[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 5 (Thursday, January 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H432-H434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRANS-SAHARA COUNTERTERRORISM PARTNERSHIP ACT

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 192) 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 192

       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''.

     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 Counterterrorism 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).
       (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;
       (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.

[[Page H433]]

       (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 New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 192, currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of this measure. I would like to begin by again 
thanking Mr. McCaul for once again putting forward this legislation. I 
look forward to working with him, as I mentioned before, as he begins 
his role as the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  The bill before us today authorizes the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism 
Partnership. This interagency program was established in 2005 to help 
America's partners in the Sahel and Maghreb regions 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 a united interagency effort. That is why this bill is so 
important.
  By coordinating our diplomatic, military, and development efforts in 
our own government and with partners abroad, the Trans-Sahara 
Counterterrorism Partnership strengthens our response to the 
international security threats facing these regions of Africa.
  Passing this legislation, which authorizes an existing program, will 
also enhance the ability of Congress to conduct thorough oversight.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which already 
passed the House last year, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in support of my bill, the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism 
Partnership Act. This bill passed the House last year. I am pleased 
that the chairman and I were able to make it an early priority in this 
Congress.
  This legislation strengthens our counterterrorism operations in 
Africa, an area where the terror threat is rapidly rising.

                              {time}  1515

  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 are alarming.
  On the eve of 9/11, al-Qaida had only 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. We know that these groups have plotted attacks that 
threaten U.S. interests, and some have succeeded.
  The Trump administration recently released their Africa strategy. It 
appropriately prioritizes U.S. efforts to counter radical Islamic 
terrorism on the continent. I applaud their continued focus on this 
issue.
  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, 
Niger, and Nigeria to build their capacity to conduct counterterrorism 
operations, prevent the spread of violent extremism, and strengthen the 
rule of law.
  Furthermore, it requires the State Department, USAID, and the Defense 
Department to work together to develop a counterterrorism strategy in 
Africa. By taking a multifaceted approach and better coordinating our 
efforts, we can prevent terrorism from gaining a larger foothold in 
these countries.
  Again, I thank Mr. Engel and I thank Mr. Keating for their shared 
support of this cause, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Chairman Engel and Congressman 
Keating. The bill authorizes a really important interagency effort to 
combat terrorism and prevent the spread of radical Islamist extremism 
in Africa. As ISIS and other terrorist ideologies are degraded in the 
Middle East, they are, unfortunately, finding a safe haven in Africa.
  We must partner with other nations to work to combat these threats 
before they impact the homeland. This bill will increase congressional 
oversight from our committee and better coordinate U.S. assistance.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again thank Mr. McCaul for his 
work on this measure and state again that I look forward to working 
side by side with him as chairman and ranking member of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee. This bill authorizes an 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 colleague to support this important 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 192, the 
``Trans-Sahara Counter-Terrorism Partnership Act,'' which will help 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.
  This bill launched in 2005, is a partnership to cooperate with 
countries in the Sahel and Maghreb regions of Africa on their immediate 
and longterm capabilities to address and prevent the spread of violent 
extremism.
  Extremist movements, 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

[[Page H434]]

caused mass human suffering in the affected communities.
  As Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State are being driven out of the Middle 
East, Africa is becoming the new battleground for their terror attacks.
  According to the Environmental System Research Institute, in the last 
four years, terrorist attacks have killed 31,600 people in 4,455 
attacks in Africa.
  Boko Haram alone caused more than 8,000 fatalities across Nigeria, 
Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
  Boko Haram have taken control of the former commercial town of Baga 
near the border with Chad, which caused the displacement of hundreds of 
people.
  Armed groups and violent Islamist terrorist organizations exploit 
vulnerable and marginalized communities suffering from poverty, lack of 
economic opportunity (particularly among youth populations), and weak 
governance.
  Youth populations are more likely to join an expanding terrorist 
network in West and Central Africa, which make the region more likely 
to be hit by a severe violent attack.
  Al-Qaeda and ISIS recruited in Tunisia 6,500 youth volunteers.
  On Oct. 4, 2017, militants affiliated with ISIS ambushed a team of 
U.S. troops in Niger, killing four soldiers and wounding two.
  On October 6, 2017, a terrorist attack killed more than 300 people, 
injured nearly 400 and leveled an entire block in Mogadishu, Somalia.
  That is why it is important that we vote today to implement the 
following recommendations from the report:
  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.
  This 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.
  H.R. 192 follows the recommendation from the report and ensures that 
the U. S,Congress can assist its partner countries 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.
  H.R. 192 is a step in the right direction because it will help to 
establish an interagency program to assist countries in the Sahel and 
Maghreb regions of Africa on their immediate and long-term capabilities 
to address and prevent the spread of violent extremism.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
legislation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 192.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________