[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6303-S6304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Durbin,
Mr. Peters, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Reed, Ms.
Stabenow, and Mr. Warner):
S. 2755. A bill to require a report on the plan to secure the
enduring defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria; read the first
time.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 2755
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. REPORT ON THE PLAN TO SECURE THE ENDURING DEFEAT
OF THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA.
(a) Report Required.--Not later than 30 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
State, the Director of National Intelligence, the
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development, and the heads of other appropriate agencies of
the United States Government, submit to Congress a report
that describes the strategy of the United States to secure
the enduring defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) and al Qaeda in the Middle East.
(b) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include, at a minimum, the following elements:
(1) A description of--
(A) the key United States security interests and the
political and military objectives, long-term goals, and
desired end-states for Syria; and
(B) how current military, diplomatic, and humanitarian
assistance efforts in Syria align with such objectives.
(2) Analysis of the threats posed to United States
interests by ISIS, al Qaeda, Hizballah, Russian, Iranian, and
other non-state activities in Syria and the region.
(3) An intelligence assessment of the historic and current
force strength of ISIS and al Qaeda, and the location of such
forces in Syria and the region.
(4) An intelligence assessment of the impact that the death
of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and other senior ISIS
leaders will have on the organization.
(5) A description of ongoing United States and coalition
programs to build the capacity of local forces to counter
ISIS and al Qaeda, including programs for training and
equipping guard forces at detention facilities for detained
ISIS fighters operated by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
(6) A description of past, present, and planned efforts by
the United States and international community to stabilize
areas liberated from ISIS control, including efforts to
establish local governance and provide basic services.
(7) A description of--
(A) the current detention population of detention
facilities operated by the Syrian Democratic Forces;
(B) the number of ISIS detainees who have escaped such
facilities since October 1, 2019;
(C) efforts to convince the governments of third countries
to repatriate and prosecute ISIS detainees who are nationals
of their countries; and
(D) efforts to ensure that United States support for the
repatriation and prosecution of such ISIS detainees is
appropriately coordinated across Federal departments and
agencies.
[[Page S6304]]
(8) A description of the current efforts by the United
States and United States partners to advance a sustainable
political settlement in Syria.
(9) A description of the conditions that must be met to
secure the enduring defeat of ISIS and al Qaeda in Syria and
the region.
(10) A description of the United States military and
civilian presence and capabilities required to effectively
monitor and target ISIS and al Qaeda in the region, as well
as an assessment of the risks and limitations to the
effectiveness of such efforts without a United States
military and civilian presence in Syria and the region,
including the feasibility of programming stabilization
assistance without the presence of United States military or
civilian personnel.
(11) An explanation of United States efforts to ensure the
safety of Syrian Kurds and other Syrian nationals who were or
are employed by the United States Government in Syria from
retribution by Turkey, the Assad regime, ISIS, al Qaeda, or
other armed groups.
(12) An assessment of the risks of the involuntary
resettlement of refugees by the Government of Turkey in
northern Syria.
(13) A comprehensive description of United States
Government activities utilizing social media and other
communication technologies strategy to counter ISIS's
propaganda, influence, and ability to recruit fighters
domestically and internationally.
(14) A description of the efforts of the United States
Government, including economic sanctions, to deny financial
resources, including revenues from natural resources
extraction, sale of antiquities, kidnapping, extortion,
taxation, smuggling, access to cash storage sites, and access
to international financial networks, to ISIS and its
affiliates, in conjunction with international partners and
financial institutions.
(c) Form.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a
classified annex.
____________________