[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 194 (Thursday, November 4, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7986-S7987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4488. Mr. RISCH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. Reed and intended to be proposed to 
the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle B of title XII of division A, add 
     the following:

     SECTION 1216. RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL 
                   FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ASSISTANCE TO THE 
                   TALIBAN.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) In August 2021, in response to the Taliban's toppling 
     of the internationally recognized Government of Afghanistan, 
     and growing concerns over reported human rights abuses, 
     donors suspended foreign aid to Afghanistan, which accounts 
     for approximately 40 percent of Afghanistan's gross domestic 
     product.
       (2) Among the donors referred to in paragraph (1) are 
     international financial institutions, such as the 
     International Monetary Fund, which froze the disbursement of 
     more than $400,000,000 in emergency currency reserves 
     allocated to Afghanistan because of concerns related to the 
     credibility and legitimacy of the Taliban rule.
       (3) The World Bank, which has committed more than 
     $5,300,000,000 in reconstruction and development funding for 
     Afghanistan since 2002, similarly suspended funding for 
     projects in Afghanistan, citing concerns over how Taliban 
     rule would impact ``the county's development prospects, 
     especially for women''.
       (4) Since Taliban rule in Afghanistan threatens vital gains 
     achieved in Afghanistan during the past 20 years, 
     particularly gains regarding the rule of law, 
     counterterrorism, and the rights of women and girls, it 
     should be denied credibility and international legitimacy on 
     the world stage.
       (5) In April 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken 
     stated, ``I can say very clearly and categorically that an 
     Afghanistan that does not respect [the rights of women and 
     girls], that does not sustain the gains we've made, will be a 
     pariah.''.
       (6) Despite the freeze in funding, the World Bank, along 
     with the rest of the international community--
       (A) remains firmly committed to assisting the Afghan 
     people; and
       (B) is ``exploring ways [through which the World Bank] can 
     remain engaged to preserve hard-won development gains and 
     continue to support the people of Afghanistan.''.
       (b) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United 
     States to oppose the extension of loans, guarantees, or other 
     financial or technical assistance to the Taliban, any agency 
     or instrumentality of the Government of Afghanistan that is 
     under the direction or control of the Taliban, or any member 
     of the Taliban until the Taliban has--
       (1) publicly and privately broken all ties with other 
     terrorist groups, including al Qaeda;
       (2) verifiably prevented the use of Afghanistan as a 
     platform for terrorist attacks against the United States or 
     against partners or allies of the United States, including by 
     denying terrorist groups--
       (A) sanctuary space in Afghanistan;
       (B) transit through Afghan territory; and
       (C) the use of Afghanistan for terrorist training, 
     planning, or equipping;
       (3) provided humanitarian actors with full, unimpeded 
     access to vulnerable populations throughout Afghanistan, 
     without interference or diversion;
       (4) respected freedom of movement, including by 
     facilitating--
       (A) the departure of foreign nationals, applicants for the 
     special immigrant visa program, and other at-risk Afghans by 
     air or land routes; and
       (B) the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of displaced 
     persons; and
       (5) supported the establishment of an inclusive government 
     of Afghanistan that respects the rule of law, press freedom, 
     and human rights, including the rights of women and girls.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
     ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
       (B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
       (C) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (2) International financial institution.--The term 
     ``international finance institution'' includes--
       (A) the International Monetary Fund;
       (B) the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
     Development;
       (C) the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
       (D) the International Development Association;
       (E) the International Finance Corporation;
       (F) the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency;
       (G) the African Development Bank;
       (H) the African Development Fund;
       (I) the Asian Development Bank;
       (J) the Inter-American Development Bank;
       (K) the Bank for Economic Cooperation and Development in 
     the Middle East and North Africa; and
       (L) the Inter-American Investment Corporation.
       (d) Restricting International Financial Institution 
     Assistance to the Taliban.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the 
     Secretary of the Treasury should--
       (A) instruct the United States Executive Director of the 
     World Bank Group to use the voice, vote, and influence of the 
     United States to oppose--
       (i) the extension by the International Finance Corporation 
     of any loan, guarantee, or other financial or technical 
     assistance to--

       (I) the Taliban;
       (II) any agency or instrumentality of the Government of 
     Afghanistan under the direction or control of the Taliban; or
       (III) any member of the Taliban; and

       (ii) support by the International Finance Corporation of a 
     project that materially benefits the Taliban in Afghanistan;
       (B) instruct the United States Executive Director of the 
     European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to use the 
     voice, vote, and influence of the United States to oppose--
       (i) the extension by the Bank of any loan, guarantee, or 
     other financial or technical assistance to--

       (I) the Taliban;
       (II) any agency or instrumentality of the Government of 
     Afghanistan under the direction or control of the Taliban; or
       (III) a member of the Taliban; or

       (ii) support by the Bank of a project that materially 
     benefits the Taliban in Afghanistan; and
       (C) instruct the United States Executive Directors of all 
     other international financial institutions, including the 
     International Monetary Fund, to work with other key donor 
     countries to develop a coherent policy approach that makes 
     all future engagements with and lending to the Taliban 
     contingent upon the Taliban--
       (i) publicly and privately breaking all ties with other 
     terrorist groups, including al Qaeda;
       (ii) verifiably preventing the use of Afghanistan as a 
     platform for terrorist attacks against the United States or 
     partners or allies of the United States, including by denying 
     terrorist groups--

       (I) sanctuary space in Afghanistan;
       (II) transit through Afghan territory; and
       (III) the use of Afghanistan for terrorist training, 
     planning, or equipping;

       (iii) providing humanitarian actors with full, unimpeded 
     access to vulnerable populations throughout Afghanistan, 
     without interference or diversion;
       (iv) respecting freedom of movement, including by 
     facilitating--

       (I) the departure of foreign nationals, applicants for the 
     special immigrant visa program, and other at-risk Afghans by 
     air or land routes; and
       (II) the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of displaced 
     persons; and

       (v) supporting the establishment of an inclusive Government 
     of Afghanistan that respects the rule of law, press freedom, 
     and human rights, including the rights of women and girls.
       (2) Exception for humanitarian purposes.--The restrictions 
     under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall not 
     apply with respect to transactions which are integral to the 
     provision of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
       (3) Termination.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply on or after 
     the date that is 30 days after date on which the President 
     determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional 
     committees that the Taliban has complied with all of the 
     conditions set forth in subsection (b).

[[Page S7987]]

       (e) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter until 
     the restrictions under subsection (d)(1) are terminated 
     pursuant to subsection (d)(3), the Secretary of the Treasury 
     and the Secretary of State, after consultation with the 
     Secretary of Defense, shall jointly submit a report to the 
     appropriate congressional committees that describes--
       (1) the efforts of the United States Executive Directors of 
     international financial institutions to comply with their 
     respective responsibilities under subsection (d)(1);
       (2) the status of the Taliban's adherence to international 
     human rights principles that are recognized by the United 
     States; and
       (3) the degree to which the Taliban has met its commitments 
     under the peace agreement signed by the United States and the 
     Taliban in Doha, Qatar on February 29, 2020.
                                 ______