security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the Russian Federation affects the security interests of the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Western Balkan country, and each NATO member state that borders the Western Balkan country. (2)An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China, including the following: (A)A list of Chinese weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B)A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the People’s Republic of China since 2012. (C)A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the People’s Republic of China. (D)An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China. (E)An assessment of how security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the People’s Republic of China affects the security interests of the United States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Western Balkan country, and each NATO member state that borders the Western Balkan country. (3)An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the United States, including the following: (A)A list of United States weapons systems and other military hardware and technology valued at $1,000,000 or more that have been provided to or purchased by each Western Balkan country since 2012. (B)A description of the participation of each Western Balkan country’s security forces in training or exercises with the United States since 2012. (C)A description of any security cooperation agreements each Western Balkan country has entered into with the United States. (D)An assessment of intelligence cooperation between each Western Balkan country and the United States. (4)An assessment of security cooperation between each Western Balkan country and NATO. (5)A description of each Western Balkan country’s participation and activities in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program, if applicable. (6)An assessment of the Russian Humanitarian Center in Niš, Serbia, and any influence or coordination it may have with Russian Federation Intelligence Agencies.(c)

Assessment and determination relating to conduct of significant transactions under CAATSA

(1)

In general

The Secretary of State, acting through the President, shall include in the report required by subsection (a) an assessment and determination of whether any Western Balkan country has conducted a significant transaction described in section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525).(2)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this subsection may be construed to obviate any requirement of section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.(d)

Form

The report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (e)

Definitions

In this section—(1)the term appropriate congressional committees means—(A)congressional defense committees (as such term is defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code); and(B)the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and(2)the term ‘‘Western Balkan countries’’ means—(A)Albania;(B)Bosnia and Herzegovina; (C)Croatia; (D)Kosovo; (E)Montenegro;(F)North Macedonia; (G)Serbia; and(H)Slovenia.