[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 153 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4992-S4993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 5600. Mr. HAWLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe) 
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 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 title X, add the following:

     Subtitle H--Afghanistan Vetting and Accountability Act of 2022

     SEC. 1081. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Afghanistan Vetting and 
     Accountability Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 1082. VERIFICATION AND VETTING REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT 
                   TO INDIVIDUALS EVACUATED FROM AFGHANISTAN.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Federal means-tested public benefit.--The term 
     ``Federal means-tested public benefit'' means a Federal 
     means-tested public benefit within the meaning of section 403 
     of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 
     Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613).
       (2) Individual evacuated from afghanistan.--The term 
     ``individual evacuated from Afghanistan''--
       (A) means any individual, other than a United States 
     citizen or a member of the United States Armed Forces, 
     conveyed out of Afghanistan into the United States in 
     coordination with the Government of the United States during 
     the period beginning on January 20, 2021, and ending on 
     January 20, 2022; and
       (B) includes each individual, other than a United States 
     citizen or a member of the United States Armed Forces, 
     evacuated from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies 
     Welcome.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Homeland Security.
       (4) Unemployment compensation.--The term ``unemployment 
     compensation'' has the meaning given the term in section 
     85(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
       (b) Verification and Vetting Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall verify the personal 
     and biometric information and conduct in-person vetting of 
     each individual evacuated from Afghanistan.
       (2) Vetting database.--The Secretary shall develop and 
     maintain a database that contains, for each individual 
     evacuated from Afghanistan, the following:
       (A) Personal information, including name and date of birth.
       (B) Biometric information.
       (C) Any criminal record since the date on which the 
     individual entered the United States.
       (D) Any application for, or receipt of, unemployment 
     compensation or a Federal means-tested public benefit.
       (E) The vetting status of the individual, including whether 
     the individual has undergone in-person vetting.
       (c) Quarterly Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not less frequently than quarterly until 
     the date on which the Secretary submits the certification 
     under subsection (d), the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     a report detailing the compliance of the Secretary with 
     subsection (b).
       (2) Elements.--Each report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) A list of all individuals evacuated from Afghanistan.
       (B) With respect to each such individual--
       (i) vetting status, including whether the individual has 
     undergone in-person vetting;
       (ii) an assessment as to whether the individual has 
     received unemployment compensation or a Federal means-tested 
     benefit;
       (iii) a description of any arrest or criminal record for 
     conduct that occurred in Afghanistan, if available; and
       (iv) a description of any arrest or criminal record for 
     conduct that occurred in the United States.
       (C) The estimated number of days remaining until the 
     Secretary completes the verification and vetting of each 
     individual evacuated from Afghanistan as required by 
     subsection (b)(1).
       (d) Certification.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
     on which the Secretary completes the verification and vetting 
     required by subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress a certification that such verification and vetting 
     has been completed.
       (e) GAO Audits and Reports.--
       (1) Audits.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall conduct an audit and investigation with respect to the 
     compliance of the Secretary with this subtitle--
       (A) not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act; and
       (B) not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
     Secretary makes the certification under subsection (d).
       (2) Reports.--Not later than 30 days after the completion 
     of each audit and investigation required by paragraph (1), 
     the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on 
     the results of the audit and investigation.
       (f) Restriction on Federal Assistance.--An individual 
     evacuated from Afghanistan who has not provided personal 
     information and biometric information to the Secretary, and 
     undergone in-person vetting, shall not be eligible to receive 
     unemployment compensation or any Federal means-tested public 
     benefit.

     SEC. 1083. DECLASSIFICATION OF INFORMATION RELATED TO THE 
                   WITHDRAWAL OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES 
                   FROM AFGHANISTAN.

       Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Director of National Intelligence shall--
       (1) declassify all intelligence products related to the 
     withdrawal of the United States Armed Forces from 
     Afghanistan, including as relate to--
       (A) anticipated timelines for a Taliban takeover of 
     Afghanistan, especially as the Taliban seized control of 
     additional districts and provinces, often without fighting, 
     in early to mid 2021;
       (B) the ability of the Afghan National Defense and Security 
     Forces to prevent a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan after the 
     withdrawal of American forces and associated combat, 
     logistical, and other support;
       (C) the willingness of then-President of the Islamic 
     Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan 
     political leaders to remain in Afghanistan as the military 
     situation deteriorated, including any plans such leaders may 
     have made to escape Afghanistan as the Taliban advanced;
       (D) threats to United States forces, diplomats, or citizens 
     in Kabul or other parts of Afghanistan over the course of the 
     withdrawal, including the noncombatant evacuation operation 
     in August 2021;
       (E) any other intelligence that may have informed decisions 
     by the United States Government regarding the timeline for 
     the withdrawal of its forces, moving of its embassy in Kabul, 
     initiation of a noncombatant evacuation operation, force 
     requirements for a noncombatant evacuation operation, or 
     other related matters; and
       (F) any dissenting views shared in writing or other 
     formats, including verbally, by

[[Page S4993]]

     United States military commanders, diplomats, or other 
     government officials regarding the topics described in 
     subparagraphs (A) through (E); and
       (2) submit to Congress an unclassified report that 
     contains--
       (A) all the information described under paragraph (1); and
       (B) only such redactions as the Director determines 
     necessary to protect sources and methods.
                                 ______