[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 179 (Tuesday, November 13, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9495-H9497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRANS-SAHARA COUNTERTERRORISM PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 6018) to establish an interagency program to assist 
countries in the Sahel, Maghreb, and adjacent regions of Africa to 
improve immediate and long-term capabilities to counter terrorist 
threats, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6018

       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 ``Trans-Sahara 
     Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) 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) 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;
       (3) it is in the 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) extremist movements exploit vulnerable and marginalized 
     communities suffering from poverty, lack of economic 
     opportunity (particularly among youth populations), and weak 
     governance; and
       (5) 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.

     SEC. 3. TRANS-SAHARA COUNTERTERRORISM PARTNERSHIP.

       (a) Trans-Sahara Counter Terrorism Partnership.--
       (1) 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) To build the capacity of foreign military and law 
     enforcement entities in such regions to conduct 
     counterterrorism operations.
       (B) 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) To enhance the border security capacity of partner 
     countries in such regions, including the ability to monitor, 
     restrain, and interdict terrorists.
       (D) 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) To monitor and counter the financing of terrorism.
       (F) 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) To support independent, local-language media, 
     particularly in rural areas, to counter media operations and 
     recruitment propaganda by terrorist organizations.
       (2) 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) 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) The foreign country and entity, as applicable, whose 
     capabilities are to be enhanced in accordance with the 
     purposes specified in paragraph (1)

[[Page H9496]]

       (B) The amount, type, and purpose of support to be 
     provided.
       (C) An assessment of the capacity of the foreign country or 
     entity to absorb the assistance to be provided.
       (D) The estimated cost and anticipated implementation 
     timeline for assistance.
       (E) 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) 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) Comprehensive Strategy for Counterterrorism Efforts.--
       (1) 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) 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; and
       (B) 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) 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) 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) Monitoring and Evaluation of Programs and Activities.--
       (1) 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) 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) 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) the efforts taken to coordinate, de-conflict and 
     streamline TSCTP programs to maximize resource effectiveness;
       (C) 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) 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) 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) 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) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this 
     section, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
     means--
       (1) 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) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations, the Committee on Appropriations, and the 
     Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include any extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6018, the Trans-Sahara 
Counterterrorism Partnership Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues here, Chairman Mike McCaul 
and Ranking Member Keating, for their bipartisan leadership to advance 
this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, as you know, Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, as well as 
ISIS in the Greater Sahara, al-Qaida affiliates, and other armed groups 
continue to create havoc across north and west Africa. Thousands of 
civilians, including countless women and children, have died at the 
hands of these terrorist organizations.
  In response to these threats, the U.S. has deployed over 1,000 troops 
in the region, but the many diverse and increasingly pressing security 
threats across Africa demand more than just a military presence.
  Realizing this, in 2005, the U.S. established the Trans-Sahara 
Counterterrorism Partnership, known as the TSCTP program, to bring 
together the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the 
U.S. Agency for International Development, and they did that to 
coordinate and streamline U.S. and partner nations' efforts to combat 
terrorism, as well as preventing the spread of violent extremism in 
north and west Africa.
  This program rightly recognizes that we must build the capacity of 
countries so that they can themselves detect and defeat terrorists 
within their own countries. This is a long-term approach that can 
produce high returns with relatively low investment. We are investing 
in the future security of partner nations.
  But TSCTP is not just about security assistance. Strengthening 
democratic institutions of partner nations to ensure responsive 
democratic governance and rule of law is also a key part of this 
program. Often our efforts help bring government officials around the 
table with local communities, including women's groups and including 
civil society at large, to increase dialogue on peace and security. 
Having women at the table not only makes peace agreements more likely, 
but also makes agreements last longer.
  This region is home to some of the poorest countries of the world, 
and the humanitarian and development needs are immense. High youth 
unemployment, food insecurity, low education, and severe lack of 
government services together create an environment ripe for terrorist 
recruitment.
  To improve these underlying conditions, USAID is supporting 
vulnerable populations through livelihood training, through access to 
health resources, and through agricultural development.
  TSCTP coordinates our diplomatic, defense, and development tools to 
counter these terrorist threats and to help bring stability to this 
region. The bill we are considering today supports this program by 
establishing core objectives in benchmarks and strengthening 
congressional oversight so it continues to be efficient and effective 
and timely.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this important 
measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure and I yield 
myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking Mr. McCaul for putting 
forward this important bill, which would authorize the Trans-Sahara 
Counterterrorism Partnership. I want to also thank Congressman Keating 
for his hard work on this bill as well.
  This interagency program was established in 2005 to help America's 
partners in the Sahel and Maghreb counter terrorism and violent 
extremism.
  In places where instability leads to terrorism and conflict, it is 
important that we collaborate with our allies and that our policy is 
driven by united interagency effort. That is why this bill is so 
critical.

[[Page H9497]]

  It requires the Secretary of State to work with the Secretary of 
Defense and the USAID administrator to create a comprehensive strategy. 
By coordinating our diplomatic, military, and development efforts at 
home and with partners abroad, the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism 
Partnership Act strengthens our response to the international security 
threats facing these regions of Africa.
  Mr. Speaker, the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership is an 
important program that will enhance our international security efforts 
in an area that demands attention.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), chairman of the Committee on 
Homeland Security, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, 
and the author of this legislation.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend Chairman Royce and Ranking 
Member Eliot Engel, both of them this Congress, in their leadership. We 
are going to miss Chairman Royce as we move on to the end of this 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I do rise in support of this bill, the Trans-Sahara 
Counterterrorism Partnership Act. This bill will strengthen our 
counterterrorism operations in Africa, an area where the threat of 
terrorism is rapidly rising.
  While our attention has been focused on the Middle East, terrorism in 
Africa has spread.
  Our military successes in Iraq and Syria have splintered ISIS, 
squeezed terrorists out of the Middle East, and sent them fleeing to 
Africa.

  The numbers, Mr. Speaker, are alarming. On the eve of 9/11, it is 
important to point out, that al-Qaida on the eve of 9/11 only had a few 
hundred followers. Today, it is estimated that 10,000 ISIS and al-Qaida 
jihadists have established bases across the continent.
  Along with other existing terrorist organizations, such as Boko 
Haram, terrorism is taking hold in Africa and prohibiting its 
prosperity.
  My bill, which I introduced with my friend, Mr. Keating, authorizes, 
for the first time, a program called the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism 
Partnership. This program works with countries such as Chad, Mali, and 
Nigeria to build their capacity to conduct counterterrorism operations 
and strengthen the rule of law.
  Furthermore, my bill requires the State Department, USAID, and the 
Defense Department to work together to develop a counterterrorism 
strategy in Africa. By taking a multifaceted approach, we may be able 
to prevent terrorism from gaining a larger foothold in these countries.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to thank Mr. Keating, Chairman 
Royce, and Ranking Member Engel for all of their support in this 
important legislation.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), who chairs the 
Subcommittee on the Middle East and north Africa and is the former 
chair of the Africa Subcommittee as well.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking 
Member Engel for their leadership, for their bipartisan spirit, for 
everything that they are doing to bring our Congress together. We need 
more of them around here. I thank them for bringing Mr. McCaul's bill 
to the floor today. I thank my esteemed Foreign Affairs Committee 
colleague,  Michael McCaul, for his authorship of this important bill.
  The Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act codifies an 
important program, the program after which the bill is named, and helps 
build partner capacity in a critical region of the world.
  Thanks to Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, I recently had the 
privilege of leading a delegation to one of those partner countries, 
Morocco, where I met with the Moroccan equivalent of the FBI. On the 
front lines of terrorism in north Africa and the Sahel, Morocco has 
successfully thwarted plot after plot that was threatening U.S. 
interests, and is positioned to play an even bigger role in our joint 
counterterrorism efforts.
  Programs like the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership help 
bring law enforcement services in places like Morocco even closer 
together, allowing us to share information about terrorist groups like 
ISIS, al-Qaida, Hezbollah, and helps to protect our homeland.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support Mr. McCaul's 
important bill, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) 
for yielding me time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I, again, want to thank Mr. 
McCaul for his hard work on this measure and to Chairman Royce for 
moving it forward.
  This bill authorizes a very important program that strengthens our 
efforts to assist partners in the Sahel and Maghreb to counter 
terrorism and violent extremism.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism 
Partnership Act mandates an important interagency effort to combat 
terrorism and to prevent the spread of radical extremism. It increases 
congressional oversight by requiring increased reporting and regular 
monitoring and evaluation, frankly, of all of our programs. In doing 
so, through programs like TSCTP and with just a relatively small amount 
of foreign assistance dollars, we are investing in the future stability 
of these nations and their own ability to defeat terrorist attacks.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Mike McCaul for this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6018, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
establish an interagency program to assist countries in North and West 
Africa to improve immediate and long-term capabilities to counter 
terrorist threats, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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